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

New Technologies Bring Us Closer to Communicating With Animals. Will the Experience be Humbling?

If we could learn to speak dog, elephant, or any of the vast array of sounds that animals communicate with, how would our perception of life change? Machine learning could soon help answer the question, as algorithms enable scientists to detect patterns and meaning in animal sounds. The studies of bioacoustics and ecoacoustics, and technologies like passive acoustic localization, have already led to important discoveries. As science comes closer to cracking the code of animal language, will legal and ethical systems respond to preserve nature, recognize animal intelligence, and prevent human manipulation?

Do We Live Inside a Black Hole? New Evidence Could Redefine Distance and Time

What difference would it make if we knew that we’re living inside a black hole? New evidence of galactic rotation patterns suggests that we do, and that we should reconsider how we measure distance and time. Is time linear, on a one-way trip from past to future, or is time actually circular? Evidence that galaxies rotate on a universal axis revives black hole cosmology and shockwave cosmology theories first proposed decades ago.

Cleaning the Mirror: Increasing Concerns Over Data Quality, Distortion, and Decision-Making

As AI systems become more powerful, the spotlight often focuses on models—yet the real bottleneck may lie in the data they consume. From flawed training sets to recursive feedback loops of AI-generated content, recent studies reveal that data quality is not just a technical detail—it’s a foundational concern for the future of trustworthy machine intelligence, especially in crucial functions like healthcare.

Latest Science News

  • Is Data-Intensive AI Facing a Memory Limit? New Approaches Might Provide Solutions

    Generative AI, like OpenAI’s GPT-4, requires massive computing memory and processing speed to handle more than a trillion parameters. Data-intensive and memory-hungry AI applications are increasingly reliant on the chips and processing units of one market-dominating company, Nvidia. When the efficiency of memory use in functions that require large amounts of data is being questioned, and with their demands for electricity skyrocketing, we look at some promising alternatives for memory storage.

  • 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.

  • From Tides to Turbines: Technology Harnesses the Power of Oceans for Renewable Energy

    When completed, the MeyGen Tidal Power project in Scotland will be the world’s largest producer of energy from the oceans. Covering more than two-thirds of the Earth’s surface, oceans hold immense energy potential in their waves and tides, and we look at some of the promising technologies and projects that aim to deliver power from water to industries and millions of homes.

  • Hydrogen fuelling station

    Will Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles Soon Provide a Greener Alternative to EVs?

    While vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells and refuelling stations are scarce, hydrogen technology promises a greener and more sustainable alternative than electric vehicle batteries and emits only water and heat from the tailpipe. The challenge lies in producing and transporting the hydrogen fuel, but new methods like electrolysis and natural generation promise increased efficiency and lower cost. Will hydrogen power future transportation?

  • New Technologies Tackle Global Plastic Waste Pollution

    Plastic waste has nearly doubled in the past two decades and is expected to triple by 2060, with most ending up in landfills and oceans. Efforts to curb global plastic pollution include bans on single-use plastics and advancements in recycling technologies. Innovations like biodegradable plastics and new processes to vaporize plastic offer promising solutions for waste reduction, but significant progress will require continued global action and investment in recycling infrastructure.

  • A Promising Future for Clean Energy Technologies is Taking Shape

    The surging number of clean technology patents, and their growing proportion of all inventions, is a sign of a promising and sustainable future. Renewable energy is rapidly replacing fossil fuels, with solar leading the way but other developing technologies like elastocaloric heating and cooling and hydrogen fuel cells showing potential to add more alternatives as costs continue to decrease.

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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