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Latest story• Jan 28, 2026

How Richard Feynman Found the Root of the Challenger Disaster

Forty years ago, NASA's Space Shuttle Challenger exploded just over a minute after launch, killing all seven crew members including teacher Christa McAuliffe. Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman joined the presidential commission investigating the disaster and discovered that rubber O-rings sealing the rocket boosters had failed in the cold temperatures, allowing hot gas to escape and cause the explosion....

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The quiet push to engineer spider silk for automotive leather alternatives

Automakers use genetically engineered spider silk proteins as a sustainable leather alternative for vehicle interiors. These bio-based fibers offer superior lightness, durability, and breathability while supporting...

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China builds 35.6 tesla magnet 700,000 times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field

Chinese scientists created the world's strongest superconducting magnet, reaching 35.6 tesla—700,000 times Earth's magnetic field strength. The Beijing facility magnet maintains peak power for 200+ hours, enabling advanced...

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Radio waves revealed what happened before a star exploded

Radio telescopes detected waves from a rare supernova, revealing how a massive star violently shed helium material during its final years before exploding, likely due to a companion star.

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JWST spots most distant galaxy ever, pushing the limits of the observable universe

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope discovered the most distant galaxy ever observed, named MoM-z14, which existed just 280 million years after the Big Bang. The galaxy surprised astronomers by being significantly brighter, denser,...

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Molecular seal strengthens perovskite solar cells, while pushing efficiency to 26.6%

Chinese scientists developed a molecular sealing technique that prevents damage during solar cell manufacturing, achieving 26.6% efficiency in perovskite solar cells. The method uses a coordination complex to protect the cell...

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Dark stars could solve three major mysteries of the early universe

Researchers propose that "dark stars" powered by dark matter annihilation could solve three major cosmic mysteries revealed by the James Webb Space Telescope: unexpectedly bright "blue monster" galaxies, overmassive black holes...

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Networks Hold the Key to a Decades-Old Problem About Waves

Mathematicians found that network structures reveal key insights into wave behavior, potentially solving decades-old problems from Fourier's theory and revolutionizing wave analysis across astronomy and geology.

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Introducing Sprout, a new humanoid development platform

Fauna Robotics launched Sprout, a 42-inch tall humanoid robot platform designed to make robotics development accessible beyond specialized engineers. The lightweight, character-like robot features expressive movements, motorized...

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Spinning-mass robots that roll and swim could soon achieve insect-like flight

An orange wheel suddenly leaps off the ground as if defying gravity, part of a new generation of robots that move using nothing more than spinning masses inside their bodies. At Clemson University, mechanical engineering...

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The magnetic secret inside steel finally explained

Researchers at The Grainger College of Engineering have solved a decades-old mystery by identifying why magnetic fields slow carbon atom movement in steel, using computer simulations to show that aligned magnetic spins create...

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'The dream has come true': Standard model of cosmology holds up in massive 6-year study of the universe — with one big caveat

A six-year survey of 669 million galaxies has provided the most comprehensive look yet at dark energy, the mysterious force driving the universe's accelerating expansion. The Dark Energy Survey confirms that the standard model of...

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Meet the mysterious electrides

Scientists found that electrides—materials with trapped electrons—may explain Earth's missing light elements like hydrogen and carbon in its core. These materials are now improving catalysts for ammonia production and...

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Scientists say quantum tech has reached its transistor moment

Quantum technology has evolved from laboratory experiments to early real-world applications, reaching a pivotal moment comparable to the pre-transistor era of classical computing. Researchers analyzed six quantum hardware...

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This discovery could let bones benefit from exercise without moving

University of Hong Kong researchers discovered that a protein called Piezo1 acts as the body's internal "exercise sensor," detecting physical movement and preventing fat buildup in bone marrow while promoting bone formation. When...

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Why Astronauts Quarantine Before—But Not After—Space Missions

Artemis II astronauts are currently quarantining in Houston before their February moon mission, following NASA's standard health protocol used since 1971 to prevent launch delays from illness. Unlike early Apollo missions where...

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The brain’s response to a heart attack may worsen recovery

After a heart attack, damaged heart cells send signals through nerve pathways to the brain, creating a harmful cycle that worsens recovery by increasing inflammation and scarring. Scientists discovered that blocking these nerve...

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NASA to push ahead with ‘wet’ dress rehearsal for Artemis II moon mission

NASA is conducting a "wet" dress rehearsal as early as Saturday for Artemis II, its first crewed moon mission in over 50 years, involving loading 700,000 gallons of cryogenic fuel into the rocket and simulating a countdown. If...

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A new chemical trick could extend lithium-ion battery life without redesigning cells

University of Maryland researchers developed a chemical technique that helps lithium-ion batteries form stable protective cathode layers, solving durability issues and extending battery life using existing manufacturing processes.

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Astronomers discover over 800 cosmic anomalies using a new AI tool

ESA's AnomalyMatch neural network analyzed 100 million Hubble images in 2.5 days, finding 1,400 cosmic anomalies. Manual verification confirmed over 800 new objects, including merging galaxies and gravitational lenses.

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Scientists finally explain Earth’s strangest fossils

Scientists discovered that ancient clay minerals acted like natural cement, binding sand grains around 570-million-year-old soft-bodied Ediacara organisms to create detailed fossil impressions in sandstone.

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A hidden magnetic order could unlock superconductivity

Physicists discovered an unexpected magnetic pattern hidden within the pseudogap, a mysterious phase that occurs just before materials become superconducting, using quantum simulators cooled to near absolute zero. The research...

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The early universe supercharged black hole growth

Scientists at Maynooth University solved a major astronomy puzzle by discovering how black holes grew so massive in the early universe's short timespan. Using computer simulations, researchers found that chaotic post-Big Bang...

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Pollution to power: Scientists turn carbon emissions into jet fuel in a single step

RMIT scientists developed technology that converts carbon emissions directly into jet fuel components in one step, eliminating separate capture and conversion processes. They built a 3-kilowatt prototype and plan commercial...

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