Science & Technology
New pipeline makes valuable organic acid from plants — saving money and emissions
In a breakthrough for environmentally friendly chemical production, researchers have developed an economical way to make succinic acid, an important industrial chemical, from sugarcane. The team has created a cost-effective, end-to-end pipeline for thi…
A prehistoric cosmic airburst preceded the advent of agriculture in the Levant
Agriculture in Syria started with a bang 12,800 years ago as a fragmented comet slammed into the Earth’s atmosphere. The explosion and subsequent environmental changes forced hunter-gatherers in the prehistoric settlement of Abu Hureyra to adopt agricu…
Power of rhythm as a design element in evolution and robotics
As the internet quickly fills with viral videos of futuristic robots darting and racing around like the animals they’re built to mimic, researchers say that there’s an element of their movement’s programming that should not be overlooked: rhythm.
Carbon-capture tree plantations threaten tropical biodiversity for little gain, ecologists say
The increasingly urgent climate crisis has led to a boom in commercial tree plantations in an attempt to offset excess carbon emissions. However, authors argue that these carbon-offset plantations might come with costs for biodiversity and other ecosys…
Human disease simulator lets scientists choose their own adventure
Scientists have developed a device smaller than a toddler’s shoebox — called Lattice –that can simulate any human disease in up to eight organs (cell cultures from a human organ) or test new drugs without ever entering — or harming — the body. It i…
New strategy for eye condition could replace injections with eyedrops
A new compound potentially could offer an alternative to injections for the millions of people who suffer from an eye condition that causes blindness.
Carbon capture method plucks CO2 straight from the air
Even as the world slowly begins to decarbonize industrial processes, achieving lower concentrations of atmospheric carbon requires technologies that remove existing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere — rather than just prevent the creation of it.
Instant evolution: AI designs new robot from scratch in seconds
Researchers developed the first AI to date that can intelligently design robots from scratch by compressing billions of years of evolution into mere seconds. It’s not only fast but also runs on a lightweight computer and designs wholly novel structures…
A promising treatment on the horizon for cancer-related fatigue
Cancer-related fatigue is a debilitating yet all-too-common condition, which can severely affect quality of life for patients undergoing treatment. For those struggling with CRF, there have been no effective pharmaceutical treatments for the constellat…
Large mound structures on Kuiper belt object Arrokoth may have common origin
A new study posits that the large, approximately 5-kilometer-long mounds that dominate the appearance of the larger lobe of the pristine Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth are similar enough to suggest a common origin. The study suggests that these “building …
Pregnant women offered new hope for safe and effective gestational diabetes treatment
A clinical trial into treatment for gestational diabetes, involving more than 500 pregnant women, has revealed what the lead academic has described as a significant step forward for women. The research has found benefits for both mothers and their newb…
Electronic sensor the size of a single molecule a potential game-changer
Researchers have developed a molecular-sized, more efficient version of a widely used electronic sensor, in a breakthrough that could bring widespread benefits.