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Latest news
Rainbow-on-a-chip' could help keep AI energy demands in check — and it was created by accident
A new photonics chip that generates multicolored laser beams could supercharge data center technology and ease the strain of AI's surging data demands.
Scientists discover new way to predict next Mount Etna eruption
Researchers analyzed changes over time in the ratio of small earthquakes to bigger ones beneath Mount Etna and found a strong correlation with the volcano's activity over the past 20 years.
Easter Island statues may have 'walked' thanks to 'pendulum dynamics' and with as few as 15 people, study finds
Simple physics may explain how the Easter Island statues could "walk" miles with only a handful of people, but the debate over their transport is far from over.
New smart ring is a novel way to control your computer — it has the humble mouse firmly in its sights
The picoRing device ditches Bluetooth for a novel magnetic relay system linked to a wristband, slashing its power consumption to mere microwatts.
Comets Lemmon and SWAN reach their brightest this week
Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) makes its closest approach to Earth on Oct. 21, about 24 hours after the fainter Comet SWAN (C/2025 R2) does the same. Here's how, where and when to see them both.
ALMA and JWST solve major star formation mystery: Space photo of the week
For the first time ever, astronomers revealed the birthplace of an energetic jet blasted by a newborn star using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile.
$20 million NASA mission to visit 'God of Chaos' asteroid saved from budget cuts in last-minute decision
NASA's OSIRIS-APEX mission, which was one of 19 designated to be canceled by the Trump administration, has been saved from the chopping block in a last-minute decision. There will be a significant change to its structure, however.
Astronomers detect first 'heartbeat' of a newborn star hidden within a powerful cosmic explosion
Astronomers have uncovered the source of a strange, repeating signal nestled within a powerful cosmic explosion.
Arctic Ocean methane 'switch' that helped drive rapid global warming discovered
The Arctic Ocean was once an important source of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere — and it could become one again, researchers warn.
Revived permafrost microbes spew CO2, scientists image 'relativity-breaking' illusion, and James Webb telescope spots something 'exciting' blasting from black hole M87*
Science news this week Oct. 18, 2025: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.
3,500-year-old Egyptian military fortress with ancient ovens and fossilized dough discovered in Sinai Desert
A 3,500-year-old Egyptian fortress has been discovered on an ancient military road in the north Sinai Desert.
Ancient Roman tombstone found beneath undergrowth in New Orleans yard
A New Orleans couple doing yard work behind their house unexpectedly found a Roman headstone of a solider who died 1,900 years ago.
'This moves the timeline forward significantly': Quantum computing breakthrough could slash pesky errors by up to 100 times
Researchers used a new technique called algorithmic fault tolerance (AFT) to cut the time and computational cost of quantum error correction by up to 100 times in simulations of neutral-atom architecture.
Orionids 2025: Meteor shower caused by Halley's Comet peaks as two new comets cross the sky
Comets Lemmon and SWAN will be at their brightest just as the annual Orionid meteor shower produced by Halley's Comet reaches its peak.
CO2 levels reach record new high, locking in more global warming
Greenhouse gas concentrations increased by a record amount in 2024 as more carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide became locked in Earth's atmosphere, a World Meteorological Organization report finds.
Astronomers close in on signal from Epoch of Reionization
A faint radio "whisper" from ancient hydrogen reveals the universe was heating up long before it filled with starlight.
An Iranian volcano appears to have woken up — 700,000 years after its last eruption
Taftan volcano near the border of Pakistan has shown signs of unrest in recent years.
Black eyes, orbital fractures and retinal detachment: Pickleball-related eye injuries are on the rise in the US
A new analysis suggests the rate of pickleball-related eye injuries has increased dramatically in the U.S. as the sport gains popularity.
Record-breaking 'dark object' found hiding within a warped 'Einstein ring' 10 billion light-years away
Researchers have found a suspected clump of dark matter lurking within the luminous halo of a well-known "Einstein ring." The mysterious object, the smallest of its kind ever seen, could help shed light on the universe's missing matter.
'Most pristine' star ever seen discovered at the Milky Way's edge — and could be a direct descendant of the universe's first stars
Astronomers have discovered a surprisingly "pristine" red giant with the lowest concentration of heavy elements ever seen in a star. It is likely a direct descendant of one of the universe's first stars.
