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Solar cells are typically made up of layers of photovoltaic materials and a substrate, such as glass or plastic. Instead of the usual method of fabricating each layer separately, and then depositing the layers onto the substrate, the MIT researchers made all three parts of their solar cell (the cell, the supportive substrate, and the protective coating) at the same time, a method that cuts down on performance-harming contaminants. In the demonstration, the substrate and coating are made from parylene, which is a flexible polymer, and the component that absorbs light was made from dibutyl phthalate (DBP)....

“The development of solar energy is a key component of [the Biden] administration’s efforts to combat climate change,” said Larry Starfield, an administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in a press release on November 14. “These settlements send an important message to the site owners of solar farm projects that these facilities must be planned and built-in compliance with all environmental laws.” Each of the large-scale solar projects, which shared a common contractor, violated construction permits and mismanaged storm water controls, causing harmful buildup of sediment in waterways....

Here are some of the highlights from one of Sony’s most impressive cameras yet. A new custom sensor From a hardware standpoint, Sony has made some notable changes regarding the chip that actually handles the light collecting in the A7S III. The resolution remains at 12 megapixels, just like the previous iterations, which gives the photo sites lots of room to spread out. Bigger photo sites can collect more light before hitting their limits, which typically translates into cleaner images shot in low light....

To be more precise, it’s actually testosterone levels that make certain women attractive to certain men and vice versa (or, to be all-inclusive, any combination of the above). And forget nice legs or muscular arms — it turns out attraction is all about the face. The experiment was conducted at the aptly named Face Research Laboratory, where subjects were asked to complete “face preference tests.” The test showed pairs of either female or male faces and asked the subjects to choose which of the two they found more attractive....

A number of ancient reptiles such as plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs are known to have had marine lifestyles, but dinosaurs have generally been considered landlubbers. However, an analysis of the density of 380 bones belonging to a variety of dinosaurs, other extinct creatures, and present-day animals suggests that the iconic Cretaceous dinosaur Spinosaurus and one of its close relatives were capable swimmers. Based on the new findings and other reports, it’s “strongly plausible” that Spinosaurus was an aquatic dinosaur, says Alexandra Houssaye, a paleontologist at the French National Natural History Museum in Paris who wasn’t involved in the research....

The science of notifications is, in a word, alarming. Thanks to decades of behavioral psychology research at their disposal, user experience designers are able to create addictive experiences with ease. Visually, they know that bright colors and layers of complexity, like a mix pop-ups, banners, and numbered notifications are hard to look away from—even if we say we hate the clutter. Auditorily, they understand the human ear is hypersensitive to the range where a baby cries, and have tuned their apps accordingly....

Crupi, 52, is one of a growing number of Americans embracing the great indoors. While the rise of streaming video services and online shopping is driving down movie theater attendance and hurting retail stores, there is an upside: America’s couch potatoes are putting a serious dent in energy use outside the home. “We had no idea that the energy savings were going to be so enormous,” said Ashok Sekar, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas at Austin and lead author of a paper that looks at the link between staying home and energy use outside the home....

The major market analysis firm Nielsen reports that the combined viewership of services like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and YouTube managed to surpass cable television’s total audiences last month—a first for the industry, although one with quite a few caveats. First, the numbers: According to Nielsen, approximately 34.8 percent of the total time households spent watching television in July was done via streaming, compared to 34.4 percent through cable TV. That’s roughly 190....

It’s exciting to see a respected organization like the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) support a sugary drink tax, says Marlene Schwartz, director of the University of Connecticut Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity. “They wait for the science to be strong,” she says. “I was happy to see they took this on.” Schwartz hopes that the AAP recommendation will help improve public perception of these types of policies....

More than 30 million Americans live in areas with no broadband infrastructure, meaning their access to high speed internet is limited. This is a bipartisan issue, and its effects were felt most during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when employees worked from home and kids went to school online. “This is something both sides of the political aisle have talked about for a long time,” says Kevin DeGood, director of infrastructure policy at the Center for American Progress....

In this article, we aim to answer those questions and more as we explore the 10 best nootropic supplement options on the market today. 10 Best Nootropics Elm and Rye NootropicVerma Farm’s Energy OilPenguin GummiesMind Lab Pro Nootropic CapsulesNoocube Brain Productivity SupplementQualia Mind NootropicsPerformance Lab Mind NootropicModafinil TabletsFlmodafinil OilZHOU Neuro Peak Brain Support Supplement What are Nootropics? A nootropic supplement is any product that supports mental function and is designed to boost memory, motivation, creativity, attention span, and focus....

