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Researchers in Singapore have developed a tiny rotor that can keep spinning for more than 10 hours after its driving force is switched off. The millimeter-scale device, created by scientists at the A STAR Quantum Innovation Center (A STAR Q.InC), has achieved the lowest energy loss ever reported for a mechanical rotor of its size. The breakthrough could lead to highly sensitive gyroscopes and other precision sensors for situations where GPS is unavailable. Potential applications include underwater vehicles, underground navigation systems and autonomous machines operating in challenging environments. The study, published in Nature Communications , addresses a major problem that has limited the performance of levitated mechanical systems: energy loss caused by magnetic effects. A Tiny Rotor With Remarkable Stability Mechanical rotors normally lose energy because of friction, air resistance and other forces. Even when a rotor is levitated so that it does not physically touch a surface, it...

For decades, astronomers have known that the Milky Way is far more complex than a simple, flat disk of stars. Gas clouds, dust, young stars, and star clusters form large structures that stretch across enormous distances. Now, a new study has revealed another fascinating structure in our galactic neighborhood: a chain of young open star clusters that appears to follow a wave-like pattern through space. Researchers Bobylev and Bajkova studied the distribution of open star clusters (OSCs) younger than 30 million years in the Local System, the region of the Milky Way around the Sun. Their analysis has revealed, for the first time, that a significant number of these young star clusters are associated with a recently discovered structure called the Vela Ridge supercloud . The most interesting finding is that these young clusters do not simply lie randomly above and below the Milky Way's disk. Instead, their positions show a repeating, wave-like pattern. The researchers found that the ve...

Astronomers have discovered strong evidence of a black hole that is not sitting at the center of a galaxy but is instead wandering through its surroundings and feeding on gas along the way. The black hole UGCA320 is estimated to have a mass about 35,000 times greater than the Sun . The discovery is important because it provides evidence for a process scientists have predicted for years. A black hole moving through gas can use its powerful gravity to pull nearby material toward itself. This creates a dense trail, or “wake,” behind the black hole. Some of this gas can then fall into the black hole and help it grow. The finding could change our understanding of how wandering black holes survive and gain mass away from the centers of galaxies. What Is an Intermediate-Mass Black Hole? Black holes are generally divided into different groups based on their mass. Stellar-mass black holes are formed when very massive stars die and collapse under their own gravity. At the other extreme ...

The human skin is the body's largest organ and one of its most important defenses. It protects us from harmful pathogens while preventing vital fluids from escaping. But this strong protective barrier also creates a major challenge for scientists developing wearable health sensors. Many important chemical signals inside the body cannot easily pass through the skin. Doctors can overcome this problem with implants such as continuous glucose monitors and cochlear implants. However, many existing implants can be relatively bulky, require batteries or involve invasive surgery. Smaller wireless and battery-free devices offer another option, but they often have limited surface area. This can weaken wireless power transfer and reduce the performance of their sensors. Now, researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Southern California have developed a device designed to overcome these limitations. Called MiFi, or the Minimally Invasive Foldable bioelectronic implant, it ...

For some of medicine’s smallest patients, getting a clear MRI scan can be one of the biggest challenges. An infant’s heart may be no larger than a walnut, yet it can beat rapidly and move constantly during an examination. At the same time, most MRI equipment is designed around standard sizes that are better suited to adults. Now, researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) have developed a promising solution: flexible MRI sensors that can be customized for individual patients and 3D-printed in less than 10 minutes for about $30 . In early testing, the new sensors produced approximately four times greater image contrast than standard commercial MRI coils. The technology could make MRI scans more precise, comfortable and adaptable, particularly for infants and children whose bodies change quickly as they grow. The research has been published in Nature Communications . A New Approach to Pediatric MRI MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, uses powerful magnetic fields and rad...

Researchers from the University of Stuttgart and the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research have developed tiny ceramic rolls that can quickly roll and unroll when controlled by a magnetic field. Inspired by the elegant movement of a butterfly’s proboscis, these miniature structures could help create smaller, smarter and more efficient robotic systems. The research, published in Advanced Materials , introduces a new platform for producing programmable three-dimensional ceramic microscrolls. The technology could eventually support advances in microrobots, soft robotics, sensors, electronic components and energy-storage systems. A New Approach to Tiny Robotic Actuators Robots need actuators to create movement. In conventional robots, actuators control parts such as arms, joints and grippers. But designing actuators for microrobots is much more difficult because every component must work at a very small scale. Soft robots face a different challenge. They are designed with flexible ...

For decades, one of the biggest challenges of nuclear energy has been deciding what to do with highly radioactive nuclear waste. Unlike ordinary industrial waste, spent nuclear fuel can remain hazardous for extremely long periods. Now, Finland has taken a major step toward solving this problem. Finland’s nuclear safety regulator, STUK, issued a favorable safety assessment on August 4 for a deep geological repository being developed at Olkiluoto. The facility, built by nuclear waste management company Posiva , is designed to store high-level nuclear waste deep underground and isolate it from people and the environment for at least 100,000 years . The decision represents an important milestone for the project. However, the facility has not yet received its final operating permit. The Finnish Government will use STUK’s safety assessment as part of its decision on whether the repository can begin full-scale operations. A Nuclear Waste Facility Unlike Any Other The Olkiluoto facility is wid...