A new 3D printing technique can produce exceptionally hard tungsten carbide cobalt while using less of its expensive raw materials。 By softening rather than fully melting the material, researchers created defect-free samples with industrial-grade hardness and opened the door to more efficient manufacturing
Genetic changes may set off a chain reaction that causes the spine’s natural shock absorbers to harden and deteriorate。 Zebrafish with a faulty collagen-related gene developed mineral buildup and spinal fusion similar to human disc disease。 Researchers were able to reduce the damage using an existing osteoporosis drug and by targeting fat metabolis
Metal-rich asteroids could one day become hardware stores for Mars, supplying the materials needed to build and repair a growing colony。 A new analysis shows that carefully selected asteroids may be reachable with current spacecraft technology。 Some could even provide the ingredients for making rocket fuel in space, dramatically reducing the burden
Sweden could become an important source of rare earth elements needed for magnets and green technologies。 Instead of extracting one target metal, researchers are cataloging everything contained in Swedish mineral deposits。 They will then develop magnets using those naturally available combinations, potentially reducing pollution, waste, and relianc
Rice University chemists have found a new way to make neodymium, a rare-earth metal, interact with oxygen。 Using a specially designed molecular structure described as a “basket,” the team positioned the atoms so they could form a bond once thought unlikely。 The breakthrough produced highly reactive compounds that could eventually give chemists alte
An exceptionally preserved snake fossil from Brazil reveals that early snakes were far more diverse than scientists once thought。 Detailed brain reconstructions show that Tametara mirim was adapted for burrowing, while another ancient snake was suited to life above ground。 Other fossils point to marine lifestyles as well
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft aced its Mars flyby, using the planet’s gravity to speed toward its 2029 encounter with a metal-rich asteroid。 The spacecraft tested its cameras, magnetometer, and particle-detecting instruments, capturing unusual views of Mars and measuring its magnetic environment。 It also detected neutrons from the planet and spotted the
Scientists have created the first quantum material that can sort and transport different quantum states of light at room temperature, potentially removing the need for bulky, ultra-cold refrigeration systems。 Built from a gold film carved with hundreds of microscopic structures, the ultrathin “metacrystal” acts like a filter that directs different