Starlink satellites can be reverse-engineered to create new GPS
SpaceX’s Starlink satellite mega-constellation could be used to create a new, more secure global positioning system for the US Army.
Einstein’s theory of general relativity passes another test, with implications for dark matter and dark energy
Scientists carried out an ultra-precise test of a core premise of Einstein’s modern theory of gravity. The theory stood up.
How to prevent mass extinction in the ocean using AI, robots, and 3D printers
There is currently no possibility of the world reaching the 30% target for marine protected areas with existing policies. Tech to the rescue?
New tiny home village for unhoused people to open in 2023
Salt Lake City is building a new tiny home village to help Utahns experiencing chronic homelessness get off the street permanently.
Solar geoengineering could cool Earth, but some regions might continue warming
Some governments might try to “geoengineer” the planet by spraying substances into the upper atmosphere to reflect sunlight away from Earth.
Does turning the air conditioning off when you’re not home actually save energy?
Which is more efficient: running the air conditioning all day long, or turning it off during the day when you’re not there to enjoy it?
Space ads could earn $2 million a day, say Russian researchers
Space advertising could generate a profit, even though space ads would cost $65 million each, according to Russian researchers’ calculations.
Supermarket uses hydroponic farm to grow veggies onsite
By installing a hydroponic farm inside a grocery store, an Egyptian company is combating climate change while delivering a fresher product.
The technology we (or aliens) need for long-distance interstellar travel
Interstellar distances are vast, and extremely advanced technology will be required if we (or aliens) want to visit other star systems.
Merck pays Moderna $250m for personalized cancer vaccine
Pharma giant Merck has paid Moderna $250 million to co-develop and commercialize its promising mRNA-based personalized cancer vaccine.
The US is researching ways to block the sun
The US is developing a plan to study solar geoengineering, a controversial approach to combatting the effects of climate change.
Scientists discover slug that can decapitate itself, grow new body
Scientists observed two species of sea slug that were able to self-decapitate, survive for weeks without organs, and regenerate new bodies.
SpaceX announces Starlink Aviation service for planes
SpaceX is launching Starlink Aviation, a new service that will make its satellite internet network available on airplanes.
New motionless tech harnesses wind energy from rooftops
Aeromine Technologies’ motionless wind energy system promises to increase the amount of renewable energy generated from rooftops.
Is ancient technology better than modern air conditioning?
Wind catchers — an ancient technique to beat the heat — could help us once more in our quest for emissions-free cooling.
Deep brain stimulation can be life-altering for OCD sufferers when other treatment options fall short
Deep brain stimulation relies on thin electrodes implanted deep in the brain that deliver electrical currents. Could it treat OCD?
Astronomers unveil world’s largest digital camera
In 2024, the LSST Camera will begin a 10-year-long survey of space that could revolutionize astronomy — if LEOsats don’t get in the way.
Quantum entanglement wins 2022’s Nobel Prize in physics
Three pioneers — John Clauser, Alain Aspect, and Anton Zeilinger — helped make quantum information systems a bona fide science.
Five-minute breathing exercise can lower blood pressure
A simple breathing exercise called IMST can lower blood pressure as effectively as meds or aerobic exercise when done for five minutes a day.
Svante Pääbo wins Nobel Prize for discovering an extinct human species via DNA
Swedish geneticist Svante Pääbo has won the Nobel Prize for "discoveries concerning the genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution."
Meanwhile, Antarctica’s snow is turning green
On the Antarctic Peninsula, so-called snow algae are turning the snow green, which could lay the groundwork for a whole new ecosystem.
Farming robot kills 200,000 weeds per hour with lasers
Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeder is a smart farming robot that identifies weeds and then kills them using high-power lasers.
New VR app lets you step inside your smartphone videos
Early-stage startup Wist Labs is developing a VR app that converts smartphone clips into 3D videos users can step inside.
Space junk created the world’s largest dump. Here’s how we can fix it.
From "laser brooms" to massive nets, space organizations have proposed many ways to clean up the mess of space debris.
