Category: Science & Technology News

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.

Researchers at MIT Lincoln Laboratory have unveiled a groundbreaking method for 3D printing glass that dramatically reduces the heat typically required for glass production. This innovative process enables the creation of complex glass structures at room temperature, using a technique known as direct ink writing, and requires curing at only 250°C—far below the 1,000°C or more usually needed in traditional glassmaking.

Using this low-temperature additive manufacturing method, researchers successfully fabricated glass cups with tailored optical properties. These properties can be customized by modifying the chemical composition of the specially formulated inks used during printing. The inks are composed of inorganic particles suspended in a silicate-based solution, which gives engineers control over the final material’s optical, electrical, and chemical characteristics.

A team of chemists from the University of Michigan, University of California, Davis, and University of California, Los Angeles has developed a novel method to capture carbon dioxide and convert it into metal oxalates—solid compounds that can serve as precursors for cement production. This breakthrough offers a promising route to reduce industrial carbon emissions and repurpose CO₂ into valuable materials.

Led by Charles McCrory, associate professor of chemistry and macromolecular science and engineering at the University of Michigan, the research is part of the Center for Closing the Carbon Cycle (4C), an Energy Frontier Research Center. The 4C initiative, directed by Jenny Yang at UC Irvine, focuses on developing methods to transform captured carbon dioxide into usable fuels and products.

A research team in South Korea has developed the world’s first fully functional electric motor constructed entirely without metal components. Replacing traditional copper coils with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), this breakthrough marks a major step toward ultra-lightweight transportation systems. The CNT motor demonstrates a 133% improvement in electrical conductivity and weighs 80% less than conventional designs.

Lightweighting remains a key challenge in the development of electric vehicles, drones, and spacecraft. Lighter components not only reduce energy consumption but also increase battery efficiency and extend operational range. The newly developed motor, created by researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), successfully powers a toy car at speeds exceeding half a meter per second, showcasing its potential in practical applications.

In the microscopic world of bacteria, survival depends on innovative defense systems that can neutralize viral invaders. While CRISPR-Cas9 has become widely known as both a bacterial immune mechanism and a revolutionary gene-editing tool, researchers continue to uncover additional layers of bacterial defense. One of the latest discoveries adds a surprising twist to how these tiny organisms protect themselves from viral attack.

Scientists at Rockefeller University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have identified a powerful new immune protein named Cat1. This protein belongs to a group known as CARF effectors, which are activated when viruses, particularly bacteriophages, attempt to infect a bacterial cell. CARF effectors help prevent viral spread by forcing the infected cell into a shutdown mode, effectively containing the threat before it reaches neighboring cells.

Silicon has long been the cornerstone of semiconductor technology, powering everything from smartphones and computers to electric vehicles. However, this reigning material may soon face significant competition as researchers develop new alternatives that could transform electronics in the coming years.

A research team at Penn State has successfully built a computer capable of performing simple operations using two-dimensional (2D) materials instead of silicon. These 2D materials are not only thinner at the atomic scale but also maintain their electronic properties even when scaled up, offering promising advantages over traditional silicon.

Researchers from The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a groundbreaking nanopore sensing platform capable of detecting single biomolecules. Their work, recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offers promising advancements for solid-state, label-free DNA sequencing, with far-reaching implications for precision medicine.

Nanopore sensors operate by detecting changes in ionic current as individual molecules pass through nanoscale openings. These devices come in two primary forms: biological nanopores and solid-state nanopores. While biological nanopore sequencing has already reached commercial use, engineers at Illinois Grainger aimed to develop a solid-state alternative that is more compatible with scalable manufacturing.

The Quantum Systems Accelerator (QSA) continues to make major strides toward building flexible and stable quantum computers capable of solving problems far beyond the reach of today’s classical machines. Through a series of collaborative efforts across top U.S. research institutions, QSA scientists are addressing the engineering challenges at the heart of quantum computing and making significant progress on key architectures and techniques.

Trapped-ion systems remain one of the most advanced platforms in quantum computing. These systems trap and manipulate ions using electric fields and laser pulses, offering long coherence times and precise control of quantum states. A recent achievement by QSA researchers at Sandia National Laboratories introduced the “enchilada trap,” a newly designed chip capable of storing up to 200 ions. This device incorporates innovative features such as elevated radiofrequency electrodes and the elimination of dielectric materials beneath them, significantly reducing capacitance and power loss.

China has officially entered the global race to develop advanced brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, becoming the second country in the world to initiate human trials of an invasive BCI system. The breakthrough was reported by state broadcaster CCTV, highlighting a major milestone in the country’s efforts to integrate neuroscience with artificial intelligence and robotics.

The trial involves a 37-year-old man who lost all four limbs in a high-voltage electrical accident over a decade ago. In March, researchers implanted a coin-sized neural interface and flexible electrodes into his brain. Within weeks, he gained the ability to control a computer cursor using thought alone—performing tasks such as playing chess, navigating software, and even gaming with near-normal proficiency.

Sticky compounds found in okra and fenugreek, the same substances responsible for okra’s sliminess and fenugreek’s gel-like texture, may offer a powerful new solution for cleaning polluted water. Scientists have found that natural extracts from these plants can effectively capture and remove microplastics—tiny plastic particles that contaminate oceans, rivers, and even drinking water.

Recent research published in ACS Omega revealed that extracts from okra and fenugreek can eliminate up to 90 percent of microplastics from ocean water, freshwater, and groundwater. The team, led by researcher Rajani Srinivasan, has been focused on developing safe, plant-based approaches to remove pollutants from water systems.

Researchers at MIT, along with collaborators from other institutions, have developed a new fabrication method that integrates high-performance gallium nitride (GaN) transistors onto standard silicon CMOS chips. This breakthrough addresses longstanding challenges related to the high cost and specialized integration requirements of GaN, significantly improving accessibility for a broad range of electronic applications.

Gallium nitride is the second most widely used semiconductor after silicon. Its unique electrical properties make it ideal for applications such as lighting, radar systems, and power electronics. However, to fully harness its capabilities, GaN-based chips must be connected to silicon-based digital chips, commonly known as CMOS chips.