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Explore the most exciting new ideas and emerging concepts in science, health, technology and the environment with 91av’s exclusive in-depth articles, interviews and long reads.

E8X75D Image concept of magnetic levitating above a high-temperature superconductor, cooled with liquid nitrogen.

Technology

New superconductor claims could lead to progress even if they’re wrong

Experts are right to be wary of claims that a room-temperature, ambient-pressure superconductor has been found, but the flurry of new research to confirm the finding could result in a genuine breakthrough

News
Laline Paull
Environment

Pod author, Laline Paull: ‘I was terrified to take this novel on’

Video
The newly discovered Perucetus colossus, an ancient species of whale, is thought to be one of the largest and heaviest animals on record, reports a study published in Nature. Estimates of its size and weight, based on a partial skeleton, rival those of the blue whale, which was previously thought to be the heaviest animal ever to exist. The findings suggest that the trend towards gigantism in marine mammals may have begun earlier than previously thought. Reconstruction of Perucetus colossus in its coastal habitat. Estimated body length: ~20 meters. Credit: Alberto Gennari

Life

Ancient whale might have been the heaviest animal that ever lived

News

Chemistry

Chemical reaction used in cooking may have helped complex life evolve

News
Someone having their blood tested for HIV in Kampala, Uganda, in December 2022

Health

Gene variant that seems to protect against HIV may lead to new drugs

News
Superconductors can magnetically levitate

Physics

Scientists race to test claimed room-temperature superconductor

News

Health

Your gut microbiome is linked to your fitness and biological age

News
Device for water collection

Technology

Artificial spider silk could help us harvest drinking water from air

News

Humans

Ancient Babylonian arson in Jerusalem revealed by chemical clues

News

Life

Oldest adult jellyfish fossil ever found is over 500 million years old

A fossil discovered in Canada reveals that jellyfish developed the swimming stage of their life cycle more than half a billion years ago

News

Space

NASA has regained contact with Voyager 2 after losing it for a week

News

Health

Lead exposure linked to higher risk of engaging in criminal behaviour

News

Chemistry

Earth’s early warmth may be explained by methane-making reaction

News

Life

Male moths make their own perfume from flowers to attract females

News