Soft robotics, a field that aims to create robots with pliable bodies similar to humans, has long been hindered by the difficulty of mass-producing and incorporating softer components into their designs. While researchers have been exploring ways to incorporate the feel of living organisms into their creations, the lack of an efficient manufacturing process has
A groundbreaking discovery in material science has been made by Chenfeng Ke, who will soon be joining Washington University in St. Louis as an associate professor of chemistry. Ke has developed a revolutionary design for tough and stretchable hydrogels, which was recently reported in the journal Chem. This novel material possesses both flexibility and durability,
Triplons have long baffled scientists due to their elusive nature. These particles are incredibly challenging to observe experimentally, often leading researchers to conduct tests on macroscopic materials and report average measurements of the entire sample. However, Academy Research Fellow Robert Drost and his team have found a breakthrough using designer quantum materials, offering a unique
The Amazon rainforest, often considered the world’s largest carbon sink and a crucial tool in the fight against climate change, has faced an alarming increase in carbon emissions. Recent research indicates that the region’s carbon emissions have doubled in 2019 and 2020 compared to the previous decade. This surge in emissions can be attributed to
In the realm of food safety, there exists a common but flawed tactic for assessing the freshness and safety of food – the sniff test. Despite being aware of the limitations of this practice, even professionals in the field, such as microbiologists, occasionally find themselves succumbing to its allure. However, it is crucial to recognize
The James Webb Space Telescope has recently provided stunning new images of the Ring Nebula, also known as Messier 57. These observations offer a never-before-seen glimpse into the intricate details of the dying star surrounded by glowing debris. Utilizing the near-infrared NIRCam and mid-infrared MIRI, these images showcase different aspects of the Sun-like star’s final
As the Eastern seaboard of the US goes about its morning commute on Wednesday 23 August, India will be making its second attempt at deploying a rover on the lunar surface. If successful, Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander will be the first craft to touch down near the Moon’s south pole, an attractive destination for exploration that
The Totten Glacier, located in the East Antarctica Ice Sheet, is a significant contributor to global sea-level rise. However, the mechanisms through which offshore ocean heat reaches the glacier’s ice shelf cavity remain largely unknown. In a recent study, a multinational team of researchers has shed light on the physical processes that control the melting
A groundbreaking study led by Prof. He Junfeng from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) has made significant advancements in understanding the relationship between electronic and lattice structural instability and their effects on charge density waves (CDW) in kagome metals. The team, in collaboration with domestic and international researchers, focused on the
The yolk sac, once viewed as a seemingly useless remnant of our deep evolutionary past, has now been revealed to play a critical role in human development. A team of researchers led by the Wellcome Sanger Institute in the UK has conducted a groundbreaking study that sheds light on the multiple organ functions of the
The way our skin responds to sun exposure has always remained a topic of great interest among scientists. Recent experiments conducted by a team of researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel have uncovered a remarkable mechanism behind the delayed development of a tan. This mechanism involves the prioritization of DNA repair over melanin production,
In recent weeks, hospitals and clinics across several states have been grappling with the aftermath of a devastating cyberattack. These key computer systems have yet to come back online, causing emergency room shutdowns and ambulance diversions. The impact of the attack has been far-reaching, resulting in postponed surgeries, outpatient appointments, blood drives, and other services.