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For decades, scientists have been searching for better ways to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and make use of the enormous amount of plant waste generated around the world. Now, researchers have taken a major step toward that goal. A team led by the University of Alicante (UA) in Spain, working with the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) and several international partners, has developed a groundbreaking technology that transforms lignin—a common but difficult-to-use component of plants—into valuable products such as vanillin and biodegradable plastic materials. Published in the journal Nature Communications , the research offers a new path toward a cleaner, more sustainable chemical industry while supporting the growing circular economy. What Is Lignin and Why Is It Important? Lignin is one of the most abundant organic materials on Earth. It makes up nearly 30% of plant biomass and acts like a natural glue that gives trees and plants their strength and rigidity. Every year...

Black holes are usually imagined as giant cosmic monsters that form when massive stars die. But scientists believe another type of black hole may also exist—one that is incredibly tiny and may have formed shortly after the Big Bang. These objects are called primordial black holes (PBHs) . A new study has explored what would happen if one of these tiny black holes became trapped inside a star like our Sun. The results are surprising. According to the research, even an extremely small primordial black hole could slowly grow over time and eventually consume the entire star. What Are Primordial Black Holes? Primordial black holes are different from the black holes we normally hear about. They are not created by collapsing stars. Instead, scientists think they may have formed in the first moments after the Big Bang, when the Universe was extremely hot and dense. Some of these black holes could be very small. In fact, the study examined primordial black holes with masses as low as one ten-qu...

Imagine a normal star like our Sun. It shines steadily for billions of years, powered by nuclear fusion. Now imagine something extremely strange happening inside it — a tiny black hole, smaller than an asteroid, quietly enters the star and gets trapped at its center. According to a new theoretical study by Ore Gottlieb and team , this is not just science fiction. These tiny objects, called primordial black holes (PBHs) , could exist as a form of dark matter and may sometimes get captured by stars. Once this happens, the star becomes something completely new: a “Hawking star.” This idea could change how we understand dark matter, star deaths, and even cosmic explosions. What Are Primordial Black Holes? Primordial black holes are not formed by dying stars like normal black holes. Instead, scientists think they may have formed just after the Big Bang , when the Universe was extremely hot and dense. They are very different from usual black holes: They can be extremely small Some can weigh ...

A major step toward clean aviation has been achieved by researchers in Scotland, who have developed a 100 kW fully superconducting aviation motor . This experimental technology could become a key building block for future electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft, potentially transforming how the world flies. The prototype has been created by the Applied Superconductivity Laboratory (ASL) at the University of Strathclyde. It represents one of the first successful attempts in the world to build a fully superconducting axial-flux motor designed specifically for aviation use . Why This Motor Is So Important Modern aircraft rely heavily on gas turbines, which burn large amounts of fuel and produce significant carbon emissions. As the aviation industry looks for ways to reduce its environmental impact, electric propulsion has emerged as a promising solution. However, there is a big challenge: Aircraft need extremely powerful motors, but these motors must also be lightweight, compact, and high...

Reconstructive surgery has helped millions of people recover from injuries, birth defects, cancer treatments, and other medical conditions. One of the most important techniques used in these procedures is called tissue expansion , a process that allows surgeons to grow extra skin that can later be used to rebuild parts of the body such as the ear, breast, nose, or scalp. While tissue expansion has been highly successful, the method used today can be uncomfortable, time-consuming, and prone to complications. Now, researchers have developed an innovative 4D-printed tissue expander that may transform the way reconstructive surgery is performed. The new technology expands on its own inside the body, eliminating the need for repeated injections and offering a more personalized approach to patient care. The breakthrough was developed by Di Wang, Ph.D. , and Y. Shrike Zhang, Ph.D. , from the Division of Engineering in the Mass General Brigham Department of Medicine. Their findings were publi...

For decades, pacemakers have been among the most life-saving medical devices ever invented. These tiny implants help millions of people maintain a healthy heartbeat and prevent dangerous heart rhythm disorders. But despite their success, traditional pacemakers require surgery, wires, and direct contact with the heart. Now, engineers at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a groundbreaking alternative: a wearable ultrasound-powered pacemaker that looks more like a small sticker than a medical implant. If future human trials prove successful, this innovation could allow doctors to regulate the heart without surgery, making cardiac care safer, easier, and more comfortable for patients. The research represents a major step toward a future where medical devices can monitor and treat organs from outside the body using sound waves. A New Way to Control the Heart Traditional pacemakers are battery-powered devices that are surgically implanted into a patie...

One of the biggest mysteries in the history of life on Earth is how animals first made the incredible journey from water to land. Hundreds of millions of years ago, ancient fish gradually evolved the ability to move across solid ground, eventually giving rise to amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals—including humans. Now, scientists have taken an unusual but fascinating step toward solving this mystery. Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a fish-like robot that can imitate how certain modern fish move on land. Their findings suggest that many different fish species independently evolved the same simple walking method, providing new clues about how the earliest vertebrates may have first learned to walk. The study, published in Nature Communications , combines biology, engineering, computer modeling, and robotics to uncover one of nature's oldest movement strategies. A Window Into Earth's Distant Past The transition from water to land was one of the mos...