Science
A Single Crystal May Bridge the Gap Between Everyday Physics and Quantum Weirdness
Researchers at Johns Hopkins and Rutgers have identified a topological insulator that exhibits macroscopic quantum effects, potentially offering a new window into the boundary between classical and quantum physics. Their experiments, published in Science, used terahertz light to detect quantum fingerprints on a bismuth-selenium sample.
Polymarket Removes Nuclear Strike Wager After Trading Surge
Polymarket has archived a market that allowed users to bet on a nuclear weapon detonation before next year, following a surge in trading volume and public scrutiny. The removal comes amid broader concerns about insider trading and the ethics of betting on catastrophic events.
Digital Data Could Outweigh Atoms by 2245, Physicist Warns
A University of Portsmouth physicist warns that the explosive growth of digital information could lead to a sustainability crisis, projecting that by 2245, digital bits could account for half of Earth's mass. The claim, based on a theoretical framework linking information to mass, highlights the looming energy and storage challenges for the tech industry.
White House Infrastructure Plan Targets Carbon-Free Power by 2035
The Biden administration's $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal includes a goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035, with investments in grid resilience, clean energy incentives, and federal building electrification. The plan also addresses orphan wells and abandoned mines, though it faces Republican opposition.
China's Clean Energy Push Reshapes Global Climate Efforts
China, the world's largest carbon emitter, is shifting its energy strategy with record investments in renewables and a sharp decline in coal use. New data shows solar capacity more than doubled in 2016, while the country prepares to open the largest waste-to-energy facility. These moves signal a potential turning point in global climate action.
France's Renewable Shift Could Cut Energy Costs by $44.5 Billion
A new French government plan aims to source 95% of the country's electricity from solar and wind by 2060, potentially saving $44.5 billion compared to maintaining nuclear reactors. The transition would require canceling 15 planned nuclear plants and investing $1.45 trillion over 42 years. The report highlights the financial advantage of renewables over nuclear modernization.
Self-Assembling Nanotubes Offer New Paths for Drug Delivery and Water Purification
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed polymers that spontaneously form hollow nanotubes in water, with diameters tunable to five to ten nanometers. This breakthrough could enable targeted cancer drug delivery and more efficient seawater desalination, according to the team.
First Photograph of Entangled Photons Marks Quantum Milestone
Researchers at the University of Glasgow have captured the first-ever photographic image of two photons linked by quantum entanglement, a phenomenon previously only inferred through indirect measurements. The image, published in Science Advances, could aid the development of quantum computing and cryptography.
Earth's Trapped Solar Energy Doubles in 15 Years, Scientists Report
A new study reveals Earth is absorbing twice as much solar energy as it did 15 years ago, accelerating warming. The research, published in Geophysical Research Letters, highlights an unprecedented rise in trapped heat, with implications for climate policy and future warming rates.
Could a Captured Rogue Planet Explain the Solar System's Missing Ninth World?
New computer simulations by New Mexico State University researchers suggest that the hypothetical Planet Nine may be a rogue planet captured by the Sun's gravity. The findings, presented at the American Astronomical Society meeting, add a new twist to the ongoing search for the elusive world beyond Pluto.