Astronomers may have witnessed one of the rarest and most dramatic cosmic events ever seen: a long-sought intermediate-mass black hole ripping apart a dense white dwarf star and devouring it。 The Einstein Probe space telescope caught the explosion in its earliest moments, revealing an unusual sequence of intense X-ray flashes unlike anything seen i
What if some black holes aren’t black holes at all。 A new theoretical study suggests that when a massive star collapses, it might not form a singularity hidden behind an event horizon。 Instead, the collapse could trigger the birth of a tiny new universe inside the dying star
Researchers found that a Chinese sodium-ion battery performs far better than expected, with production quality and design features comparable to Tesla’s batteries。 If engineers can improve cold-weather charging and energy density, sodium could become a cheaper and more abundant alternative to lithium for EVs and large-scale energy storage
Scientists have found that staple-shaped particles can tangle together to create a material that is both strong and flexible。 Unlike conventional materials, these particles can be locked into a sturdy structure or rapidly unraveled using vibrations。 The unusual behavior could open the door to recyclable buildings, reconfigurable structures, and eve
A new theory suggests the universe is constantly recording its own history in the fabric of spacetime。 If correct, this cosmic memory could help solve some of the biggest puzzles in physics, from black holes to dark matter and the universe’s ultimate fate
Scientists have uncovered a new explanation for what powers Yellowstone and other supervolcanoes。 Instead of a deep plume rising from near Earth’s core, a broad “mantle wind” may push hot rock beneath Yellowstone, generating magma closer to the surface。 This process helps create a massive underground magma network and may explain how supervolcanoes
NASA’s upgraded Cold Atom Lab is turning the International Space Station into a frontier for quantum research, creating ultra-cold matter that behaves in astonishing ways。 The experiments could unlock new discoveries about the universe while paving the way for powerful future technologies in space and on Earth
A new technique could solve one of the biggest challenges in making future computer chips from ultrathin materials。 Researchers found that coating molybdenum disulfide with oxygen or fluorine lets manufacturers remove just the top layer of atoms much more safely during plasma processing。 The result is a cleaner, more controlled path toward smaller
A new study suggests Earth may have been sending tiny hitchhikers to Venus for billions of years。 Researchers found that asteroid impacts could launch microbes into space, where some might survive the journey and end up suspended in Venus' clouds。 If future missions detect life there, there's a surprising chance it didn't originate on Venus at all—
Researchers found that twisting layered sheets of hexagonal boron nitride can dramatically change the light produced by quantum emitters embedded within the material。 The technique offers an unexpected new level of control over components that could power future quantum computers, communications systems, and sensors
Two newly confirmed "super-puff" planets are so diffuse that they are less dense than cotton candy, despite being about the size of Jupiter。 Their rare orbital relationship and enormous, lightweight atmospheres could provide valuable clues about how some of the strangest planets in the galaxy come to exist