"Artificial leaf" device turns water and sunlight into hydrogen fuel

[Energy]( ["Artificial leaf" device turns water and sunlight into hydrogen fuel]( [A new "artificial leaf" design can produce hydrogen fuel from sunlight and water]( Researchers at Rice University have built a simple new solar-powered device that can create hydrogen for fuel by splitting water. It's similar to other “artificial leaf” designs but the team says it’s self-sufficient and relatively cheap to produce. [Read more]( Special Promotion for New Atlas Readers [This Wolfgang Puck 7-in-1 Immersion Blender is just $65]( Available in a variety of colors and crafted under world-renowned restauranteur Wolfgang Puck, this Immersion Blender comes packed with 7 unique functions and a 12-cup capacity, and it’s on sale for $65. [Read more]( [Aircraft]( [Electric microwave plasma thruster could rival traditional jet engines]( [The flame length and propulsive thrust of this new microwave-accelerated plasma thruster design appear to vary linearly with power application and air speed, making it a potentially promising design for electric aviation]( A Chinese team has demonstrated a prototype of a microwave plasma thruster capable of working in the Earth's atmosphere and producing thrust with an efficiency comparable to the jet engines you'd find on modern airliners – under laboratory conditions. [Read more]( [Medical]( [ECG-packin' necklace made for fast and easy heart-checks]( [The prototype necklace ECG can be held between the palms or pressed against the chest]( An abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation is one of the leading causes of strokes, yet it's often symptomless, so it frequently goes undetected. An experimental new necklace, however, could make checking for it a quick and simple process. [Read more]( [Music]( [Phoenix guitar will host pop-in tonewood modules]( [The Phoenix allows players to plug in humbuckers, single-coil or other pickups without having to break out the soldering iron]( If you like the look of a Les Paul but would rather have the tone of a Strat, guitars that come with modularity built into the design could help. The latest comes from Fern Guitars and sports a wood core module that's home to pickups and electronics. [Read more]( [Aircraft]( [Virgin Galactic teams up with NASA to pursue high-speed air travel]( [Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity may one day take tourists to space, but the company also hopes to leverage its aviation tech for high-speed travel at lower altitudes]( Virgin Galactic has recently endured a rocky road financially, with substantial losses in the last two quarters, but is intent on pushing ahead with the development of next-gen aviation technologies – this time with NASA onboard. [Read more]( [Science]( [Landmark research watches sleeping brains replay waking experiences]( [The study is the first time scientists have directly witnessed in human subjects a processed referred to as offline replay]( A landmark study is offering the first evidence of a process by which our brains consolidate memories during sleep. The researchers witnessed neuronal firing patterns in humans during sleep that suggest we replay our waking experiences as we rest. [Read more]( [Marine]( [Venice hybrid water taxi melds modern technology with classic design]( [Nuvolari Lenard adds modern cues and propulsion to a classic boat design]( Looking for a cleaner, more sustainable path forward, Nuvolari Lenard launches the Thunder water taxi. The 14-seater stays true to the classic wood style of Venice's water limousines while incorporating a new diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system. [Read more]( [Space]( [Origami-inspired expanding lunar module set for testing in Greenland]( [The Lunark habitat under development]( Danish design duo Sebastian Aristotelis and Karl-Johan Sørensen have been busy developing a self-expanding lunar module, which they plan on putting to the test in the harsh environment of Northern Greenland later this year. [Read more]( [Space]( [Perseverance Mars rover experiments get dry run on Earth]( [Artist's concept of the Perseverance Mars rover]( An international team of scientists is conducting the experiments designed for NASA's Perseverance Mars rover here on Earth. The purpose is to provide a baseline with which to compare the data returned from the Red Planet. [Read more]( [Architecture]( [City of London's Scalpel skyscraper cuts a fine figure]( [The Scalpel, center, is part of the cluster of buildings in the City of London that include the Cheesegrater, Walkie-Talkie, Can of Ham, and the Gherkin]( Rising to a sharp gleaming point in the City of London, the aptly-named Scalpel is another high-profile skyscraper by Kohn Pedersen Fox. The office building is a striking addition to the capital's skyline and rises to a height of 190 m (623 ft). [Read more]( [Automotive]( [Scalable wireless charging system could power EVs on the move]( [The researchers say that the system could be scaled up to wirelessly transmit "tens or hundreds of kilowatts" of power to moving vehicles]( With any electric vehicle, you're going to spend some time parked up and plugged in. Being able to roll along the highway with the batteries charging as go would be much better, and a new development out of Stanford could see that happening. [Read more]( [Science]( [Stressed-out plants pass down "memories" to make offspring stronger]( [Xiaodong Yang (left), Hardik Kundariya (middle), and Sally Mackenzie (right), in the lab with the plants]( Geneticists at Penn State University have manipulated the expression of one gene in a plant that makes them more resilient to environmental change – and found that this is passed down to future generations. [Read more]( [Space]( ["Astronomers' sunglasses" spot stripy clouds in brown dwarf atmosphere]( [Using polarimetry, astronomers have detected cloud bands in the atmosphere of a brown dwarf]( Using polarized light, astronomers have detected signs of cloud bands in the atmosphere of a brown dwarf far beyond the solar system. It turns out that these gassy giants have a similar appearance to Jupiter, and the same kind of wild weather. [Read more]( [Medical]( [Schizophrenia drug points to improved brain cancer radiation therapy]( [A study found an old schizophrenia drug may increase the efficacy of radiation therapy treating aggressive brain cancer]( Promising new research from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), suggests an old schizophrenia drug could significantly enhance the efficacy of radiation treatment for one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. [Read more]( [Science]( [Gold nanoparticles used to taste-grade maple syrup]( [The study's first author Simon Forest, utilizing the gold nanoparticle reagent to analyze syrup samples – the solution could conceivably be adapted for use with products such as fruit juice or wine]( Not all maple syrups are created equal. There are actually over 60 taste categories that syrups fall into, as determined by human taste-testers. Soon, though, a solution containing gold nanoparticles could save those people some work. [Read more]( [Good Thinking]( [Laser-powered vibration test reveals perfectly ripe avocados]( [Up to 30 percent of avocados currently go to the waste in the UK due to damage incurred during grading, according to the team behind a new ripeness testing technology that could cut that number]( As most fans of the leathery fruit can attest, telling when an avocado is of perfect ripeness can be a guessing game, but a new testing technique could eliminate the margin for error by measuring the firmness of individual specimens using lasers. [Read more]( [Science]( [Fiber optic tech could save date palms from infestations]( [Red palm weevil larvae, which feed upon date palms after hatching]( Responsible for millions of dollars in crop losses annually, the red palm weevil is a flying beetle that lays its eggs inside date palm trees. It could soon be possible to detect such infestations earlier than ever, using fiber optic cables. 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