Science news this week: 'Super-vision' contact lenses and bacteria in space
This week's science news started off with an announcement from the office of former president Joe Biden, saying that the 82-year-old has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. This was followed by a first-of-its-kind study suggesting that hospital superbugs may thrive in these sterile environments by feeding off medical plastic.
But the microbial stars of the science show this week were out of this world. A swab analysis from China's Tiangong Space Station revealed a new strain of bacteria that has never been seen before on Earth. The mysterious microbe, named Niallia tiangongensis after the space station, is a variant of a soil-dwelling species that causes sepsis.
However, during its time in space it evolved some key adaptations that might help in the future of space exploration.
And speaking of evolution, an unlikely discovery in Southeast Asia has offered new insights into the early ancestors of our own species.
A construction project off the island of Java in Indonesia unearthed a cache of more than 6,000 prehistoric animal fossils from beneath the seafloor, as well as two believed to belong to an extinct human ancestor, Homo erectus.
H. erectus evolved at least 2 million years ago and is thought to be the first species to develop human-like body proportions. It is also believed to be the first human species to migrate out of Africa, eventually ending up on the islands of Southeast Asia. However, there are many unanswered questions about the relationship between H. erectus and other early humans.
The newly discovered 140,000-year-old fossils not only offer new insights into the tangled web of the human family tree but also hint at a cultural exchange between this long-lost species and our other ancestors.
Discover more human history news
—150,000-year history of Earth's magnetic field reveals clues about the climate when early humans were spreading out of Africa
—Our teeth evolved from fish 'body armor' over 460 million years, scientists discover
—Viking Age women may have wielded weapons when pregnant, sagas and ancient artifacts hint
African elephants (Loxodonta africana) have the largest ears in the animal kingdom, growing up to 6.6 feet (2 meters) long and 4 feet (1.3 m) wide — that's about 17% of their body length.
Yes, their large ears help to keep elephants cool. But their big ears have other uses too…
Scientists have developed night-vision contact lenses that they claim can grant people "super-vision." The lenses use nanoparticles to absorb infrared frequencies of light before re-emitting them as wavelengths of light within the visible spectrum.
The lenses are non-invasive and, unlike traditional night-vision goggles, they don't require a power source. In early tests, people wearing these contact lenses could perceive flickering infrared light and pick up on its direction — the flickering seemed more pronounced when the participants closed their eyes because near-infrared light penetrates our eyelids more effectively than visible light.
The researchers envision their contacts being used for search and rescue operations and to improve vision for those with color blindness.
Discover more technology news
—AI benchmarking platform is helping top companies rig their model performances, study claims
—Building quantum supercomputers: Scientists connect two quantum processors using existing fiber optic cables for the first time
—Breakthrough stretchy battery moves like toothpaste and could power pacemakers and hearing aids
—A dozen black holes may be 'wandering' through our galaxy — and they're the rarest type in the universe
—'It epitomises the strangeness of Sutton Hoo': 6th-century bucket found at Anglo-Saxon ship burial holds human cremation
—'Strange' star pulses detected in search for extraterrestrial intelligence
—Our teeth evolved from fish 'body armor' over 460 million years, scientists discover
On April 7, biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences announced that they had brought dire wolves (Aenocyon dirus) back from extinction. By genetically engineering cells from modern-day gray wolves (Canis lupus), the company claimed to have brought the animals back after disappearing from the planet 12,500 years ago.
However, many were quick to criticize the claims, asserting that the white, fluffy pups were merely genetically modified gray wolves with a handful of dire wolf characteristics.
More broadly, experts are skeptical about the company's mission to "de-extinct" animals, including dire wolves, dodos, Tasmanian tigers and woolly mammoths. Vincent Lynch, a genetics professor at the University of Buffalo, explained why these claims are not only misleading but potentially dangerous.
If you're looking for something a little longer to read over the weekend, here are some of the best long reads, book excerpts and interviews published this week.
