All posts filed under: Science

Best Laptops For College Students (2026): MacBooks and Beyond

Best Laptops For College Students (2026): MacBooks and Beyond

Published by skeptic

College laptops don’t have to be embarrassing. Nor do they have to be overly expensive. There are a lot of great laptops for college students that combine long battery life, easy portability, and the performance needed for everyday coursework in a great design. I’ve been reviewing laptops for over a decade and have tested hundreds over the years, and if someone asked me what to buy, these are the options I’d suggest. Be sure to check out our other computing guides, including the Best Laptops, Best Budget Laptops, Best MacBooks, Best Windows Laptops, Best Gaming Laptops, Best Chromebooks, and Best Laptop Bags. The Best Overall College Laptop The MacBook Air is my choice for best overall laptop. It’s the one almost everyone should buy. But college students have different needs—and in most cases, different budgets. It needs to be affordable, but ideally it should also be lightweight and easy to carry around. The MacBook Neo fits the bill perfectly. It’s only 2.7 pounds and starts at just $599. It also has a smaller display, which …

US launches new roadmap to fast-track commercial fusion energy

US launches new roadmap to fast-track commercial fusion energy

Published by skeptic

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has published its finalised Fusion Science and Technology (FS&T) Roadmap, outlining a national strategy designed to accelerate the development of commercial fusion energy. The plan brings together research institutions, private industry, national laboratories, and government agencies under a unified framework to deliver pilot plants and commercial fusion power generation by the mid-2030s. The roadmap was developed with contributions from more than 800 scientists and engineers, including representatives from private fusion companies, national laboratories, and universities across the US. It identifies the key scientific, technological, and infrastructure challenges that must be addressed to move fusion energy from experimental facilities to commercial deployment. By establishing clear priorities for research, workforce development, supply chains, and public-private collaboration, the DOE aims to strengthen America’s position in the global race to commercialise fusion power while supporting long-term energy security and economic growth. Speaking on the roadmap, Dr Dario Gil, DOE Under Secretary for Science, said: “Fusion energy has entered a new era defined by extraordinary scientific progress and public-private momentum. “With this roadmap, …

A Waymo nearly hit me, but I’m still optimistic about driverless cars

A Waymo nearly hit me, but I’m still optimistic about driverless cars

Published by skeptic

Waymo driverless cars are in London, but is this a positive move for road safety? Richard Baker/In Pictures via Getty images Waymo’s driverless cars have been rolling through London for months, although they aren’t taking passengers yet and a human sits ready to seize control if needed. Every time I’ve encountered them, they have seemed cautious and predictable. But recently, I had a near miss. I was circling a roundabout as I cycled home from work and a Waymo was about to pull onto it in front of me. I had priority, but it didn’t seem to be slowing and looked to be heading straight for me, then suddenly stopped. It wasn’t the scariest incident I’ve had on a bike – it wasn’t even the worst one that day. I didn’t feel in serious danger; I had seen it happening and was ready. The incident only stood out among the dozens of tense moments that happen on every commute because it was AI behind the wheel, not a person. Out of curiosity, I sent Waymo …

Like living mood rings, these bees change color when it turns humid

Like living mood rings, these bees change color when it turns humid

Published by skeptic

app: Short for application, or a computer program designed for a specific task. biology: The study of living things. The scientists who study them are known as biologists. citizen science: Scientific research in which the public — people of all ages and abilities — participate. The data that these citizen “scientists” collect helps to advance research. Letting the public participate means that scientists can get data from many more people and places than would be available if they were working alone. context: The setting or circumstances that help explain an event, some statement or some conclusion. dynamic: An adjective that signifies something is active, changing or moving. (noun) The change or range of variability seen or measured within something. ecologist: A scientist who works in a branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings. environment: The sum of all of the things that exist around some organism or the process and the condition those things create. Environment may refer to the weather and ecosystem in …

Reworld debuts new full-scale PFAS destruction process

Reworld debuts new full-scale PFAS destruction process

Published by skeptic

ReAssure™ PFAS Destruction has been tested and proven to destroy and remove 99% of PFAS. ReAssure™ PFAS Destruction provides customers with access to approximately 17 million tons of processing capacity through Thermomechanical Treatment Facilities (TTFs) available in all major markets in the United States, delivering the scale necessary to address PFAS-containing waste. Offering PFAS destruction across municipal, commercial, and industrial waste streams, the Reworld TTFs process waste at temperatures above 1,100°C (2,012°F), widely cited as effective for PFAS destruction. Testing campaigns at Reworld TTFs have demonstrated 99% destruction and removal of PFAS at a processing capacity scale over 17 times greater than hazardous waste incineration. PFAS destruction is a crucial part of reducing pollution PFAS contamination is one of the most pressing and pervasive issues in the environment today. The chemicals have been in use since the 1930s, do not break down easily and highly soluble in water, meaning they are incredibly widespread. Several health conditions have been attributed to PFAS exposure, with impact noted as early as in the womb. “To effectively solve the …

