Category: Science

EnergyScienceTechnology

Battery Boom Propels Graphite from Industrial Workhorse to Critical Mineral

The exponential growth in lithium-ion batteries has transformed graphite from a conventional industrial mineral into a strategically critical material. According to analysis, graphite constitutes approximately 22% of a typical battery’s weight, making it the single largest component by volume.

Graphite’s Critical Role in Clean Energy Transition

The rapid expansion of lithium-ion battery production for electric vehicles, portable electronics, and grid storage has elevated graphite from traditional industrial applications to a cornerstone of the renewable energy economy, according to reports in Nature Reviews Materials. Sources indicate that graphite now accounts for approximately 22% of a typical lithium-ion battery’s weight, making it the most voluminous raw material in battery cells.

by Carter Wells
InnovationScienceTechnology

Academic Publishing Faces Growing Threat From Fabricated Researcher Identities

A major publisher uncovered 26 fictitious authors who published 55 papers in mathematics journals. Paper mills are creating fake academic personas to manipulate peer review systems and sell publications to researchers seeking to boost their credentials.

The Phantom Mathematician

Beatriz Ychussie appeared to be a promising mathematics researcher at Roskelde University in Denmark, publishing four papers on quantum particles and geometry in 2015-2016 while reviewing manuscripts for reputable journals. According to investigative reports, there was just one problem: Ychussie never existed.

by Carter Wells
ComputingResearchScience

Scientists Achieve Record-Breaking Coherence Times in Solid-State Nuclear Spin Qubits

Researchers have demonstrated individual nuclear spin qubits with coherence times exceeding one second, a major advancement for quantum computing. The breakthrough enables high-fidelity quantum operations using stimulated Raman transitions in solid-state systems.

Record-Breaking Quantum Coherence Achieved

Scientists have reportedly achieved a major breakthrough in quantum computing with individual solid-state nuclear spin qubits demonstrating coherence times exceeding seconds, according to research published in Nature Physics. Sources indicate this represents more than an order of magnitude improvement over previous records and positions nuclear spins as promising candidates for quantum memory and processing applications.

by Carter Wells
PolicyScienceSustainability

Global Climate Action Falling Dangerously Short of Paris Agreement Targets, Analysis Reveals

The world is failing to meet climate change targets across all measured sectors, according to a comprehensive new analysis. While some areas show promising development, the pace remains insufficient to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Climate Progress “Alarmingly Inadequate” Worldwide

The global response to climate change is progressing at an “alarmingly inadequate” pace, according to a major new analysis from Systems Change Lab. The State of Climate Action 2025 report reveals that none of the 45 indicators tracking climate progress are on course to meet their 2030 targets established under the Paris Agreement.

by Carter Wells
EnvironmentScienceSustainability

Amazon Rainforest’s Carbon Absorption Declines as CO2 Levels Spike, Key Monitoring Satellite Faces Shutdown

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels surged at an unprecedented rate in 2024, with satellite data revealing the Amazon rainforest’s declining capacity to absorb emissions. The satellite that detected this critical trend now faces potential decommissioning despite remaining operational until 2040.

Unprecedented Carbon Dioxide Acceleration

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations rose faster in 2024 than in any year since systematic measurements began in the late 1950s, according to new satellite analysis. The record-breaking increase of 3.73 parts per million represents a significant acceleration from previous years, with analysts suggesting this indicates a potentially troubling shift in the global carbon cycle.

by Carter Wells