Science Remote Work Trend Cuts U.S. Energy Demand by 1.8%, Study Finds Keir Lane · Issue 01 A new study in Joule reveals that Americans spent eight more days at home in 2012 than in 2003, leading to a 1.8% drop in national energy demand. The shift, driven by technology-enabled remote work and online shopping, reduced transportation-related energy use significantly.
Science Snake's Search for Shade Triggers Hour-Long Blackout in Japan Keir Lane · Issue 02 A single snake caused a one-hour power outage for nearly 10,000 homes in Japan after entering a Tohoku Electric substation. The incident highlights the broader vulnerability of infrastructure to wildlife, with past events including dog urine and bird droppings disrupting traffic systems.
Science Seawater and Sunlight: A New Path to Clean Fuel Keir Lane · Issue 03 Researchers at Osaka University have developed a method using sunlight to convert seawater into hydrogen peroxide, a fuel that can generate electricity. This process offers a safer, more efficient alternative to hydrogen gas production, potentially advancing green energy storage and transport.
Science Germany Hits 85% Renewable Power Milestone on a Single Day Keir Lane · Issue 04 On April 30, Germany generated 85% of its electricity from renewable sources, a national record. The milestone underscores the country's rapid transition away from fossil fuels, with coal plants largely idle that day. Experts expect such days to become routine by 2030.
Science Camera add-on reveals hidden infrared colors to the naked eye Keir Lane · Issue 05 Engineers at Tel Aviv University have developed a camera-mounted system that converts infrared light into visible colors, making a once-expensive scientific tool accessible for photography and citizen science. The technology can image gases and natural scenes, with potential uses in environmental monitoring and security.
Science Vaping-Related Lung Injuries: CDC Data Points to Black-Market THC Brands Keir Lane · Issue 06 New CDC data links most EVALI cases to THC vaping products, with Dank Vapes accounting for over half. The agency warns that vitamin E acetate is associated with the illness, but other causes remain under investigation.
Science Flat Universe Theory: Could Life Thrive in Two Dimensions? Keir Lane · Issue 07 A physicist's new paper suggests life could theoretically exist in a two-dimensional universe, challenging long-held assumptions about the necessity of three spatial dimensions for biology and gravity.
Science Cryo-Electron Microscopy Pioneers Win 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Keir Lane · Issue 08 The 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson for developing cryo-electron microscopy, a technique that allows scientists to visualize biomolecules in unprecedented detail. Their work has opened new frontiers in structural biology, enabling the study of proteins and viruses that were previously inaccessible to other methods.
Science Internet-Famous Submarine Uncovers Deep-Ocean Climate Clues Keir Lane · Issue 09 Boaty McBoatface, the autonomous submarine named through an online poll, completed its first scientific mission in the Southern Ocean, revealing a new mechanism by which stronger winds linked to climate change stir deep-sea turbulence. The findings, published in PNAS, offer fresh insight into ocean warming and future sea-level rise.
Science Mysterious Planet Nine May Explain Sun's Six-Degree Tilt Keir Lane · Issue 10 A Caltech team proposes that the hypothetical Planet Nine, with its massive size and tilted orbit, is responsible for the Sun's six-degree axial tilt, a mystery that has puzzled astronomers for 150 years. The theory, presented at a planetary science meeting, adds to the growing evidence for the planet's existence, though direct observation remains years away.
Science U.S. Pours $82 Million Into Next-Generation Nuclear Reactor Research Keir Lane · Issue 11 The Department of Energy is distributing $82 million across 93 projects in 28 states to advance innovative nuclear technologies. The funding supports university research, small business startups, and regulatory streamlining through the GAIN initiative, aiming to commercialize next-generation reactors.
Science Boreal Forests March Toward the Arctic as Climate Warms, NASA Data Reveals Keir Lane · Issue 12 A 36-year satellite record from NASA's Landsat missions shows boreal forests expanding by 12 percent while shifting northward by 0.29 degrees of latitude, a trend scientists link to rising temperatures. The study in Biogeosciences highlights both potential gains in carbon storage and growing risks from wildfires and pests.
Science Wormhole Travel May Be Possible, New Black Hole Model Suggests Keir Lane · Issue 13 A new theoretical model suggests that objects, including spacecraft, could survive passage through a black hole's wormhole, challenging traditional views. The research, published in Classical and Quantum Gravity, replaces the central singularity with a finite-sized wormhole, offering a potential path to another universe.
Science Milky Way's Black Hole Spins at a Snail's Pace, Study Finds Keir Lane · Issue 14 New research published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters reveals that the Milky Way's central black hole spins at a remarkably slow rate—at most 10% of the speed of light. This sluggish spin, inferred from the undisturbed orbits of ancient stars nearby, contrasts sharply with the rapid rotation of other supermassive black holes and explains the galaxy's calm core.
Science Microplastics Found in Every Antarctic Snow Sample, Study Says Keir Lane · Issue 15 A new study reveals microplastics in all 19 snow samples collected in Antarctica, challenging assumptions about the continent's pristine environment. The findings, published in the journal Cryosphere, highlight the global reach of plastic pollution.
Science China Deploys 60,000 Troops to Plant Forests and Cut Smog Keir Lane · Issue 16 China is mobilizing 60,000 soldiers to plant trees across 84,000 square kilometers, aiming to raise forest coverage from 21% to 23% in 2018. The initiative targets heavily polluted Hebei province, but experts caution that trees alone won't solve the smog crisis. This move complements earlier measures like factory closures and a diesel car ban.
Science Stable Particle Beams Could Unlock New Physics and Medical Advances Keir Lane · Issue 17 Physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, collaborating with researchers from South Korea and Germany, have developed a theoretical framework to enhance particle beam stability and intensity. This advance could lead to more powerful accelerators for scientific discovery and medical treatments, including cancer radiation therapy.
Science Remote Frog Call Monitoring Device Lets Researchers Dial Into Wetlands Keir Lane · Issue 18 A new waterproof device called the FrogPhone lets scientists monitor frog calls from up to 150 meters away without repeated site visits. Developed by researchers and published in the British Ecological Society, the tool aims to make ecological surveys more efficient and frequent, supporting conservation efforts.
Science Stanford Scientists Lengthen Telomeres to Boost Cell Lifespan Keir Lane · Issue 19 Researchers at Stanford University have developed a method to lengthen telomeres in human cells, enabling them to divide up to 40 more times. The temporary RNA-based approach could aid disease research and offer new avenues for treating age-related conditions.
Science China's Solar Panel Output Reshapes Global Energy Markets Keir Lane · Issue 20 China now manufactures enough solar panels annually to generate a terawatt of power, a scale that is driving down global electricity costs and challenging fossil fuel dominance. With 64% of worldwide utility-scale renewable construction underway, the country's output is reshaping energy economics.
