Phys.org
Burned as waste for years, this overlooked plant material is poised to reshape how nylon gets made
Adipic acid, a key ingredient in nylon production, has long relied on petroleum-derived benzene and energy-intensive manufacturing — leaving the material with a substantial carbon footprint. Researchers are now turning to a long-overlooked plant-based source, previously discarded as waste, as a cleaner alternative feedstock. If scalable, the shift could meaningfully reduce the environmental cost of one of the world's most widely used synthetic materials.
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Unique chromium beam experiment unlocks cosmic ray origins and galactic chemistry
Cosmic rays — the elemental debris flung into space by dying stars — carry crucial clues about galactic chemistry, but their transformation during interstellar travel has long muddied the picture. A new chromium beam experiment is cutting through that uncertainty by precisely mapping how these nuclei interact and change as they cross the cosmos. The findings stand to resolve longstanding questions about the origins and evolution of cosmic rays that have stumped scientists for over a century.
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David Kipping has new take on the existence of advanced life in the universe and the numbers are not encouraging
Advanced civilizations, if they exist, should have already colonized the galaxy and visited Earth — yet there is no evidence they have. Columbia astronomer David Kipping has revisited this Hart-Tipler argument, running updated numbers that cast serious doubt on the prevalence of intelligent life in the universe. The so-called "Great Silence" may not be a mystery at all, but rather confirmation that we are effectively alone.
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Light-programmed system projects 28-layer 3D images in single shot
A UCLA-led research team has developed a snapshot 3D projection system capable of rendering 28 distinct image layers simultaneously in a single exposure, combining a digital encoder with a passive diffractive optical decoder optimized via deep learning. The breakthrough eliminates the need for sequential scanning or complex mechanical components, compressing volumetric display into one instantaneous operation. The advance signals a meaningful leap toward compact, high-fidelity 3D display technology with potential applications in medical imaging, augmented reality, and scientific visualization.
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South African telescope detects record‑breaking signal from the early universe
Astronomers using South Africa's MeerKAT telescope have detected the most distant hydroxyl megamaser on record — a naturally occurring space laser buried inside a colliding galaxy over 8 billion light-years from Earth. The discovery pushes the boundaries of radio astronomy and offers a rare window into the violent galactic collisions of the early universe. Hydroxyl megamasers serve as powerful markers of galaxy mergers, making this find a significant tool for understanding how galaxies evolved over cosmic time.
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