Science
A US biotech firm has developed a technique that strips pig organs of their cells, leaving a protein scaffold that can be repopulated with human cells. Early experiments show blood vessels can survive in pigs, offering a potential solution to the organ shortage crisis.
Science
A new UN report warns that major oil-producing nations, including the US, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, are set to extract record amounts of fossil fuels by 2030, despite climate pledges. The report highlights a widening gap between stated goals and actual plans, with most top producers exceeding safe levels. UN Secretary-General António Guterres criticized the 'double down' on fossil fuels as 'double trouble' for people and planet.
Science
Scientists from the Salk Institute and Peking University have created a new type of stem cell that can form both embryonic and supportive tissues, potentially unlocking secrets of early human development and disease modeling.
Science
Researchers at Lehigh University are using mayonnaise to study the instability that causes fusion capsules to fail. The condiment mimics molten metal under extreme conditions, offering a low-cost way to refine inertial confinement models. Their findings appeared in Physical Review E.
Science
For the first time on record, rain fell at Greenland's Summit Station, unleashing 7 billion tons of water and melting ice across half the ice sheet. The event, which follows a similar melt two weeks earlier, underscores the accelerating pace of Arctic warming and its global consequences.
Science
Hyundai and Kia have announced plans to equip select vehicles with solar panels by 2019, beginning with hybrids and expanding to gas-powered and fully electric models. The technology will supplement, not replace, existing power systems, marking a step toward vehicles that generate their own energy.
Science
A vast polynya, or open-water gap, appeared in the Arctic's 'Last Ice' near Ellesmere Island, a region previously considered too thick for such formations. The discovery, reported in Geophysical Research Letters, suggests that thinning ice is becoming more susceptible to wind-driven openings, which could become more frequent as warming continues.
Science
The World Meteorological Organization reports that 2016 will likely be the first full year with CO2 levels above 400 ppm, a threshold scientists say may never be crossed again. The Paris climate agreement, set to take effect in November, offers a potential path forward, but experts warn of an unprecedented climate era.
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Google, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft have filed a legal brief with the DC Circuit Court supporting the EPA's Clean Power Plan. The move highlights corporate backing for renewable energy and energy efficiency. Google's own investments in solar and wind underscore the business case for clean power.