Amnesty International Warns That World Cup Fans Face Potential Human Rights Violations

Amnesty International Warns That World Cup Fans Face Potential Human Rights Violations

Published by skeptic

Ahead of this year’s World Cup, Amnesty International warned that millions of fans attending the tournament are at risk of attacks on their human rights, especially in the United States. The organization added that the tournament, which will also be held in Mexico and Canada, could take place amid severe restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. In a report titled “Humanity Must Win: Defending Rights, Tackling Repression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” Amnesty outlines a range of risks faced by fans, players, locals, and media attending the tournament in its three host countries. In the US, where three-quarters of the World Cup matches will be played, the report finds there is a “human rights emergency” characterized by racial profiling and mass detentions by agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). “This World Cup is far from the ‘medium risk’ tournament that FIFA once judged it to be,” the organization wrote. “The joy that fans hope to experience over a six-week celebration of football is overshadowed …

The Other Major Soccer Event of 2026? The Shake-Up in the World of Video Games

The Other Major Soccer Event of 2026? The Shake-Up in the World of Video Games

Published by skeptic

This year will go down in history for being not only the first World Cup with 48 teams on the fields of the United States, Canada and Mexico, but also the year in which Electronic Arts’ dominance in the world of soccer video games was shaken. The industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, and the result is games that are more varied than ever before. It is no longer a matter of just playing whichever version of EA Sports FC you like best. Now there are four big contenders vying for your time, each with a different strategy and a specific audience in mind. EA Sports FC 26: The Champion That Doesn’t Let Its Guard Down EA Sports FC 26 has shown that it didn’t need the FIFA name to remain a moneymaking machine. At its launch in late 2025, Electronic Arts’ game ranked number one in sales in 16 of the 17 major European markets, reaffirming its dominance among those looking for a premium, fully licensed experience. HyperMotion V technology has elevated realism in …

European Sustainable Energy Awards 2026 winners announced

European Sustainable Energy Awards 2026 winners announced

Published by skeptic

Three individuals and projects have won the 2026 European Sustainable Energy Awards for their innovation and achievements advancing the field of energy efficiency and renewables in Europe and beyond. The winners were chosen by an online public vote in three categories: Local Energy Action, Women in Energy and SMEs Driving Energy Efficiency. They received their awards at the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) Awards Ceremony on 9 June 2026 in Brussels. The prizes reward achievements that contribute to the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal and encourage others to adopt best practices in building a clean energy future. The winners of the 2026 European Sustainable Energy Awards are: Local Energy Action category- 100 Projects Phasing Out Gas 100 Projects Phasing Out Gas, a pioneering clean energy initiative led by the City of Vienna’s climate and innovation agency UIV Urban Innovation Vienna and its Energy Planning Department, won in the Local Energy Action category, recognising its impact in driving the transition towards a 100 per cent renewable energy supply in the Austrian capital by 2040. While the initiative’s participants …

UK launches AI sandbox to optimise medicine safety

UK launches AI sandbox to optimise medicine safety

Published by skeptic

The UK is preparing to launch a pioneering AI sandbox designed to explore how artificial intelligence can improve medicine safety and accelerate the development of new treatments. Led by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the initiative will create a controlled testing environment where researchers, technology firms and regulators can evaluate emerging AI tools. The programme, backed by the government’s Regulatory Innovation Office, aims to address long-standing challenges in drug development and patient safety. By allowing innovators to test AI systems under regulatory oversight, the UK hopes to identify more reliable ways to predict medication-related risks before treatments reach patients. Officials believe the initiative could help reduce adverse drug reactions, which currently lead to approximately 250,000 hospital admissions across the UK each year and place a financial burden of more than £2bn on the NHS. The project is also expected to provide stronger evidence on the effectiveness of AI in supporting regulatory decision-making. UK Health Innovation Minister Preet Gill explained: “The AI revolution is here, and we want our NHS staff to be …

Australia’s association to Horizon Europe finalised

Australia’s association to Horizon Europe finalised

Published by skeptic

The European Commission and Australia have completed negotiations on Australia’s association to Horizon Europe, marking a significant step in strengthening research and innovation ties between the two partners. The agreement will enable Australian organisations to gain expanded access to Horizon Europe, the European Union’s €93.5bn research and innovation programme. From January 2027, Australian institutions will be eligible to participate in key funding opportunities under the scheme on the same basis as organisations from EU Member States. The outcome is expected to deepen scientific collaboration, increase access to funding for Australian researchers, and create new opportunities for joint projects tackling global challenges across technology, climate, energy, agriculture, and space. Speaking on Australia’s association to Horizon Europe, Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation, said: “We can tackle the challenges of tomorrow only together. “That is why the future of science and technology depends on strong international partnerships, like the one between the EU and Australia. Together, we’ve already delivered breakthroughs such as the Square Kilometre Array, one of the world’s most advanced radio telescopes. “By combining …