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A 3.8-billion-year-old lunar rock has revealed a surprising chemical feature that could help scientists understand how the Moon formed its ancient volcanic rocks and how oxygen-poor conditions shaped its interior. The Moon may look like a quiet, lifeless world today, but its rocks preserve evidence of a time when powerful volcanic eruptions reshaped its surface. Now, scientists studying an ancient lunar rock collected during NASA’s Apollo 17 mission have discovered an unusual form of titanium inside a mineral that is common in the Moon’s volcanic rocks. The discovery focuses on a mineral called ilmenite, which is one of the main places where titanium is stored in titanium-rich lunar basalts. Researchers found that the ilmenite in the ancient rock contains more titanium than expected, including a form known as titanium in the +3 oxidation state, or Ti³⁺. This finding provides direct evidence of a chemical condition that scientists have suspected existed inside the Moon for decades. It c...

A new type of lightweight electrostatic actuator can lift more than 4 Newtons of force while weighing just 0.7 grams, potentially opening new possibilities for future space robots and spacecraft. Space is one of the harshest environments for operating machines. Extreme temperatures, near-total vacuum, radiation and limited power supplies make even simple mechanical tasks challenging. From opening solar panels to handling scientific instruments, spacecraft depend on reliable mechanisms that can function without frequent maintenance. Now, researchers led by Ion-Dan Sîrbu have developed a new type of electrostatic actuator designed specifically for vacuum environments. Instead of treating the vacuum of space as an obstacle, the technology uses its unique properties to improve performance. The tiny devices are remarkably lightweight yet powerful. According to the researchers, an actuator weighing just 0.7 grams can generate a pulling force exceeding 4 Newtons. The technology could eventual...

A new study reveals that radiation and weightlessness could leave lasting damage inside the human body, raising serious questions about the safety of future missions to Mars. For decades, humans have dreamed of travelling to Mars and exploring the farthest reaches of space. But while space missions promise incredible discoveries, they also expose astronauts to dangers that are largely absent on Earth. Two of the biggest threats are cosmic radiation and microgravity, the condition in which astronauts experience apparent weightlessness. Scientists already know that both can affect the human body. However, the long-term consequences remain uncertain. A new study published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE has raised fresh concerns, suggesting that deep-space conditions could cause lasting damage to the heart, weaken the immune system and increase the risk of diseases associated with ageing. The findings, based on experiments involving rats, highlight an important challenge for future mi...

An unusual experiment reveals that Eurasian jays can see through certain magic tricks that fool humans, yet they can also be deceived by lightning-fast movements. Imagine watching a magician make a coin disappear from one hand and magically reappear in the other. Most people would struggle to identify exactly how the trick works. But what if a bird were watching the same performance? Would it be fooled, or would it notice something that humans completely miss? Scientists have explored this surprising question by performing magic tricks for Eurasian jays, intelligent birds belonging to the crow family. Their findings reveal an unexpected difference between human and bird perception: birds can resist some tricks that fool humans, but they can also fall for illusions based on fast movements. The research offers a fascinating look at how different species see the world and how their brains process information. It also raises a bigger question: could the same weaknesses in attention that ma...

Scientists discovered that Goffin’s cockatoos can combine two separate objects to solve a complex problem, showing that advanced tool use is not limited to primates. Imagine a parrot playing a game of golf. It picks up a small ball, places it inside a box, and then uses a stick like a golf club to push the ball towards a hidden food reward. This may sound like a scene from a cartoon, but scientists have demonstrated that some Goffin’s cockatoos can solve a remarkably similar challenge. The discovery offers an exciting insight into animal intelligence. It suggests that these birds can understand how two different objects work together, control their movements, and adjust their actions to achieve a specific goal. More importantly, it challenges the idea that complex tool use is mainly a skill associated with humans and other primates. What Makes This Discovery So Special? Humans have relied on tools for thousands of years to solve problems, build structures, hunt, and survive. However, u...

Roads, bridges, and other infrastructure face constant pressure from heavy vehicles, changing temperatures, vibrations, and natural disasters. Over time, these forces can cause cracks, deformation, and structural damage, leading to expensive repairs and potential safety risks. Scientists are now exploring advanced materials that can respond to such changes and recover their original shape after deformation. One promising innovation is shape memory epoxy asphalt composite (SMEAC) , a material that combines the strength of epoxy resin with the useful properties of asphalt. In a study led by Fenglei Zhang and his team, researchers developed SMEAC with high toughness, strong mechanical performance, and excellent vibration-damping properties. The material could have important applications in self-repairing bridge expansion joints, crack sealants, vibration control systems, and earthquake-resistant engineering structures. The study also investigated how the material works at both macroscopic...

A new flexible pressure-sensing technology offers a promising way to monitor vehicle movement, speed and weight wirelessly, potentially making roads smarter, traffic management more efficient and journeys safer. As cities grow and the number of vehicles on roads continues to increase, managing traffic efficiently has become a major challenge. Traffic congestion, road accidents and poor traffic monitoring systems can affect daily life and public safety. To address these problems, intelligent transportation systems are becoming increasingly important. These systems use sensors and digital technologies to collect traffic information, helping authorities make better decisions and improve road safety. In a promising development, researcher Chien Khong Duc and his team have demonstrated a flexible pressure sensor that can detect vehicles on roads and transmit information wirelessly. Made using an affordable polymer material, the sensor offers a practical alternative to some existing vehicle ...