Author - Mauro Lucas

Fossil Fuel CO2 Emissions Rise Once More in 2024

Credit: PixabayGlobal carbon emissions from fossil fuels hit a record high in 2024, according to the latest research from the Global Carbon Project. Fossil CO2 emissions are projected to reach 37.4 billion tonnes, a 0.8% increase from 2023. Despite the urgent need to cut emissions to combat climate change, researchers say there is no...

Previously Unknown Chemical Discovered in Drinking Water

Credit: PixabayDrinking water in developed countries is generally clean, yet invisible contaminants can still pose risks. For decades, scientists have puzzled over a mysterious “phantom chemical” in treated water. Now, researchers have identified this elusive compound, revealing it as entirely new to science.The Mystery of Chloramine By-ProductsChlorination is a common method for disinfecting drinking...

A Robot Designed to Enhance Structural Strength Leaves its Imprint in Wet Concrete

The Conit Runner robot has been nominated for a CES 2025 innovation awardItoneWhen we imagine freshly poured concrete, we usually think of leaving it to dry smoothly. However, a new robot, the Conit Runner, rolls over wet concrete, carving grooves to strengthen structures while reducing costs.Deep layers of wet concrete can crack as they...

This Meteorite Has Uncovered an Ancient Traces of Water on Mars

Most of the Lafayette meteorite is kept at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. (NMNH)There is increasing evidence that Mars was once a wet and watery world, with lakes and oceans shaping its surface, leaving behind sediments that are now being carefully analyzed by rovers exploring the planet’s dry, dusty landscape. We know water...

A Guilt-Free Twist on One of the World’s Most Controversial Delicacies Foie Gras

Vow's Forged Gras can be served in a number of ways - but you can only taste it at select restaurantsVowAustralian company Vow is reinventing foie gras with a cruelty-free, lab-grown version that also aims to enhance its flavor.Foie Gras ReimaginedTraditionally a French delicacy with roots in ancient Egypt, foie gras is made from...

Watch: First-Ever Nanoscale Video of Hydrogen and Oxygen Atoms Forming Water

Image from PixabayWe all know the basic equation: hydrogen plus oxygen equals water. Now, scientists have taken it a step further, capturing the very first molecular-scale video of this iconic reaction. This breakthrough could ultimately pave the way for innovative methods to produce large quantities of drinking water.Palladium, a rare element, is a highly...

First U.S. Onshore Wave Energy Project Receives Green Light

EWP is looking to complete installation of its energy system at the Port of LA site but Q1 2025, which should look and operate similar to the company's pilot setup at Jaffa Port in Israel (shown)Eco Wave PowerIn 2022, Eco Wave Energy (EWP) announced its ambitious plan to relocate its wave energy array from...

New Heat Shield Developed to Protect Next-Gen Reusable Spacecraft During Reentry

The new shield will be used on the Dream Chaser winged spacecraftSierra Space/ORNLOak Ridge National Laboratory and Sierra Space Corporation have created an advanced heat shield, inspired by 1980s Space Shuttle technology, to protect reusable spacecraft during reentry.Challenges of Atmospheric Reentry and Advances in Heat Shield TechnologyEarth's atmosphere poses a significant challenge for returning...

The latest DoD UFO report details a commercial flight near-miss.

A still of an unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) from a video recorded by US Navy fighter jets in 2015United States NavyThe skies aren’t just for UFO enthusiasts anymore—serious investigations are underway. The US Department of Defense (DoD) has released its latest report on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), offering intriguing statistics and stories from May...

RoBoa Slinks Through Disaster Areas that are Too Perilous for Other Robots

The soft-bodied RoBoa can snake its way through collapsed buildings in search of survivorsRoBoa/ETH ZurichWhen disaster strikes, drones and robots can search for survivors in dangerous zones. The student team at ETH Zurich designed the RoBoa to slither through debris that would stop other robots.Developed at the Autonomous Systems Lab, RoBoa aids rescue teams...