Technological Revolution

Astronomers have discovered evidence of a small, rocky planet orbiting our nearest star – and it may even be a bit like Earth. Nobody knows whether the planet, called Proxima b, could ever sustain life. The little planet orbits our sun’s nearest neighbouring star, Proxima Centauri, making it the closest exoplanet ever found.

SANTA BARBARA, Kalifornia (PNN) - August 26, 2016 - While a real-life Jurassic Park may not be opening any time soon, bringing back more recently extinct species, like the woolly mammoth or the dodo, is a distinct possibility. But while scientists in the movie "were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should," real-world scientists are now considering the latter. With various “de-extinction” projects in the works right now, researchers at University of Kalifornia, Santa Barbara have published a paper analyzing the ecological benefits, risks and responsibilities of reintroducing once-extinct species into modern ecosystems.

CHICAGO, Illinois (PNN) - July 29, 2016 – Re-creating a plant's ability to use sunlight to turn carbon dioxide into fuel, something known as artificial photosynthesis, is one of the holy grails of green energy research. Researchers have now edged closer toward this dream technology, developing what they describe as a game-changing solar cell that produces hydrocarbon fuels in the lab, with potential applications ranging from large-scale uses on Earth to providing power on Mars.

Composite metal foams are tough stuff. Tough enough to turn an armor-piercing bullet into dust on impact. Given that these foams are also lighter than metal plate, the material has obvious implications for creating new types of body and vehicle armor - and that’s just the beginning of its potential uses. Afsaneh Rabiei, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at North Carolina State, has spent years developing composite metal foams and investigating their unusual properties.