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Lord Of The Rings Xbox 360 Game Gets Surprise Shadow Drop For Modern Platforms
"Step into a darker, grittier Middle-earth."
UCSD researcher wins America’s oldest science prize
Mark Thiemen's decades of research on isotopes changed what scientists know about earth’s origins.
MEAS Researchers Lead $1M NSF Project Using AI to Forecast Coastal Dead Zones | Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
The team aims to produce faster forecasting tools that could support fisheries management and decision-making in Gulf Coast communities.
Scientists Think One of Earth’s Simplest Organisms May Work like a Giant Brain
One of Earth’s oldest plants appears to pass electrical messages through its dense green mats.
Colombia Earthquake: Direct Relief Mobilizing Medical Aid for Immediate Health Needs
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake reverberated through Colombia today, the largest earthquake to impact the country in a decade, according to the Associated Press. The earthquake shook the country at 7:34…
Life On Earth Appeared Not Once But Twice, Both Times Evolving From A Common Genetic Code
For life to get started it may have depended on one of the rarest, and currently most expensive, metals on Earth.
Scientists Release Biggest 2D Map of the Universe
Key Takeaways The DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys combined more than 263,000 telescope exposures to make the largest 2D map of the universe in visible and near-infrared light. Astronomers can pair the Legacy Surveys map with their own observations to explore our universe and search for rare phenomena. The 2D map serves as the foundation for the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument survey to measure the universe in 3D and investigate dark energy. Hold on to your telescopes: the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys team has released the largest-ever 2D color map of the universe. The 5.6-trillion-pixel map contains nearly 4 billion celestial objects, primarily stars and galaxies. The data is available for all to use and publicly viewable through the Legacy Survey Sky Viewer. Astronomers and citizen scientists can explore the map or combine it with their own observations to better understand our universe. Researchers can search for rare phenomena like gravitational lenses, observe fleeting events like supernovae, and investigate two of physics’ biggest mysteries: dark matter, the invisible substance that accounts for most of the mass in our universe, and dark energy, the force driving our universe’s accelerating expansion. The new map builds on earlier versions from the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys that have already proved invaluable. To date, more than 1,800 science papers that reference the Legacy Surveys data have been published. “It’s part of the fabric of astronomy research now,” said David Schlegel, a co-lead of the Legacy Surveys and scientist at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). “When you’re working with astronomical objects today, you often start by pulling up the Legacy Imaging Viewer to see what you’re looking at.” Covering roughly 75% of the sky in visible and near-infrared light, the updated map provides a deep view of the extragalactic universe not blocked by the dust and stars of our own Milky Way. Researchers expect it will remain the most comprehensive 2D map of our universe for years to come. More than 160 scientists contributed to data collection for the project, and a team of 20 produced the final dataset released today. It was built by combining 263,407 telescope exposures from three ground-based sky surveys: the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey (DECaLS) at NSF Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, the Mayall z-band Legacy Survey (MzLS) at NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory, and the Beijing-Arizona Sky Survey (BASS) at the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory. That was supplemented by years of data from NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) satellite mission and additional public data. “For our team, these data are fundamental to our investigation of the expansion history of the universe and the formation of our galaxy,” said Arjun Dey, co-lead of the Legacy Surveys and an astronomer at NSF NOIRLab. “But the skies belong to everyone, and this survey gives everyone the chance to explore the sky and marvel at its wonders.” Here be galaxies The DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys were originally conducted to prepare for the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) survey. The Legacy Surveys’ 2D map is essentially a deep photograph of the sky; it records where galaxies and stars appear and how bright they appear. This crucial step enables DESI to select objects and measure their light in different wavelengths to determine their distances, building the largest high-resolution 3D map ever made. Scientists study the way galaxies have clustered at different ages of the universe to track dark energy over time. In April 2026, DESI completed its original five-year survey ahead of schedule and with vastly more objects than expected. The early results have shown surprising hints that dark energy’s impact may be weakening over time — a paradigm shift that could potentially shape the predicted fate of our universe. DESI expects to publish improved results using their first five years of data in 2027 and is continuing observations into 2028. DESI was so efficient at observing galaxies, the Legacy Surveys map needed to expand. Early