Twisted 2D magnet creates skyrmions for ultra dense data storage

As the world generates more data than ever, scientists are searching for ways to store that information in smaller and more efficient formats. “As data volumes continue to grow, future magnetic storage media must be able to store information reliably at ever higher densities,” says Professor Jörg Wrachtrup, Head of…

Scientists make microplastics glow to see what they do inside your body

Tiny plastic fragments known as microplastics and nanoplastics have spread across the planet. They have been found in deep ocean waters, farmland soils, wildlife, and even inside the human body. Despite their widespread presence, researchers still do not fully understand what happens after these particles enter living organisms. A new…

Roman mosaic in Britain reveals a 2,000 year old Trojan War secret

Researchers studying what has been called one of the most important mosaics ever found in the UK say it portrays a rarely told version of the Trojan War that had largely faded from history. A new investigation by the University of Leicester explains why the well known Ketton mosaic in…

This vegan diet cut insulin use by nearly 30% in type 1 diabetes

A low-fat vegan diet that does not restrict calories or carbohydrates may help people with type 1 diabetes use less insulin and lower their insulin expenses. The findings come from new research by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, published in BMC Nutrition. Insulin is a hormone that moves glucose…

New calcium-ion battery design delivers high performance without lithium

Scientists at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have reported a major advance in calcium-ion battery (CIB) research that could reshape how energy is stored and used in daily life. By incorporating quasi-solid-state electrolytes (QSSEs), the team developed a new type of CIB designed to improve both…

The exact speed that makes an AI prosthetic arm feel like your own

As artificial intelligence powered prosthetic arms become more common, understanding how people respond to them will be essential. Acceptance depends not only on how well these devices function, but also on how natural they feel. In this study, researchers used virtual reality to create the illusion that a participant’s own…

Scientists discover hidden trigger behind achilles pain and tennis elbow

Achilles tendon pain, tennis elbow, swimmer’s shoulder, and jumper’s knee affect both young athletes and older adults. These painful conditions develop when tendons are pushed beyond their limits and repeatedly strained. “Tendons are fundamentally susceptible to overuse,” explains Jess Snedeker, a professor of orthopaedic biomechanics at ETH Zurich and Balgrist…

60,000 years ago humans were already using poisoned arrows

Scientists have detected traces of plant-based poison on Stone Age arrowheads from South Africa, marking the oldest confirmed use of arrow poison ever identified. The findings, published in Science Advances, show that people living in southern Africa 60,000 years ago already understood how to harness toxic plants to improve their…

Asteroid Bennu reveals a new pathway to life’s chemistry

When NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission returned material from asteroid Bennu in 2023, scientists confirmed that the 4.6 billion year old rocks contained amino acids, the essential molecules that make life possible. Amino acids are responsible for building proteins and peptides in DNA, and they are central to nearly every biological process.…

Radar evidence suggests a massive lava tube beneath Venus

Volcanoes are not just an Earthly phenomenon. Scientists have already identified volcanic features, including lava tubes, on both Mars and the Moon. Now researchers from the University of Trento report strong evidence that Venus also contains an empty lava tube beneath its surface. The finding adds to growing evidence that…