Why does nature create patterns?
A physicist explains the molecular-level processes behind crystals, stripes, and basalt columns in nature.
New vaccine prevents 94% of severe RSV cases
UK drugmaker GSK’s RSV vaccine was nearly 95% effective at preventing severe infection in a phase 3 trial of older adults.
AI is able to spot diseases before symptoms appear
New AI tools are helping doctors screen healthy patients for diseases early, when treatments are most effective.
Startup builds “inflatable” concrete houses in just hours
Automatic Construction can erect a concrete house in less than two hours thanks to a new technique involving inflatable fabric molds.
As Ebola reaches Ugandan capital, vaccines race to catch up
Caused by the Sudan strain of Ebola, current vaccines and therapies approved for Ebola won’t work in Uganda. But these might.
UK scientists solve a decades-long blood mystery
Researchers have discovered a new blood group which may have been behind the tragic loss of two babies.
First-of-its-kind rocket engine nears first flight test
To build the world’s first fully reusable rocket, startup Stoke Space is completely reimagining what a rocket engine should look like.
New process could make plastic recycling more profitable
A new process that combines chemical recycling with engineered bacteria could make plastic recycling more profitable.
Male birth control options are in development, but a number of barriers still stand in the way
A survey of over 9,000 men in nine countries found that over 55% would be willing to use a new method of male birth control.
New MIT system could cool buildings up to 10℃— without electricity
MIT’s new “passive cooling” system could break the spiral of more air conditioning.
Like genes, your gut microbes pass from one generation to the next
Not only did microbes diversify with their early modern human hosts as they traveled across the globe, they followed human evolution.
Meta unveils new VR headset for work in the metaverse
Connect 2022 brought Meta’s vision of the future of work into sharper focus, with the reveal of a new headset, a major partnership, and more.
Stanford engineers warn that electric car charging could crash a grid powered by renewable energy
Most electric car charging is done at night. A grid powered mostly by renewable energy might not be able to meet demand.
Genetically engineered bacteria make living materials for self-repairing walls and cleaning up pollution
With just an incubator and some broth, researchers can grow reusable filters made of bacteria to clean up pollution and more.
NASA’s mission proves it can redirect an asteroid — and potentially save Earth
NASA has confirmed that its DART spacecraft altered the orbit of the Dimorphos asteroid — a huge win for planetary defense efforts.
First-of-its-kind surgery may have helped reverse baby’s paralysis
The first recipient of a groundbreaking spina bifida treatment is now one year old and showing no signs of leg paralysis.
World’s whitest paint is now thin enough for cars, planes
A new, thinner version of the world’s whitest paint could slash the need for climate-harming air conditioning in cars, airplanes, and more.
Sea turtles in Seychelles have recovered from the brink
The green turtles of Seychelles – once almost hunted to extinction – are now thriving again thanks to conservation efforts.
It may be possible to treat inherited blindness, even in adults
A new mouse study suggests that synthetic retinoids may be able to help restore vision in adults with Leber congenital amaurosis.
How NASA plans to stop killer asteroids
NASA's planetary defense researchers are tracking potentially hazardous objects in space and developing tech to destroy or deflect them.
Walking to school is more likely to keep kids active as they age
Children who walk or bike to school at a young age are more likely to continue the habit as they age, a new study shows.
Cambridge researchers have discovered how cancer spreads
New research out of the University of Cambridge may have discovered a mechanism behind metastasis.
New test catches deadly bloodstream infections much faster
Bloodstream infections have a high mortality rate. But a new test to catch them faster could lead to more saved lives.
A cure for blindness may be first product made in space
An ISS experiment suggests that manufacturing artificial retinas in space will make them more effective at reversing blindness.
A newly discovered class of RNA can fight off multiple viruses, including flu and SARS-CoV-2
Harvard-affiliated researchers have discovered a form of double-stranded RNA which may be a potent antiviral.
Electric planes are coming: Short-hop regional flights could be running on batteries in a few years
Aerospace engineer Gökçin Çınar discusses sustainable aviation concepts, including hybrid-electric planes and hydrogen fuel alternatives.
