Inspired by the human eye, researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed an adaptive metalens that is essentially a flat, electronically controlled artificial eye. The adaptive metalens simultaneously controls for three of the major contributors to blurry images: focus, astigmatism, and image shift. The research is …

They say methane around the satellite’s surface could be produced by microbial life tucked just beneath its crust. The team, from Universität Wien in Vienna, Austria, said they hope their study encourages more research into potential colonies of microbes living on the moon. Enceladus harbours many of the ingredients needed for alien life, making it …

These eye-opening designs propose a future of flight that is both supersonic and eco-friendly. The spaceship-like plans for the HSP ‘Magnavem’ feature a streamlined ship capable of reaching a top speed of Mach 1.5 (1,150mph/1,852km/h). The hypersonic plane would cut travel times between New York and London to just three hours, more than halving the …

A wave of electrical activity in our brains called ‘spreading depression’ appears to mark the final moment before death, researchers have found. Experts examining brain activity in dying patients observed a flurry of activity that appears to precede the fatal shutdown of our most vital organ. The finding suggests that consciousness may still be present …

Outside, it is cold, and in lots of places across Britain, snow is falling. Or has done. Which is why you might be suffering more static electric shocks. There’s science to this. You might have noticed that you get more shocks as the temperature drops. Electric shocks can happen any time of the year, as …