on, “it became clear we might run out of galaxies to look at and run out of sky, and we better start doing something about that,” said Schlegel, who also works on DESI. The new Legacy Surveys map has been used to select DESI targets since June 2026 and will guide the telescope’s operations over the coming years. Computing the cosmos Merging hundreds of thousands of images taken on 2,285 nights, each with unique atmospheric and telescope conditions, was a massive computational effort. It took about a year to develop the computer code and eight weeks to process all the images at the Perlmutter supercomputer at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) at Berkeley Lab. Beyond supporting DESI, the Legacy Surveys will be a foundational reference for the next generation of telescopes. As new observatories like the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory (jointly funded by NSF and DOE’s Office of Science) and NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope come online, researchers can compare their observations with one of the deepest and most comprehensive views of the sky ever assembled. The Legacy Surveys data will also help scientists train artificial intelligence tools to analyze petabytes of astronomical data and accelerate new discoveries. It will be among the datasets used in an astrophysics pilot project within the American Science Cloud, part of the DOE’s Genesis Mission. The DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys are supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of High Energy Physics; the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, a DOE Office of Science user facility; the U.S. National Science Foundation, Division of Astronomical Sciences; and the partner institutions. DESI is supported by the DOE Office of Science and NERSC. Additional support for DESI is provided by the NSF; the Science and Technology Facilities Council of the United Kingdom; the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; the Heising-Simons Foundation; the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA); the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (SECIHTI) of Mexico; the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain; and by the DESI member institutions. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
🚨 Total split: UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF issue statement against Infantino
Political earthquake in world football. The three most influential confederations on the planet —UEFA, AFC and Concacaf— have published a heartbreaking open letter directly accusing Gianni Infanti...
Mirror cells could threaten life on Earth. Why are we building them?
For people with two hands, one is usually dominant. On a molecular level, earthly life takes this to the extreme. All of the DNA in living things twists to the right, whereas the protein building blocks favor a kind of left-handed chemistry.The rules of life are based on this chemistry.In recent years, scientists have worked toward a kind of mirror version of life. Currently, the technology doesn't exist to make mirror life at the cellular level — and likely won't for at least a decade. Still, a group of scientists is concerned enough about the possibility that they've published a 299-page technical report calling for a stop to the science.In this encore episode for our Tech Camp series, host Regina Barber talks to Carl Zimmer, a science reporter at The New York Times, about his reporting on mirror cells — and why creating them could lead to devastating consequences for life on Earth.Check out Carl's full article.Curious about other controversial research? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Good aliens, bad aliens and wisecracking wisdom — the best new science fiction books
YouTuber Sam A Miller reworks ‘Flowers for Algernon’ in a debut collection of future tales, while rebel groups hold out after Earth is invaded in ‘The Peace Child’
‘Lord of the Rings’ stars reunite 23 years later, tease ‘more to come’
One dinner to unite them all: The Hobbits of Middle-earth are back together for a surprise ‘Lord of the Rings’ reunion, with ‘more to come.’ Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Elijah Wood, and Billy Boyd share photos.
Who are the least-contacted people on Earth?
"Uncontacted" and "isolated" peoples live in roughly 10 countries around the world, including one group that erases their footprints so they cannot easily be found.
Who are the least-contacted people on Earth?
"Uncontacted" and "isolated" peoples live in roughly 10 countries around the world, including one group that erases their footprints so they cannot easily be found.
How cleaning up space debris could grow to become a big business
As Earth’s orbit gets more crowded, companies are betting that cleaning up space junk could become a lucrative new business.
Meteorite that smashed through a New Jersey roof reveals clues to life’s origins
A rare meteorite that crashed through a New Jersey roof contains evidence of ancient salty fluids, organic compounds, and amino acids from a primitive asteroid. Its pristine chemistry could offer new clues about how space rocks helped supply early Earth with some of the ingredients needed for life.
Entertainment for mind, ears, and eyes
The Cover 2 Cover Book Club will discuss the book The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m. The novel won the
Google quietly discontinues its Earth AI feature a day after its rollout after users made no-no images
Google’s “Nano Banana” AI allowed users to generate any images they wanted from Google Earth—and Google didn’t measure the consequences.
