Headliner

New type of stainless steel is optimized for hydrogen electrolysis
by Etiido Uko
If anyone could defeat the “man of steel,” it would be a “man of stainless steel.” However, even stainless steel has its electrochemical limits. Scientists have created a version that can withstand conditions only a “man of titanium” typically does.
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Highlights
That 'clean' smell polluting your indoor air
by Mike McRae
A recent ACS presentation claims indoor cleaning and disinfection products are key drivers of nanoparticle formation, contributing significantly to levels of air pollution that we might expect from busy traffic.
Yamaha's R2 follows up the beloved R15 with more power and a new frame
by Abhimanyu Ghoshal
Yamaha is adding an exciting little number to its sport bike lineup with the R2, a lightweight follow-up to the R15 that's reigned supreme for nearly two decades.
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US-UK 'Pink Corridor' prepares ports for nuclear cargo ships
by David Szondy
It's possible that by 2035 there may be as many as 50 nuclear-powered cargo ships plying the seas. In anticipation of this, the Pink Corridor Project is evaluating how to set up safe and secure nuclear shipping lanes between the US and Britain.
Google AI turns on its maker in a brutally candid interview
by Bronwyn Thompson
I have issues with AI in general, but the biggest gripe is with being forced to interact with the LLM from Google, a company with enough money and talented staff to do something great – but has instead produced a model the AI hates too.
Origins of Alzheimer's protein challenges assumptions on disease
by Mike McRae
A protein thought to play a critical role in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease may not originate where scientists thought, which could mean we may have to reconsider how we approach fighting this form of deadly neurodegeneration.
Floating data center would provide water and electricity to 32,000 homes
by Etiido Uko
Some companies build a desalination plant and call it a day; others build a data center, while others, still, build power generation facilities. One project wants to build all three …into one facility …offshore …on a movable ship.
Newly identified 'muscles' shape trees in way once thought uniquely animal
by Bronwyn Thompson
Nearly 15 years ago, scientists found that plants had a biological mechanism that directs their form – thought to have only been something seen in animals. Now, researchers have uncovered how it works. It's essentially a tree's version of a muscle.
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Scientists use fungi to produce programmable 'living textiles'
by Maryna Holovnova
Imagine clothing that could repair itself, change color, self-clean, and then eventually break down in the soil. Sounds futuristic, but it’s already a reality: Chinese researchers have turned living fungi into a fabric and sewn a dress from it.
You can’t trust your smartwatch while you work out
by Mike McRae
Tests found that the physical activity energy expenditure calculated by a variety of commercial smartwatches consistently overestimated calorie output, and only worsened as the wearer’s body fat increased.
Elsewhere
Europe's largest consumer tech show is now in its last couple of days, but most of the key product announcements have already been made. CNET was on the ground at IFA 2026 in Berlin, and listed its coolest finds over the weekend.
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