By stacking custom-designed silver nanoparticles like nanoscale LEGO bricks, scientists stabilized a mysterious crystal phase that had never been observed before。 The material not only solves a longstanding puzzle in materials science but also exhibits promising quantum properties at room temperature
Section 702 of FISA to expire tonight, but certification lasts until March 2027
MIT researchers have shown that one fuel can power both chemical and electric spacecraft thrusters, potentially transforming what small satellites can do。 The approach combines quick bursts of speed with highly efficient long-range propulsion in a single compact system。 A NASA-supported CubeSat mission will soon test the technology in orbit
Scientists have developed an artificial photosynthesis system that essentially regulates itself, eliminating the need for batteries used in many current designs。 The key innovation is an electrolyzer that automatically adapts to changing sunlight by altering its electrical properties as it heats up。 This keeps solar fuel production more stable whil
Scientists have uncovered a surprising force that may help explain how binary star systems form so quickly。 New supercomputer simulations show that magnetic fields surrounding newborn stars can act like a cosmic brake, stripping away angular momentum and allowing two still-forming protostars to spiral closer together instead of drifting apart
在智源研究院院长王仲远看来，眼下全球围绕世界模型的探索，正被撕扯成四条截然不同的分岔路—— 第一类是以语言为中心的世界模型，包括VLM、VLA，模型在文本空间中预测下一个词，学到的是语言描述的世界，并不能理解背后的物理后果； 第二类是以像素为中心的世界模型，像Sora和Seedance等视频生成类模型，在视觉空间中学习视频或图像，学到的是像素描述的世界； 第三类是以三维结构为中心的世界模型，包括3D重建以及李飞飞团队的World Labs Marble模型，不过模型重建3D空间不等于理解世界，几何结构也不代表物理状态； 第四类是以视觉表征为中心的世界模型，比如杨立昆的JEPA系列模型，预测的是视觉表征的压缩，但视觉嵌入演化不等于物理规律演化
What if our biggest idea about reality is built on a hidden misunderstanding。 A new philosophical look at space-time challenges the popular view that the past, present, and future all exist together in a timeless "block universe。" The argument suggests that physicists may be blurring the difference between things that exist and things that merely o
The mysterious Amaterasu particle may not be a proton at all。 New research suggests that some of the most extreme cosmic rays could be ultraheavy atomic nuclei, heavier than iron, which are better able to retain their energy while traveling through space。 This idea could help explain how these rare particles reach Earth and provide new clues about
Failure raises questions about how Verizon prepares refurbished phones for new users
JWST has revealed dramatic differences between the dawn and dusk regions of the scorching exoplanet WASP-121 b。 Fierce winds appear to carry heat from the planet’s permanent dayside, making the evening side hotter and more expanded。 Scientists also found signs that water is being broken apart by extreme temperatures and that mysterious mineral clou
Scientists have uncovered unexpected quantum complexity inside cobalt, a metal long thought to be fully understood。 Advanced measurements revealed a dense network of topological electronic states that remain robust at room temperature。 These states enable extremely fast electron behavior and can be switched or controlled using magnetism
Researchers have finally resolved a key problem in a 100-year-old theory of color, showing that the qualities we perceive in colors are intrinsic to the mathematics of color space itself。 The discovery sharpens our understanding of human vision and could lead to more precise color technologies and visualizations
Full autonomy is rare, but Ukraine is installing AI modules on drones and robots
Oxford physicists have created an entirely new type of Schrödinger’s cat-like quantum state using components that are themselves highly quantum in nature。 The advance could open new possibilities for more resilient quantum computers and deeper insights into the strange rules that govern the quantum universe
More than 350,000 spectators will watch 62 cars compete, day and night
Scientists have successfully tested an AI-designed universal coronavirus vaccine in humans for the first time, finding it to be safe and well tolerated。 The vaccine generated immune responses against multiple coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, SARS, and related bat viruses with pandemic potential。 By targeting features shared across an entire vir
Scientists found that transfer learning can make the search for new physics in the universe much faster, slashing the need for expensive simulations。 Yet the approach can backfire when AI relies too heavily on familiar patterns, potentially missing evidence of something truly new
A new catalyst design could significantly improve the conversion of CO2 into methanol, an important fuel and chemical feedstock。 Researchers separated key reaction steps across different catalyst sites, avoiding a long-standing trade-off between speed and efficiency。 The result was about three times more methanol production than standard commercial
Scientists used nanoscale gold metamaterials to supercharge heat transfer across tiny gaps, achieving up to four times more energy flow than similar conventional systems。 The breakthrough could lead to better chip cooling, more efficient energy technologies, and a new era of precision heat engineering