Science & Technology
Rocks on floor of Jezero Crater, Mars, show signs of sustained interactions with water
Since the Perseverance rover landed in Jezero crater on Mars in February, the rover and its team of scientists back on Earth have been hard at work exploring the floor of the crater that once held an ancient lake. Perseverance and the Mars 2020 mission…
Photon-phonon breakthrough
New research has uncovered a novel way to combine two different states of matter. For one of the first times, topological photons — light — has been combined with lattice vibrations, also known as phonons, to manipulate their propagation in a robust …
Sensitive new way of detecting transistor defects
Researchers have devised and tested a new, highly sensitive method of detecting and counting defects in transistors — a matter of urgent concern to the semiconductor industry as it develops new materials for next-generation devices.
More severely COVID-19 infected mothers more likely to have preterm birth, study finds
Researchers have discovered that the more severely infected with COVID-19 a mother is, the more likely she is to experience preterm birth.
A rare feat: Material protects against both biological and chemical threats
Researchers have developed a versatile composite fabric that can deactivate both biological threats, such as the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and chemical threats, such as those used in chemical warfare. A material that is effective against …
Engineers 3D-print personalized, wireless wearables that never need a charge
Engineers have developed a new type of wearable with several unprecedented benefits. Not only are the devices custom 3D-printed based on body scans of wearers, but they can operate continuously using a combination of wireless power transfer and compact…
Climatic impacts of black carbon aerosols over South-East Atlantic underestimated, research shows
The full magnitude of the impact of smoke from seasonal fires in Central Africa – and in particular, the potential climate warming from the absorption by the black carbon component of the aerosol – is underestimated by some climate models over the Sout…
Taking steps toward more effective fitness trackers, more physical activity
As the popularity of fitness trackers has increased, so have the opportunities to use such devices to not only track fitness goals but also increase the motivation to meet those goals. Researchers are using control systems engineering tools to tailor m…
Roman noblewoman’s tomb reveals secrets of ancient concrete resilience
Over time, concrete cracks and crumbles. Well, most concrete cracks and crumbles. Structures built in ancient Rome are still standing, exhibiting remarkable durability despite conditions that would devastate modern concrete. One of these structures is …
How plant parents ensure that their kids make it far in life
Researchers have been studying seed dispersal to understand how chemicals impact interactions between fruit and the animals that eat them.