“Hybrid” brain cells found to recognize familiar faces faster

Functionally, human faces basically all look the same – and yet, our brains are extremely fast at recognizing the faces of people important to us. Now, a new study has identified a previously unknown population of brain cells that may be hybrids of sen… Continue reading “Hybrid” brain cells found to recognize familiar faces faster→

Mixed up membrane desalinates water with 99.99 percent efficiency

That ancient mariner was onto something when he said “water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink” – the vast majority of water on Earth is undrinkable. Desalination could be a vital technology to meet the world’s drinking water needs, and now Korea… Continue reading Mixed up membrane desalinates water with 99.99 percent efficiency→

Fleet-footed insect robot can turn on a dime (literally)

Engineers at University of California, Berkeley have created an insect-like robot that can scamper along quickly and turn on a dime – perhaps literally. The bot owes its fancy footwork to… well, its fancy feet, which use varying voltages to alternate s… Continue reading Fleet-footed insect robot can turn on a dime (literally)→

Scientists create solid crystal form of electrons in the lab

Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a crystal made entirely of electrons. The structures have been theorized for decades, but this marks the first time they’ve been experimentally confirmed in the lab.Continue ReadingCategory: Physics, ScienceTags: … Continue reading Scientists create solid crystal form of electrons in the lab→

CRISPR gene-editing tested in space for first time in DNA damage study

The CRISPR gene-editing tool has been successfully used in space for the first time. Researchers onboard the International Space Station have edited colonies of yeast to study how they repair DNA damage, which could be the first steps towards finding w… Continue reading CRISPR gene-editing tested in space for first time in DNA damage study→

Volcanic brine mines could be green sources of copper, gold and lithium

One hurdle standing in the way of a transition to renewable energy is the increased need for mining that these technologies bring. Now, Oxford scientists are investigating a new way to mine valuable metals trapped in hot brines beneath volcanoes – with… Continue reading Volcanic brine mines could be green sources of copper, gold and lithium→

Smallest, densest white dwarf ever packs 1.3 Suns into the Moon

Astronomers have discovered the smallest but most massive white dwarf ever found: the tiny star is only about the size of our Moon, but packs in more mass than the Sun. That means it’s approaching the theoretical limit of what’s possible without explod… Continue reading Smallest, densest white dwarf ever packs 1.3 Suns into the Moon→

New beetle species discovered perfectly preserved in fossilized feces

Amber is one of the best materials for preserving insects and small creatures, and it’s beautiful to boot. But now it might have some competition (in the preservation field, anyway) – fossilized feces. A hapless beetle has become the first species to h… Continue reading New beetle species discovered perfectly preserved in fossilized feces→

New five-metal alloy makes for 2D catalyst to convert CO2 into fuels

Researchers have created an unusual new alloy made up of not two, but five different metals, and put it to work as a catalyst. The new material is two-dimensional, and was able to convert carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide effectively, potentially hel… Continue reading New five-metal alloy makes for 2D catalyst to convert CO2 into fuels→

Thermoelectric generator contrasts heat of Sun and cold of space

Engineers at Japan’s National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) have developed a new type of thermoelectric generator that produces an electric current through a temperature gradient. By absorbing heat from the Sun on one surface and emitting it f… Continue reading Thermoelectric generator contrasts heat of Sun and cold of space→