Science News

Explore  with us some of the latest developments in science, including physics, biology, mathematics, chemistry, information, and astronomy.  Imagine what the future holds with today’s discoveries in these and other scientific pursuits.  Along the way we will encounter fascinating people and their ideas that push the boundaries of science and shape the future direction of knowledge.

We feature some of the latest developments in a range of scientific branches, highlighting the human ingenuity and circumstances that lead to discovery and new technologies.   We explain the ideas, the problems that led to the solutions, and the function of the discoveries, in words designed for the general audience so no background in science is required to appreciate the work of the scientists.  The ideas for our stories are drawn from other freely-available publications as well as paid subscriptions, and we welcome contributions and story ideas from volunteer contributors.  Join our science writers Mariana Meneses and Saulo Silvestre as we explore the exciting new developments in science and the showcase the good people who dedicate their life’s work to the advancement of knowledge and the human mission.

In Focus

Watt Matters: Addressing the Energy Problem in Data Centers

Revival of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant by Microsoft reflects the urgent energy demands of modern AI and cloud computing data centers. As their energy consumption continues to surge, it is critical for tech companies, national governments, and international organizations to collaborate on clean energy investments. Initiatives like the global AI summit aim to enhance sustainable energy practices, addressing the environmental damage associated with rising electrical production.

Illustration of spacetime curvature, showing that more massive objects bend the fabric of space and time more than objects with less mass. Physicists define mass as “resistance,” not weight. Image: European Space Agency.

Does Gravity Arise From Quantum Mechanics or General Relativity? A New Experiment Might Provide the Answer

Researchers from the Universities of Amsterdam and Ulm have proposed an experiment using torsion pendulum technology to determine whether gravity is a quantum phenomenon or arises from general relativity. If the technology to conduct the experiment can be created, its measurements of gravitational signals could answer questions about the quantum nature of gravity and potentially much more.

Heat From the Earth’s Core: An Increasingly Important Global Source of Renewable Energy

Harnessed from the Earth’s core, geothermal energy is gaining attention for its reliability and potential as a major renewable energy source. The Krafla plant in Iceland and The Geysers in California exemplify its large-scale applications. Innovations like deep drilling and superhot rock techniques are pushing the boundaries of geothermal power, promising to enhance efficiency and reduce costs and position geothermal as a significant factor in the future of clean energy.

Latest Science News

  • The Gold For The Gold-Standard: the State of Science Funding Worldwide

    “Gold standard” research demands more than just brilliant minds – it requires sustained investment. We delve into the critical issue of ensuring globally equitable and sustainable funding for scientific research, development, and education. We explore disparities between nations, and the shifting landscape of R&D funding, highlighting the private sector’s growing influence and its potential long-term implications for research priorities. The unanswered question is, how can funding best support scientific progress for the benefit of all humanity?

  • Scientists Call for Halt to Creation of Mirror Bacteria, Warning of Global Risk to Life

    Technology has sped progress toward creating exact copies of cells, called “mirror” life. Although mirror cells might help, for example, in the binding of medicines to target cells, many scientists have joined in a public warning about mirror life’s extreme risks to humans and all other living organisms. They call for research to halt immediately, and offer for further investigation some potential countermeasures to stop a chain reaction through entire ecological systems.

  • Robotics and Prosthetics Technologies Combine to Produce Astonishingly Natural Movement

    Two branches of technological research, robotics and prosthetics, are combining forces to develop devices that move far more naturally. People living with impaired bodily functions have much reason to hope for a future when the limitations they now face will be a thing of the past. From an implantable sensor that sits on a muscle, to artificial muscles powered by water pressure, join us in exploring the frontiers of the emerging technology of movement.

  • The Mystery of Human DNA: Science Uncovers Intriguing New Clues to Our Evolutionary History

    DNA is the operating code for the body’s trillions of cells, and with advanced technology scientists are discovering a lot more about the human operating code’s history. We now know we’re a mix of DNA from the Neanderthals, Denisovans, and other earlier species. It’s upending long-held theories of humanity’s unique evolution, and revealing more about the living universe. Meet the 50,000-year-old Neanderthal named ‘Thorin’ and Lucy, the 3.2-million-year-old hominin, as we go back in time to learn about ourselves.

  • Time, the Sun, and Life: Even Bacteria Know When Earth Makes a Seasonal Change

    It seems that understanding Earth’s four seasons, which are caused by the lengthening or shortening of a region’s daily exposure to the Sun, is fundamental to all life – even tiny bacteria. Why would a cyanobacterium, consisting of only one cell with a very short life in a lab, care about what seems to us a meaninglessly small amount of time? Surprisingly, the cell is accumulating information on time, which it passes on to its next generation.

  • Will We Find a Universal Memory for All Physical Scales, From the Tiny Quantum to Giant Stars, in the Geometry of Curves?

    In the continuing search for a theory unifying general relativity’s gravity with quantum mechanics, evidence suggests the universe retains a record of events in the geometry of curves that preserve the gravitational consequences of interactions from the tiny quantum to massive stars. We survey 30 years of discoveries pointing to the possibility of decoding probabilities at any scale.

The Quantum Record is a non-profit journal of philosophy, science, technology, and time. The potential of the future is in the human mind and heart, and in the common ground that we all share on the road to tomorrow. Promoting reflection, discussion, and imagination, The Quantum Record highlights the good work of good people and aims to join many perspectives in shaping the best possible time to come. We would love to stay in touch with you, and add your voice to the dialogue.

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