Google quietly discontinues its Earth AI feature a day after its rollout after users made no-no images
Google’s “Nano Banana” AI allowed users to generate any images they wanted from Google Earth—and Google didn’t measure the consequences.
Valuing our soil through science, art and policy
SoilTribes launches living museums, art exhibitions and policy resources to help restore Earth’s soil and ensure its future...
PwC cancels Disney World trip for US summer interns
The Big Four firm PwC has cut a 20-year tradition of taking summer interns to "The Happiest Place on Earth."
Ask Ethan: Can "following the science" save the Earth?
Between war, disease, environmental destruction, and resource overconsumption, our civilization's future is uncertain. Can science save us?
Scientists Are Starting To Understand The 'Largest Biomechanical Event on Earth': Whales Hunting For Food on a Single Breath
If your heart slowed that much, you'd probably pass out.
Earth’s molten core suddenly reversed direction — and scientists don’t know why
Earth’s molten iron core unexpectedly reversed direction beneath the Pacific, revealing a dramatic change in the hidden engine that creates our planet’s magnetic field. Satellite data suggest the surge is already weakening, raising the possibility that the deep-Earth upheaval is part of a mysterious natural cycle.
Environmental Justice Groups Sue New York Department of Health for Failing to Protect Tenants from Lead Under Nation-Leading Law
As currently structured, DOH’s program risks certifying dwellings as “lead-free” even when dangerous lead hazards remain
A socialist candidate criticized Thanksgiving — and unearthed a deeper debate on the left
Some of Francesca Hong’s fans are gently asking: Does she have a “woke 1.0” problem?
Space Compute Is Moving From Science Fiction To Infrastructure
As satellites generate more data than Earth can efficiently process, space compute is emerging as a new infrastructure category for AI, storage and edge computing.
Unearthed paper exposes Dem House hopeful's 'insane' proposal for meeting climate goals
Manny Rutinel's resurfaced paper argued governments should incentivize ranchers to transition to plant-based farming in Colorado's top cattle district.
Poop made life on Earth possible. Yes, poop.
540 million years ago, nutrient-filled feces helped spread complex organisms.
Radical Study Suggests Life on Earth Arose From Non-Living Matter TWICE
The tree of life may split at the roots.
Earth science and policy student spends summer exploring Arctic geothermal options
Declan Goldhawk knew he wanted to spend the summer expanding on what he’s learning in college while branching out into unfamiliar territory. A 10-week internship in Alaska — a place he’s never been — researching geothermal energy at the Alaska Center for Energy and Power checked both boxes.
Living Magnets: Meet the Bacteria That Can Sense Earth's Magnetic Field
Long before animals evolved magnetic navigation, bacteria were using microscopic compasses to thrive in a world of varied oxygen levels.
Science Café shakes up earthquake studies
Davis Science Café is back Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at G Street WunderBar, 228 G St. in downtown Davis.
A SpaceX rocket will hit the moon at 5,000 mph tonight. Experts explain what you could see, and when.
An upcoming collision of a Falcon 9 rocket part with the moon may be visible from Earth with telescopes, new research suggests. Here's what scientists and skywatchers are hoping to see.
How “A Little Bowel Movement” 540 Million Years Ago Sparked An Evolutionary Explosion, Changing The Face Of Earth Forever
Viva la "faecal revolution".
Scientists propose nuking solution to Doomsday asteroid — as thousands of city-killers swarm Earth
Scientists have devised an unorthodox solution to stop a potential Doomsday asteroid from destroying Earth — by nuking the space-rock with a force equivalent to multiple Hiroshima bombs.
Google Earth’s potential disinformation nightmare
A new feature briefly allowed Google Earth users to overlay AI-generated images on locations of their choosing
In April 2029, a Massive Asteroid Will Just Miss Earth. Scientists Are Worried There Could Still Be Major Consequences
Apophis is going to get close.
Scientists just 3D printed one of the hardest metals on Earth
A new 3D printing technique can produce exceptionally hard tungsten carbide cobalt while using less of its expensive raw materials. By softening rather than fully melting the material, researchers created defect-free samples with industrial-grade hardness and opened the door to more efficient manufacturing.
