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 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
NASA says a long-running air leak aboard the ISS recently worsened, leading engineers to investigate new suspected crack locations and consider a riskier repair strategy。 Astronauts were temporarily moved into a safe haven as a precaution before the repair was postponed for further analysis
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
Deep beneath the ground in China, the massive JUNO neutrino observatory has delivered its first major scientific breakthrough, achieving one of the most precise measurements yet of how elusive neutrinos change as they travel。 Using just 59 days of data, researchers sharply improved measurements of key neutrino properties, boosting confidence that J
NASA’s PExT terminal has shown that spacecraft can seamlessly communicate through multiple government and commercial networks, a major step beyond traditional single-network systems。 The mission is now expanding to test new capabilities that could help create a more flexible, reliable communications infrastructure for future space missions
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 proposed a new method for finding tightly bound supermassive black hole pairs by searching for stars that flash repeatedly as their light is magnified by the black holes’ gravity。 The timing and brightness of these bursts could provide a unique fingerprint of black holes slowly spiraling toward a future collision
New studies suggest consciousness can't be judged solely by behavior, whether it's a chatbot discussing philosophy or a bee searching for nectar。 Researchers are increasingly focusing on the internal mechanisms of brains and computers, concluding that today's AI is likely not conscious while leaving open the possibility for both conscious insects a
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
Isar Aerospace is not hurting for money, but it is sorely lacking in the currency of flight experience
Scientists at the University of Hong Kong have created a remarkable new type of brain-inspired chip that can function just above absolute zero, one of the coldest environments imaginable。 By using a standard silicon carbide transistor in a completely new way, the team made a single device behave like an energy-efficient neuron, firing electrical “s
Transferring genes across species doesn't just happen in microbes
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has uncovered unusual chemistry in interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, including the first direct detection of methane on a visitor from another star system。 The comet also contains exceptionally high levels of carbon dioxide, making it unlike most comets born in our solar system。 Scientists believe the methane was hidden