Human ancestors like Australopithecus – which lived around 3.5 million years ago in southern Africa – ate very little to no meat, according to new research published in the scientific journal Science. This conclusion comes from an analysis of nitrogen isotope isotopes in the fossilized tooth enamel of seven Australopithecus individuals. The data revealed that these early hominins primarily relied on plant-based diets, with little to no evidence of meat consumption.

Pioneering researchers of self-generated spin torques have discovered a new one, anomalous Hall torque, that completes a triad of torques likely present in all conductive spintronic materials. Dubbed the Universal Hall Torques, the triad have unique spin behavior favorable to cutting-edge technologies, like human brain-inspired computing that processes massive amounts of data with much greater efficiency.

The Universe really seems to be expanding fast. Too fast, even. A new measurement confirms what previous — and highly debated — results had shown: The Universe is expanding faster than predicted by theoretical models, and faster than can be explained by our current understanding of physics. This discrepancy between model and data became known as the Hubble tension. Now, results published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters provide even stronger support to the faster rate of expansion.

The University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) is spearheading the IFE-STAR ecosystem, an initiative supported by a $2.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. This program is set to reshape the future of inertial fusion energy (IFE) by bringing together experts from academia, national laboratories, and industry while investing in the next generation of researchers. Central to this effort are two transformative programs: the inaugural IFE-STAR conference, taking place April 7-11, 2025, in Breckenridge, Colorado, where leading scientists will address the most pressing challenges and advancements in fusion research, and the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), which will immerse students in hands-on research alongside top IFE scientists at over 20 institutions. These initiatives are designed to drive meaningful progress in fusion energy science while cultivating the talent essential for its future.