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Latest story• Mar 30, 2026

New robot vision system grasps glass, shiny objects without depth sensors

Glass bottles slip through robotic fingers, and shiny metal parts confuse warehouse automation systems daily across factories worldwide. Now researchers at Tokyo University of Science have cracked this longstanding puzzle with a vision system called HEAPGrasp that relies solely on object outlines rather than troublesome depth sensors. The breakthrough sidesteps the optical chaos that transparent and reflective...

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Parrots pack twice as many neurons as primate brains of the same mass

New Zealand kea parrots moved traffic cones to stop cars for tourist food, leading to "kea gyms" for redirection. Parrots pack twice the neurons of similar-sized primate brains.

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A new manufacturing process uses lasers to seal paper packaging instead of glue

German researchers developed a laser-based sealing process that uses carbon monoxide lasers to seal paper packaging without glue or plastic adhesives, making recycling easier and more effective. The technology heats paper...

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Observers Are All You Need: How Observer-Synchronization Creates All of Physics

Observer Patch Holography (OPH) attempts to derive all fundamental features of reality from a single premise: observers experience only finite patches of the universe that must remain consistent across overlaps. Starting with...

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Inside NASA's moon spacesuit lab ahead of Artemis launch

NASA astronauts are preparing for the first lunar fly-around mission in over 50 years, with engineer Dustin Gohmert leading spacesuit development at Johnson Space Center's Orion Crew Survival Systems Lab. The new orange Orion...

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An Earth-sized exoplanet has been discovered near the solar system

NASA's TESS satellite discovered TOI-4616 b, an Earth-sized exoplanet orbiting a red dwarf star 91.8 light-years away. The rocky planet has 1.22 times Earth's radius and potentially retains part of its atmosphere, making it a...

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Webb telescope spots mysterious explosion that defies known physics

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope detected GRB 250702B, an extraordinarily powerful space explosion that lasted seven hours instead of the typical under-one-minute duration for gamma-ray bursts. This mysterious event, occurring 8...

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US scientists build noise-free phonon lasers to unlock quantum compasses

University of Rochester scientists created a "squeezed" phonon laser that eliminates thermal noise by manipulating sound waves instead of light. This breakthrough enables more accurate acceleration measurements and could lead to...

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Critical minerals and rare earth supply

Critical minerals essential for clean energy and technology reached a $328 billion market in 2024, projected to exceed $770 billion by 2040, but face severe supply risks due to China's dominance in processing 70% of strategic...

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Quantum physics can confirm where someone is located

NIST scientists developed a quantum position verification method using entangled photons and random numbers to confirm someone's actual location, preventing digital location spoofing through unfakeable quantum correlations.

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A sea of sparks: Seeing radioactivity

Scientists can observe individual atomic decay by using radioactive materials to produce alpha particles that strike special screens, creating tiny visible light flashes in complete darkness.

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Monster black holes are silencing star formation across the universe

Powerful radiation from supermassive black holes can suppress star formation in galaxies millions of light-years away, according to new research using the James Webb Space Telescope. Scientists discovered that intense energy from...

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In Expanding de Sitter Space, Quantum Mechanics Gets Even More Elusive

Scientists struggle to understand quantum mechanics in expanding universes, which poses a major challenge since our real universe is actually expanding rather than static or collapsing. Recent calculations reveal that the...

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CyberOne humanoid robot’s hand mimics human sweat glands for thermal management

Xiaomi's redesigned CyberOne robot hand is 60% smaller with 83% better dexterity and full-palm tactile sensing. It features liquid cooling that mimics human sweat glands to prevent overheating during industrial use.

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Video: Sharpa’s humanoid robot delicately peels apples with human-like hand motion

Singapore-based robotics firm Sharpa has developed a humanoid robot that can autonomously peel apples using human-like dual hands, tackling one of robotics' most challenging tasks requiring precise manipulation. The robot uses a...

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World’s largest wind farm moves forward towards lighting up 3.3 million homes

Hornsea 3, the world's largest offshore wind farm, connected its first export cable to the UK coast. The $11.2 billion project will generate 2.9 gigawatts for 3.3 million homes by 2027.

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China’s AGIBOT builds 10,000th humanoid robot in major scaling milestone

Chinese robotics firm AGIBOT reached a major milestone by producing its 10,000th humanoid robot, marking the industry's shift from testing to large-scale commercial deployment. The company dramatically accelerated production,...

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Can you survive inside a tornado? This scientist did by accident—he’s lucky to be alive

Atmospheric scientist Perry Samson found himself swallowed by a tornado's vortex in northwest Kansas, where the sound wasn't like a freight train but "a thousand screaming jet engines." Trapped in his rental car as debris slammed...

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God Is a Computer Programmer and the Universe Runs on His Code

A computer scientist's atheism dissolved during a conversation about how the universe operates like a sophisticated computer program. The universe maintains gravitational calculations between every particle across billions of...

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World's smallest QR code, smaller than bacteria, could store data for centuries

Researchers at TU Wien created the world's smallest QR code at 1.98 square micrometers using ion beams on ceramic. This energy-free storage method could preserve data for centuries with 2+ terabyte capacity per A4 area.

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Mystery medical episode that left astronaut unable to speak shows one of NASA's biggest risks as moon missions ramp up

NASA astronaut Michael Fincke experienced a mysterious medical episode aboard the International Space Station in January that left him unable to speak for 20 minutes, prompting the first-ever medical evacuation from the orbiting...

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Scientists create tornado of light that could power next-gen lasers and quantum devices

Scientists created tornado-like light spirals using liquid crystals and synthetic magnetic fields, replacing bulky equipment with a simple approach. This swirling light maintains laser properties while rotating, enabling more...

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Stroke triggers a hidden brain change that looks like rejuvenation

Researchers studying over 500 stroke survivors discovered that severe physical impairments trigger the brain to reorganize itself, making undamaged regions on the opposite side appear structurally "younger" than expected. Using...

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AI wrote a scientific paper that passed peer review

Researchers unveiled the AI Scientist, an artificial intelligence system that independently wrote a scientific paper and passed peer review at a machine learning workshop, marking the first time AI completed the entire research...

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