Tommy Sullivan and John Ziegler to Perform at LI Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame on Aug 16th
As part of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame Soundtrack to Summer Series, Musician Tommy Sullivan (a member of the Brooklyn Bridge) will perform LIVE music and Comedian John Ziegler will open with comedy set at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook Village (97 Main Street, Stony Brook, NY) on Aug. 16th from 3-4pm. The event is free for members or with general admission ticket purchase or $10 at the door concert ticket purchase. For details on this and upcoming events please visit https://www.limusichalloffame.... About Tommy Sullivan A life-long Long Islander and proud U.S. Army veteran, Tommy Sullivan enlisted in 1965 and was accepted to the United States Military Academy Band, where he created the first official rock group at West Point. Reentering civilian life in 1968, he helped create the Rhythm Method, a 7-piece Long Island band which was discovered by Johnny Maestro, then singing lead with the Del-Satins. The combined groups became the Brooklyn Bridge. As band leader and musical director, Tommy penned the group’s horn arrangements on every Bridge hit, including their gold record, Worst that could happen. Upon leaving the Bridge, Tommy co-founded Atlantic Records’ supergroup Ramatam, which was Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell’s first group following Hendrix’ death. For the second Ramatam LP Tommy wrote and orchestrated original material which featured select members of the NY Philharmonic Orchestra. Together with Johnny Maestro, Tommy co-produced Johnny’s final CD, Peace on earth. The critically acclaimed album features Tommy’s arrangements & orchestrations, plus several of his original songs. A Charter Inductee to the LI Music Hall of Fame, Tommy Sullivan continues to write, record, arrange and produce records, serve as musical director/ arranger/conductor for projects across many musical genres plus donates dozens of performances annually for numerous charity events. Tommy Sullivan’s dynamic and unique one-man show, A thousand memories, featuring his vocals and performances on four instruments, has been packing concert auditoriums, nightclubs, private parties–even vineyards-for the past several years. John Zeigler Born and raised in New York, John has performed stand-up comedy for close to 20 years and was the winner of the 2016 "Funniest Comic on the East Coast" Contest at Mohegan Sun. John's opened for such comics as Sebastian Maniscalco, Gilbert Gottfried, Jim Breuer and Robert Klein. He currently headlines clubs across the country and regularly tours with legendary comedian Bobby Collins. John recently released his Dry Bar Comedy Special and Getting My Affairs in Order.
Google Earth Pulls AI Image Generator After Users Created Misleading Images
Google Earth is supposed to be a reliable source of data.
Moonquakes could reveal hidden water beneath the lunar surface
Hidden moon ice may reveal itself through the way it bends and reflects vibrations from moonquakes. The technique could help astronauts locate vital water supplies and uncover clues about the origins of Earth’s oceans.
Scientists Find Evidence Suggesting Atmosphere On Habitable "Super-Earth"
Astronomers have discovered more than 6,200 exoplanets since the first ones were found in the 1990s.
Learn Science with Dr. V: Is global warming real?
Scientists have been studying Earth's climate using multiple satellites and technologies. This data reveals that Earth’s temperature is increasing.
Google pulls AI feature after users create fake satellite images
Google paused a new AI feature in Google Earth after it created realistic fake satellite images.
For a Day, Google Made It Easy to Spoof Satellite Imagery
A new Google Earth tool allowed the creation of A.I. deepfake maps. The tech giant quickly pulled it back after a backlash and concerns about disinformation risks.
Chinese rocket scientists find ‘most effective’ way to nuke a doomsday asteroid
China’s two-pronged method could blast apart an Earth-threatening space rock using a 3-megaton explosion equivalent to 200 Hiroshima bombs.
Google Briefly Turned Google Earth Into an AI Slop Factory
The company said it's "rolling back" the feature after just one day.
Google rolls back AI Google Earth feature a day after launch
Google added Nano Banana 2 image generation into Google Earth. Misinformation attempts ensued.
Scientists detect a sharp acceleration in global warming
Global warming appears to have shifted into a faster gear. After removing the effects of El Niño, volcanic eruptions, and solar cycles, researchers found that the planet has warmed at roughly 0.35°C per decade over the past ten years, compared with just under 0.2°C per decade from 1970 to 2015. The acceleration, which becomes visible around 2013 to 2015, appeared across five major global temperature datasets with more than 98% statistical certainty.
