NASA’s futuristic X-59 jet is about to face its biggest challenge yet: breaking the sound barrier for the first time。 After a successful series of test flights that pushed the aircraft to near-supersonic speeds, engineers are preparing to fly it faster than Mach 1 and eventually up to Mach 1。6 at 60,000 feet
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
Astronomers have spent years searching for a possible hidden giant planet far beyond Neptune。 Unusual orbits among distant Kuiper Belt objects have fueled the Planet Nine theory, but recent discoveries are challenging the idea by showing more stable motion than expected。 If Planet Nine exists, it may be much farther away than originally thought
Researchers gave top AI models a classic attention test used in psychology and found a major flaw。 While the models could correctly name colors in short lists, their performance deteriorated sharply as the task became longer and more complex。 Some leading systems fell from over 90% accuracy to nearly complete failure
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
Astronomers have finally cracked the mystery behind a strange class of repeating cosmic signals that has baffled scientists for years。 Using Australia’s ASKAP radio telescope, researchers traced the bursts to a rare stellar duo in which a dense white dwarf is relentlessly siphoning material from a nearby red dwarf companion。 As the stolen matter sp
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
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
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
A remarkable crystal called molybdenum oxychloride could help make futuristic technologies like smart contact lenses and ultrathin AR glasses a reality。 Scientists have created the first detailed experimental map of its optical properties, revealing the strongest light-bending effect ever measured in a natural material。 The crystal can act either l
Scientists have created a tiny chip that can generate, steer, and read light-based information all in one device, marking a major leap toward ultra-fast, energy-efficient computing。 The breakthrough uses atomically thin materials and nanoscale structures to control a unique quantum property of light called the “valley” degree of freedom, allowing i
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 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
Researchers have discovered how microscopic imperfections and atomic vibrations can be used to control a powerful quantum effect in an advanced material。 The effect can turn alternating electrical signals from the environment directly into the kind of current electronic devices need, without traditional components。 As temperature changes, the signa
June's night sky delivers several must-see events, starting with a close encounter between Venus and Jupiter after sunset。 Mercury joins the pair to form a rare three-planet lineup, while the Moon puts on a special show by passing in front of Venus for viewers in parts of the Americas。 The month also marks the start of astronomical summer and the r