61
University of Texas-led team solves a big problem for fusion energy
AUSTIN, Texas — Abundant, low-cost, clean energy — the envisioned result if scientists and engineers can successfully produce a reliable method of
Topics /
Science & Space
The most popular blog posts about science & space on Hacker News. 220 posts.
62
CT scans of 1k lithium-ion batteries show quality risks in inexpensive cells
Lumafield’s Battery Quality Report exposes hidden risks in 18650 cells; 1 in 13 low-cost units have dangerous defects. See how CT helps enforce safety.
63
Efficient method to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
The method is based on a recyclable filtration fluid consisting of a superbase-alcohol compound. One gram of the new compound can absorb 156 milligrams of carbon dioxide.
64
Solar energy is now the cheapest source of power, study
University of Surrey research finds solar is now the lowest cost electricity source in sunniest regions. Discover what this means for the global energy future.
65
Solar Orbiter gets world-first views of the Sun's poles
Thanks to its newly tilted orbit around the Sun, the European Space Agency-led Solar Orbiter spacecraft is the first to image the Sun’s poles from outside the ecliptic plane. Solar Orbiter’s unique viewing angle will change our understanding of the Sun’s magnetic field, the solar cycle and the workings of space…
66
Marble: A Multimodal World Model
Marble, our frontier multimodal world model, is available to everyone starting today
67
U.S. already has the critical minerals it needs, according to new analysis
A new Science study reveals the U.S. already mines the critical minerals it needs for energy and defense, but they are currently being discarded as mine waste.
68
Analysis indicates that the universe’s expansion is not accelerating
The universe's expansion may actually have started to slow rather than accelerating at an ever-increasing rate as previously thought, a new study suggests. "Remarkab...
69
Astronomers 'image' a mysterious dark object in the distant Universe
Scientists detect the lowest mass dark object currently measured
70
Eye prosthesis is the first to restore sight lost to macular degeneration
In a Stanford Medicine-led clinical trial of a wireless retinal prosthesis, people with advanced macular degeneration regained enough vision to read books and subway signs.
71
72
World's darkest and clearest skies at risk from industrial megaproject
On December 24th, AES Andes, a subsidiary of the US power company AES Corporation, submitted a project for a massive industrial complex for environmental impact assessment. This complex threatens the pristine skies above ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert, the darkest and clearest of any astronomical…
73
74
Google's year in review: areas with research breakthroughs in 2025
This year saw new AI models, transformative products and new breakthroughs in science and robotics.
75
New records on Wendelstein 7-X
Wendelstein 7-X—the leading fusion device of the stellarator type—achieved several new performance milestones during its latest run of experiments. Among them is a world record for triple product, the value that measures how close a fusion device is to generating net energy across the plasma.
76
GLP-1 drugs linked to lower death rates in colon cancer patients
In an analysis of more than 6,800 colon cancer patients across all University of California Health sites, researchers found that those taking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications were less than half as likely to die within five years compared to those who weren’t on the drugs (15.5% vs. 37.1%
77
Global sales of combustion engine cars have peaked
To decarbonize road transport, the world must move away from petrol and diesel cars towards electric vehicles and other forms of low-carbon transport.
78
Magpies and crows are using “anti-bird spikes” to make nests (2023)
Birds often incorporate human-made materials while nest building, but a new study shows European corvids are taking the idea to the extreme.
79
Where does air pollution come from?
A breakdown of the sources of many air pollutants that damage our health and ecosystems.
80
Progress toward fusion energy gain as measured against the Lawson criteria
Today we’ve released a pre-publication version of an update to our 2022 paper “Progress toward fusion energy breakeven and gain as measured against the...
81
82
Modification of acetaminophen to reduce liver toxicity and enhance drug efficacy
2025 Science Talent Search Project Showcase: Chloe Yehwon Lee, 17, of Murphy, explored a way to lower the toxic effects of acetaminophen (Tylenol) on the liver for her Regeneron Science Talent Search chemistry project.
83
Oxygen atoms discovered in most distant known galaxy
Two different teams of astronomers have detected oxygen in the most distant known galaxy, JADES-GS-z14-0. The discovery, reported in two separate studies, was made possible thanks to the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), in which the European Southern Observatory (ESO) is a partner. This…
84
More honey bees dying, even as antibiotic use halves
Despite tighter restrictions on antibiotics used in Canadian beekeeping, honey bee death rates are still rising. A new study led by University of Guelph researchers, published in Nature Sustainability…
85
New protein therapy shows promise as antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning
Established in 1807, we are the fifth oldest medical school in the United States and the first in the country to institute a residency training program.
86
It doesn't cost much to improve someone's life
Most countries spend less than 1% of their national income on foreign aid; even small increases could make a big difference.
87
New studies offer insight into Lyme disease’s treatment, lingering symptoms
In two new studies led by bacteriologist Brandon L. Jutras, Northwestern scientists have identified an antibiotic that cures Lyme disease at a fraction of the dosage of the current “gold standard” treatment and discovered what may cause a treated infection to mimic chronic illness in patients.
88
A Gemma model helped discover a new potential cancer therapy pathway
We’re launching a new 27 billion parameter foundation model for single-cell analysis built on the Gemma family of open models.
89
Researchers discover molecular difference in autistic brains
Brains of autistic individuals have fewer of a specific kind of glutamate receptor, supporting an idea that autism is driven by a signaling imbalance. The
90
