Researchers at Cornell University have developed microscale robots that can fold into three-dimensional shapes and crawl using a novel design based on kirigami, a cousin of origami. These tiny robots, measuring less than 1 millimeter in size, are printed as a 2D hexagonal “metasheet” but transform into preprogrammed 3D shapes with the help of electricity. … Read more
New research from the Beckman Institute reveals that varied cognitive training is more effective than repetitive tasks in improving working memory in older adults. The study found that participants who engaged in multiple types of memory exercises showed the greatest improvement, compared to those who repeated the same task. The researchers, led by Elizabeth A.L. … Read more
Boeing has announced plans to launch a quantum satellite called Q4S in 2026, marking the United States’ entry into the space-based quantum communications market. This move aims to solidify Boeing’s role as a pioneer in pushing the boundaries of what is possible with quantum technologies. The Q4S mission will demonstrate entanglement swapping capabilities on orbit, … Read more
Physicists at CERN have invented a novel particle trap that allows them to measure the magnetic moments of antiprotons with unprecedented precision. The BASE collaboration, an international team of researchers, used this new trap to find that the magnetic moments of antiparticles differ from those of their matter counterparts by a maximum of 10-9. This … Read more
A new study has revealed the incredible ability of juvenile Japanese eels to escape from the stomachs of their fish predators and emerge unharmed through the gills. The research, published in Current Biology, used X-ray video technology to capture this unprecedented footage. The team from Nagasaki University observed that out of 32 eels swallowed by … Read more
While walking around, you might not notice it, but muons are passing through your body at a rate of about 10,000 per minute. These fermions, identical to electrons except for their higher mass and magnetic moment, are created in the Earth’s atmosphere as cosmic rays collide with it. Despite only existing for about 2.2 microseconds, … Read more
Microsoft has announced a breakthrough in logical qubit creation, setting a new record with partner Quantinuum. The company is also working with Atom Computing to develop the world’s most powerful quantum machine. A logical qubit is a higher-level abstraction that combines multiple physical qubits to protect against noise and errors. Microsoft and Quantinuum have demonstrated … Read more
Astrophysicist Susanne Pfalzner of Forschungszentrum Jülich has shed new light on the edge of our solar system, suggesting that a stellar flyby may have pushed its boundaries further out. According to Pfalzner, thousands of celestial bodies move beyond Neptune’s orbit, with many exhibiting eccentric orbits inclined relative to the planets’ common orbital plane. Researchers Pfalzner, … Read more
A new DNA analysis challenges the long-held notion that Easter Island’s population experienced a rapid decline around the 17th century. The study, published in Nature, analyzed the genomes of 15 Rapa Nui individuals and found no evidence of a genetic bottleneck, indicating that the population never collapsed. Researchers had previously debated whether the island’s population … Read more
Researchers from Aalto University and the Institute of Physics CAS have achieved a breakthrough in creating artificial quantum materials, specifically entangled quantum magnets with protected excitations. This achievement has significant implications for future quantum technologies. By carefully engineering how atoms interact within the material, the researchers were able to create a new state of quantum … Read more