—Exascale computing is here — what does this new era of computing mean and what are exascale supercomputers capable of? (Explainer)
—'Cosmic fire' and Earthly ice: See the breathtaking winners of the Milky Way Photographer of the Year 2025 contest (Photo gallery)
—Cat quiz: Can you get a purr-fect score? (Quiz)
And something for the skywatchers:
—May's best stargazing week has begun. How to see a lion, an upside-down bear, a mini 'planet parade' — and more.
The recent launch of China's Zhuque-2E rocket left a giant "white streak" across the sky in at least seven U.S. states. The rocket released half a dozen satellites into orbit before re-entering the atmosphere.
The luminous streak appeared at 1:24 a.m. ET on Saturday (May 17) and is thought to have resulted from a "fuel dump" at an altitude of around 155 miles (250 kilometers) before the rocket re-entered the atmosphere. The ejected fuel then froze into a ribbon of tiny crystals that reflected sunlight toward Earth, making it shine in the night sky.
Want more science news? Follow our Live Science WhatsApp Channel for the latest discoveries as they happen. It's the best way to get our expert reporting on the go, but if you don't use WhatsApp, we're also on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Flipboard, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky and LinkedIn.
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
New research institute will grow S'pore's talent in nuclear energy, safety
SINGAPORE - With discussions on nuclear energy progressing around the world, Singapore is now building its expertise in this area with the launch of a new nuclear research and safety institute. On July 11, the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute (SNRSI) was launched with an expanded research scope, additional funding and an aim to train 100 nuclear experts by 2030 – up from the 50 today. The institute's predecessor was the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative, which did not have its own building. There are at least two benefits of training Singapore's own pool of talent in this area. First, it could help Singapore better assess the suitability of deploying nuclear reactors here. Given different geographies, countries will have different access to energy resources. Some may be more endowed with renewable energy resources, such as wind or solar, compared with other nations that may have to look to alternatives such as nuclear or geothermal energy. Even for countries considering nuclear energy, what works in one location may not work in another. This is where it is essential to have talent with a keen understanding of local constraints and considerations, to be able to properly assess the risks and benefits of incorporating nuclear energy into the energy mix. Second, given that other countries in South-east Asia have indicated interest in tapping nuclear energy, local capabilities will put Singapore in a better position to understand the technology. This could improve national response to any radiological incidents in the region, should they occur. Five Asean countries – Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand – have said they are either studying the feasibility of advanced nuclear technology to meet their growing energy needs, or already have plans to build new reactors in the coming decades. Dr Michael Short, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's department of nuclear science and engineering, said the new institute will better help Singapore assess risks from regional nuclear facilities, and domestic ones as well if the Republic decides to deploy them. 'If Singapore doesn't build up nuclear expertise, it will be left both behind and at unknown risk of issues from Asean neighbours,' he said. But if the country were to build up its domestic capabilities in nuclear, it could boost its domestic risk assessments, and ensure greater safety for the region. Dr Victor Nian, founding co-chairman of independent think-tank Centre for Strategic Energy and Resources, said the launch of the institute is important for Singapore to 'accelerate its capacity building' in nuclear energy. SNRSI can help advance Singapore's collective knowledge in nuclear energy, he said. The institute can also help Singapore get plugged into international nuclear dialogues and collaborations, which could boost the Republic's engagement in nuclear research and public engagement. The launch of the institute is a significant step forward in the nation's approach to nuclear energy. In 2012, Singapore had initially considered atomic power unsuitable for the small island state. Dr Alvin Chew, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at NTU, said Singapore had mooted the idea of nuclear energy deployment almost two decades ago to shore up its energy resilience. But large conventional nuclear fission plants, which are the predominant types in operation currently, were not suitable for the densely populated country. Under regulations set by the UN atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, an emergency planning zone outside the facility is needed for the location of a nuclear power plant, he said. Since then, there have been multiple advancements from Singapore's original position. In particular, small modular reactors (SMRs) gained traction in the mid-2010s, said Dr Chew. These reactors are thought to be more suitable for land-scarce, population-dense Singapore, as they have a lower power capacity, enhanced safety standards and require much smaller buffer zones, compared with conventional reactors. 