Scientists build ‘most accurate’ quantum computing chip ever thanks to new silicon-based computing architecture
After building a new kind of architecture, silicon quantum computing physicists have developed what they claim is the most accurate quantum computing chip ever designed. Representatives of the Sydney-based startup say its silicon-based atomic quantum computing chips have advantages over other types of quantum processing units (QPUs). That’s because the chip is based on a […]
Scientists discover ‘unprecedented celestial phenomenon’ around ‘Eye of Sauron’ star, just 25 light-years from Earth
Astronomers hoping to observe planets around nearby stars have witnessed an “unprecedented astronomical phenomenon” that is much rarer, the researchers said. It is the violent aftermath of not one, but two collisions between the planet’s rocky components. Over the past two decades, astronomers have witnessed two catastrophic collisions around the star Fomalhaut, located just 25 […]
What is the fastest rate a human can grow?
If you have teenagers or were once a teenager yourself, you’ve probably experienced this. Your child’s jeans may have fit perfectly in September, but by December they’re showing their ankles. Growth during adolescence can seem surprisingly rapid, with some teens growing 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 centimeters) per year. But is this really […]
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is rapidly moving away from us. Can we ‘intercept’ it before it leaves us forever?
We’ve watched it speed through the solar system using the most powerful telescopes in human history. We’ve studied its light with probes whipping around the sun and robots marooned on Mars. Countless eyes watched it make its closest approach to Earth on Dec. 19 — and yet, for all of this, the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS […]
AI is solving ‘impossible’ math problems. Can it best the world’s top mathematicians?
In October 2024, news broke that Facebook parent company Meta had cracked an “impossible” problem that had stymied mathematicians for a century. In this case, the solvers weren’t human. An artificial intelligence (AI) model developed by Meta determined whether solutions of the equations governing certain dynamically changing systems — like the swing of a pendulum […]
1,400 years ago, Nubians tattooed their young children. Archaeologists are trying to figure out why.
Archaeologists discovered mummified bodies in Sudan and discovered that children as young as 18 months old had their faces tattooed 1,400 years ago in the Nile Valley region. Furthermore, this practice coincided with the introduction of Christianity to the area known as Nubia. “If the tattoo was a symbol of the person’s Christian beliefs, it […]
Japan trials 100-kilowatt laser weapon – capable of cutting metal and drones while in flight
Japan has deployed a system that fires laser beams with 100 kilowatts of energy, powerful enough to disable small drones. It was installed on a 6,200 ton (6.3 million kg) warship. The weapon combines 10 lasers (each with a power output of 10 kW) into a single 100 kW beam, providing enough concentrated power to […]
Stargazing during the Christmas holidays: 10 sights you’ll want to look up to
There are few sights in nature as stunning as the night sky in December. Bright stars like Betelgeuse, Capella, Aldebaran, Sirius, and Orion Belt stars will dominate the night sky after dark, but you can follow some unique astronomical phenomena over two weeks from December 20, 2025 to January 4, 2026. As seen from the […]
2025 Urids meteor shower: When and where to see ‘shooting stars’ on the longest night of the year
If you’re stargazing late on Dec. 21 and 22, keep your eyes peeled for “shooting stars” during the peak of the annual Uruid meteor shower. The Ursa Minor meteor shower will be active from December 13th to December 26th, with its nighttime peak coinciding with the winter solstice on December 21st at 10:03 a.m. ET. […]
Roman soldiers stationed at Hadrian’s Wall suffer from diarrhea and abdominal pain, and microscopic parasites are discovered.
Roman soldiers guarding Hadrian’s Wall in Britain were no strangers to diarrhea and abdominal pain, according to a new study that found traces of at least three different intestinal parasites in soil near centuries-old toilets. This discovery shows that even though the walls had a state-of-the-art sewage system at the time, the Romans’ mettle suffered […]