Researchers have developed a sustainability metric for the ecological design of plastic products that have low persistence in the environment. Adhering to this metric could provide substantial environmental and societal benefits, according to a new study. ​Researchers have developed a sustainability metric for the ecological design of plastic products that have low persistence in the …

Accounting for plastic persistence can minimize environmental impacts Read More »

Mycelial fibers, the fibrous cells found in fruiting mushroom bodies, have gained momentum as a sustainable material for making faux-leather and packaging owing to their excellent formability. Recently, a team of researchers has found a simple way of obtaining mycelial fibers, called ‘mycelial pulp,’ from fruiting mushroom bodies and bleaching them using sunlight while keeping …

A novel strategy for extracting white mycelial pulp from fruiting mushroom bodies Read More »

Hydrogen energy has emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuels, offering a clean and sustainable energy source. However, the development of low-cost and efficient catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction remains a crucial challenge. Scientists have recently developed a novel strategy to engineer stable and efficient ultrathin nanosheet catalysts by forming Turing structures with multiple …

Revolutionizing stable and efficient catalysts with Turing structures for hydrogen production Read More »

Whirligig beetles, the world’s fastest-swimming insect, achieve surprising speeds by employing a strategy shared by fast-swimming marine mammals and waterfowl, according to a new study that rewrites previous explanations of the physics involved. ​Whirligig beetles, the world’s fastest-swimming insect, achieve surprising speeds by employing a strategy shared by fast-swimming marine mammals and waterfowl, according to …

Fastest swimming insect could inspire uncrewed boat designs Read More »

To address natural resource scarcity, pollution, and other harmful effects of climate change, some scientists and policymakers emphasize the adoption of input-efficient technologies like water-saving devices and fuel-saving stoves. Proponents often refer to these input-efficient technologies as ‘win-win,’ for the benefits to their users and to the environment, and lament their low adoption rates by …

No win-win? Input-efficient technologies might not be so efficient after all Read More »

Using a new technology, diagnosing lung cancer could become as easy as inhaling a sensor and then taking a urine test that reveals whether a tumor is present. ​Using a new technology, diagnosing lung cancer could become as easy as inhaling a sensor and then taking a urine test that reveals whether a tumor is …

Inhalable sensors could enable early lung cancer detection Read More »

Researchers have used a soft, wearable robot to help a person living with Parkinson’s walk without freezing. The robotic garment, worn around the hips and thighs, gives a gentle push to the hips as the leg swings, helping the patient achieve a longer stride. The device completely eliminated the participant’s freezing while walking indoors, allowing …

Soft robotic, wearable device improves walking for individual with Parkinson’s disease Read More »

NASA is hoping to gather evidence that its X-59 aircraft will be able to fly at the speed of sound quietly, justifying a change in the regulations to allow supersonic commercial aviation ​NASA is hoping to gather evidence that its X-59 aircraft will be able to fly at the speed of sound quietly, justifying a …

NASA unveils X-59 plane to test supersonic flight over US cities Read More »

A secure exchange between a merchant and a buyer has been successfully tested as a proof of concept using a small quantum computing network in China ​A secure exchange between a merchant and a buyer has been successfully tested as a proof of concept using a small quantum computing network in China A secure exchange between …

First unhackable shopping transactions carried out on quantum internet Read More »

An artificial intelligence model can discern whether fingerprints from different fingers come from the same person, which could make forensic investigations more efficient. ​An artificial intelligence model can discern whether fingerprints from different fingers come from the same person, which could make forensic investigations more efficient. An artificial intelligence model can discern whether fingerprints from different …

AI can tell if prints from two different fingers belong to same person Read More »