'Therefore, Singapore is keeping the nuclear option open as SMRs will be deployed in the near future,' Dr Chew said. In 2022, a report by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) mentioned that emerging technology, including nuclear and geothermal, could potentially supply around 10 per cent of Singapore's energy needs by 2050. EMA, which monitors emerging energy technologies, has also gone on trips to other countries such as Britain and Germany to learn from the best minds in nuclear energy. Singapore has also signed agreements with other countries to learn more about the nuclear technologies and scientific research. The new institute marks the next step in the country's journey: From a horizon scan of emerging nuclear technologies to investing in its own capabilities for research. Safety will continue to be a focus. This is key, since the impacts of a nuclear accident would be more consequential in densely populated areas like in Singapore, said Dr Chew. For example, the new five-storey building will have nuclear safety simulation labs, where researchers create computer software to model virtual replicas of advanced reactors and run accident scenarios to assess their risks and what could happen during a meltdown. Studies are also done in radiobiology labs to assess the effects of chronic, low-dose radiation on the human body. Dr Dinita Setyawati, a senior energy analyst at energy think-tank Ember, said the nuclear safety research signals to the public that any potential deployment is grounded in scientific evidence and robust safety standards. This could go some way in establishing long-term public trust. Experts have said that engagement with the public on the risks and benefits of nuclear energy is critical, as public perception could influence policy decisions. A good starting point to gauge public perception would be to carry out surveys to understand the public's level of awareness, as well as opinion, on the use of nuclear energy. Encouragingly, the new institute will have facilities for exhibitions and tours for the public to teach people about radiation and nuclear technologies, and dispel common misconceptions. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
The Incredible Tech That Stole The Show At Goodwood's Future Lab
Future Lab at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2025 showcased the most jaw-dropping innovations in AI, ... More robotics, space, and ocean exploration. If you come to the Goodwood Festival of Speed expecting nothing but the roar of supercars and the scent of high-octane fuel, you're only getting half the story. Tucked just beyond the Hillclimb track lies one of the most futuristic corners of the estate, where combustion engines give way to quantum simulations, satellites, and synthetic intelligence. Welcome to Future Lab, Goodwood's immersive technology campus, where sci-fi steps off the page and into reality. Curated by the ever-curious and brilliantly insightful Lucy Johnston, Future Lab is where Goodwood asks not what the car of the future looks like, but what kind of future we want to build in the first place. And based on this year's line-up, that future is intelligent, immersive, and quite possibly orbiting the planet. Technology For A Better World Future Lab showcased four themes this year, tackling some of the biggest questions of our time: how we move through the world (Mobility for Humanity), how we build things (New Industrial Revolutions), how we map reality (Exploring Spatial Intelligence), and how we care for the planet (Our Big Blue Dot). Each theme was packed with hands-on demonstrations and mind-expanding exhibits, but a few projects in particular rose above the crowd, not just for what they showed, but for what they promise. Meet Ameca: The Robot With A Face That Gets You Let's start with the humanoid robot that drew both fascination and a few startled double-takes: Ameca. Created by UK-based Engineered Arts and presented at Future Lab by The National Robotarium, Ameca looks less like a robot and more like a character from the next Pixar movie. What sets Ameca apart is not just her hyper-realistic facial expressions or uncanny ability to hold eye