MSFT Content

Researchers at MIT have discovered that rhombohedral graphene—a naturally occurring form of carbon—can host multiple superconductivity states that remain stable, or even strengthen, when exposed to powerful magnetic fields. Published in the journal Nature, the findings reveal that by stacking ultra-thin layers of graphene at specific angles, scientists can manipulate electron behavior to achieve zero-resistance … Read more

A fossilized vertebra found in 1985 on James Ross Island has been confirmed as the first dinosaur ever retrieved from Antarctica. According to paleontologist Mark Evans of the British Antarctic Survey, the specimen is a lithostrotian titanosaur from the upper tail of a sauropod that lived during the late Cretaceous period. How did researchers identify … Read more

Evolutionary geneticists have confirmed that the “selection shadow”—a mid-20th-century theory—explains why humans suffer from age-related health decline. According to a study published in Nature Reviews Genetics, natural selection weakens as we age because evolutionary pressure prioritizes reproduction over long-term health. Researchers Handan Melike Dönertaş and Linda Partridge found that harmful mutations manifesting in later life … Read more

Scientists are developing controlled fire whirls—or “fire tornadoes”—as a high-efficiency tool to remediate offshore oil spills. By burning crude oil vertically, this method increases fuel consumption by up to 95 percent and reduces soot emissions by 40 percent compared to conventional horizontal burning, according to research published in the journal Fuel. How Fire Whirls Outperform … Read more

Earth’s earliest crust failed to stabilize for hundreds of millions of years because intense asteroid bombardment kept the planet’s surface in a partially molten state. According to a study published in Science by a team led by geologist Tim Johnson of Curtin University, this relentless impact energy prevented the formation of long-lived tectonic plates during … Read more

Human evolution is shifting from biological adaptation to cultural dominance as technology and medicine solve survival challenges faster than genetic changes can occur. Researchers at the University of Maine report that cultural practices, such as medical interventions and technological advancements, now exert more influence on human development than traditional natural selection. How is culture changing … Read more