An ultra-compact, ultra-wide-bandwidth in-phase/quadrature modulator on a silicon chip is demonstrated, enabling coherent transmission for symbol rates up to 180 Gbaud and a net bit rate surpassing 1 Tb s−1 over an 80 km span, with modulation energy consumption as low as 10.4 fJ bit−1, and promising enhanced performance and scalability for future networking infrastructures.
Plastics are a prevalent and persistent pollutant in the environment. As plastic production increases, finding ways to degrade these recalcitrant polymers is paramount. Many terrestrial fungi, across the kingdom, degrade various types of plastic. Plastics are the fastest-growing habitat in the oceans, and we hypothesized that fungi isolated from the ocean would demonstrate high success rates in degrading polyurethane (PU). To test this, visual degradation assays were performed by inoculating 1% PU medium with 68 different fungal strains cultured from marine habitats. The area of clearance of the fungus was measured periodically, to determine a relative degradation rate. Of the 68 fungal strains, 42 demonstrated the ability to degrade PU.
Significant brain defects known as Chiari malformations could be down the genes some of us have inherited from Neanderthals, according to a new study, causing a mismatch between brain shape and skull shape.
The study focuses on Chiari malformation type I (CM-I), where the lower part of the brain extends too far into the spinal cord – typically linked to having a smaller-than-normal occipital bone at the back of the skull. It can lead to headaches, neck pain, and more serious conditions, and is thought to affect up to 1 in 100 people.
Several other ancient human species had different skull shapes to our own, and a previous study published in 2013 put forward the idea that interbreeding between Homo sapiens and these other hominins may be a root cause of Chiari malformation type I (CM-I), the mildest type of the group.
Memczak, S., Izpisua Belmonte, J.C. & Graepel, T. Escaping ageing through Cell Annealing—a phenomenological model. Cell Res (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41422-025-01138-z.
The tests included missions to multiple destinations including Mount Lubań and altitudes of 4,000 feet.
In a test to reach remote locations, the Jetson electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle reached the summit in fewer than four minutes.
The testing occurred in strong and gusty crosswind conditions peaking at 36 mph.
