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Science laboratories across disciplines--chemistry, biochemistry and materials science--are on the verge of a sweeping transformation as robotic automation and AI lead to faster and more precise experiments that unlock breakthroughs in fields like health, energy and electronics.

Adding blade-like sails to tankers could reduce their annual fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent, slashing the climate impact of the shipping industry

For nervous newbie gardeners, starting out with a single plant in a small pot is pitched as an easy win by the horticultural industry. James Wong explains why it isn't

A man and young girl drive across a scorched Australian outback in Juice, an extraordinary new sci-fi novel where nothing is what it first seems, says Emily H. Wilson

Marie Curie redefined the role of women in science by training a generation of “lab daughters” to have stellar careers, shows Dava Sobel's detailed and intimate new biography, The Elements of Marie Curie

Greening our cities is a good thing, but it has to be done with an eye to the unfolding climate crisis of our times

Feedback was feeling left out after failing to see the recent aurora borealis, but was delighted to find Meta providing an AI-generated version. Definitely absolutely just as good as the real thing

When award-winning author Will Eaves couldn't write his next novel, he discovered that a different approach to creativity offered some answers

What happens if AI is trained to write choral music by feeding it a specially created vocal dataset? Moving new exhibition The Call tackles some thorny questions about AI and creativity – and stirs the soul with music

A new study by learning analytics researchers presents key considerations for generative AI (GenAI) educational tools so they are carefully developed to support, rather than replace, human learning.

Researchers increased by a 100-fold the measurement rate of Raman spectroscopy, a common technique for measuring the 'vibrational fingerprint' of molecules in order to identify them. As the measurement rate has been a major limiting factor, this improvement contributes to advancements in many fields that rely on identifying molecules and cells, such as biomedical diagnostics and material analytics.

Researchers give robots a sense of touch by 'listening' to vibrations, allowing them to identify materials, understand shapes and recognize objects just like human hands. The ability to interpret the world through acoustic vibrations emanating from an object -- like shaking a cup to see how much soda is left or tapping on a desk to see if it's made out of real wood -- is something humans do without thinking. And it's an ability that researchers are on the cusp of bringing to robots to augment their rapidly growing set of sensing abilities.

Researchers give robots a sense of touch by 'listening' to vibrations, allowing them to identify materials, understand shapes and recognize objects just like human hands. The ability to interpret the world through acoustic vibrations emanating from an object -- like shaking a cup to see how much soda is left or tapping on a desk to see if it's made out of real wood -- is something humans do without thinking. And it's an ability that researchers are on the cusp of bringing to robots to augment their rapidly growing set of sensing abilities.

In a breakthrough that could revolutionize biomarker detection, researchers have developed a novel technique called 'femtosecond-fieldoscopy'. This method enables the precise measurement of minute liquid quantities, down to the micromolar level, with unmatched sensitivity in the near-infrared region. It opens up new possibilities for label-free bio-imaging and the detection of target molecules in aqueous environments, paving the way for advanced biomedical applications.

Chemists have synthesized so-called heteroatom-substituted cage-like 3D molecules. The innovative structures are created by precisely inserting a triatomic unit into the strained ring of a reaction partner. They could help address key challenges in drug design by serving as more stable alternatives to traditional, flat, aromatic rings.

A team of researchers developed a thermoelectric material that can be used in wearable devices, such as smart clothing, and while maintaining stable thermal energy performance even in extreme environments.

The European research project 'Federated Secure Computing' presents a new approach that allows patient data from different institutions to be analysed securely and anonymously.

A sequence of events during the evolution of certain rocky planets orbiting M-dwarfs, the most common stars in the universe, creates an atmosphere that would be stable over time. This is true for more temperate planets, orbiting a bit farther from the central star.

When we make decisions, we are often guided by the opinions and experiences of those around us. Yet we actually have quite different preferences, tastes and goals. A research team investigated how we learn from others despite individual differences. The scientists found that humans tend to treat social information as a recommendation -- with some skepticism. They also use it to save themselves costly exploration. The results open up new paths to incorporate similar learning principles into artificial intelligence (AI).

Until now, researchers have been limited in developing photonic memory for AI processing -- gaining one important attribute like speed while sacrificing another like energy usage. An international team demonstrates a unique solution that addresses current limitations of optical memory that have yet to combine non-volatility, multibit storage, high switching speed, low switching energy, and high endurance in a single platform.