Modern Mechanics 24

Explore latest robotics, tech & mechanical innovations

Science

Scientist in lab coat examining petri dishes containing green plant cell cultures under bright laboratory lighting

MIT-Alumni Startup Foray Bioscience Grows Plant Products from Single Cells

MIT alum Ashley Beckwith founded Foray Bioscience to grow plant products from single cells using AI-powered biomanufacturing. The company addresses the fragility of natural supply chains as 45 percent of plant species face extinction. Foray has already developed molecules, materials, and fabricated seeds with partners, including disease-resistant chestnut trees, aiming to shorten plant development timelines from decades to months.

Read More...

UK’s University of Oxford Solves Moon Magnetic Field Mystery

University of Oxford scientists have solved a long-standing mystery about the moon’s magnetic field. By re-examining Apollo mission rocks, they found the moon experienced short, intense magnetic bursts lasting only thousands of years, not the half-billion years previously thought. The study explains why some samples showed strong magnetism while theory suggested a weak field. The discovery helps scientists understand how planetary cores evolve.

Read More...
Side-by-side microscope images showing metal grain structures without and with pulsed-laser excitation, demonstrating finer grains in the treated sample

Germany’s Fraunhofer and Australia’s RMIT Control 3D-Printed Metal Grain Structure

German and Australian researchers have demonstrated a new method to control the internal grain structure of 3D-printed metal parts during printing. The UltraGRAIN project uses pulsed-laser excitation to reduce grain size by up to 75 percent in targeted areas. This allows manufacturers to print stronger zones exactly where loads are highest, improving part performance and extending service life.

Read More...

China’s Wuhan University Builds Ultra-Stable Polymer Solar Cell with 19.1% Efficiency

Scientists at Wuhan University of Technology built a polymer solar cell that achieves 19.1% efficiency while retaining 97% of its performance after 2,000 hours in air. The team solved polymer chain entanglement by adding a small-molecule acceptor that improves molecular packing and charge transport. The estimated lifetime exceeds 100,000 hours, moving flexible organic solar cells closer to commercialization.

Read More...

US Lockheed Martin Plans Nuclear Reactor for Moon Base by 2030

Lockheed Martin is developing a fission surface power system for NASA’s Artemis Moon base with a target launch date of 2030. The nuclear reactor will provide continuous electricity through two-week lunar nights when solar power is unavailable. The company’s design is flexible, scalable from 10 to 50 kilowatts, and builds on decades of naval nuclear experience.

Read More...

Great Barrier Reef Citizen Scientists Find World’s Largest Coral Colony

Citizen scientists Jan Pope and Sophie Kalkowski-Pope have discovered the world’s largest known coral colony on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The 364-foot-wide structure, found during a reef census, is as long as a football field. Researchers are now studying how it survived while stressing the discovery does not signal reef recovery from climate pressures.

Read More...

Chile’s ALMA Telescope Captures Sharpest Image of Milky Way’s Chaotic Heart

Astronomers using Chile’s ALMA telescope have captured the most detailed image yet of the gas clouds at the center of the Milky Way. The 650-light-year-wide view shows extreme star-forming regions around the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*. The image, the largest ALMA has ever taken, reveals dozens of molecules and offers clues about how galaxies evolved in the early universe.

Read More...

Cornell Researchers Turn Fungi into Food Factories Using Agricultural Waste

Cornell University food scientists have published a review proposing the use of fungi to convert agricultural waste into nutritious food. The “circular fungal biorefinery” approach uses fermentation to turn low-value byproducts like fruit pomace into high-protein products. The method offers a sustainable way to feed a growing population while reducing waste and could lead to next-generation meat alternatives.

Read More...

China’s Origin Pilot Makes Quantum Operating System Available for Download

China’s Origin Quantum has made its homegrown quantum operating system, Origin Pilot, available for public download. The open-source software manages core quantum computer functions and supports multiple hardware types. The release aims to lower development barriers and support the growth of China’s quantum computing ecosystem as the nation pushes for technology independence in advanced computing.

Read More...