The device (circled, at left) has already been tested on the International Space StationNASAGiven that satellites orbit at speeds of thousands of miles per hour, it's crucial to know exactly how fast they're moving in order to prevent potential collisions. A new instrument, called the Spacecraft Speedometer, promises to significantly improve this kind of...
This spongy composite material made of porous balsa wood, lithium chloride, and iron oxide nanoparticles, can capture water from the air fairly efficientlyXingying ZhangOne of the major challenges in disaster relief is ensuring the availability of clean drinking water for those affected. Researchers from RMIT University in Australia, along with five Chinese institutes, have...
The Orion orbiterNASAThe newly released NASA budget introduces major changes: the Orion spacecraft and the Lunar Gateway space station are among the projects to be canceled. With a total of $18.8 billion, the budget reflects a $6 billion — or 24% — reduction, signaling a shift in the agency’s investments toward crewed missions to...
Credit: DepositphotosA new alarming report reveals that 28 U.S. cities are sinking, showing signs of geological subsidence that could affect buildings and infrastructure sooner than expected. While some of this is natural, 80% is the direct result of human activity.Satellite Measurements Reveal Land Shifts Across U.S. CitiesA large team of researchers, including geoscientists from...
The robots' bodies are made of molded and freeze-dried commercial fish feed, along with other biodegradable materialsAlain HerzogWhen deploying a robot into an aquatic environment without plans to retrieve it, ensuring the device is biodegradable is crucial. Swiss scientists have advanced this idea by developing tiny robots that fish can safely eat once the...
Having the ability to swim could come in quite handy for a quadruped robotIOP PublishingWhile quadruped “robot dogs” can mimic the way real dogs move on land with relative accuracy, their swimming skills often fall short—although some can walk underwater. That’s not the case for a newly developed small-scale robot, designed specifically to swim...
An artist's interpretation of BD+05 4868 Ab, a dissolving exoplanet with a long tail. (Jose-Luis Olivares/MIT)Astronomers have identified one of the most inhospitable exoplanets ever seen—a tiny world being scorched by its parent star and trailing a massive, comet-like plume of vaporized rock behind it.A Molten Planet with a Vapor TailWhile much of exoplanet research...
The StoviGo is the creation of camping enthusiastsStoviGoHeading into the great outdoors no longer means settling for basic meals — thanks to the world’s first foldable top-heating grill, you can now enjoy gourmet cooking on the go. Meet the StoviGo, a compact grill that folds down to the size of a briefcase, making it...
This is not what the sky will look like. (Jackyenjoyphotography/Moment/Getty Images)Every so often, the night sky offers us a delightful surprise — and this month, a celestial arrangement might just bring a smile to your face.A Rare Morning AlignmentIn the early morning hours of Thursday, April 24, and Friday, April 25, a rare alignment will...
The device could be voluntarily worn by patients who realize they are at risk of conditions such as depression and anxietyYangbo Yuan / Penn StateIt’s common for patients to conceal their true feelings, either from their caregivers or even themselves. A new experimental facial "sticker" aims to help with this by detecting and transmitting...