Science news this week: Secret lives of whale sharks revealed, Earth's coldest temperature registered, and Amazonian geoglyphs show clues to lost civilization
August 1, 2026: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend
The Birth Of A Seafloor: Scientists Witness New Oceanic Crust Forming Through Earth Splitting Apart For First Time
Like a snake shedding its skin, Earth's crust is constantly being remade.
Timothy Olyphant says wife makes him wear makeup to cover up this feature
“My wife’s not a huge fan of it,” he said of his “Alien: Earth” makeover.
Alphabet rolls back AI image generation in Google Earth over policy violations
Alphabet's Google said on Friday it was rolling back an AI image-generation feature it had introduced in Google Earth just a day ago, after users shared images that appeared to violate the company's policies.
Efforts Continue to Stabilize LINK Spacecraft for NASA’s Swift Boost
Teams at Katalyst Space are making progress slowing the spin of their LINK spacecraft, which is designed to boost the orbit of NASA’s Swift.
City of Mercedes welcomes families to free science event
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The city of Mercedes is inviting the community to its annual Earth X Space celebration. The free family-friendly event celebrates science and community building t…
Google Earth's AI image generation function pulled in less than a day
Google pulled its AI image-editing feature from Google Earth within 24 hours of its launch, after users created deepfakes depicting disasters.
See how Google Earth let people make fake scenes of bombings, riots and destruction
Google put on hold an AI feature in Google Earth just hours after it was introduced. People used it to create AI-manipulated aerial views of horrific scenes.
Google Earth releases, swiftly retracts AI feature to make fake satellite images
“What on earth is Google doing?” Misinformation fears spur walk-back of AI tool.
Google Earth’s AI deepfake tool only lasted one day
The feature generated believable — but edited — images of the real world.
Crew Ends Week with Spacesuit Checks and Science, Lab Hardware Maintenance
Expedition 75 ended July stepping up preparations for the first of three spacewalks planned for the month of August. The International Space Station residents also wrapped up the week configuring combustion research and Earth imagery hardware while continuing lab maintenance.
New Google Earth AI tool could fuel misinformation, experts say
Experts tell BBC Verify Google's new feature which lets people generate fake satellite images could be misused.
Molten, Mushy Planet
35 light years away from Earth is a planet a bit bigger than ours that’s probably not hospitable to life -- because it’s molten. Scientists have known about L98-59d for years, but new observations from the James Webb Space Telescope helped reveal an atmosphere rich in hydrogen sulfide, which could only be explained if the planet was in a rare molten state. Living on Earth’s El Wilson and Bella Smith teamed up on this note on emerging science.
The Government's Earthquake Warning System Has a 30% Accuracy Rate. Scientists Found Something Better
Researchers tested a new technique that uses fiber optic cables to detect earthquakes. It’s twice as precise as what the government currently uses.
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Celebrates National Lifeguard Day
On National Lifeguard Appreciation Day, we’re recognizing the dedicated lifeguards who work behind the scenes to help create a safe environment for every guest who visits our pools and water attractions across The Sweetest Place On Earth. Our certified lifeguards believe that every splash, laugh and swim is not possible without one important t...
Google brings Nano Banana 2 to Google Earth
You can now generate stuff based on Google Earth’s satellite, aerial, and 3D imagery. Google's Nano Banana 2 AI image generation model is now available in...
A.14 Atmosphere Several Corrections
The Earth Science Division recently released A.14 Atmosphere, soliciting proposals for data analysis and modeling of NASA supported airborne campaign data.
Before dinosaurs: scientists uncover the shocking cosmic event that changed Earth - Futura-Sciences
Asteroids, Meteorites, and Humanity’s Long Fascination For thousands of years, people have witnessed meteorites falling from the sky. Fascinating and fearsome, such events sparked myths and legends long before science explained their origin. Yet, it wasn’t until January 1, 1801, when Giuseppe Piazzi discovered Ceres—a dwarf planet a little under...
A&S Earth Sciences Professor Honored as 40 Under 40 Rising Star
Tao Wen has been recognized for his innovative, data-driven research on water quality, open environmental data, community engagement and policy-relevant environmental science.
