Latest Science News
DOE Approves Next Phase of Funding for Electron-Ion Collider
The U.S. Department of Energy approved CD-3B funding for the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) at Brookhaven National Lab, enabling procurement of key components like magnets and detectors. This unique facility will collide electrons with protons and ions to reveal quark-gluon structures in matter, advancing nuclear physics and technologies like AI.
The EIC builds on the soon-to-shut RHIC collider, promising mid-2030s operations.
RHIC Particle Collider Shuts Down to Make Way for EIC
Brookhaven's Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), the only U.S. particle collider, has ended operations after discovering quark-gluon plasma as a near-perfect liquid. It paves the way for the Electron-Ion Collider in the same tunnel, targeting proton structure and spin mysteries.
RHIC's legacy includes heaviest antimatter nucleus and gluon spin alignments.
Scientists Discover Hidden Fat-Making Enzyme SCoR2
Researchers identified SCoR2 enzyme that removes nitric oxide to enable fat production; blocking it halted weight gain, reduced liver damage, and lowered bad cholesterol in mice. This could lead to a triple-action drug for obesity, fatty liver disease, and heart disease, with clinical trials in 18 months.
The breakthrough was published in Science Signaling.
Chinese Team Achieves Scalable Quantum Repeater Breakthrough
USTC scientists demonstrated the world's first scalable quantum repeater building block using long-lived ion memories and efficient interfaces, enabling long-distance entanglement. They also achieved device-independent quantum key distribution over 11 km fiber, extendable to 100 km, surpassing records by 100x.
Findings published in Nature and Science.
Ancient Martian Lakes Could Survive Freezing Temperatures
New climate modeling shows ancient Martian lakes persisted for decades despite cold air, using adapted models. This boosts prospects for past microbial life on Mars.
The study highlights stable liquid water conditions in Mars' history.
Antibodies Target Unique Bacterial Sugar to Fight Superbugs
Australian scientists developed antibodies recognizing a sugar unique to drug-resistant bacteria, offering a novel antibiotic strategy. This targets deadly resistant strains without harming human cells.
The approach promises new treatments for untreatable infections.
Invisible Chemical Rain of Forever Chemicals Pollutes Globally
Trifluoroacetic acid, a CFC replacement byproduct, is raining worldwide into water, land, and ice as a persistent pollutant. This surge threatens ecosystems and health via atmospheric deposition.
The study urges reevaluation of HFC alternatives.
New Ultrasound-Light Hybrid Yields Vivid 3D Tissue Images
Caltech-USC team combined ultrasound and light for 3D images showing tissue structure and blood flow with high detail. This non-invasive technique advances medical diagnostics and research.
It overcomes limits of traditional imaging methods.
Paper-Thin Chip Converts and Steers Invisible Light
A new chip turns infrared to visible light and directs it precisely without moving parts, solving efficiency-control tradeoffs. This metasurface innovation enables compact beam steering for optics and sensing.
Applications include AR and LIDAR.
Superfluid Freezes, Defying Quantum Physics Rules
Physicists observed a graphene superfluid halt its frictionless flow, an unprecedented state challenging quantum definitions. This ultra-thin system reveals new quantum behaviors.
Findings push boundaries of superfluidity research.
NYU Discovers Hand-Holdable Levitating Time Crystals
Scientists created stable 'levitating' time crystals, a recently discovered matter phase, manipulable by hand. These non-equilibrium structures advance quantum tech potential.
The work highlights practical exotic matter forms.