Credit: DepositphotosA recent Science study shows that the synthetic molecule CPMAC, developed through an international collaboration with KAUST, significantly boosts the energy efficiency and lifespan of perovskite solar cells.CPMAC is an ionic salt derived from buckminsterfullerene (C60), a carbon-based material with 60 atoms. While C60 has helped achieve record energy efficiencies in perovskite solar...
Credit: (AleksandrYu/Getty Images)A U.S. teen reportedly developed the unusually named condition "popcorn lung" after secretly vaping for three years.Popcorn lung, medically termed bronchiolitis obliterans, is a rare yet severe and irreversible lung disease that harms the small airways, causing ongoing coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and fatigue.The term "popcorn lung" originated in the early 2000s...
Credit: DepositPhotosAs tech tensions between the U.S. and China escalate, the semiconductor industry has emerged as a key battleground in this intense geopolitical conflict.Recent U.S. export restrictions have made Nvidia's H20 chip unavailable to Chinese buyers, raising questions about the future of global chip design, innovation, and market access.Valeria Bertacco, a leading expert in...
Credit: PixabayTesla's sales continued to decline in March across several European markets, hit by both consumer boycotts over Elon Musk’s policies and an aging vehicle lineup.In France, Tesla sales dropped 36.8% compared to the previous year, according to the Automotive Platform (PFA), amid a slight downturn in the overall electric car market. Sweden saw...
Image of 2024 YR4 obtained on 27 January 2025. (NASA/Magdalena Ridge 2.4m telescope/New Mexico Institute of Technology/Ryan)Asteroid 2024 YR4 is making headlines again, but there's still no reason to panic—at least for Earth. The asteroid remains no threat to our planet, with collision odds stuck at a minuscule 0.001 percent. However, the Moon might not...
Future Circular Collider would triple the LHC's size. CERN confirmed no technical barriers to building the $17 billion Future Circular Collider (FCC). Director Fabiola Gianotti stressed its importance for Europe's physics leadership amid rising competition from China. A feasibility study supports a 91-km (56-mile) tunnel under the French-Swiss border, over three times longer than the...
Credit: PixabayA newly discovered state of matter has emerged within a previously identified exotic phase in a magnetic compound.In 2016, physicists Weiguo Yin, Christopher Roth, and Alexei Tsvelik from Brookhaven National Laboratory identified a unique "half-fire, half-ice" spin-state phase in Sr₃CuIrO₆, a compound of strontium, copper, iridium, and oxygen. Now, they have uncovered its...
Three-quarters of respondents to a survey by the US-based Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence agreed that 'scaling up' LLMs was unlikely to produce artificial general intelligence.Hype around "strong" AI surpassing human intelligence is intensifying, fueled by leaders of major AI companies. However, many researchers argue these claims are more about marketing than...
(pixelshot/Canva)Chewing gum releases hundreds of plastic fragments into the mouth, researchers found, adding to concerns about microplastic exposure.A study analyzed saliva after chewing various gum brands, revealing each gram released around 100 microplastic fragments—some over 600. Frequent chewers could ingest up to 30,000 microplastics annually.However, lead researcher Sanjay Mohanty emphasized that chewing gum is...
Credit: PixabayNorthwestern University engineers have developed a groundbreaking haptic technology that goes beyond simple vibrations to replicate complex touch sensations.While traditional haptic feedback relies on basic buzzing, human skin is equipped with sensors that detect pressure, stretching, and movement. The new compact, wireless device sits on the skin and applies force in multiple directions,...