Scientists Unearth Mechanism That Helps Plants “Feel Full”
NYU researchers determine how plants sense nitrogen sufficiency—and what this means for addressing global challenges related to fertilizers
This new Google Earth feature will change how you explore the world
Google Earth now uses Gemini's Nano Banana 2 to generate images and visual explainers from real-world locations on the web.
Nano Banana Image Generation Comes To Google Earth
Google Earth users can "visualize the past" via AI-created pictures.
Antarctica just experienced minus 119 F, Earth's coldest temperature since 2012
Too hot? Head to the Concordia research station in Antarctica, where "astronauts of ice" just experienced near-record-breaking cold.
'Completely Transformed My Understanding': Scientists Uncover Hundreds of Hidden Structures Beneath The Amazon
A society of millions.
After Venezuela’s quakes, experts say environmental and health risks have just begun
More than a month after Venezuela's devastating earthquakes, public health experts tell The Associated Press the coming weeks are critical to prevent secondary crises from contaminants.
After Venezuela's quakes, experts say environmental and health risks have just begun
More than a month after Venezuela's devastating earthquakes, public health experts tell The Associated Press the coming weeks are critical to prevent secondary crises from contaminants
Bringing physics down to Earth through rocket science
Keith Cooper reviews It’s (Just) Rocket Science: Exploring Physics Through Spaceflight Missions by Trisha Muro
Strong quake hits Japan's production hub, disrupts business operations
A powerful earthquake centred on Kumamoto in southwestern Japan on Tuesday forced a growing number of manufacturers, retailers and service providers to suspend operations across the region, disrupting supply chains in one of the country's key production hubs.
A tiny molecular basket unlocks a powerful new kind of chemistry
Rice University chemists have found a new way to make neodymium, a rare-earth metal, interact with oxygen. Using a specially designed molecular structure described as a “basket,” the team positioned the atoms so they could form a bond once thought unlikely. The breakthrough produced highly reactive compounds that could eventually give chemists alternatives to iron-based molecules used in biological reactions and chemical manufacturing.
A.13 Accelerating Earth Solutions Corrections and Clarifications
A.13 Accelerating Earth Solutions (AES) seeks to accelerate the use of Earth-observing satellite measurements in decision-making.
Climate Scientist Marco Tedesco Examines What Responsible AI Should Look Like
The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory researcher is helping launch an AI working group to explore how AI can support climate research without undermining ethics, equity or scientific judgment.
A steward’s view on how business can rebuild Earth systems
Business is one of the most powerful levers for transformation when it comes to climate and nature, and needs to rethink how modern systems are designed.
Experts share the science behind massive earthquake in Texas Panhandle
We don't often think of earthquakes here in Texas, but the U.S. Geological Survey reports a 5.0 magnitude quake hit last week in the Texas Panhandle.
Why use rare earths in rubber production? China is engineering stronger tyres
A new facility leverages decades of research to produce high-strength rubber designed to meet requirements of EVs and heavy-duty transport.
Scientists have found an Earth-like exoplanet
The super-Earth likely contains an atmosphere
Hubble finds four hidden stars just 65 light-years from Earth that astronomers could never see before
Astronomers have directly detected four previously hidden white dwarfs orbiting nearby red dwarf stars, solving a long-standing observational challenge and improving our understanding of how close binary star systems evolve. The newly confirmed stellar remnants lie within 20 parsecs (around 65 light-years) of the Sun and had remained concealed because their faint light was overwhelmed by the much brighter glow of their companion stars.
Puzzles, Treats, and Consent? The New Frontier in Wildlife Studies
From raccoons solving puzzle boxes to dogs leaving saliva samples, scientists are experimenting with less invasive ways to study wildlife.
Walking shark discovered in Papua New Guinea
Shark Week begins with a remarkable discovery: scientists have identified a new walking shark, proving the ocean still holds secrets worth protecting.
Humanity's first look at the surface of Mars shared on 50th anniversary of historic NASA landing — Space photo of the week
NASA has unearthed the historic photos its Viking 1 lander sent home just after landing on Mars in July, 1976.
This sugar is in raspberries, self-tanner and — scientists discovered — space. Here's why that matters
It's a sweet discovery that has the science world talking — and may help us better understand the origins of life on Earth.
Materials-Driven Fusion Approach Opens New Era for Nuclear Science
Fusion at high temperatures powers the sun and, if harnessed, could provide a potential source of energy here on Earth. But controlling fusion reactions has other benefits.
