Science

Space-based technology could help track plastic and other flotsam by its ‘fingerprints.’ In late 2025, scientists reported that, for the first time, they were able to detect concentrations of plastic pollution on land using NASA’s Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) sensor aboard the International Space Station. The technology has inspired marine researchers to

With the Webb telescope’s unprecedented sensitivity, scientists are learning more about dark matter’s influence on stars, galaxies, and even planets like Earth. Scientists using data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have made one of the most detailed, high-resolution maps of dark matter ever produced. It shows how the invisible, ghostly material overlaps and intertwines

In February 2007 the Supreme Court heard a case that hinged on about 15 minutes of video evidence from two police vehicles' dashboard cameras: footage showed the front end of a police car as it pursued a driver in Georgia before it rammed into the back of the driver’s car, which subsequently crashed. The driver

A large study from France published by The BMJ reports that people who consume higher amounts of food preservatives may face a slightly increased risk of developing cancer. These additives are commonly used in industrially processed foods and drinks to extend shelf life. The researchers emphasize that more studies are needed to fully understand the

New research suggests that both the amount and the type of carbohydrates people eat may strongly influence their risk of developing dementia. The findings come from a collaborative study conducted by the Nutrition and Metabolic Health (NuMeH) research group at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), the Centre for Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology (TecnATox)

Physicists have identified an unexpected connection between magnetism and the pseudogap, a puzzling phase of matter that appears in some quantum materials just before they become superconducting. This insight could help researchers develop new materials with valuable properties, including high-temperature superconductivity, where electricity travels without energy loss. The discovery came from experiments using a quantum

People who have obesity and high blood pressure may be more likely to develop dementia, according to new research published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Dementia is an increasing global public health concern, and there is currently no cure. People affected by the condition experience a serious decline in mental abilities, including

Researchers at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at The Grainger College of Engineering have identified the first physical mechanism explaining how magnetic fields slow the movement of carbon atoms through iron. Published in Physical Review Letters, the work sheds new light on how carbon affects the internal grain structure of steel, a key

With community opposition growing, data center backers are going on a full-scale public relations blitz. Around Christmas in Virginia, which boasts the highest concentration of data centers in the country, one advertisement seemed to air nonstop. “Virginia’s data centers are … investing billions in clean energy,” a voiceover intoned over sweeping shots of shiny solar

Jake Peterson Jake Peterson Senior Technology Editor Experience Jake Peterson is Lifehacker’s Tech Editor, and has been covering tech news and how-tos for nearly a decade. His team covers all things technology, including AI, smartphones, computers, game consoles, and subscriptions. Read Full Bio January 26, 2026 Add as a preferred source on Google Add as