Weekend Edition: The eerie force accelerating the expansion of the universe

As far as mysteries go, there are few bigger than this: why is the universe expanding at an accelerating pace? We dive into the weird realm of dark energy this weekend, along with our regular look back at the biggest stories of the week. [Physics]( [Dark energy: The eerie force accelerating the expansion of the universe]( [An artist's illustration of the expansion of the universe]( Why is the expansion of the universe accelerating? The leading hypothesis is a repellent force that astrophysicists refer to as “dark energy." But how does it work? What does it mean for our future? And how sure are we that it even exists? [Read more]( [Marine]( [Manta5 Hydrofoil ebike begins production, with more models planned]( [The Manta5 Hydrofoiler XE-1's top speed is 12 mph]( After first appearing on our radar in late 2017, the Manta5 XE-1 Hydrofoiler has now entered production. The company has a range of water hydrofoil bikes planned, including racing versions, electric-only motorcycles for the water, and a surfing model. [Read more]( [Materials]( [World's first graphene-enhanced concrete slab poured in England]( [University of Manchester researchers Craig Dawson, Happiness Ijije and Lisa Scullion onsite as workers tend to the world's first graphene-enhanced concrete slab in the background]( Recent research projects have demonstrated how the wonder material graphene could play a role in stronger, more eco-friendly concrete, and now we're seeing the first real-world deployment of the technology in the foundations of a new gym in the UK. [Read more]( [Outdoors]( [Window-loaded teardrop camper concept lets in big forest views]( [The Kip Panorama Shelter invites nature in with its large window array]( Recent RV designs ranging from huge two-story motorhomes to livable horse trailers have brought nomads closer than ever to nature with large, dramatic windows. Kip Caravans pushes the trend to a new extreme with its Panorama Shelter concept caravan. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [New imaging tech finds hidden lung damage in long COVID patients]( [The new scan involves a patient inhaling xenon gas, allowing clinicians to see structure and regional ventilation in the lungs]( A new type of imaging tech has detected lung damage not visible on MRI or CT scans in patients suffering from the long-term effects of COVID-19. The technology will help clinicians understand the breathing impairments seen in long COVID. [Read more]( [Science]( [Hate chewing sounds? Brain mirroring might explain why]( [Does the sound of another person chewing fill you with anger? You may suffer from misophonia]( A new brain imaging study is claiming misophonia, a condition where certain sounds trigger deeply unpleasant physical responses, could be related to an over-sensitive brain pathway responsible for mirroring behaviors in others. [Read more]( [Environment]( [First baby Tasmanian devils born wild in mainland Australia in 3,000 years]( [Only around 25,000 Tasmanian devils remain in their natural habitat]( Last year, 26 Tasmanian devils were released back into the wilds of mainland Australia, a place they haven’t called home in more than 3,000 years. And now, the first new baby devils have been born in this new refuge, cementing hopes for the species. [Read more]( [Architecture]( [Residents can swim across 100-ft-high Sky Pool to neighboring high rise]( [The Sky Pool is suspended at a height of 35 m (114 ft) between two apartment buildings]( Following news of a vertigo-inducing infinity pool in New York City, London now boasts its own one-of-a-kind swimming pool. This one goes even further though, as visitors are invited to swim between two high-rise buildings in a clear acrylic box. [Read more]( [Architecture]( [Icon's House Zero showcases next-generation 3D-printed architecture]( [House Zero is currently being built in East Austin, Texas, using Icon's next generation 3D printer]( Though 3D-printed architecture is still relatively new, Icon has already produced projects in Mexico and the US. The firm has now teamed up with Lake|Flato Architects to create another new 3D-printed home in Texas using its next-gen 3D printer. [Read more]( [Environment]( [Surprisingly high mercury levels detected in Greenland glacier meltwater]( [A new study has found unexpectedly high levels of mercury in meltwater from glaciers in Greeland]( The Greenland Ice Sheet is associated with a range of environmental issues, but now researchers have discovered a surprising new problem. Glacial meltwater was found to be unexpectedly high in mercury, which could end up in ecosystems and seafood. [Read more]( [Aircraft]( [Kelekona proposes colossal 40-seater mass transport eVTOL aircraft]( [New York City startup Kelekona is proposing a mass transport-sized eVTOL air bus service capable of carrying 40 people long distances]( An audacious New York City startup is proposing electric VTOL aviation on a mass transit scale. Kelekona's monster aircraft is designed to seat 40, and fly high-speed inter-city routes using its entire body as a lift-generating wing surface. [Read more]( [Motorcycles]( [Survey: 31% of motorcyclists would quit riding if forced to go electric]( [No gasoline? We quit, say 31% of UK motorcyclists in a new survey from the Motorcycle Action Group]( All new cars and vans sold in the UK after 2030 will have to be zero-emissions. Similar laws will come to the motorcycle world one day too, and a new survey suggests that's the day when a surprising number of bikers will hang up their boots for good. [Read more]( [Science]( [New technique links lithium distribution in the brain to depression]( [A new technique has allowed researchers to measure natural lithium concentrations in a human brain for the very first time]( A technique is allowing researchers to measure endogenous lithium concentrations in the human brain for the very first time. Researchers found natural lithium levels in white matter were lower in suicidal subjects than healthy controls. [Read more]( [Medical]( [Breakthrough optogenetic therapy partially restores blind man's vision]( [Using a light-sensing protein found in glowing algae, scientists have shown how vision can be partially restored in a patient suffering from common vision loss]( In a major breakthrough for regenerative medicine, scientists have partially restored vision in a blind man using an emerging technique called optogenetics, which enabled the patient to locate and identify objects for the first time in decades. [Read more]( [Medical]( [Type 1 diabetes vaccine effective in patients with specific gene variant]( [A trial found a vaccine helps preserve some insulin-producing cells in type 1 diabetics with a specific gene variant]( Results from a trial testing a type 1 diabetes vaccine have found the treatment effective in patients with a specific genetic variant. If validated in larger trials the treatment could be helpful in around 50 percent of patients with type 1 diabetes. [Read more]( [Space]( [Gamma rays 10 times more energetic than thought possible detected]( [High energy gamma rays have been detected coming from the Milky Way center]( Astronomers have detected the highest-energy light ever seen. Hundreds of gamma rays were detected with ultra-high energies, with the most powerful signals crossing the Peta-electronvolt threshold – much higher than thought possible in our galaxy. 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