contact. It's her flexibility. She doesn't come with a baked-in intelligence, but instead acts as a hardware interface for any AI brain you like, whether it's ChatGPT, Alexa, or something custom-built. As Steve Maclaren from The National Robotarium put it, "She's designed to communicate on a human level with facial expression, actual eye contact, and gestures." And while some visitors looked nervous at first, Maclaren observed that children immediately connected with Ameca, chatting away like it was the most normal thing in the world. In ten years, he predicts robots like Ameca could be helping with household chores or assisting in healthcare. Judging by the reception here, that future might arrive sooner than we think. Manufacturing Materials—In Orbit While humanoid robots might get the headlines, one of the most quietly revolutionary projects at Future Lab was floating a little higher, literally. Enter Space Forge, a Cardiff-based aerospace company developing reusable satellites to manufacture semiconductors in orbit. Why space? Because the vacuum and microgravity conditions found in low Earth orbit are ideal for growing ultra-pure crystals used in semiconductors and quantum materials. On Earth, gravity introduces tiny imperfections. Up there, materials form more perfectly, meaning better chips, better devices, and lower energy usage. Andrew Griffiths of Space Forge explained how their ForgeStar platform is already in orbit and collecting data. Future versions will be fully return-capable, equipped with high-tech reentry shields and soft-landing systems that allow the satellites to be recovered, refurbished, and reused. This isn't just a moonshot. With funding from the UK government, NATO, and ESA, Space Forge is positioning itself as the factory of the future, floating above us. The Endurance Wreck, Revived By AI From space to seabed, the Future Lab experience also plunged into the history of Ernest Shackleton's legendary ship, the Endurance. The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust (FMHT) showcased the extraordinary mission to locate the wreck of the Endurance beneath 3,000 meters of Antarctic ice using undersea robots and sonar drones. Once found, the next challenge was to bring it to life, and that's where artificial intelligence came in. Elena Lewendon from FMHT detailed how the team used photogrammetry and AI-powered colour correction to stitch together over 25,000 deep-sea images. The result is an extraordinarily accurate digital twin of the wreck. From that, a 3D-printed model was created, built over 350 hours, to help children and visitors explore every bolt and timber of Shackleton's ship. 'Children can now experience the Endurance in a way no history book ever could,' Lewendon said. And with its new status as a protected Antarctic monument, the wreck is now both a preserved artifact and a living educational tool. Mapping The Universe With AI Looking up rather than down, the University of Sussex and the European Space Agency brought the cosmos into focus with the Euclid space telescope. While it quietly orbits 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, Euclid is busy mapping the universe in unprecedented detail. The mission? To decode the mysterious forces of dark matter and dark energy. Professor Stephen Wilkins explained how Euclid's mission relies on AI to process its staggering volume of data, billions of galaxies, many faint and distant. 'There's just no way humans could classify all of it manually,' he said. 'So we're teaching machines to spot the extraordinary in the ordinary.' Wilkins hopes this new lens on the universe will bring answers to some of physics's most stubborn questions. At the very least, it's likely to inspire a new generation of stargazers, armed with better data and smarter tools than ever before. A Few More Marvels Worth Mentioning The wonder didn't stop there. Visitors could pilot the moon's surface in VR thanks to Somniacs and Cesium's Lunar Flight Experience, or step inside Atlantic Studios' cosmic Apple Vision Pro journey through the James Webb Space Telescope's finest images. BMW offered a glimpse of its 'Heart of Joy' control system for next-gen electric driving. Marble's climate drones mapped environmental change with surgical precision. And the E1 electric raceboats added a splash of speed to the sustainability message. Each exhibitor, from ocean explorers to orbital engineers, shared a common message: the future isn't just about sleek machines or clever code. It's about purpose. Why Future Lab Matters More Than Ever Among the engine growls and cheering crowds, Future Lab is a welcome jolt of reflection. It reminds us that technology isn't just for going faster, it's for going further, with thought and with care. As Lucy Johnston, the Lab's curator, summed up: 'This is about championing technology for a better world. The exhibitors are solving real-world challenges with bold thinking, creative tools, and scientific collaboration.' Future Lab proves that the real race is to make tomorrow better than today. And judging by what was on show this year, we've got some very good people (and robots) on our team.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Spiders may have evolved in the ocean before adapting to land, fossil reveals