Some of 2021’s most buzzed-about robots aren’t really new. Rather, they’re updated models with design touch-ups, part swap outs, or reimagined applications. This long tinkering process is how the field of robotics ultimately gets better. But not every robot received a warm welcome this year. Tesla was slammed by experts when it announced its concept machine in August because it seemed to undermine how long it takes to develop a useful, good robot....

Buying a space heater is a worthwhile investment, but you want to make sure you look at all the information available about each product to determine which will be right for you and your space. To get you started, we’ve created this brief guide to help you learn more about these lean, mean, cold-fighting machines. Get ready to cozy up with your favorite books without reaching for your hat and gloves with the best space heaters....

The Fourth of July is sort of like the Thanksgiving of Summer—which is to say that it’s a holiday centered around a lot of great food shared with friends and family. Whereas the oven does the bulk of the cooking during Thanksgiving, for Independence Day it’s all about the grill (OK, and the deep fryer and the smoker). To help you plan the ultimate Fourth of July menu, we’ve gathered some of our favorite recipes featuring grilled, barbecued, and smoked wild game, as well as recipes for whole grilled fish and deep-fried fillets....

We’ve rounded up the best sales to be found for high-flying brands—including Sony, Samsung, LG, TCL, and VIZIO—along with a variety of sizes to suit your setup. Whether you’re in search of a sprawling 75-inch television to broadcast the game to friends and family or a smaller pick for bedroom streaming, we’ve found a markdown for you. Sony Additional Sony TVs on sale: Sony X90J 55-inch BRAVIA XR Full-Array LED 4K Ultra HD Smart Google TV $1,000 (Was $1,200) Sony X90J 75-inch TV BRAVIA XR Full-Array LED 4K Ultra HD Smart Google TV $1,600 (Was $1,700) Sony X85J 55-inch Series LED 4K UHD Smart Google TV $750 (Was $1,000) Sony X85J 43-inch 4K UHD Smart Google TV $650 (Was $750)...

On January 2, 1959, the Soviet Union kicked off its Luna program, sometimes called Lunik by the Western media, with the launch of Luna 1. This first spacecraft missed the Moon, but the next hit the target and became the first spacecraft to impact the lunar surface in September of that year. A month later on October 7, Luna 3 returned history’s first ever pictures of the Moon’s farside. It was a stunning year for the Soviets on the Moon, one in which the United States only racked up a handful of failed lunar missions....

But beyond bragging rights, Titan is something more. It will hands-down be the fastest open science machine in the world, granting time to scientists in industry, academia, and government labs around the country who need huge computing capabilities to make sense of complex data sets in six core areas: climate change, astrophysics, materials science, biofuels, combustion, and nuclear energy systems. And critically, it incorporates graphics processing units (GPUs) alongside the conventional central processing unit (CPU) cores normally deployed in supercomputers of this kind....

During his recovery, he came across reports on convalescent plasma transfusion, an experimental therapy that boosts the immune responses of those suffering from severe coronavirus infections. Blood centers urged recovered patients to donate their plasma, the protein-filled, yolk-colored liquid that may contain COVID-19 antibodies, which can potentially save lives and beat back the disease. But as Turban soon found out, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bans men who’ve had sex with other men in the last three months from donating their blood, even during a global health crisis....

Researchers have taken a major step toward the exploration of Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, by producing the first global map of the world’s icy plains, twisted canyons, and crinkled shorelines. The pathfinding chart, published Monday in Nature Astronomy, will form the foundation of more detailed maps to come, maps that will help scientists decipher the moon’s past and plan for its future exploration. “Geologic mapping,” says David Williams, a planetary scientist at Arizona State University who helped produce the plot, “is basically another tool we use when we analyze planetary surfaces to try and understand their histories....

Looking for the complete list of 100 winners? Find it here. Grand Award Winner Top Gun: Maverick by Skydance Media/Paramount: A high-speed upgrade to practical filmmaking We’re all too used to watching computer-generated action sequences in movies. When Hulk smashes up the scene or aliens attack a city, we know it’s fake. The sequel to Top Gun, which arrived in May—36 years after the original—did it differently. Actors trained in real aircraft to prepare to climb into Navy F/A-18F Super Hornets, and when they did, they experienced crushing G forces as the jets maneuvered at speeds that ranged from about 250 mph to more than 400....