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
Researchers developed a Wordle-solving strategy that succeeds 99% of the time by focusing on information gain rather than likely answers。 The method uses Shannon entropy to identify guesses that reveal the most about the hidden word。 Each guess is designed to slash uncertainty and narrow the possibilities faster
Scientists have uncovered a surprising connection between quantum gravity and an exotic quantum state of matter that could explain why the universe isn’t expanding wildly fast。 The study suggests that the very shape of space-time may protect the cosmological constant from disruptive quantum effects
A new nature-inspired membrane uses perfectly uniform one-nanometer pores to filter molecules with remarkable precision。 The technology could transform industries such as pharmaceuticals and textiles by reducing energy consumption, improving water reuse, and delivering separation performance far beyond current filters
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
The global cobalt supply chain is more interconnected—and more vulnerable—than previously thought, with disruptions capable of triggering far-reaching cascades across multiple countries and industries。 Researchers warn that protecting battery supply chains will require system-wide coordination because critical bottlenecks can turn local shocks into
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 discovered that rice behaves in a highly unusual way: it weakens under rapid compression but stays stronger when pressure is applied slowly。 Using this effect, they engineered a new material that reacts differently to gentle movements and sudden impacts。 The material can adapt its stiffness automatically, opening the door to safer soft r
A clever nanoscale redesign may have solved one of superconductivity’s biggest problems。 Researchers in Sweden discovered that by subtly sculpting the surface beneath an ultrathin superconducting material, they could make it stay superconducting at higher temperatures and under much stronger magnetic fields
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
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
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
NASA has selected the Artemis III crew for a high-stakes 2027 mission designed to test the future of lunar exploration。 Astronauts will launch aboard Orion and perform unprecedented docking operations with lunar landers being developed by both Blue Origin and SpaceX。 The mission will require a remarkable sequence of heavy-lift rocket launches and c