NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made progress in its study of exoplanets, which are planets beyond the Solar System, including the TRAPPIST-1 system that hosts seven Earth-sized worlds. One of the most common exoplanet types are mini-Neptunes, which are widespread throughout the Milky Way. In this regard, the astronomers have chosen their targets
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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has launched a pilot program to test facial recognition technology at 16 airports across the United States. This voluntary program aims to improve the accuracy of identity verification without slowing down the speed of passengers passing through checkpoints. However, some critics have raised concerns about questions of bias in facial
The Milky Way has a pair of symmetrical gas blobs that extend above and below the galactic plane. These are known as eROSITA bubbles after the X-ray telescope that discovered them in 2020. The bubbles are located in the Milky Way’s circumgalactic medium, which extends 45,661 light-years on either side of the galactic center. New
A group of international researchers has developed a new surface coating technology that has the potential to significantly increase electron emission in materials. This breakthrough is expected to enhance the production of high-efficiency electron sources and improve the performance of electron microscopes, electron beam lithography systems, and synchrotron radiation facilities. The Importance of Free Electrons
Scientists from Jilin University, the Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, and Skoltech have developed a new material that could be a significant step toward the creation of a material that conducts electricity with zero resistance at near-room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Researchers are currently exploring polyhydrides, which are compounds with extremely
Understanding the behavior of battery materials during charging and discharging is essential for improving the performance of existing batteries and developing new materials for future batteries. One such material that has become increasingly significant for future batteries is LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2, also known as NMC811. However, this material often experiences an irreversible capacity loss between the first
Semaglutide, a popular drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, has been found to have a new potential benefit. While it was originally designed to help diabetic patients regulate their blood sugar levels, a small study has discovered that it could help restore the function of immune cells that target cancer, regardless of whether people
Dubbed as the “censorship bill” by critics, Brazil’s Bill 2630/2020 is a measure to regulate disinformation online. Introduced in 2020 to address the flood of disinformation online, the legislation stalled in the lower house after passing the Senate. It resurfaced after supporters of far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro ran riot in Brasilia in January, incited by
Fugitive cryptocurrency entrepreneur Do Kwon, who has been in custody in Montenegro since March, may be released on bail as he awaits trial for document forgery. The Terraform founder was arrested at the capital’s airport carrying alleged fake travel documents. Kwon’s company’s dramatic collapse last year wiped out around $40 billion of investors’ money and
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a popular plastic used to manufacture single-use products such as plastic bottles and packaging due to its rigidity, transparency, and hardness. However, PET’s durability also makes it highly persistent in the environment, potentially taking several hundred years to degrade in the ocean. The biodegradation of PET by polyester hydrolases (or PETases)
Linda Yaccarino is a veteran ad executive who has now become the new CEO of Twitter, which is now called X Corp. She has worked in various advertising executive roles for decades. Before joining Twitter, she worked at NBCUniversal, where she oversaw integrating the companies’ ad sales platforms. Her most recent title was Chairman, Advertising
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology have developed new synthetic metabolic pathways that can turn carbon dioxide into a valuable material for the biochemical industry. The process uses formic acid, which is produced through artificial photosynthesis, to create highly reactive formaldehyde. Formaldehyde can then be fed into metabolic pathways to produce other
As the demand for energy continues to rise, renewable energy solutions are necessary to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. One such solution is microbial electrochemical technology, which uses microorganisms to convert organic matter into electricity. This technology is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly, making it an attractive option for green energy systems. Cathode materials play
An EPA-certified laboratory has discovered that 18 popular brands of contact lenses contain traces of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyls), also known as ‘forever chemicals.’ The organic fluorine, a marker for PFAS, ranged from 105 parts per million (ppm) to 20,700 ppm. Although it is unknown whether PFAS in contact lenses is dangerous to consumer health,
Eli Lilly, a US pharmaceutical company, has announced encouraging clinical trial results for its new Alzheimer’s medication, donanemab. The experimental drug has demonstrated in a late-stage trial that it can slow cognitive decline by 35%, by targeting amyloid plaques in the brain, a common hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Beta-amyloid, a protein that plays an important
