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Get hand-picked daily summaries of the best, most informative science and engineering articles from around the web. Browse recent summaries, then jump to the original source when you want the full article.

Latest story• Nov 11, 2024

This skin-soft, steel-strong robotic arm can lift 1,000x its weight

South Korean researchers have created a magnetic composite artificial muscle that combines skin-like softness with exceptional strength. This material can rapidly adjust its stiffness in response to magnetic fields, withstanding loads comparable to automobiles. The muscle can alter its stiffness by 2,700 times and softness by eightfold, resisting tensile forces 1,000 times its weight and compressive forces 3,690...

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LG’s new display expands by 50%, folds, twists and survives 10,000 stretches

LG unveils world's first stretchable display capable of expanding by 50%. The 12-18 inch prototype retains full RGB color and 100 pixels per inch resolution, withstanding 10,000 stretches without quality loss and offering...

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Rice develops new catalyst that uses light, not heat, to produce green hydrogen

Rice University's copper-rhodium photocatalyst uses light to convert methane and water vapor into hydrogen without greenhouse gases, potentially transforming hydrogen production and addressing catalyst deactivation issues in...

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SpaceX Dragon gives ISS a helping hand with altitude

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft successfully demonstrated its ability to reboost the International Space Station (ISS) with a 12-minute, 30-second burn of its Draco thrusters. The maneuver adjusted the ISS orbit by 7/100 of a mile at...

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Students’ unique humanoid robot achieves real-time human mimicry, teleoperation

A South African university has developed a humanoid robot capable of real-time human movement mimicry and potential remote operation. The robot features a full-height frame, functional torso, operable right arm, and uses inverse...

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'Brain stars' store our memories like a microscopic filing cabinet

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered that star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes play a crucial role in storing and retrieving memories. These "brain stars" work together with neurons to form memory...

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How to bring a dead nuclear power plant back to life

The U.S. nuclear industry is seeing a potential resurgence, with tech giants investing in advanced nuclear technologies. Three closed nuclear plants are set to be restarted as early as next year, driven by tech companies'...

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Watch: Ghostly white humanoid robot with water-powered muscles unveiled

Clone Robotics unveiled a humanoid torso capable of human-like movements using water-powered artificial muscles. The ghostly white robot features a hydraulic system that pumps water to activate tendons and replicate muscle...

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iPhone 17 'Air' May Not Be Much Thinner Than iPhone 6

Apple's planned iPhone 17 "Air" model may not be as thin as originally intended due to battery manufacturing challenges. The device is now expected to be around 6mm thick, similar to older iPhones, and will likely launch in fall...

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MIT startup turns mining waste into valuable metals for EVs, defense tech

MIT alumni-founded Phoenix Tailings recovers rare earth metals and nickel from mining waste using an eco-friendly process, eliminating toxic byproducts and reducing emissions, with the goal of producing over 3,000 tons of...

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400% stretchable tech lets you control drones with just a finger swipe

The new wearable touchpad, with 400% stretchability and a self-powered sensor, allows users to control drones through nine finger swipe patterns, functioning at temperatures as low as -40°C and offering potential applications in...

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Russia: Fine, I guess we should have a Grasshopper rocket project, too

Russia plans to build a "Grasshopper" prototype to test vertical landing for its reusable Amur rocket. Construction will begin next year, aiming to solve key challenges for the Amur's first stage, which is now expected to debut...

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Skin stem cells surprise scientists with reprogramming ability

Neural crest stem cells, found throughout the body, can be reprogrammed into various cell types, including neurons, offering potential for stem cell transplantation therapies due to their accessibility and versatility, according...

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Nanoparticles in sunscreen shown to shield rice from scorching heat; increase yield

Spraying zinc oxide nanoparticles on rice plants can boost crop yields by 22.1% during heat waves, helping rice tolerate extreme temperatures and potentially improving food security for billions who depend on this staple crop.

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Electron molecular crystals’ image captured for first time reveals new quantum phase

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have captured the first images of a Wigner molecular crystal, or "electron ice," using scanning tunneling microscopy. This occurs when cooled electrons form a stable grid-like...

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New stellarator design could accelerate fusion research by staying ‘on’ all the time

Renaissance Fusion is developing stellarator fusion reactors that could operate continuously, potentially accelerating fusion power research. The company claims its design using high-temperature superconducting magnets and liquid...

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Kagome superconductor shatters time-reversal symmetry at record temperature

A Kagome superconductor has achieved time-reversal symmetry breaking at 175 Kelvin (-144.67°F), the highest temperature ever recorded for this quantum phenomenon. This breakthrough by researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute...

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Northern Taurid meteor shower peaks tomorrow: Check NASA's viewing tips

The Northern Taurids meteor shower will peak around November 11-12, offering a dazzling display for viewers in the northern hemisphere. Though producing only 5-10 meteors per hour, the Taurids are known for bright fireballs from...

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NASA Remains Silent on Why Crew Went to Hospital After Dragon Splashdown

NASA's Crew-8 astronauts were hospitalized after returning from an 8-month ISS mission, with one staying overnight for an unspecified medical issue. The agency is withholding details for privacy reasons, but the incident has...

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Argentinian Farmer Finds Family of 20k-Year-Old Car-Sized Armadillos

An Argentinian farmer discovered fossilized remains of four giant armadillos, known as Glyptodon, dating back 20,000 years. The car-sized creatures were found near a dried riverbed, revealed by a drought. This is the first time...

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Reasons to be hopeful: five ways science is making the world better

Stem cell transplants have shown promising results in reversing both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with recent success stories of patients producing their own insulin post-transplant. While scaling challenges persist, these early...

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Rare glimpse of ‘ghostly’ neutrino fog detected by dark matter experiments in a first

Two dark matter experiments have detected a neutrino fog for the first time, revealing dense clouds of these elusive particles. This discovery, made by XENON and PandaX experiments, provides new insights into neutrino detection...

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Self-learning robot mimics humans, cleans washbasins, completes multiple tasks

A self-learning robot developed by TU Wein researchers can clean washbasins after observing the task once, mimicking human learning. This breakthrough could be applied to various industrial tasks like polishing and painting, with...

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Waste oil turned into biodiesel in just 60 minutes, can power all types of vehicles

Researchers at UC Santa Cruz developed a method to produce biodiesel from waste cooking oil using sodium tetramethoxyborate. The process takes under an hour at temperatures as low as 40°C, allowing easy separation of biodiesel...

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