Category: Science & Technology News

Researchers from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Texas A&M University have developed a groundbreaking method to create durable construction materials on Mars using just local resources—Martian soil, sunlight, air, and water. This technique could eliminate the massive cost and logistical headache of transporting building supplies across 140 million miles of space.

Published in the Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, the study outlines how scientists engineered a “synthetic community” of cyanobacteria and filamentous fungi—organisms that, when combined, can transform Mars’ dusty, barren soil into solid, rock-like structures. This duo acts similarly to lichens on Earth, which are cooperative lifeforms made of fungi and algae or bacteria.

To think about an artificial limb is to think about a person—an individual who moved, reached, worked, and lived with that device as part of their body. Prosthetic limbs are not just mechanical objects; they are tools of motion and touch, designed to connect people to their world.

Yet, when prostheses from the past are studied in museums or archives, the human connection often feels distant. Their users are long gone. The devices are typically damaged, worn down by centuries of time and exposure. They sit motionless on display or tucked away in storage—silent artifacts with untold stories.

The NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory has released its first images, marking the debut of a groundbreaking 3,200-megapixel digital camera—the most powerful ever built. Perched atop Cerro Pachón in Chile, the observatory is poised to collect more astronomical data than all previous optical telescopes combined.

In just 10 hours of initial test observations, the observatory’s 8.4-meter telescope discovered 2,104 previously unknown asteroids and captured images of 10 million galaxies. Over the next decade, it is expected to map 20 billion galaxies while exploring dark matter and dark energy, which together make up about 95% of the universe.

Yale researchers have developed a promising new method to electrochemically convert nitrate—a common and harmful water pollutant—into ammonia. This innovation offers two major benefits: purifying contaminated water and generating a valuable product that can be used for fertilizers and carbon-free fuels.

Nitrate, while essential for plant growth, is a prevalent contaminant in wastewater and can significantly harm water quality when overly abundant. Converting nitrate into ammonia is not a new idea, but doing so efficiently and affordably has remained a major challenge. Scientists have long struggled to achieve both high selectivity—minimizing unwanted byproducts—and high activity, which refers to the speed of conversion.

The technology addresses critical safety concerns in high-pressure occupations where mental fatigue significantly contributes to accidents. Recent incidents—such as a January collision at Reagan National Airport attributed to understaffed air traffic control operations—underscore the urgent need for objective mental workload assessment tools.

Traditional EEG monitoring relies on bulky caps with multiple electrodes and conductive gels, which can be unstable due to variations in head shape. A new approach using disposable electronic tattoos overcomes these limitations with custom-fitted adhesive sensors designed to conform to individual facial geometry.

Detecting airborne hazardous chemicals has long posed a challenge due to their dilute concentrations and high mobility. Yet, effective monitoring of these substances is essential for protecting public health and the environment. A newly developed device, known as ABLE, offers a promising solution by making airborne hazard collection and detection both more efficient and accessible.

Developed by researchers from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, ABLE is a compact device measuring just four by eight inches. Despite its small size and low cost—under $200—it has demonstrated powerful capabilities in capturing and analyzing airborne contaminants.

Hydrogen is often touted as the fuel of the future, offering clean energy with water as the only byproduct. However, most current hydrogen production methods are expensive and emit large amounts of carbon dioxide—undermining its promise as a truly green fuel. Researchers at MIT may have found a way to change that, using a simple reaction between recycled aluminum and seawater to produce hydrogen cleanly and efficiently.

The technique, known as the aluminum-water reaction (AWR), utilizes scrap aluminum, waste heat, and a recyclable metal alloy to generate hydrogen with significantly lower emissions. A full life cycle analysis of this process revealed it produces just 1.45 kilograms of CO₂ per kilogram of hydrogen, compared to the 11 kilograms of CO₂ emitted by conventional fossil-fuel-based methods.

Aircela, a clean energy startup led by CEO and co-founder Eric Dahlgren, has developed a compact machine capable of producing gasoline using only air, water, and renewable electricity. Built on direct air capture research pioneered by physicist Klaus Lackner, the system turns carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into engine-ready fuel, without relying on fossil resources.

At the heart of Aircela’s process is a carbon capture system that uses a water-based solution containing potassium hydroxide to absorb CO₂ directly from the air. As ambient air flows through a specially designed chamber, the liquid sorbent extracts carbon dioxide, which is then regenerated and reused, making the process both efficient and sustainable.

A new artificial intelligence model developed by researchers at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin could transform how brain tumors are diagnosed, especially in cases where traditional biopsies are risky or impossible. The innovation comes in response to complex cases like that of a patient who first sought medical help for double vision. An MRI revealed a tumor located in a part of the brain that made surgical biopsy highly dangerous.

Confronted with such challenges, the team of researchers turned to an alternative approach. Instead of relying on tissue samples, they developed a method that uses an AI model to analyze the epigenetic fingerprint of tumors—chemical modifications in the genetic material that act like cellular memory and regulate gene activity. These fingerprints can be collected from body fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid, making the process minimally invasive.

In a world increasingly burdened by both plastic waste and carbon emissions, scientists at the University of Edinburgh have developed a breakthrough method that could change how we produce everyday medicines. Instead of relying on crude oil and energy-intensive chemical processes, researchers have found a way to turn plastic waste into paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen)—using nothing more than genetically engineered bacteria.

Traditionally, paracetamol is manufactured from fossil fuel-derived compounds. The production process burns through vast amounts of crude oil, contributing heavily to global carbon emissions. Each year, thousands of tons of fossil fuels are consumed to manufacture medicines like paracetamol, generating significant environmental costs.

In a breakthrough that pushes the boundaries of science fiction into reality, the U.S. military’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has set a new record for wireless energy transmission. As part of its Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program, DARPA successfully beamed more than 800 watts of power across a distance of 5.3 miles (8.6 kilometers) using a laser. This achievement not only demonstrates the feasibility of long-distance wireless power but also represents a significant leap forward for both military and civilian energy systems.

The test took place at the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. During the experiment, a laser was directed through a narrow aperture, reflected off a parabolic mirror, and focused onto a receiver equipped with high-efficiency solar cells. The result was a 30-second energy pulse with an efficiency of approximately 20 percent—impressive given the challenges of atmospheric interference and energy conversion losses over such a long distance. As a playful demonstration of the system’s effectiveness, some of the transmitted power was used to pop popcorn at the receiving end.

China’s maglev research program has reached a major milestone by accelerating a 1.1-tonne test vehicle to 650 km/h (about 404 mph) in just seven seconds, all within a 600-meter stretch of track. The achievement took place at Donghu Laboratory in Hubei Province, where engineers are developing short-distance, high-speed test methods that depart from the traditional long test tracks typically used for such experiments.

Instead of relying on multi-kilometer tracks to test acceleration and braking, the Donghu team implemented a compact 1-km demonstration line. The system uses electromagnetic propulsion, with a high-power linear motor paired with magnetic levitation that keeps the vehicle hovering just above the guideway. With no physical contact between the vehicle and the track, the system only contends with aerodynamic drag, allowing for rapid acceleration and precise braking.