ISS, Electric Vehicles, and Levitating Water

The International Space Station, explained

The International Space Station is a roughly football-field-sized structure built through collaboration among the US, Russian, European, Japanese, and Canadian space agencies. Despite a mass of nearly 420,000 kilograms, it orbits Earth about once every 90 minutes at an average altitude of 400 kilometers.

Since the US’ Unity module connected to Russia’s Zarya control module in 1998, the ISS has been incrementally assembled in space and contains 43 components as of 2025 (watch visualization). These include solar arrays for power, four labs, six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, and a gym where mandatory exercise helps astronauts maintain muscle mass in microgravity. Observational instruments have collected geological, meteorological, climate, and cosmic particle data.

Over 280 individuals from 26 countries have visited the ISS and conducted over 4,000 experiments, ranging from growing protein crystals for pharmaceuticals to testing the effectiveness of microbes at mining space minerals. The ISS is expected to be retired in 2030 (learn how).

Also, check out ... 

> A free-floating robotic system helps with routine tasks on the ISS. (More)

> In 2001, Pizza Hut became the first company to deliver pizza to space. (More)

> Take a virtual tour of the International Space Station. (More)

> Watch how dozens of everyday human tasks are performed in space. (More)

Explore everything else we've found on the International Space Station. 

In partnership with RAD Intel

The Next AI Wave Is Here—And It’s Not Chips

The next AI boom won’t be chips. It’ll be software—and this startup is leading it. The AI 1.0 boom made chip companies like Nvidia and Super Micro explode in value. AI 2.0 is all about software—and RAD Intel is leading the charge. Their platform uses AI to help brands identify the perfect audience and the exact content to drive action. 

It’s already being used by a who's-who roster of F-1000 brands and agency partners, including, F1, Porsche, MGM, L'Oreal, and Nissan. With Adobe and Fidelity Ventures backing them and a Nasdaq ticker reserved ($RADI), the company is solving a $1.3T problem at the center of marketing inefficiency. Even better? They're offering shares at just $0.81 through a Reg A+ round. The next AI breakout company won’t be a chipmaker. It’ll be the company that powers how AI is applied at scale—and that’s RAD Intel. 

Want in before the rest of the market sees it? Get in now as the share price will be changing soon. Lock in $0.81 shares today.*

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What are electric vehicles?

Electric vehicles are powered in some capacity by an electric motor, which is used to improve the vehicle’s efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint.

While nonelectric vehicles ignite an air and fuel mixture within pistons to turn their wheels, EVs use induction motors to conduct electricity and create a rotating magnetic field that powers the rotor, turning the wheels (watch explainer). EVs store electricity in a lithium-ion battery block weighing an average of 900 pounds under the vehicle.

Before the discovery of the first oil gusher in Texas in 1901 and the release of the Ford Model T in 1908, which made gas-powered vehicles drastically more affordable and prevalent, electric cars accounted for over a third of US automobiles and were a status symbol of the wealthy (see gallery). Today, millions of EVs are sold worldwide, with most major automakers having committed to significantly reducing or eliminating gas-powered vehicles in the next 20 years. 

Also, check out ... 

> Audi spent over three years developing engine sounds for its EVs. (More)

> As of 2024, 13 states have plans to phase out gas-powered cars. (More)

> What happens to EV batteries when they die? (More)

> Map fuel corridors for your next EV road trip with this tool. (More)

Explore everything else we've found on electric vehicles.

Understanding large language models

Large language models are sophisticated computer programs that process and generate natural language. Anyone using generative AI tools to produce text-based content interacts with an LLM, usually through a chatbot or other user interface.

By finding patterns in the sequence of tokens—words or subwords, like prefixes—in massive amounts of text, these models can predict the most likely next word in a generated sequence and repeat this prediction until the output is complete (learn more). Predictions improve with more data, and more specific outputs can be created using specialized data.

Beyond data, engineers build and improve LLMs through refinements to architecture—the way data is processed—and training, where humans can manually refine LLM predictions. Despite these efforts, LLMs may hallucinate—generating false or misleading information—and may propagate stereotypes, discrimination, and bias in their outputs.

Also, check out ... 

> LLMs incorporate a creativity parameter when generating responses. (More)

> The hardware powering AI was originally designed for video games. (More)

> How does an LLM know it's finished answering your prompt? (More)

> Visualize the neural network as it "thinks" and generates text. (More)

Explore everything else we've found on large language models. 

Science Spotlight

Like all great scientists, we love spending time researching the latest scientific breakthroughs, tech releases, engaging explainers, and the connections between science and society that are making headlines. Here's what we found this week.

> Peering inside an atom's nucleus with a new molecule-based method

MIT News | Jennifer Chu. The technique precisely measured the energy of electrons around radium atoms within radium monofluoride molecules. The electrons serve as "messengers" whose energy shifts reveal the internal structure of atoms and provide a tabletop alternative to kilometers-long, particle accelerator facilities. (Read)

> 'Tumor-on-a-chip' offers insight into cancer-fighting cells

Penn Today | Nathi Magubane. By recreating the body’s tumor environment in miniature—complete with blood vessels and immune cells—researchers can view what helps or hinders engineered immune cells inside solid tumors. These devices may help accelerate development of safer, more effective immunotherapies. (Read)

> Using generative AI to create simulated cancer genomes

U of T News | Daniel Punch. OncoGAN mimics tumor genomes across eight types of cancer by simulating patterns of genetic alterations. Researchers hope the tool can lead to more accurate cancer diagnoses and effective treatments by providing larger data sets for detection algorithms without breaching patient confidentiality. (Read)

> Portable test developed to rapidly detect forever chemicals in water

UChicago News | Sarah CP Williams. The technology can detect substances known as PFAS at levels as low as 250 parts per quadrillion—like one grain of sand in an Olympic-sized swimming pool—in minutes. Consumers may eventually be able to test their own water with such devices to best determine what they consume. (Read)

> Tips for spotting a fake video from Sora

TechRadar | Becca Caddy. Since the launch of the AI video tool, widespread tutorials have appeared online showing creators how to remove watermarks to make generated content harder to identify. For now, certain characteristics and limitations of the tool can allow audiences to identify inaccuracies and not get fooled. (Read)

> ISS: Nine potential future replacements for the International Space Station. (Read)

In partnership with RAD Intel

AI Software Is Creating the Next $1B Giants

Just like Microsoft and Adobe rode the software wave in Web 1.0, RAD Intel is riding the AI software wave in 2024. Their product helps brands instantly find the right audience and message using AI—solving the #1 waste in marketing: misfired ad spend. 

With major brands already onboard and their Nasdaq ticker reserved, RAD Intel is early—but very real. Investors can still buy shares at just $0.81 now.*

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Best of the Week

We curate hundreds of resources onto 1440 Topics each week. Here are some of our favorites from the world of science and technology.

> Read about the 25-year-old who discovered what stars are made of.

> Why fungi could wreak havoc on the world by making natural rubber extinct.

> How technological advances might be the reason why you need subtitles now.

> What are blue zones?

> Watch how you can make water roll up stairs and navigate mazes.

> The origins of spooky will-o'-the-wisps.

> Are there any science-backed ways of spotting a liar?

> How do sinkholes form?

> The physical side effects of experiencing love and heartbreak.

> What does space sound like?

Thank you to our readers for inspiring us with their questions! Curious about something in science and technology? Tell us here.

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