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For the first time, scientists have discovered a dead star surrounded by two distinct rings of planetary debris, separated by an empty gap. The unusual structure may be maintained by two planetary bodies that survived the star's violent transformation. Astronomers have discovered something never observed before around a dead star: not one, but two separate rings of planetary debris. The discovery challenges existing ideas about what happens to planetary systems when their parent stars reach the end of their lives. The unusual system, known as J1328−1450 , is a white dwarf surrounded by two concentric rings of gaseous material. Even more interestingly, scientists believe that two surviving planetary bodies may be responsible for maintaining this unusual arrangement. One of these objects could be as large as Pluto or even the Moon. The discovery was made by an international team of astronomers led by Nicola Gentile Fusillo from the University of Trieste . Their findings were publishe...

Scientists have discovered a surprising ability of swimming bacteria: they can make tiny objects rotate continuously without physically touching them. Even more remarkably, these objects do not need specially designed shapes or uneven structures to start spinning. The discovery reveals a previously overlooked way in which microscopic organisms transfer mechanical energy to their surroundings and could improve our understanding of bacterial movement, fluid dynamics and the behaviour of materials in confined environments. The research, led by Daniel Grober and his team , demonstrates how swimming Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria can generate rotational forces that drive the persistent spinning of perfectly symmetrical microscopic discs. The findings reveal that the rotating structures used by bacteria to swim can influence nearby objects through the surrounding fluid. How Do Swimming Bacteria Move? Bacteria such as E. coli are extremely small, typically measuring only a few micromet...

Adhesives are an essential part of modern life. From furniture and construction materials to cars, electronics, packaging and everyday household products, glue helps hold countless objects together. However, most conventional adhesives are made using fossil-based chemicals, which can create environmental and health concerns during manufacturing, application and disposal. Now, scientists have developed a promising alternative that could make adhesives stronger, safer and more sustainable. Researchers led by Ziwen Lv and his team have created a high-performance adhesive using xylan, a natural material obtained from a byproduct of the pulp industry. The remarkable part is that this plant-based glue can achieve bonding strength of approximately 30 megapascals (MPa), outperforming traditional epoxy resins under the reported test conditions. Even more interestingly, it can be reused multiple times without losing its bonding performance. The findings could open new possibilities for developin...

Imagine wearing a smartwatch, fitness tracker or health-monitoring patch that can stretch and move naturally with your skin while generating its own electricity from body heat. Such technology could reduce the need for conventional batteries and make wearable electronics more comfortable and convenient. Now, researchers led by Kai Liu and his team have developed a new type of thermoelectric material that could bring this possibility closer to reality. Unlike conventional thermoelectric materials, which may bend but cannot stretch like rubber, this new material combines high thermoelectric performance with remarkable elasticity. The researchers have developed one of the first n-type thermoelectric elastomers , a material that can stretch, recover its original shape and continue converting temperature differences into electrical energy. The development could open new possibilities for self-powered wearable devices, flexible medical electronics and personal temperature-control systems. W...

Imagine a satellite that can change its shape while travelling through space, unfold itself without traditional mechanical systems, and even use sunlight as a source of propulsion. This futuristic concept could become possible with a new type of spacecraft called OrigamiSat , developed by researchers led by Aloisia Russo and her team. Inspired by the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, OrigamiSat is designed to fold, unfold, and transform into different shapes while operating in space. What makes this concept particularly interesting is that it combines two technologies: 4D-printed smart materials and solar radiation pressure . Together, they could allow the spacecraft to change its configuration using heat and the gentle force of sunlight. The research could open new possibilities for designing lightweight, multifunctional spacecraft that perform several tasks without requiring separate large structures. Why Do Satellites Need to Change Their Shape? Modern spacecraft often carry se...

Imagine moving, rotating, and precisely controlling a small metal object in mid-air without touching it, using mechanical tools, or even attaching a magnet to it. What sounds like science fiction could become possible through a new magnetic manipulation technique developed by researchers led by Lan Pham. Scientists have demonstrated a new approach that can manipulate electrically conductive objects without physical contact. By using multiple rotating magnetic fields, the technique can control objects in six different ways, potentially opening new possibilities for robotics, manufacturing, medical technologies, and advanced automation. What makes this discovery particularly interesting is that the objects do not need to contain magnetic materials. Instead, the researchers use the electrical conductivity of the material itself to generate the forces required for movement. The Challenge of Controlling Objects Without Touching Them Non-contact manipulation is an important area of modern en...

Imagine a refrigerator that can produce temperatures below zero without relying on conventional refrigerant gases that contribute to global warming. Scientists are now moving closer to making this possible with a promising technology called elastocaloric cooling , which uses special materials that change temperature when mechanical pressure is applied. A research team led by Guoan Zhou has developed a new elastocaloric cooling device that successfully reached –12°C using a room-temperature heat sink . This achievement is particularly important because previous elastocaloric cooling systems had struggled to reach temperatures below 0°C, limiting their use in freezers and other low-temperature applications. The development could open the door to a new generation of environmentally friendly refrigerators, freezers and industrial cooling systems. Why Do We Need an Alternative to Conventional Refrigeration? Most refrigerators, air conditioners and freezers today use vapour-compression cooli...