Research sheds new light on our hope of finding intelligent life across the galaxy. Image credit: Graham Holtshausen Unsplash What if we’re not alone in the universe? Astronomers have long been searching…
Category: Features
UN: Falling clean energy costs can provide opportunity to boost climate action during COVID-19 recovery
If governments take advantage of the ever-falling price tag of renewables to put clean energy at the heart of COVID-19 economic recovery, they can take a big step towards a healthy world,…
Human-on-a-chip provides an accurate model for the immune system
A new in vitro model of the body’s immune system better predicts its response to new therapeutics, potentially lowering the high costs and low success rates of drug discovery. Image credit: Hesperos…
Macrocycles help create green, fast-charging batteries
Researchers have created a fast-charging battery prototype that uses sodium instead of lithium, and macrocycles to store the chemical energy. Image credit: Dr. Florian Glöcklhofer Lithium-ion batteries have seen widespread success in…
Lighting the path for cells: Growing neurons in 3D patterns
Researchers use “a guiding light” to direct the 3D growth of nerve tissue with a high degree of precision. A revolution in regenerative medicine is unfolding with light being used to control…
Replacing toxins with water in the green production of plastics
Researchers use hot water and pressure to circumvent the need to use toxic chemicals in the production of organic plastics. Sustainability and efforts to curb the impending climate crisis must aim to…
When function follows form: Semiconductors that behave like metals and superconductors
Researchers tune the properties of a known semiconducting material so that it behaves like a metal, with some superconducting behavior, for more efficient electronic devices. Semiconductor materials have revolutionized the electronic industry,…
New DNA origami motor breaks speed record for nano machines
Scientists pave way for nanobots to one day diagnose and treat disease with the first DNA-based motor to run on chemical energy. Inspired by nature, scientists from Emory University have reported a…
Pioneers in Science: Katherine Johnson
In honor of the UN’s International Day of Women in Science, this week we highlight Katherine Johnson, pioneering mathematician and NASA legend. Illustration: Kieran O’Brien Katherine Johnson (also known as Katherine Goble)…
Bending the world’s strongest material … on the nanoscale
A team of Australian scientists has discovered diamond can be bent and deformed, creating possibilities for the design and engineering of new nanoscale devices. We are all familiar with the beauty of…