science
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Breaking Down Solar Panels
Back in December 2015, parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change reached a landmark agreement. One hundred and ninety-five nations, practically every country in the world, were going to officially fight against the climate...
Alex · 06 January 2021 · 110
This Is Why Birds Are So Affected by Oil Spills
We've been using our planet's rivers, lakes and oceans to ship crude oil from place to place since the beginning of oil. And while that is an effective way to move thousands of gallons of petroleum around the world. There is of course the risk of oil...
Den W. · 20 October 2020 · 56
Scientists Can Now Prove That Climate Change Is Causing Natural Disasters
Longer fire seasons. Stronger hurricanes. More intense heatwaves and floods. Across the world, climate events are getting more extreme. And while there’s little doubt that global warming is to blame, proving that fault for specific weather even...
Alex · 25 November 2020 · 72
What Exactly Is Fracking, And Is It Really That Bad?
In a world that’s demanding more and more energy every year, solutions for cheap and accessible fuel are more important than ever. There’s an estimated 214.6 TRILLION cubic meters of untapped natural gas underneath our feet around the wor...
Alex · 02 January 2021 · 57
Quantum Tunneling Takes a Surprisingly Long Time
The quantum world... is weird. Physicists have a pretty good handle on it mathematically, but that math can sometimes point to things that just seem wrong. Like a particle zooming towards a seemingly-impenetrable barrier and then just — poof &m...
Jacob Enderson · 06 November 2020 · 106
What We Need to End the Coronavirus Pandemic
COVID-19. The disease has turned our world upside down, forcing us to take dramatic measures to help stem the spread of the virus. Now, after countless months navigating lockdowns, mask-wearing and social distancing, the question everyone wants...
Alex · 11 November 2020 · 44
Scientists Explore the Breaking Point Between Classical and Quantum Physics
Here’s a puzzler for you — what’s it called when a system stays the same temperature... even when it has an energy input that should be making it hotter? I think most peoples’ answers to that question would be, ‘uh, it&r...
Jacob Enderson · 16 September 2020 · 131
Sun Power
Here's a mind-blowing fact. The sun releases more energy in just 1.5 millionth of a second than we humans on planet Earth consume in a year. That's a lot of power. Which is why solar will likely play a huge role in our quest for a cleaner, more secu...
Alex · 06 January 2021 · 109
The World’s First Room Temperature Superconductor Is Here
Superconductors are the secret sauce that many designs for quantum computers, particle accelerators, and fusion reactors depend on to function. But most superconductors need to be kept at ultra cold temperatures, a drawback that severely limits their...
Alex · 06 November 2020 · 124
Black HoleWhy We’re Seeing More Gravitational Wave Events Than Ever Before
Remember when the discovery of gravitational waves was first officially announced back in 2016 and we were all like, “wow that’s wild, I wonder if we’ll see more?” Well since then, we have spotted a handful more, but rece...
Jacob Enderson · 23 November 2020 · 60
The First Full-Size 3D Print of a Human Heart Is Here
Imagine having the option to get a 3D printed organ. No more waiting on a list. Well, a team of biomedical engineers from Carnegie Mellon University are bringing us closer to that reality. Say hello to the first flexible full-size 3D print of a huma...
Alex · 24 December 2020 · 321
Could Mars’ Extinct Volcanoes Reawaken?
Between 3 and 4 billion years ago, Mars bubbled and burst with volcanic activity. The planet’s stationary crust and lower surface gravity meant volcanoes could build themselves up to staggering heights, like...
Alex · 09 August 2021 · 55
Is the Solar System Missing a Planet?
You’ve probably had the layout of the solar system drilled into you so much that at this point it’s second nature. Which is why it might surprise you to learn that those 8 planets in that neat layout weren’t always where they are to...
Kelly · 30 November 2021 · 259
In Space, Every Poop Is a Floater: Why the New ISS Toilet Costs $23 Million
We have a habit of deifying astronauts, but the truth is they’re humans just like us. They put on their space suits one leg at a time, they have to eat, sleep, and just like us, poop. The only difference is if their toilet doesn’t work, they can’t po...
Den W. · 09 September 2020 · 90
Earth’s “Evil” Twin May Hold Signs of Life
After earning a bad reputation as Earth’s “evil twin”, Venus is finally getting some good press. Recently, a team of international astronomers announced the discovery of a rare gas called phosphine in the planet’s atmosphere,...
Alex · 29 September 2020 · 69
This Mutant Super-Enzyme Can Eat Plastic Waste Within Days
We are addicted to single-use plastics The vast majority of single-use plastic bottles end up in landfills or the ocean where they’ll take at least 450 years to break down completely. Now though, scientists have created a new “super enzym...
Den W. · 19 October 2020 · 93 · 2