WEIRD SCIENCE
To create fusion ignition, the National Ignition Facility’s laser energy is converted into X-rays inside a capsule called a hohlraum, which then compress a fuel capsule until it implodes, creating a high-temperature, high-pressure plasma. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory – By Ben Coxworth 2022 Dec …
Touted as a cure for environmental and physical ills, the organic movement is falling short of high expectations. Illustration: Elia Barbieri/The Guardian – Julian Baggini Last modified on 2022 Dec 12 – After 10 years of slow but steady growth, sales of organic …
Scientists are hoping ‘historical biomolecules’ on a 15th-century missive written by Vlad Dracula, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s vampire count, will reveal more about him. A 16th-century portrait of Vlad III, more commonly known as Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula. Photograph: Ian …
Invasive reptile scuttles into electric substation in Florida, frying power and itself. Iguanas are considered an invasive species in Florida, where they are notorious for disrupting traffic. Photograph: Mike Stocker/AP– Guardian staff Last modified on 2022 Dec 09 – This rebel reptile had …
Series of attacks come after assault on North Carolina facilities cut electricity to 40,000. Power lines in Oregon, seen after a wildfire. It is unclear who is behind the attacks on power stations. Photograph: Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Reuters – Dani Anguiano in Los Angeles @dani_anguiano …
Although the toilet used in the study just contained clean tap water, such would not be the case in a real-word flushing scenario. John Crimaldi – By Ben Coxworth 2022 Dec 08 – You’ve probably heard it before – if you don’t put the …
An artist’s impression of the ecosystem that lived in Greenland 2 million years ago, as revealed by the world’s oldest DNA samples. Beth Zaiken – By Michael Irving 2022 Dec 07 – The record for world’s oldest surviving DNA has been shattered. An international …
An artist’s impression of a black hole producing jets, which are believed to be responsible for an extremely bright flash of light detected by astronomers. Dheeraj Pasham, Matteo Lucchini, and Margaret Trippe – By Michael Irving 2022 Dec 01 – Astronomers have spotted an …
An artist’s impression of a wormhole simulated in a quantum computer. inqnet/A. Mueller (Caltech) – By Michael Irving 2022 Nov 30 – Wormholes are a staple of sci-fi, and there’s a possibility that they exist in the real universe. But how would they work? …
An artist’s impression of the Earth around 2.7 billion years ago in the Archean Eon. With green iron-rich seas, an orange methane-rich atmosphere and a surface dominated by oceans, the Archean Earth would have been a very different place. (Illustration by Andrey Atuchin), …
