Science

Astronomers Spot Smallest Dwarf Planet Candidate in the Asteroid Belt

Astronomers Spot Smallest Dwarf Planet Candidate in the Asteroid Belt

Using the SPHERE instrument on the Very Large Telescope, astronomers have obtained the sharpest images yet of the asteroid Hygiea, revealing a nearly spherical shape. This finding suggests Hygiea may qualify as the smallest dwarf planet in our solar system, pending official classification.

2026-09-23 2026-09-23

Rolls-Royce Targets Wales and Northern England for Compact Nuclear Plants

Rolls-Royce Targets Wales and Northern England for Compact Nuclear Plants

Rolls-Royce is advancing plans to deploy small modular reactors at two UK sites, promising faster construction and a smaller footprint than traditional plants. The UK government has backed the program since 2019, aligning with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's push for a nuclear renaissance. The reactors would generate 440 megawatts each, enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes.

2026-09-23 2026-09-23

A Solar-System-Scale Tugboat Could Shift Earth Out of Harm's Way

A Solar-System-Scale Tugboat Could Shift Earth Out of Harm's Way

An astrophysicist has designed a stellar engine that could move the entire solar system to safety. The device, called the Caplan Thruster, would use a Dyson sphere to collect solar mass and fusion to generate thrust. It could shift the Sun at 50 light-years per million years, offering a long-term escape from cosmic threats.

2026-09-23 2026-09-23

Gravity-Based Energy Storage Startup Secures $100M for Global Expansion

Gravity-Based Energy Storage Startup Secures $100M for Global Expansion

Energy Vault, a Switzerland- and California-based startup, has raised $100 million in series C funding to deploy its gravity-based energy storage system, which lifts and drops 35-metric-ton bricks to store and release power. The company plans to expand its EVx platform across the US, Middle East, Europe, and Australia, targeting both short- and long-duration storage needs.

2026-09-23 2026-09-23

Lebanon's Power Network Fails Completely as Fuel Reserves Run Dry

Lebanon's Power Network Fails Completely as Fuel Reserves Run Dry

Lebanon's national electricity grid shut down entirely after the Deir Ammar and Zahrani power plants exhausted their diesel fuel, leaving the country without any state-provided power. The government is seeking emergency fuel from the army and awaiting an oil shipment from Iraq, while the nation grapples with a severe economic depression.

2026-09-23 2026-09-23

NASA's Solar Sail Test Faces Setback as Spacecraft Tumbles

NASA's Solar Sail Test Faces Setback as Spacecraft Tumbles

NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) is tumbling in orbit after a slight bend was detected in one of its booms. Despite the setback, the agency says the mission continues to provide valuable data for future solar sail technology.

2026-09-23 2026-09-23

Researchers Identify Novel Stem Cell That May Advance Organ Generation

Researchers Identify Novel Stem Cell That May Advance Organ Generation

A team of scientists has identified a new class of pluripotent stem cells that could overcome longstanding hurdles in growing human organs for transplantation. The discovery, made during experiments with mouse embryos, may open new avenues for regenerative medicine and xenotransplantation.

2026-09-23 2026-09-23

Lab-Grown Vocal Cord Tissue Vibrates and Generates Sound in Breakthrough Study

Lab-Grown Vocal Cord Tissue Vibrates and Generates Sound in Breakthrough Study

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have grown functional vocal cord tissue in the lab, which vibrates and produces sound. This tissue engineering advance could one day restore voices for patients with untreatable voice disorders, though more testing is needed before clinical trials.

2026-09-23 2026-09-23

Brain's Memory Storage May Be Tenfold Greater Than Prior Estimates

Brain's Memory Storage May Be Tenfold Greater Than Prior Estimates

New measurements from Salk Institute researchers suggest the human brain's memory storage could be around a petabyte, ten times larger than earlier estimates. The findings, based on detailed 3D reconstructions of rat hippocampus tissue, reveal that synaptic sizes vary in much finer increments than previously recognized, offering insights into the brain's energy-efficient design.

2026-09-23 2026-09-23

City Sparrows Adopt Richer Melodies as Lockdown Quiets San Francisco

City Sparrows Adopt Richer Melodies as Lockdown Quiets San Francisco

New research shows white-crowned sparrows in San Francisco shifted to more complex songs during pandemic lockdowns, as reduced traffic noise allowed their calls to carry farther. The findings, published in Science, highlight how sudden environmental changes can alter animal behavior.

2026-09-23 2026-09-23