Tiny robots completely clear out deadly pneumonia infection in mice
Researchers have created microscopic robots capable of clearing pneumonia from the lungs of mice.
A modified herpes virus completely wiped out a terminal cancer
In a small phase 1 trial of a herpes-based cancer therapy, one patient had their tumors completely eliminated.
Biden pardons federal cannabis possession cases, urges states to do the same
The Biden administration is pardoning federal possession offenses, encouraging states to do the same, and reexamining its drug scheduling.
Three reasons “you” won’t return after this life
Entire religions are constructed around theories of an afterlife, but former monk Stephen Batchelor lists three reasons you won't come back.
Paradox-free time travel is “logically” possible, say physicists
An undergraduate and his supervisor ran the numbers and found paradox-free time travel to be mathematically consistent.
SpaceX wants to save Hubble. NASA may be on board.
NASA and SpaceX may use a Dragon spacecraft to boost the Hubble Space Telescope into a higher, life-saving orbit.
You could soon get a piece of $700 million Liquid Death
Canned water startup Liquid Death, now valued at $700 million, is considering going public in the next two years.
Webb, Hubble capture spacecraft slamming into asteroid
DART collision images captured by NASA's Hubble and James Webb space telescopes show what happens when a spacecraft slams into an asteroid.
Inventions that are fighting the rise of facial recognition technology
Combating the rise of facial-recognition technology, designers have created clothing and accessories to help to conceal people's identities.
Elon Musk demos humanoid robot, which will cost less than $20K
CEO Elon Musk unveiled two prototypes of the humanoid Tesla robot, expected to cost less than $20,000, at his company’s second annual AI Day.
I used generative AI to create pictures of painting robots, but I’m not the artist — humanity is
Generative AI systems are incredible and hugely important, but they are not creative. In fact, they’re not even intelligent.
Scientists claim “never before” seen results in ALS clinical trial
The ability of tofersen, a gene-based treatment for ALS, to improve symptoms is being hailed as a “treatment milestone.”
If you want people to like you, try talking more, not less
People tend to think they should speak less than half the time to be likable but more than half the time to be interesting.
The key to cheaper lab-grown meat? Magnets.
A new technique for making lab-grown meat uses magnets to eliminate the need for fetal bovine serum, an expensive, controversial substance.
Watch a robot barista create latte art
New funding will allow Seattle-based startup Artly Coffee to bring its robot barista to more US locations.
Study finds a striking difference between neurons of humans and other mammals
Researchers identified a “building plan” that holds true for every species they looked at — except for humans.
Bruce Willis sells his likeness for a deepfake ad
Retired actor Bruce Willis had a "digital twin" made so that his likeness could be inserted into a new project using deepfake tech.
New Alzheimer’s drug slows mental decline by 27% in clinical trial
Eisai and Biogen are reporting that their new Alzheimer’s antibody slowed cognitive decline by 27% in a global trial.
Shape-shifting DNA is helping researchers decode the human brain
Researcher Nako Nakatsuka has turned to DNA to tackle an important challenge: how do we measure chemicals in the brain?
What’s causing the alarming rise in cancer for adults under 50?
A new review finds that 14 different cancers, including eight related to the digestive system, are increasing in people under age 50.
Brain-zapping tech improves memory by more than 50%
A brain-zapping "memory prosthesis" funded by DARPA improved trial participants' ability to retain new information by more than 50%.
Human composting is now legal in five states
California is now the fifth state to legalize human composting, a more environmentally friendly alternative to burial or cremation.
I’ve had COVID and am constantly getting colds. Did COVID harm my immune system?
Does COVID somehow weaken the immune system to make us more prone to other infectious diseases? Here's what scientists know.
“Up to 2.4 million new apartments” legalized by bipartisan California legislation
Millions of new apartments in commercial areas and near transit have been legalized by new California laws just signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
A neural network discovered Copernicus’ heliocentricity on its own
Scientists trained a neural network to predict the movements of Mars and the Sun, which placed the Sun at the center of our solar system.
