International Young Scientist Awards

Imagine a battery that charges almost instantly and holds far more energy than today’s best options. This is the promise of a quantum battery, a cutting-edge energy storage device that taps into quantum phenomena like entanglement and superposition. A recent study has outlined a design for such a battery, and if future experiments confirm its potential, it could revolutionize the way we think about energy storage. “ Traditional batteries that are still in use, such as lithium-ion, alkaline, and lead-acid batteries, operate based on electrochemical reactions that involve the motion of ions between two electrodes through an electrolyte,” said a team of researchers in a recent paper published in Advanced Quantum Technologies describing the idea. “Quantum batteries, on the other hand, are a novel concept that probe the potential of quantum mechanics to enhance energy storage.” Despite their theoretical promise, developing a working quantum battery is fraught with challenges. The most se

  Science ideas are everywhere. Some of the greatest discoveries have come from tinkering and toying with new concepts and ideas. NASA astronaut Don Pettit is no stranger to inventing and discovering. During his previous missions, Pettit has contributed to advancements for human space exploration aboard the International Space Station resulting in several published scientific papers and breakthroughs. Pettit, accompanied by cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, will launch to the orbiting laboratory in September 2024. In preparation for his fourth spaceflight , read about previous “science of opportunity” experiments Pettit performed during his free time with materials readily available to the crew or included in his personal kit. Have you ever noticed a white bubble inside the ice in your ice tray at home? This is trapped air that accumulates in one area due to gravity. Pettit took this knowledge, access to a -90° Celsius freezer aboard the space station, and an open weekend t

In a remarkable scientific discovery, nearly 1,700 ancient viruses, some dating back as far as 41,000 years, have been unearthed from glaciers in the remote Himalayas. This groundbreaking find provides a unique window into the Earth's distant past and offers potential insights into the evolution of viruses, climate change, and ancient ecosystems. The discovery was made possible through cutting-edge technologies that allowed researchers to extract and analyze viral genetic material preserved in ice, leading to a deeper understanding of the virosphere from millennia ago. The Discovery The discovery was part of a larger effort by scientists to explore and understand the microbial life preserved in ice cores drilled from glaciers in the Tibetan Plateau, a region that forms part of the vast Himalayan mountain range. These glaciers, often referred to as "frozen time capsules," have preserved biological material for tens of thousands of years, making them ideal for studying an