Berkeley Labs creates first fully magnetic liquids

Magnets as we know them are always solid, but the closest thing we have to a magnetic liquid is a class called of liquids called ferrofluids. Made up of iron-oxide particles suspended in liquids, these materials are only magnetic temporarily,… Continue reading Berkeley Labs creates first fully magnetic liquids

Brain-mimicking chip uses different-colored light to learn and forget

The human brain is still a far more powerful computer than anything it itself has created so far. It’s no wonder then that engineers have recently focused on trying to emulate the structure of the brain with artificial synapses. Now, a team o… Continue reading Brain-mimicking chip uses different-colored light to learn and forget

Red wine compound could help astronauts keep their muscle mass

It’s been said that red wine has health benefits, with studies suggesting it can help fight cancer, obesity, aging, and even cavities. Now, a new study may add muscle loss to the list. In tests on rats, a Harvard team has found that a red win… Continue reading Red wine compound could help astronauts keep their muscle mass

Nintendo refreshes the Switch with a battery-boosting new model

Just a week after Nintendo announced the Switch Lite, the company has quietly unveiled a new hardware revision for its full-sized console. Nintendo Switch consoles sold after August will have a much better battery life than the two-year-old m… Continue reading Nintendo refreshes the Switch with a battery-boosting new model

Bacteria self-defense mechanisms uncovered, opening new drug targets

Evolution has obviously helped humans get to where we are today – but now it’s working against us. Bacteria are rapidly developing resistance to our best drugs, hurtling us towards a future where antibiotics simply don’t work anymore. Now a t… Continue reading Bacteria self-defense mechanisms uncovered, opening new drug targets

Tabletop-sized gravitational wave detector could shed light on dark matter

It can take huge equipment to detect the tiniest things, and that’s particularly true when it comes to gravitational waves. The LIGO detector uses 4-km-long (2.5-mi) arms to pick up distortions just a thousandth of the width of a proton. But … Continue reading Tabletop-sized gravitational wave detector could shed light on dark matter

Asteroid that had a chance to hit Earth in September is a no-show

A few months ago, the asteroid 2006 QV89 grabbed headlines thanks to it having a slim chance of striking Earth this September. But now it seems that the potentially-hazardous space rock has missed its appointment. ESA has confirmed that the a… Continue reading Asteroid that had a chance to hit Earth in September is a no-show

Martian microbes may be snacking on space dust

Modern Mars is a desolate husk of a planet, as far as life is concerned. But it’s not completely uninhabitable, since microbes could be hiding in the cracks of rocks and dirt. And now a new study has found a possible food source for these org… Continue reading Martian microbes may be snacking on space dust

Coating cells in hydrogel help protect implanted tissue from the immune system

Bone marrow transplants are a common treatment for certain conditions related to the blood, but the patient’s immune system can often react badly to the foreign cells and attack them. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) may help, but they too ca… Continue reading Coating cells in hydrogel help protect implanted tissue from the immune system

Traces of two unknown archaic human species turn up in modern DNA

Fossils are the most reliable way we can piece together the history of humans, but some clues have been inside us all along. The human genome can tell us where we’ve come from, and it’s hiding more than a few surprises. Now researchers from t… Continue reading Traces of two unknown archaic human species turn up in modern DNA