Nearby exoplanet smells like rotten eggs
ROBERTO MOLAR CANDANOSA/JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY The atmosphere of HD 189733 b, a gas giant the size of Jupiter, has traces of hydrogen sulphide, a molecule that not only gives off a bad smell,…
Webb identifies an icy world in the constellation of Cetus
When the exoplanet LHS 1140 b was discovered, astronomers hypothesized that it could be a mini-Neptune – that is, a predominantly gaseous planet, but smaller than Neptune. However, after analyzing the latest data…
A ‘scar’ on Mars is seen in detail in new satellite photos
The striking surface feature, called Aganippe Fossa, is a tectonic trench or graben – a long depression bounded on both sides by parallel normal faults. Astronomers first sighted it in 1930, but it…
Fusion energy: solution or problem?
Sophie Cogan, University of York Harnessing energy from nuclear fusion – the combining of nuclei, which lie within atoms – could be instrumental in the shift towards a decarbonised global energy system. As…
Cognitive disengagement syndrome
Sofia Barbosa Boucas, Brunel University London Do you find that you daydream a lot? Are you often sluggish and tend to disengage easily when doing a task? You might have cognitive disengagement syndrome,…
China’s lunar success puts US in its sights
Simonetta Di Pippo, Bocconi University June 25 2024 marked a new “first” in the history of spaceflight. China’s robotic Chang’e 6 spacecraft delivered samples of rock back to Earth from a huge feature…
New exoskeleton that helps you walk and run with AI
Scientists at North Carolina State University in the United States have developed an innovative exoskeleton equipped with artificial intelligence, designed to help with various daily tasks, such as walking and running. The equipment…
Facial heat patterns reveal vital health clues
A quick examination of the face can reveal whether we are ageing well and our risk of developing certain diseases. Chinese scientists have found that comparing the heat coming off the nose, cheeks…
Rock art in Venezuela may belong to an unknown culture
Archaeologists in Venezuela have made a groundbreaking discovery of 20 previously unknown rock art sites in Canaima National Park. This southeastern region of Venezuela, known for its vast forests and mountainous terrain, is…
Neural prosthesis helps amputees walk naturally.
Anne Trafton | MIT News State-of-the-art prosthetic limbs can help people with amputations achieve a natural walking gait, but they don’t give the user full neural control over the limb. Instead, they rely on robotic…