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Scientists discover that showing astronauts what movement is coming next could reduce nausea during spacecraft landings, potentially making the journey back to Earth safer. Returning to Earth after spending time in space is not always an easy experience for astronauts. After living in microgravity, where objects and people float freely, their bodies must readjust to Earth's gravity. This sudden change can cause nausea, dizziness, balance problems, and motion sickness. The symptoms can become particularly challenging when a spacecraft lands in the ocean and moves with the waves. Now, researchers led by Taylor L. Lonner have investigated a possible solution: giving astronauts visual information about how their spacecraft is moving and, more importantly, how it will move next. Their findings suggest that anticipating future motion could help reduce nausea and improve astronauts' ability to tolerate the rocking motion experienced during a simulated ocean landing. The research could...

Imagine browsing the internet and smelling freshly brewed coffee from a picture, experiencing the aroma of a glass of wine in a virtual restaurant, or enjoying the scent of an orange while watching a video. What sounds like science fiction could one day become part of our digital lives. Researchers from The Ohio State University in the United States and Zhejiang Laboratory in China have developed a new technology that could bring this idea closer to reality. Their system, called Scentronic, uses artificial intelligence to identify, transmit and recreate smells remotely. Unlike earlier technologies that often required bulky equipment or manual controls, this new approach is designed to work automatically and could eventually be integrated into wearable devices. The research represents an important step toward making the internet more immersive by adding the sense of smell to our digital experiences. How Does the Technology Work? Today, the internet mainly allows people to share informa...

As the world looks for alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, scientists are exploring sodium-ion technology as a promising option. Now, researchers at the University of Surrey have taken an important step toward using artificial intelligence (AI) to help design better sodium-ion batteries. The researchers have created a new library of battery materials containing 28 different chemical compositions. This collection could eventually provide the data needed to train machine-learning models capable of predicting which materials are most likely to produce high-performing batteries. Why Sodium-Ion Batteries Matter Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles and renewable-energy storage systems. However, lithium is relatively limited in supply and is unevenly distributed around the world. This can create challenges for large-scale battery production. Sodium offers an attractive alternative because it is far more abundant and widely available. Sodium-ion ...

Imagine checking your health data, controlling a device, viewing images, or responding to a digital command simply by touching your sleeve. You would not need to pull out a smartphone or carry a rigid screen. The information could appear directly on your clothing. This futuristic idea has taken a major step toward reality. Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a special electronic fiber that can both display information and detect touch . By weaving these fibers into a sleeve, the researchers created what they describe as the world’s first touchscreen integrated into a garment . The technology combines the functions of a digital display, touchscreen, and several sensors while keeping the flexibility, breathability, and washability of ordinary fabric. A Screen Made From Fibers Traditional screens on smartphones, tablets, and laptops are built on flat, rigid surfaces. They use tiny electronic components arranged across a two-dimensional panel to produce...

Some of the most extreme planets discovered beyond our Solar System may be covered by oceans of molten rock. Known as lava planets , these rocky worlds orbit so close to their host stars that temperatures on their daysides can become hot enough to melt silicate rocks—the main materials that make up rocky planets. Now, numerical simulations led by Charles-Édouard Boukaré and his team suggest that the way these planets melt and solidify could dramatically change their atmospheres, surfaces and internal evolution. The findings also suggest that observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) could help astronomers determine what is happening deep inside these unusual worlds. Worlds with Permanent Day and Night Lava planets are very different from Earth. Because they orbit extremely close to their stars, they complete an orbit in a very short period. Over time, the intense gravitational pull of the host star can cause the planet to become tidally locked . This means that the plan...

Imagine a technology that produces electricity by absorbing moisture from the air, without relying on sunlight, wind turbines, or conventional batteries. What sounds like science fiction is becoming a promising area of energy research. Scientists are developing devices that use the natural interaction between water molecules and specially designed materials to generate electrical power. In a significant step toward this goal, a research team led by Haiyan Wang has developed a device called a heterogeneous moisture-enabled electric generator (HMEG). This technology uses specially designed polymer films to turn moisture in the surrounding air into electricity. By connecting many small units together, the researchers demonstrated a system capable of producing voltages exceeding 1,000 volts under ambient conditions. The findings highlight the potential of moisture-powered generators as a new approach to energy harvesting, particularly for low-power electronics and self-powered devices. How...

Scientists have achieved a major breakthrough in quantum physics by showing that individual molecules attached to a surface can preserve their delicate quantum properties at the ultimate physical limit. The discovery solves a long-standing challenge in molecular quantum research and could open new possibilities for controlling matter at the smallest scales. The research was conducted by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (MPL). Their work, published in the journal Science in 2026, demonstrates that molecules placed on an exceptionally clean crystal surface can maintain their optical coherence for as long as fundamental physics allows. This achievement could help researchers develop more precise quantum devices, improve their understanding of molecular behavior, and explore new ways to control individual molecules using advanced microscopy techniques. Why Are Scientists Interested in Quantum Molecules? Quantum physics describes how matter and energy behave ...