Scientists have finally packed a laboratory-class ultrafast laser onto a tiny photonic chip. Ultrafast lasers generate bursts of light that last only a few hundred femtoseconds, each one just a quadrillionth of a second long. These extremely short pulses are used in a wide range of technologies, including precision manufacturing, eye surgery, and optical frequency [...]

By recreating a nuclear fireball, scientists uncovered unexpected chemistry that could change how radioactive fallout is understood. In the first fraction of a second after a nuclear explosion or a major reactor accident, an immense surge of energy superheats the surrounding environment. Nearby materials and air are instantly vaporized, creating a rapidly expanding fireball made [...]

Researchers may have unlocked the future of computing by turning flat silicon chips into densely stacked 3D architectures. For decades, the semiconductor industry has boosted computing power by making transistors smaller and fitting more of them onto a single chip. That strategy has fueled remarkable advances in electronics, but it is now approaching fundamental physical [...]

Tiny particles from the gut may be carrying aging signals throughout the body, offering a surprising new clue to chronic disease. Researchers at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine have uncovered new evidence that microscopic particles produced in the gut may contribute to the inflammation and chronic diseases often associated with aging. [...]

Cancer’s most notorious growth protein may also be helping tumors survive chemotherapy. A protein already known for fueling cancer growth may have another troubling ability: helping damaged tumor cells repair their DNA and survive treatments designed to destroy them. Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) report that MYC, a protein that is overactive [...]

An endocrinologist’s new weight-care system halted population-level weight gain and could reshape obesity treatment across America. For years, endocrinologist Leigh Perreault, MD, believed there had to be a more effective way to help people manage their weight than simply advising them to eat healthier and exercise more. “There was a moment I put my face [...]

NASA just demonstrated a technology that lets spacecraft communicate across multiple networks, paving the way for a more flexible and reliable space internet. NASA’s experimental Polylingual Experimental Terminal (PExT) has successfully completed its primary technology demonstration, marking an important step toward more flexible communications in space. Because the project met its original goals and continues [...]

Magnetic fields may be the hidden force bringing both newborn stars and giant black holes together. New computer simulations suggest that magnetic fields play a crucial role in helping pairs of young stars form. The findings could explain why binary star systems are so common throughout the Milky Way and may even offer clues about [...]

NASA has released a new update on a long-running air leak aboard the International Space Station, detailing recent developments involving a troubled section of the orbiting laboratory and precautionary measures taken to protect the crew. The issue involves the PrK transfer tunnel inside Russia’s Zvezda service module, where cracks have been causing small atmosphere leaks [...]