An intriguing thought experiment catalogs which of our interstellar neighbors might be gazing back at us. Artist’s impression of the planets orbiting the red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1. Image credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser “Are…
A nasal spray to prevent viral infection
A polymer composite spray was shown to not only limit SARS-CoV-2 infection, but also hinders transmission in this proof-of-concept study. Image credit: Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash Our awareness to the risk of…
New images help solve the mystery of Betelgeuse’s dimming
New images confirm that the star was partially concealed by a cloud of dust, solving the mystery of the ‘Great Dimming’ of Betelgeuse. Image credit: ESO/M. Montargès et al. Early last year,…
Why is there hype around the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine?
The protein-based vaccine has been highly anticipated, showing high efficacy against variants of concern. Yesterday, the American biotechnology company Novavax announced the results of its Phase III clinical trial for its new…
A smart microneedle patch to monitor and manage diabetes
Minimally invasive smart patches can continuously monitor glucose blood levels and administer insulin as needed. Diabetes is a serious metabolic disease that affects 422 million people worldwide, with around 1.6 million deaths…
Why are antiviral drugs for COVID-19 difficult to find?
Viruses are so varied and evolve so quickly that creating effective treatments against them becomes a daunting task. Image credit: Christina Victoria Craft on Unsplash The COVID-19 pandemic has raged for over…
A powerful underwater glue inspired by barnacles and mussels
Using silk proteins, researchers create crosslinking fibers that contain iron complexes similar to those used by sticky underwater sea creatures. Image credit: Andreas Haslinger Unsplash It comes as no surprise, but we…
“Artificial sun” breaks a new fusion record
New milestone in fusion energy made with China’s HL-2M Tokamak reactor. Fusion reactor Tokamak. Shutterstock China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) set a new world record last week when its “artificial sun”…
How can we leverage heritage in a changing global climate?
A resident walks the streets of Fez, Morocco, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Image credit: Chrissie Giannakoudi Unsplash Tucked away in a remote Indonesian cave lies a key component in the evolution of…
A robot that smiles back
Eva mimics human facial expressions in real-time from a living stream camera. Creative Machines Lab Nonverbal communication is a significant part of our ability to communicate with one another, often carrying greater…