Reliance on wind and solar does expose nations to energy price spikes
Countries like the UK, Spain and Italy rely on gas to step in when renewables can’t produce power, leading to higher energy prices – but a more flexible system could avoid this
Ultra-thin material creates a magnetic mystery
The soft metal bismuth may be a wonder material for electronics – particularly because of one surprising behaviour it displays when exposed to magnetic fields
Do we actually know what a healthy gut microbiome looks like?
The gut microbiome has tremendous potential for helping us treat, or even prevent, many different conditions - but first, we need to understand it better
Fire at world’s largest battery facility is a clean energy setback
A fire at Vistra Energy's Moss Landing battery storage facility in California destroyed thousands of lithium batteries – and a significant amount of the state's clean energy storage capacity
Tiny insect-like robot can flip, loop and hover for up to 15 minutes
A flying robot the size of a postage stamp can hover for up to 15 minutes without breaking, and it can perform acrobatic manoeuvres
2024 may have been the rainiest – as well as hottest – year on record
Global average precipitation in 2024 may have broken the previous record set in 1998, as rising temperatures boosted the amount of moisture in the atmosphere
US Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban – but the fight isn’t over yet
Now that the US Supreme Court has decided that a law banning TikTok is constitutional, the platform is set to shut down in the US on 19 January – but Trump could still save it
World’s first AI chatbot has finally been resurrected after decades
ELIZA is famous as a rudimentary artificial intelligence and the first ever chatbot, but versions found online today are actually knock-offs because the original computer code was lost – until now
Blue Origin vs SpaceX: Who is winning the battle of the rockets?
Blue Origin and SpaceX both launched rockets on 16 January, but while Jeff Bezos' company saw a launch success with New Glenn, Elon Musk's Starship exploded. What does this mean for the future of the space industry?
Rabbits may eat their own teeth to boost their calcium intake
The animals' teeth are constantly being worn down due to their tough diet. But rather than losing calcium this way, they could be recycling it to help grow their teeth back up to size