From CDs to NFTs: Starbucks’ surprising history of embracing new tech
Starbucks’ newly-announced blockchain platform is just the latest example of the chain’s early embracement of tech.
This floating fence can catch plastic waste before it hits the sea
The majority of oceanic plastic waste comes from rivers and coasts. Floating fences may help stop it at the source.
This Stable Diffusion mod will turn you into a Pokémon
Stable Diffusion, an open-source text-to-image AI, has been modified to generate Pokémon-like characters from simple text prompts.
Scientists discover animal that doesn’t need oxygen to live
The parasite infects salmon and lives within the fish muscle, though scientists aren't quite sure how it breaks down nutrients for survival.
Starlink turns on coverage over Iran to bypass censorship
Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet is active over Iran, but the terminals to access it must make it inside the country.
For the first time, scientists can switch cancer-fighting cells on and off
While it can be effective, CAR-T cancer therapy can also cause dangerous side effects. But a new on/off switch could change that.
Watch NASA’s DART spacecraft slam into an asteroid
NASA has slammed its DART spacecraft into an asteroid in the world’s first demonstration of planetary defense technology.
How do DALL-E, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and other forms of generative AI work?
DALL-E and other types of generative AI can produce images that look like photographs, paintings, or drawings that were created by humans.
Elon Musk: Starship rocket “highly likely” to fly in November
SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket is “highly likely” to complete its first orbital test flight in November 2022, according to CEO Elon Musk.
Creatine, a popular exercise supplement, might help treat depression
Creatine shows promise as a treatment for depression, boosting the effects of SSRIs and potentially working as a standalone medication.
China has discovered a brand new moon mineral
A new moon mineral discovered by China contains helium-3, an element that could one day fuel nuclear fusion reactors on Earth.
Axolotls can regenerate their brains
Axolotls are a model organism researchers use to study a variety of topics in biology because of their regenerative abilities.
World’s first cloned arctic wolf is now 100 days old
After two years of effort, China's Sinogene Biotechnology has created the world’s first cloned arctic wolf.
NASA’s DART spacecraft is about to smash into an asteroid
The DART spacecraft is now close enough to image the asteroid system it plans to slam into as part of NASA’s planetary defense efforts.
This start-up is recycling abandoned wooden homes in Baltimore
The Baltimore Wood Project salvages wood from buildings to repurpose and resell locally to create a circular economy.
Forensic techniques help discover charred remains of ancient meteor impacts
Unique clues in charcoal can reveal hidden impact craters, helping insure we’re better prepared in the future.
Air Canada orders 30 electric-hybrid aircraft for takeoff in 2028
Flag carrier Air Canada has announced plans to have electric-hybrid planes on regional and commuter routes by 2028.
New treatment “starves” aggressive brain tumors in mice
A treatment that “starved” aggressive glioblastoma tumors in the brains of mice suggests a way to finally fight the deadly cancer in humans.
Are near-death experiences just psychedelic trips?
One possible explanation of near death experiences is that our brains are flooded with a hallucinogenic, DMT.
Brick batteries may be a key to decarbonizing heavy industry
By storing renewable energy as heat in brick “batteries,” Rondo Energy believes they can decarbonize heavy industry.
Meth addiction treatments are finally on the horizon
New antibody and drug therapies may soon help treat meth patients, who currently have no pharmacological interventions.
Laser scans reveal ancient cities hidden in the Amazon river basin
Lidar technology reveals the surprisingly complex infrastructure and urban planning that united Casarabe settlements.
Continents may be the key to whether exoplanets can harbor life
New simulations of continent distribution could help astronomers assess whether newly-discovered exoplanets may be habitable.
Identical twins were raised in different countries. Here’s how they differ today.
After being separated as toddlers, two identical twins were raised apart in the US and South Korea.
An old anti-psychotic offers a new way to treat chronic pain
Researchers have found that an old anti-psychotic drug may have implications for chronic pain and cancer.