Cheerios effect inspires novel robot design

There’s a common popular science demonstration involving “soap boats,” in which liquid soap poured onto the surface of water creates a propulsive flow driven by gradients in surface tension. But it doesn’t last very long since the soapy surfactants rapidly…

Psilocybin’s mental health benefits may include improved sleep

Research into psilocybin’s promise as a mental health treatment is expanding beyond mood disorders. In a new study, researchers found that participants consumed the psychedelic substance in a therapeutic context reported reduced depression and improvements in their sleep quality. The…

Let’s learn about supernovas

Nearly 1,000 years ago, astronomers in China and Japan saw something strange in the sky. It seemed to be a new star. Even stranger, for several weeks that star was bright enough to be seen in the daytime. Eventually the…

Can desalination quench agriculture’s thirst?

Ralph Loya was pretty sure he was going to lose the corn. His farm had been scorched by El Paso’s hottest-ever June and second-hottest August; the West Texas county saw 53 days soar over 100° Fahrenheit in the summer of…

Sony just released the first 8 minutes of Kraven the Hunter

Sony Picture’s Kraven the Hunter explores origins of titular villain. Hollywood is coming off a record-breaking Thanksgiving weekend, thanks to the winning trifecta of Moana 2, Gladiator II, and Wicked Part 1. Can other upcoming releases ride that wave? Perhaps…

Workers strike as Volkswagen plans to close German factories

Volkswagen workers in Germany have gone on strike today in the largest industrial action taken against the company since 2018. The union IG Metall, which represents about 120,000 VW workers, voted to approve the strike on November 22, describing the…