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

Carbon Engineering has raised significant capital to construct a facility capable of removing as much carbon dioxide annually as 40 million trees. The funding round, backed by Bill Gates and major energy firms, signals growing commercial interest in direct air capture technology.

A draft federal report from 13 agencies concludes human activity is the primary driver of recent climate change, with U.S. temperatures rising sharply since the 1980s. The findings, obtained by The New York Times, await approval from the Trump administration, raising concerns about potential suppression.

The United States has voiced support for Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the Pacific, despite opposition from China, South Korea, and Russia. US climate envoy John Kerry expressed confidence in Japan's adherence to international standards and monitoring procedures.

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.

Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon, holds a subsurface ocean with more water than Earth. Recent observations of its auroras revealed the ocean's presence, and the upcoming JUICE mission aims to explore this icy world further.

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.

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.

Two Caltech physicists have found mathematical similarities between quantum entanglement equations and Einstein's general relativity, supporting the idea that spacetime emerges from entanglement. Their speculative paper, posted on arXiv, could offer a new path toward reconciling the two pillars of modern physics.

A Chinese research team has adapted the ancient strategy game Go to operate at the quantum level, replacing traditional stones with entangled photons. The new version introduces unpredictable capture mechanics that challenge classical strategies, with implications for future quantum-based gaming.

Two independent research teams discovered that a single protein, condensin II, dictates how chromosomes are folded, and by disabling it, human DNA can be reshaped to resemble mosquito chromosomes. The findings, published in Science, reveal that most species fall into one of two chromosome-folding categories, with some switching over evolutionary time. This research sheds light on fundamental genome architecture and its potential impact on species survival.

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.

Pollen introduces Pam, a luxury 3D printer with a leather and brass exterior, capable of printing with up to four materials simultaneously at 40-micron resolution. Priced at €8,000, it targets designers seeking bespoke production, with delivery expected in April 2017.

New analysis suggests that unsubsidized onshore wind power in the U.S. could become cost-competitive with fossil fuels within ten years, driven by corporate investments and technological advances. Wind already generates over 5% of U.S. electricity, double the share from 2010.

Record heat in Florida has led to nearly all sea turtle hatchlings being female for four consecutive years, alarming scientists. This imbalance threatens genetic diversity and population survival, with rising sand temperatures potentially lethal to eggs.

Brazil's military is facing scrutiny after reports of purchasing penile implants and Viagra for soldiers. Officials claim the implants were for medical treatment, but critics demand an investigation into the spending.

Researchers at Northwestern University, supported by the U.S. Army, have developed a fabric coating that can neutralize the nerve agents VX and soman. The coating works by pulling moisture from the air to break down the toxins, with the next phase focusing on adapting the material for military uniforms.

Researchers at UNIST have developed a stretchable, transparent heater using a copper-zirconium metallic glass electrode. The device can be stretched over 150% without losing conductivity and could be used for thermotherapy patches or defrosting vehicle mirrors. This marks the first stretchable electronic device made from metallic glass.

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.

An amateur satellite tracker has detected unusual radio emissions from SpaceX's classified Starshield satellites, potentially breaching international frequency guidelines. The signals, observed in a band reserved for ground-to-space communications, raise questions about interference with other orbital assets. Experts note no damage has been reported so far.

Millions of Americans face heavy metal contamination in their water, a problem extending far beyond Flint. Scientists are exploring bioremediation using algae, fungi, and bacteria to clean toxic sites like Montana's Berkeley Pit, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional methods.

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.

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.

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.

The World Meteorological Organization reports that atmospheric CO2 concentrations in 2023 reached over 420 parts per million, the highest in human history, signaling an acceleration of global warming. The report warns that current efforts to curb emissions are off track from the Paris Agreement goals, with real-world impacts already visible in extreme weather events.