Science

NASA wants your help to map the world’s coral reefs

NASA is calling on citizen scientists to help identify and classify the world's corals by playing a virtual diving game, so that experts can better understand how they are evolving and how they might be best preserved for the future.

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DARPA program looks to use biotech to prevent jet lag and diarrhea

DARPA is planning to develop a travel adapter for the human body. Called the ADvanced Acclimation and Protection Tool for Environmental Readiness (ADAPTER), the new program aims to produce a device to help soldiers handle jet lag and diarrhea.

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Bioprinted coral outdoes the real thing at growing algae

Corals serve as a host to algae, which produces sugars that the corals consume. Now, scientists have 3D-printed coral that's even more algae-friendly than its natural equivalent – it could help limit coral bleaching, and provide a source of biofuel.

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Ancient settlers once farmed on thousands of artificial forest islands

Over 10,000 years ago ancient human settlers began the construction of around 4,700 artificial forest islands in ancient Amazonia to farm savanna land, according to the results of a newly published paper.

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Biohybrid battery harvests energy from electric bacteria

Bacteria that produce their own electricity could be useful in batteries, but so far, attempts have been inefficient. A new “biohybrid” system is built around a hydrogel and can support the microbes while effectively collecting their energy.

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Lobsters found to grind plastics down into “secondary microplastics”

A new study by scientists in Italy has shone a light on the way lobsters digest plastic particles, finding that their stomach actually grinds them up into tiny fragments that can pose a risk to smaller creatures in the food chain.

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Parts of the universe may be expanding faster than others

One of the core components of cosmology is the understanding that the universe is expanding evenly in all directions. But new X-ray observations now suggest that this may not be the case after all – certain areas may be expanding faster than others.

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“Off-the-shelf” patch boosts cardiac function by 50% in animal models

Cardiac patches are designed to help regenerate healthy heart tissue after the injury, and scientists at North Carolina State University have now developed an “off-the-shelf” version they say overcomes some of the dangers of other approaches.

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Cancer-killing nanoparticles don disguises to sneak into the brain

The brain’s own defense mechanism often prevents treatment of brain cancers. But a new experimental treatment has shown success in mice, with carbon nanoparticles able to sneak through the blood-brain barrier and deliver drugs directly to tumors.

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Rocket Lab uses a helicopter to catch its booster in mid-air

Rocket Lab is looking to join the rocket recycling party by collecting the first stage of its Electron launch vehicle in midair using a helicopter, a method that it has now successfully demonstrated over the open ocean in New Zealand.

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