San Jose Earthquakes Forward Nonso Adimabua Undergoes Successful Sports Hernia Surgery
First-year forward to be placed on injured list
China Wields Its Rare Earth Leverage Over Europe With New Export Controls
Beijing banned shipments of important supplies to 14 companies on the cutting edge of chemicals processing, electric motors and defense.
San Jose Earthquakes partners with SF-based B2B platform Apollo for sleeve sponsorship, sales tech
Lucia S. Tsaoussi, Ph.D.
Dr. Tsaoussi serves as the Program Manager for NASA’s Space Geodesy program
Science and Spacesuit Work Before Crew Changes Commanders
The International Space Station will change commanders on Saturday before three Expedition 74 crew members return to Earth on Sunday. As the homebound trio prepares for departure, the rest of the orbital crewmates is keeping up microgravity research and checking out spacewalking gear.
Antoine Griezmann Scores In MLS Debut For Orlando City
Antoine Griezmann scored in his MLS debut, and Orlando City beat the San Jose Earthquakes 4-0 on Wednesday night in the first game for both teams since before the World Cup break.
When It Comes to Fusion, Materials Matter
Fusion at high temperatures powers the sun and, if harnessed, could provide a potential source of energy here on Earth. But controlling fusion reactions has other benefits. The process also generates subatomic particles called neutrons that are used in a range of applications spanning medicine, research, and national security. Now, scientists at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), and the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have found that the materials surrounding a fusion reaction can dramatically increase how often it occurs, particularly at low energies where fusion is rare. The study was published July 18 in Nature Communications. Their approach sets up a way to study and engineer nuclear reactions within solid materials, opening a new field of “materials-driven fusion.” Instead of designing materials just to survive the harsh conditions of fusion, researchers might be able to design materials that boost the reaction in specific conditions, similar to the way catalysts speed up chemical processes. “It gives you a new knob to turn that you didn’t have before,” said Arun Persaud, head of the Fusion Science & Ion Beam Technology group in Berkeley Lab’s Accelerator Technology & Applied Physics (ATAP) Division. “If we understand this effect better, it opens the door to engineering new materials that would affect the fusion rate under certain conditions. Someday future progress might enable more compact and efficient neutron generators, which have all kinds of applications, like cargo screening, planetary science, and medical therapy and imaging.” In the experiment, researchers used two different methods to pack deuterium, a heavy form of hydrogen atoms that is often used in fusion, into thin foils of palladium and titanium. They then fired a beam of deuterium ions at the foils at different energies and measured how often fusion happened. Then they compared the rates from the different materials and methods with the “bare” fusion reaction (not in a material). The team found that fusion rates depended on how the deuterium was loaded into the metal foils. The biggest effect was at the lowest energies, below 2.5 kiloelectronvolts (keV), where theory predicts fusion rates drop off sharply. Instead, researchers found a surprising plateau: Some samples showed elevated fusion rates roughly a quintillion times higher than bare fusion reactions. (A quintillion is a 1 followed by 18 zeroes.) Researchers are not exactly sure why that’s happening, though they have some ideas and ways to test them. The electrons and defects within the material might partially shield repulsive electrostatic forces between deuterium nuclei, making it easier for them to get close together and fuse. Tuning the electronic structure, defects, and composition of materials could help make nuclear reactions happen more readily. “It comes down to better understanding the mechanism so that we can try to enhance it,” said corresponding author Jeremy Munday, a professor at UC Davis. “We’ve seen that we can increase fusion rates, but what is the limit? Can we bring it to lower temperatures or energies? There’s obviously a lot of interest and excitement about fusion, so if there’s something we can learn about the physics at these lower energy scales, maybe there’s something we can translate to other areas of nuclear science.” The team plans to explore a wider range of materials and continue probing the unexpected fusion plateau at lower energies. Their work establishes a reproducible experimental platform to study how solid materials influence nuclear reactions, creating a new area of research that links fusion science with materials science and chemistry. “The work shows conclusively that the material environment where fusion occurs at low temperatures is an active participant rather than a passive container,” said Cameron Geddes, director of ATAP. “That adds a new dimension to fusion research.” This work was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
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