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Imagine a battery that doesn’t rely on chemical reactions, doesn’t lose energy, and can power the next generation of ultra-powerful computers — quantum computers . This vision has just become reality. Scientists have successfully created the world’s first quantum phase battery , marking a monumental step in the journey toward fully functional quantum technologies. The battery, developed by Francesco Giazotto and Elia Strambini from the NEST-CNR Institute in Pisa, Italy , represents a completely new way of thinking about energy and computation. It’s made from an indium arsenide (InAs) nanowire in contact with aluminum superconducting leads — a design that enables it to produce energy in the quantum realm. This achievement doesn’t just improve batteries; it redefines them entirely. Quantum Computing: A Brief Refresher To understand why this is such a breakthrough, it helps to know what quantum computing is. Unlike traditional computers, which use bits (0s and 1s) to process dat...

Imagine a glove that helps stroke patients regain their grip, or a sleeve that gently assists people with movement difficulties to bend their arms. Now imagine that same technology being built — not through heavy machinery — but through knitting . That’s exactly what a team of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) has made possible. Their innovative design and fabrication tool, called PneuAct , combines soft robotics, digital knitting, and advanced sensing technology to create assistive devices that are both smart and flexible. The development marks a major step forward in the world of personalized healthcare , rehabilitation , smart homes , and even interactive gaming — all powered by soft pneumatic actuators (SPAs). What Are Soft Pneumatic Actuators (SPAs)? Soft pneumatic actuators are flexible devices powered by compressed air. Unlike rigid metal components, these actuators are soft, light...

Imagine a universe where black holes—those cosmic monsters known for their inescapable pull—could repel each other instead of attracting. Sounds impossible, right? Yet, a new theoretical study by physicists Li, Liu, and Lu has done exactly that—by constructing a new class of black holes using what’s called the curvature-induced scalarization mechanism in Einstein’s theory of gravity . Their work reveals that black holes can emerge from the same kind of “exotic matter” that makes wormholes possible—bridges that could theoretically connect distant parts of space and time. This discovery challenges one of the oldest assumptions in physics: that black holes always attract. Instead, depending on how they are formed, they might actually push each other away , or even possess negative mass —a concept that turns our traditional understanding of gravity upside down. A Century-Old Mystery Revisited To understand how revolutionary this idea is, let’s go back to the early 20th century. ...

Imagine a world where computers don’t need to be built in factories but can grow naturally—just like mushrooms. It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but researchers are turning this vision into reality. Scientists at The Ohio State University have discovered that mushrooms can act as living, organic computer components capable of processing and storing information like the chips inside your laptop or smartphone. Their findings could transform how we think about computing—paving the way for eco-friendly, brain-inspired devices that are grown instead of manufactured. The Beginning of a Living Technology Revolution Computers have always been products of metal, silicon, and electricity. But as the demand for faster and smaller devices grows, traditional materials are reaching their physical limits. Manufacturing these components consumes enormous amounts of energy and relies on rare, non-renewable minerals. This has pushed scientists to explore new, sustainable ...

For as long as humans have gazed at the night sky, we’ve wondered if someone—or something—is out there wondering about us too. The question “Are we alone in the universe?” is as old as curiosity itself. Ancient civilizations built myths, religions, and stories around celestial beings. Modern science, however, has transformed that timeless question into a structured search, armed with telescopes, equations, and now even statistical models. We’ve discovered thousands of planets orbiting distant stars, many in so-called “habitable zones” where life could potentially exist. We’ve sent probes to the edges of our solar system, scanned the skies for alien radio signals, and studied the chemistry of interstellar clouds. Yet, despite all this, we’ve found no sign of intelligent life beyond Earth. This mystery is famously captured by the Fermi Paradox , which asks: if intelligent life is common, where is everybody? A recent study by Dr. Antal Veres of the Hungarian University of Agriculture, p...

A revolutionary 3D printing method turns thin magnetic films into “muscles” that can make foldable robots move — opening new possibilities for medicine, science, and beyond. Imagine a tiny robot that can fold itself like origami, travel through your body, unfold when it reaches a wound or ulcer, and deliver medicine exactly where it’s needed — all without surgery. It sounds like something from a science fiction movie. But this vision is rapidly becoming reality, thanks to a new breakthrough in magnetic soft robotics. Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed an innovative 3D printing technique that creates paper-thin magnetic “muscles.” These thin films can be attached to origami-inspired robots, bringing them to life through movement — all powered by magnetism. The research, led by Dr. Xiaomeng Fang , an assistant professor in the Wilson College of Textiles , was recently published in Advanced Functional Materials . The development represents a major leap in ...

When we think of balloons, we usually imagine colorful spheres floating into the sky at birthday parties or twisting into fun shapes by street performers. But a new kind of balloon developed at Harvard University could soon change that image forever. This balloon doesn’t just inflate — it changes shape on command , taking inspiration from an ancient Japanese art form called kirigami . According to a new study published in the journal Advanced Materials , this shape-shifting kirigami balloon could open up entirely new possibilities in soft robotics, surgical devices, and even space exploration . It’s a remarkable example of how traditional art can spark groundbreaking scientific innovation. The Ancient Art of Kirigami Inspiring Modern Science To understand this innovation, we first need to understand kirigami . Kirigami is a traditional Japanese paper art that involves both cutting (kiri) and folding (gami) paper to create intricate designs. It’s similar to origami, but the cuts...