science and technology

Pi Day: How to calculate pi using a cardboard tube and a load of balls

This Pi Day, try calculating everyone’s favourite mathematical constant using balls and a cardboard tube, thanks to a mathematical trick involving the balls’ masses




science and technology

How quantum computing got a boost from an experiment in a cornfield

In a cornfield in India, Urbasi Sinha ran an experiment that may challenge the rules of quantum mechanics and paves the way for higher dimensional quantum computing




science and technology

Mathematicians who revealed the power of random walks win Abel prize

The 2020 Abel prize was awarded to mathematicians Hillel Furstenberg and Gregory Margulis for their use of probability and dynamics in group theory, number theory and combinatorics




science and technology

We've figured out why bubbles make a 'pop' sound when they burst

A number of difference forces are involved in producing sound when a bubble pops, and the exact noise depends on the chemical properties of the soap film




science and technology

Radioactive review: A reimagining of Marie Curie's luminous legacy

A new film squares up to the tough task of reinventing Marie Curie, one of science's biggest stars, by building a big picture of her work – and its future fallout




science and technology

How a new twist on quantum theory could solve its biggest mystery

The "wave function collapse" transforms vague clouds of quantum possibilities into the physical reality we know – but no one knows how. New experiments are finally revealing reality in the making




science and technology

We still don't understand a basic fact about the universe

Our measurements of the Hubble constant can't seem to come up with a consistent answer. What we learn next may alter our view of the cosmos, writes Chanda Prescod-Weinstein




science and technology

Jim Al-Khalili's The World According to Physics is a thrilling ride

A new book from Jim Al-Khalili makes cutting-edge physics easily understandable and makes it clear why he fell in love with the subject as a teenager




science and technology

Even a computer the size of the universe can’t predict everything

Fundamental limits on space and time mean that the motion of three black holes is impossible to predict, even with the most powerful computer that could ever be built




science and technology

We now know what causes wine ‘legs’ to drip down inside a glass

Wine tears – the drops that form inside a glass after wine is swirled in a glass – are caused by the formation of an unstable shock wave




science and technology

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin: The unsung discoverer of star chemistry

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, who discovered that hydrogen dominates our universe, finally gets the recognition she deserves in a rich biography, What Stars Are Made Of




science and technology

Baffling 500-page ABC maths proof to be published after eight-year row

In 2012, mathematician Shinichi Mochizuki produced a proof claiming to solve the long-standing ABC conjecture, but no one understood it. Most mathematicians still don't, but it will now be published in a journal




science and technology

We may have spotted a parallel universe going backwards in time

Strange particles observed by an experiment in Antarctica could be evidence of an alternative reality where everything is upside down




science and technology

Neutrinos may explain why we don’t live in an antimatter universe

For the universe to exist as it does now, there must have been an imbalance between matter and antimatter early on, which may have been caused by neutrinos




science and technology

Life's other mystery: Why biology's building blocks are so lop-sided

Most molecules exist in mirror-image forms, and yet life prefers one over the other. How this bias began and why it persisted is one of the most baffling questions in biology – but now we have an answer




science and technology

Correlation or causation? Mathematics can finally give us an answer

Are shark attacks and ice cream sales linked? Do drugs work? Being able to distinguish cause and effect is crucial. Now we have the maths to do it reliably




science and technology

Is the universe conscious? It seems impossible until you do the maths

The question of how the brain gives rise to subjective experience is the hardest of all. Mathematicians think they can help, but their first attempts have thrown up some eye-popping conclusions




science and technology

Pondering the big question of consciousness is a welcome distraction

Our best mathematical theory of consciousness is sparking a rethink of one of science’s hardest problems – how simple matter gives rise to a complex mind




science and technology

Africans scale back funerals to curb COVID-19

Across Africa, centuries-old cultural traditions are being foregone in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen governments impose restrictions on gatherings and other practices around death and burial. Francesca Lynagh reports.




science and technology

Britain honors World War Two VE Day anniversary

Britons stood in silence and Queen Elizabeth addressed the nation on Friday's 75th anniversary of "Victory in Europe" Day, though the coronavirus dampened commemorations for the end of World War Two on the continent. Lauren Anthony reports.




science and technology

Austrian ski resort covers glacier after coronavirus cuts season short

With its season cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, one of Austria's most popular glacial ski resorts covered its glacier in protective fabric earlier than usual this year to help preserve it for a still uncertain reopening.




science and technology

U.S. job losses in April worst since Great Depression

The latest figures from the Labor Department released on Friday showed the U.S. economy losing 20.5 million jobs in April, the steepest plunge in payrolls since the Great Depression. Colette Luke has more.




science and technology

'There's a problem in America', protesters express outrage in Georgia

Activists, religious leaders and family members of Ahmaud Arbery - a 25-year-old unarmed black man who was fatally shot in February - gather in front of the Glynn County Courthouse in Georgia to call for justice.




science and technology

Syria's mosques open for prayer as coronavirus lockdown eases

Syria's government allowed mosques to open on Friday for worshipers willing to perform prayers. The mosque had remained closed as part of the measures taken to contain the spread of coronavirus.




science and technology

Los Angeles flower market busy as florists re-open for Mother's Day

Los Angeles' downtown flower market saw a brisk trade on Thursday morning (May 7) after California Governor Gavin Newsom gave the green light to retail florist stores to begin opening on Friday (May 8), ahead of Mother's Day in the U.S.




