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Tech News
A growing cluster of private companies is building experimental fusion reactors, aiming to harness the same energy process that powers the sun and stars. One facility under construction includes large D-shaped magnetic confinement components and circular platforms designed to contain and control plasma at extreme temperatures.
Researchers acknowledge that although SSRIs remain among the world's most widely prescribed medications, the precise biological mechanism by which they relieve depression is still not understood. The debate intensified after US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed the drugs are overprescribed and carry withdrawal risks comparable to heroin, sparking pushback from some clinicians while others said he raised a legitimate concern.
Researchers led by Luo and colleagues, writing in Nature, developed a technique that prevents degradation of a key compound during thermal evaporation of perovskite thin films. This breakthrough allows high-performance perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells to be fabricated at significantly lower temperatures and at commercial-scale sizes than previous methods permitted.
South Africa's government has proposed a law requiring 'practising natural scientists' to register with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions, covering anyone providing scientific services or advice, whether paid or unpaid. Exceptions apply to educators at recognized institutions and those crafting government science policy, but failure to comply could result in up to a year in prison.
A Nature commentary raises concerns that growing political enthusiasm for nuclear power, driven by climate and energy-security goals, could pressure regulators to loosen safety standards or speed approvals without adequate scrutiny. The piece argues that as governments embrace nuclear expansion, safeguards meant to prevent accidents risk being weakened in the name of faster deployment.
Researchers found that elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations enhance grass growth in savannah ecosystems even under dry conditions. The study suggests that higher CO2 levels help these grasses use water more efficiently, allowing them to sustain productivity during periods of reduced rainfall.
Scientists at the Institute for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine in Beijing grew muscle stem cells from mouse quadriceps into small tissue grafts, called myografts, and implanted them under the skin of the animals' backs. The grafts formed organized, blood-vessel-fed muscle tissue that contracted continuously for months, producing gains in muscle mass, strength and bone density and slowing age-related muscle decline, according to a study published in Nature Aging.
The Fusion Industry Association reports that 46 companies worldwide are working to turn nuclear fusion into a commercial electricity source, alongside others pursuing niche uses like medical isotopes, materials testing and spacecraft propulsion. As of August 1, the electricity-focused firms had collectively raised $14.6 billion from venture capital, private investors, utilities, government grants and data-center operators seeking new power sources.
Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer, her representatives announced. Beyond her decade-spanning music career and 10 Grammy wins, Parton was widely recognized for her philanthropic support of medical research, including a $1 million donation that helped fund Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine development at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She also lent her name, indirectly, to Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult cell.
Nature reports that the nuclear power sector is increasingly turning to small modular reactors (SMRs) as a way to overcome the cost overruns and construction delays that have long plagued large-scale nuclear plants. These smaller, factory-built designs promise faster deployment and lower upfront capital costs than traditional gigawatt-scale reactors.
Scientists have outlined a new enzymatic approach that reuses byproducts to synthesize thiophosphate molecules, compounds valued for their applications in chemistry and biology. The method relies on biological catalysts rather than traditional chemical synthesis routes, offering a more sustainable pathway to these materials.
Several companies are developing small nuclear reactors compact enough to be transported by aircraft or shipped in standard containers, each carrying roughly a decade's worth of fuel. Backers envision deploying these units directly from factories to isolated locations like rural Alaska, remote mining operations, or even future space outposts, where conventional power infrastructure is costly or impractical.