One of the creepiest, crawliest creatures of the Earth may have been swimming before adapting to live on land, new research suggests. Spiders and their arachnid relatives may have actually originated in the sea, according to analysis of an "exquisitely preserved" fossil that lived 500 million years ago. The findings were published Tuesday in the journal Current Biology. MORE: 99-million-year-old 'zombie' fungi found preserved in amber, scientists say Researchers at the University of Arizona completed a detailed analysis of the brain and central nervous system of an extinct animal called Mollisonia symmetrica, according to the study. The species was previously thought to represent an ancestral member of a specific group of arthropods called chelicerates that lived during the Cambrian period -- between 540 and 485 million years ago. Chelicerates were believed to be ancestors to modern-day horseshoe crabs. However, the scientists were surprised to discover that the neural arrangements in Mollisonia's fossilized brain are not organized like those in horseshoe crabs. Instead, they are organized the same way as in modern spiders and their relatives, the researchers said. The anterior part of Mollisonia's body -- the prosoma -- contains a radiating pattern of segmental ganglia that control the movements of five pairs of segmental appendages, the researchers said. In addition, an unsegmented brain extends short nerves to a pair of pincer-like "claws," similar to the fangs of spiders and other arachnids. The decisive feature that demonstrates the fossil was likely an early arachnid is the unique organization of the brain -- a reverse of the front-to-back arrangement found in present-day crustaceans, insects, centipedes and horseshoe crabs, the researchers said. MORE: Fossils from giant possum-like mammal that lived 60 million years ago found in Texas It's as if the brain has been "flipped backwards," which is what is seen in modern spiders," said Nick Strausfeld, a regents professor at the University of Arizona and lead author of the paper, in a statement. This may be a crucial evolutionary development, as studies of existing spider brains suggest that a back-to-front arrangement in the brain provides shortcuts from neuronal control centers to underlying circuits, which control the spider's movements, said Frank Hirth, a reader of evolutionary neuroscience at King's College London and co-author of the paper. The arrangement likely helps the spiders hunt stealthily and dexterity for the spinning of webs. The arachnid brain is "unlike any other brain" on Earth, Strausfeld said. "This is a major step in evolution, which appears to be exclusive to arachnids," Hirth said. MORE: Fossils found in North America reveal new species of 'very odd' sea monster: Scientists Spiders and scorpions have existed for about 400 million years with little change -- dominating the Earth as the most successful group of arthropodan predators. The finding challenges the widely held belief that diversification occurred only after a common ancestor had moved to the shore, according to the study. Previous fossil records appeared to indicate that arachnids lived and diversified exclusively on land. "It is still vigorously debated where and when arachnids first appeared, and what kind of chelicerates were their ancestors, and whether these were marine or semi-aquatic like horseshoe crabs," Strausfeld said. While the Mollisonia outwardly resembles some other early chelicerates from the time period, its body was composed of two parts: a rounded "carapace" in the front and a sturdy segmented trunk ending in a tail-like structure, the analysis found. Some researchers had previously compared its body composition to that of scorpions, but no one had previously claimed that it was anything "more exotic" than a chelicerate. The first creatures to come onto land were likely millipede-like anthropods and other ancestral, insect-like creatures -- an evolutionary branch of crustaceans, Strausfeld said. MORE: What paleontologists learned from fossils of a 3-eyed predator that lived 500 million years ago Early insects and millipedes were likely part of the Mollisonia-like arachnid's daily diet when they adapted to land, he added. The first arachnids on land may have also contributed to the evolution of insect wings, a "critical defense mechanism," Strausfeld said. The Mollisonia's lineage likely gave rise to spiders, scorpions, sun spiders, vinegarroons and whip scorpions, the researchers said.