science and technology

Class of 2020 graduates with 'robot ceremony'

Arizona State University's Thunderbird School of Global Management utilizes robots to give its students a virtual graduation ceremony. Freddie Joyner has more.




science and technology

Pandemic slams healthcare jobs

The steep plunge in U.S. payrolls caused by the pandemic also slammed the healthcare sector, as many workers in dentists' and doctors' offices lost their jobs. Fred Katayama reports.




science and technology

Britain to welcome first wild storks in centuries amid lockdown

Storks are famous in folklore for delivering human babies to their parents. Conservationists are looking to return the favour with the imminent hatching of several white stork eggs on a 'rewilding' estate in southern England - as the coronavirus outbreak provides a noticeable boost for some wildlife.




science and technology

Brazil refuge welcomes eagle hatchling

Brazil's Bela Vista Biological Refuge Veterinarian Pedro Enrrique Ferreira says the Harpy Eagle hatchling born on April 26 only weighs 150 grams now but could one day grow to weigh some 20 pounds.




science and technology

'Justice finally prevailed' in Michael Flynn case: WH

White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany on Friday said it appears that the FBI 'manufactured' a crime in the case of President Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn, after the Department of Justice moved to drop the case on Thursday.




science and technology

Countries must return to public health surveillance in COVID-19 fight -WHO

Countries must return to "basic principles" of public health surveillance if they are to bring the coronavirus outbreak under control, the World Health Organization's (WHO) top emergency health expert Mike Ryan said on Friday (May 8).




science and technology

We had to put a 'stop' to the economy to save lives: WH

White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany on Friday was asked about the U.S. economy that lost a staggering 20.5 million jobs in April, the steepest plunge in payrolls since the Great Depression, and she responded saying it was 'decided' by the president to 'stop the economy' to save lives.




science and technology

Look for stocks to get range-bound: analyst

Piper Sandler senior technical analyst Craig Johnson says the S&P 500 may trade in a narrow range through the summer before breaking north.




science and technology

Protesters decry late arrests in GA jogger death

Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of a Georgia courthouse on Friday to decry the killing of an unarmed black man in February and the delay in charging two white men in a shooting captured on video that was released earlier this week. This report produced by Jillian Kitchener.




science and technology

Singapore robot enforces safe distancing among park-goers

Singapore unveiled a four-legged canine-like robot on Friday (May 8) to remind park goers to maintain social distancing.




science and technology

Wall Street jumps despite historic job losses

Stocks on Wall Street jumped Friday despite historic job losses suffered by the economy. Fred Katayama reports.




science and technology

'Never give up': Queen praises Britons on Victory in Europe Day

Britain's Queen Elizabeth honored those who died in World War Two on Friday, the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, and used the occasion to say she was proud of how people had responded to the coronavirus pandemic.




science and technology

Key Pence aide diagnosed with coronavirus

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's press secretary, the wife of one of President Donald Trump's senior advisors, has tested positive for the coronavirus, the second White House staffer to be diagnosed with the illness. This report produced by Chris Dignam.




science and technology

No clowning around with masks on Mexico City metro

A campaign in Mexico City to get residents to wear face masks is now reinforced with a new secret weapon: clowns. They're telling metro riders, 'Wear a face mask -- don't be a clown!' as they spray riders' hands with disinfectant. Gavino Garay has more.




science and technology

Youth recreate Iraq's ancient Nineveh in VR technology

Stone by stone, digital artists and game developers from Mosul are rebuilding Nineveh's heritage sites in the digital world. Francis Maguire reports.




science and technology

Slovenian cyclists stage anti-government coronavirus protest

Thousands of cyclists took over streets in the center of the Slovenian capital Ljubljana on Friday evening to protest against the government of Prime Minister Janez Jansa and the restrictions it has imposed to fight the coronavirus.




science and technology

Rescuers capture king cobra in urban Singapore

A king kobra is spotted near a train station in Singapore, animal rescuers were alerted to catch it.




science and technology

Beijing gym-goers welcome partial re-open

The grunts, groans and the sound of pulsing music and crashing weights has returned to some of Beijing's gyms after being closed for nearly three months due to the coronavirus outbreak. Ciara Lee reports.




science and technology

Putin attends slimmed down Victory Day celebrations

Russia marked 75 years since the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two on Saturday, but the coronavirus outbreak forced it to scale back celebrations. Olivia Chan reports.




science and technology

Train in India kills at least 16 migrant workers

Police in India's western Aurangabad district have returned the bodies of 16 migrants killed by a train on Friday, to their home towns. Ciara Lee reports




science and technology

No gym, no problem: Italian gymnast improvises

Gymnasts all around the world are making the best of things as they try to keep fit while gyms are closed due to the coronavirus and Italy is no exception.




science and technology

No gym, no problem: Italian gymnast improvises

Olympic medallist Marco Lodadio of Italy transforms his garden swing into the rings gymnastic apparatus.




science and technology

A bubble looms over China's heartland

China's policymakers struggle to grapple with a property market, the world's largest, that is crucial for growth yet prone to bubbles springing up in unlikely places.




science and technology

Indigenous elders channel tough love in Earth Day film

Indigenous elders from Alaska to Australia have come together to deliver some tough love in a new film for Earth Day. Francis Maguire reports.




science and technology

South Korean artist crafts cornstarch furniture

Artist Ryu Jong-dae experiments with various cornstarch-based bioplastic in the bid to protect the Earth. Rosanna Philpott reports.