Phys.org
With an eye toward exploration, researchers map moon's regolith thickness
Lunar scientists from Brown University have produced the most detailed map yet of the moon's regolith, the blanket of loose dust and fragmented rock covering the entire lunar surface. Understanding regolith thickness is essential for future exploration missions, as it affects everything from landing site safety to the extraction of resources. The findings give mission planners a sharper picture of what lies just beneath the surface at potential landing zones.
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New technique for building ultra-thin material stacks promises quantum breakthrough
Researchers from Southampton and Singapore have developed a fabrication technique for building ultra-clean stacks of two-dimensional materials just atoms thick. The method enables unprecedented precision in constructing so-called heterostructures, which are considered prime candidates for next-generation quantum and electronic devices. If scalable, the advance could meaningfully accelerate progress toward practical quantum computing hardware.
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Hydrology professor develops simple outdoor flood alarm to save lives
A University of Texas hydrology professor has designed a low-tech outdoor flood alarm inspired by the deadly July 4, 2025, Central Texas floods that killed 139 people. The device operates on a "set and forget" model, much like a household smoke detector, requiring no technical expertise to deploy. The innovation addresses a critical gap in flood preparedness, particularly for communities with limited access to sophisticated warning systems.
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Oxygenic photosynthesis works with one photosystem, overturning 50-year textbook rule
For half a century, biology textbooks have held that oxygenic photosynthesis requires two photosystems working in tandem — a rule now shattered by researchers at LMU Munich. Their work demonstrates that a single photosystem is sufficient to drive the oxygen-producing reactions that underpin nearly all complex life on Earth. The finding forces a fundamental reassessment of how photosynthesis evolved and opens new avenues for engineering more efficient artificial systems.
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Elephants turn footsteps into messages through ground and skull vibrations
Elephants have two systems for long-distance communication: airborne sound reaching up to five kilometers, and seismic vibrations traveling through the ground for over ten kilometers. The ground vibrations enter through the feet, travel up the legs, and reach the inner ear via bone conduction through the skull. This dual system makes elephants among the most sophisticated long-range communicators in the animal kingdom.
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