Uncover reality

Living cells are not just chemical factories. New research suggests they may also be tiny power generators, producing electrical signals simply through motion. Subtle movements of the cell membrane, driven by active molecular processes, could create voltage spikes similar to those used by nerve cells. This emerging idea may transform how we understand biology—and inspire a new generation of intelligent, bio-inspired materials. Electricity is usually associated with batteries, power plants, and electronic devices. In biology, we mostly think of electrical signals in a very specific context: nerve cells firing action potentials to transmit information in the brain and nervous system. These signals are typically explained through well-known mechanisms involving ion channels, pumps, and carefully maintained chemical gradients. But what if cells can generate electricity in a more direct and physical way—simply by moving? A new theoretical framework developed by scientists suggests exactly t...

Legged robots are becoming increasingly important in real-world tasks. They are used for inspection, rescue missions, exploration, and operations in places where humans cannot easily or safely go. Compared to wheeled or tracked machines, legged robots have a natural advantage: they can step over obstacles, walk on uneven ground, and adapt their posture to complex terrain. However, one major challenge still limits their use in harsh environments— slipping , especially on slopes. When a robot walks uphill or downhill, the pressure on its feet changes. Gravity pulls it downward, friction becomes unreliable, and even small slips can lead to loss of balance or complete failure. Most modern quadruped robots, such as Spot , ANYmal , and Unitree , use simple round rubber feet . These feet are strong, easy to maintain, and work reasonably well on flat surfaces. But in natural environments—rocky hillsides, muddy slopes, wet grass, or loose gravel—these feet struggle. In contrast, animals like mo...

The universe is full of wonders, but some of the most fascinating objects are also the darkest. These include black holes and other compact objects that do not emit light themselves but strongly affect the light around them. Even though we cannot see these objects directly, we can study them by observing how they bend and trap light. In recent years, scientists have achieved something extraordinary. Using a global network of telescopes known as the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) , astronomers captured the first-ever images of the shadows of supermassive compact objects at the centers of galaxies. These images came from the galaxy M87 and later from our own galaxy, the Milky Way, where the object is called Sagittarius A*. So far, these observations agree well with predictions for black holes , especially rotating black holes known as Kerr black holes. However, the data is not precise enough to rule out other possibilities. One exciting alternative is the idea that these objects could be ...

From fiery space reentries to cutting-edge hypersonic weapons, heat shields quietly do one of the hardest jobs in engineering: they keep vehicles from burning up. Every time a spacecraft returns to Earth or a hypersonic vehicle tears through the atmosphere at extreme speed, its survival depends on a thermal protection system working exactly as expected. History has shown what happens when this protection fails. The 2003 space shuttle Columbia disaster, caused by damage to its heat shield, remains a painful reminder of how unforgiving reentry physics can be. Since then, heat-shield technology has improved greatly, enabling routine returns of spacecraft and the rapid growth of commercial spaceflight. Now, engineers at Sandia National Laboratories have taken a major step forward. They have developed a new, faster way to evaluate heat-shield materials—one that combines advanced computer modeling, laboratory experiments, and real flight tests. This method can predict how heat shields beha...

Consciousness is one of the most familiar yet mysterious features of life. Every moment you are awake, you are immersed in it—feeling the warmth of sunlight, hearing the sound of birds, sensing hunger, joy, fear, or pain. And yet, when we ask a simple question— why does consciousness exist at all? —the answer is far from simple. Why didn’t evolution create living beings that function like biological machines, reacting automatically to the world without ever feeling it? Why do we experience pleasure and suffering instead of just performing efficient behaviors? Why does life come with an inner world? Modern research in philosophy, neuroscience, and biology suggests that consciousness is not an accident or a luxury. Instead, it is a powerful evolutionary tool that emerged in stages, each layer serving a vital function for survival, learning, and social life. Even more surprisingly, consciousness may be far older and more widespread than we once believed—extending beyond mammals to birds ...

Black holes are among the most famous objects in astronomy. They are invisible, extremely dense, and powerful enough to trap even light. Astronomers believe that black holes sit at the centers of most galaxies and power many bright X-ray sources in the sky. Over the years, strong evidence has been collected in their favor. However, modern physics teaches us to be careful. Nature sometimes allows different objects to look almost the same from far away. In astronomy, this means that not every dark, compact object must be a true black hole. Some exotic objects predicted by theory could closely imitate black holes while being fundamentally different inside. One of the most fascinating possibilities is a wormhole . Wormholes are theoretical tunnels in spacetime that connect two distant regions of the Universe. Surprisingly, some spinning wormholes may look almost identical to spinning black holes when observed with telescopes. This creates an important question for science: How can we tell ...