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Brightening Earth’s clouds so that they reflect more sunlight just might cool the planet — that is if we can figure out how to do it without causing any unintended harm. To test the theory out, a group of over 30 leading scientists have written up a research road map that was published in the journal Science Advances yesterday. The paper focuses on how to approach attempts to artificially shade Earth’s surface with marine clouds by spraying saltwater into the air from ships, a strategy called marine cloud brightening…

Researchers created an energy-efficient electric motor actuator, using springs and clutches to slash energy use in dynamic tasks, offering up to 97% efficiency improvement and potential applications in robotics and assistive devices. Energy-recycling actuator prototype. Credit: Erez KrimskyResearchers at Stanford have developed a spring-assisted actuator, a device that can accomplish dynamic tasks using a fraction of the energy previously required.Whether it’s a powered prosthesis to assist a person who has lost a limb or…

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Gambling features such as loot boxes in video games and sports betting are the most popular forms of online gambling among young adults in the ACT, with many introduced to it before the age of 18, according to a new report from The Australian National University (ANU). The study asked 38 young people between the ages…

If you have ever been unlucky enough to get stuck on a poorly ventilated form of public transport just as a pack of high schoolers get on board after a long day, you will know that teenagers smell bad. It’s an objective fact. They stink.We know that along with a whole host of developmental changes accompanying puberty, that distinctive teenager stench comes from a hormonal activation of sweat glands. The sweat combines with a unique microbial population to generate smells that are unique, to say the least.But until now,…

Would you want to eat this beetle? Probably not, as it appears to be covered in fungus. That "fungus" is actually hair, however, which the recently discovered insect may use to put off would-be predators.A lone example of the beetle was found by James Tweed, a PhD candidate in The University of Queensland's School of the Environment, when he was camping in the rainforest in Australia's Lamington National Park.As Tweed was walking through the campsite one morning, he spotted what he initially thought might be a bird…

Slayman received his first kidney transplant in 2018 from a human donor. The donor kidney initially functioned well, but Slayman started to go into kidney failure after years of living with diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease, which can eventually result in kidney failure.He had no choice but to go on dialysis, a treatment that removes excess fluid and waste from a person’s blood. But the dialysis caused complications—his blood vessels were clotting and failing. Slayman wound up in the hospital…

How China Got Ahead on EVs Speakers: Zeyi Yang, China reporter, Amanda Silverman, Features & investigations editor, and Abby Ivory-Ganja, Sr engagement editor In the race to produce and sell more electric vehicles, China has emerged as the unexpected winner. If you visit Shanghai or Shenzhen today, it feels like half of the cars running on the streets are electric. The burgeoning domestic demand also transformed Chinese auto companies into aggressive challengers in the global auto market. What did China’s government…

Credit: Delft University of Technology Can salt marshes serve as a natural solution for flood protection? Researchers of the project "Living Dikes" transported 62 big blocks of salt marshes, containing soil and vegetation, from the coast of Friesland to the Delta Flume at Deltares. After four weeks of exposure to extreme waves, almost the entire salt marsh is still standing there. …

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain As the nation braces itself for another pivotal presidential election year, the spotlight on gun control intensifies—one of America's most contentious issues. Shedding light on this debate, new research by Dr. Michael Nelson, emeritus professor of economics at The University of Akron, and Dr. Rajeev Goel, professor of economics at Illinois State University, unveils a surprising revelation:…

Credit: CC0 Public Domain Young people are reportedly being priced out of rural communities by soaring housing costs. Official statistics for England show that affordability in rural parts of the country is worse than in towns and cities, excluding London. In 2021, even the cheapest houses in rural areas cost around 9.2 times more than the earnings of the lowest paid workers. In urban areas, it was eight times more.…