American researchers aim for nuclear energy breakthrough with high-speed chemical rockets — here’s how it could change the future of spacecraft
American researchers from the University of Michigan received $35 million from the US Space Force to develop a spacecraft powered by a nuclear microreactor. The idea is for the spacecraft to be powered by both chemical rockets and electric propulsion. This would allow it to maneuver in space without being constrained by a limited fuel […]
Ancient Town From 4,000 Years Ago Found Hidden in Saudi Arabian Oasis
Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient fortified town called al-Natah hidden in an oasis in Saudi Arabia. Radiocarbon dating indicates the town was inhabited 4000 years ago during the early Bronze Age, around 2400 BC. It was located within the walled oasis of Khaybar in northwest Saudi Arabia and covered an area of […]
Scientists Just Revealed Exactly What Happens When an Atom Splits in Two
Scientists have developed the first fully microscopic simulation of what occurs when an atom undergoes nuclear fission, or splits in two. The simulation modeled the fission of uranium-238, plutonium‐240, and californium-252 under different conditions using a national lab supercomputer. It revealed the fission process occurs in 4 main steps over different timescales: 1) Initial rearrangement […]
‘Horizon’ plane’s innovative shape promises greener flights and added comfort
A startup called Natilus is developing a new type of passenger plane called the Horizon that has a blended wing body design, where the wings merge smoothly into the main body of the aircraft. This type of design is more innovative than the traditional tube-and-wing structure of most commercial airplanes. It promises lower emissions and […]
Strange green spots on Mars found by NASA’s Perseverance rover
NASA’s Perseverance rover recently took nighttime images of a rock outcrop on Mars called the Malgosa Crest abrasion patch using its SHERLOC WATSON camera. The images revealed unexpected green-hued spots within the predominantly red Martian rock. The largest green spot was about 2 mm in diameter. On Earth, similar green spots in red rocks can […]
Ultra-thin film that absorbs nearly all electromagnetic waves could improve reliability of wireless communication
Researchers in South Korea have developed an ultra-thin film composite material that can absorb over 99% of electromagnetic waves across multiple frequency bands, including those used for 5G/6G, WiFi and autonomous vehicle radars. The material is less than 0.5mm thick but has a reflectance of less than 1% and absorbance over 99%. This is much […]
Event horizon telescope captures the highest-resolution black hole images from Earth
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration has achieved the highest resolution observations ever from Earth by detecting light at 345 GHz from the centers of distant galaxies. This higher frequency allows for sharper images and insights into black holes and their environments. By using very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) across multiple telescopes, the EHT creates […]
Zinc-air battery powers breakthrough in green hydrogen production
Researchers at KAIST in South Korea developed a new hydrogen production system that uses a zinc-air battery to power the process, reducing fire risks. Currently, green hydrogen produced via water electrolysis with renewable energy has efficiency issues due to fluctuations in sources like solar and wind. Air batteries can be used instead but require expensive […]
This Skeleton Is The First Person Ever Found From a Norse Saga
– Scientists have analyzed the bones of a man found in a well at Sverresborg Castle in Norway from 1938. – This fits with a passage from the 800-year-old Norse saga Sverris Saga, which describes invaders throwing a dead body into the castle well. – DNA analysis found the bones belong to a man aged […]
Brain Scans Show Neuron Structures Look Different in Kids With Autism
– Researchers used advanced MRI techniques to examine the brain structures of 142 autistic children and compare them to 8,971 non-autistic children. – The scans revealed differences in neuron densities in parts of the cerebral cortex involved in learning, reasoning, problem-solving and memory formation. Specifically, lower densities were found. – Higher neuron densities were detected […]