Science
Nebulatitan
Solar-Powered Aircraft Completes Historic Round-the-World Flight
Solar Impulse 2 landed in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, completing the first fuel-free flight around the world. The 42,000-kilometer journey, piloted by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, showcased solar aviation's potential despite technical setbacks and extreme heat.
Fukushima Water Release Plan Includes Undersea Tunnel to Protect Fisheries
TEPCO will build a kilometer-long undersea tunnel to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi plant about 40 feet below the Pacific surface, aiming to start by mid-2023. The move seeks to ease concerns of local fishers and address the imminent overflow of storage tanks, which are expected to reach capacity next year.
Nuclear Agency Staff Cut in Mass Layoff, Then Asked to Return
A wave of federal layoffs mistakenly removed hundreds of nuclear weapons specialists from the National Nuclear Security Administration. Officials later realized the error and attempted to rehire them, but the former employees had already lost access to government email. The incident has raised concerns about the handling of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
Quantum Teleportation Sets New Record Over Optical Fiber
Researchers have achieved quantum teleportation over a record distance using optical fiber, successfully storing the transmitted information. This breakthrough brings quantum computing and secure communication closer to practical application, marking a significant milestone in quantum information technology.
Altering DNA of Crops and Livestock Emerges as Climate Strategy
A new report from the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation proposes using gene editing on plants and animals to reduce emissions and capture carbon. The approach faces uncertainty due to limited knowledge of long-term effects, but offers a potential complement to traditional geoengineering.
A Steel Monolith in Tasmania Will Chronicle Humanity's Climate Demise
An international team is constructing a steel monolith in Tasmania to record climate data and societal responses, aiming to leave a durable record for future civilizations if climate change leads to collapse. The project, called Earth's Black Box, will store data on solar-powered drives and is designed to outlast human infrastructure.
Why Knowing Climate Science Doesn't Bridge the Partisan Divide
A Yale-led study reveals that higher climate science literacy does not reduce political polarization over human-caused global warming. In fact, the most knowledgeable participants were the most divided, suggesting that cultural identity, not knowledge, drives public opinion.
Portable AI Drone by Anduril Aims to Reshape Battlefield Recon
Anduril, the defense startup founded by Oculus Rift creator Palmer Luckey, has introduced the Ghost 4, a backpack-portable drone that can fly for 100 minutes and carry cameras, lasers, or radio jammers. The company envisions AI-driven target identification, though the technology remains controversial after Google's Project Maven cancellation.
Army Seeks Automated Tank Targeting System to Speed Combat Decisions
The U.S. Army has requested expert input to develop a system that would automate target detection and engagement in ground combat vehicles, though a human would still authorize firing. The move intensifies debate over autonomous weapons, with 26 countries calling for a ban.
Cosmic Accounting: Why Dark Matter and Dark Energy Are Essential
Astronomers rely on dark matter and dark energy to explain the universe's flat geometry and accelerated expansion. Observations from missions like Planck and WMAP show that visible matter accounts for only about 30% of the critical density, leaving the rest to these unseen components.