Scientists in South Korea have developed a high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) that can stop 99.9% of influenza and COVID-19 viruses. On Tuesday, the Korea Institute of Energy Research announced that they have manufactured the world’s first photothermal-effect-based HEPA air filter, reported The Korea Herald . Researchers from the institute improved upon the HEPA filter by coating it with plasmonic metal nanoparticles to produce photothermal effects – the mechanism that results in a substance’s production of heat energy. In the tests conducted, the photothermal HEPA filters killed viral and bacterial cells after they were radiated with light-emitting diodes in the visible light band and heated up to 60 degrees Celsius or higher within 10 to 15 seconds. According to the researchers, current HEPA filters installed in air purifying systems are at risk of accumulating a build-up of pollutants that may result in secondary infections. To prevent this, the HEPA filters use ultraviolet rays, which can also cause corrosion that may shorten the filters’ lifespan. Yoo Seung-hwan, the lead author of the research, explained: “By applying the photothermal HEPA filter technology, up to 99.9 percent of viruses collected in the filter can be removed, so any secondary contamination can be prevented because bacteria and viruses cannot proliferate in the filter.” The photothermal-effect-based HEPA air filters can be installed into existing air purifying systems or incorporated into new products. Local air filter developer Cleantech, which has secured the license for the technology, is already building facilities for the production of photothermal HEPA filters, which may be available on the market later this year.   Featured Image via @taqimehran

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It is an almost complete set of "genetic instructions" from people who died when Mount Vesuvius erupted.

Most elliptical galaxies can usually be found within galaxy clusters. However, a new picture of galaxy NGC 474 captured by Hubble shows an interesting image. Instead of being surrounded by galaxy clusters, NGC 474 is in relatively empty space. Further, the galaxy is surrounded by shells. NASA says could be the result of NGC 474 … The post Hubble telescope discovered a new galaxy with mysterious surroundings appeared first on BGR.

Archaeologists have uncovered the ruins of an ancient Mayan city filled with palaces, pyramids and plazas on a construction site of what will become an industrial park near Merida, on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. The site, called Xiol, has features of the Mayan Puuc style of architecture, archaeologists said, which is common in the southern Yucatan Peninsula but rare near Merida. "We think more than 4,000 people lived around here," said Carlos Peraza, one of the archaeologists who led the excavation of the city, estimated to have been occupied from 600-900 A.D.

Despite the James Webb being in place and set to start observations this summer, Hubble is still going strong. The nearly 30-year-old space telescope recently captured two galaxies locked in a dance. NASA shared the image this week, and space enthusiasts will want to see it for themselves. Hubble captured two galaxies locked in a … The post NASA releases stunning Hubble photo of two galaxies locked in a dance appeared first on BGR.

NASA is planning to send astronauts on a 30-day mission to Mars. The space agency shared some of its plans for the mission earlier this week. It’s all just a concept at the moment, but NASA is looking for feedback on the idea. NASA wants to run a 30-day mission to Mars The mission isn’t … The post NASA shares plans for its most exciting and ambitious Mars mission appeared first on BGR.

Our magnetosphere is acting up again.

Chinese scientists discovered a primitive forest in a giant sinkhole earlier this month. The sinkhole is 630 feet deep, and a team of spelunkers rappelled down into it in early May. While exploring, they found three separate cave entrances and a growing forest. Thankfully, the unique environment has been captured on video. Scientists found a … The post Scientists uncovered an entire forest hidden inside a sinkhole in China appeared first on BGR.

It's Friday and the world is falling apart, so let's just take a short mental health break with some interesting news out of the field of archaeology, where tech is enabling some fascinating new discoveries. A new lidar-powered analysis of land in the Amazon basin has provided evidence of a previously unknown urban center of "mind blowing" complexity. To be clear, that doesn't mean ancient aliens or long-lost technology, just that it far exceeds the expected levels of organization and population that scholars considered possible for Amazonians of 1,500 years ago.

Starliner has landed -- and Boeing stock is up 5% (as of 3:35 p.m. ET). As you'll recall, it's been two years since Boeing's ill-starred first attempt to launch its CST-100 Starliner to rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) in an uncrewed flight. Six days ago, however, Boeing took a do-over and relaunched Starliner atop an Atlas V rocket, aiming to reach the target that eluded it the first time around.

Study finds Pacific rattlesnakes, which can’t control their own temperature, prefer places where the climate averages 80F

NASA's Space Launch System moon rocket is set for another rollout at Kennedy Space Center after previous attempts to load fuel were cut short.

“The sand tiger sharks are somewhat unusual for sharks in that they can hover or seem to rest.”

Mount Vesuvius erupted nearly 2,000 years ago, burying Pompeii in volcanic ash. Researchers are now getting a clearer picture of ancient Roman life.

These past few months have already proven to be spectacular for skywatchers and space enthusiasts. But, the end of May could bring a spectacular “all or nothing” meteor shower visible across much of the continental United States called the Tau Herculids. When to watch for the Tau Herculids meteor shower NASA estimates that the Tau … The post How and when to watch the Tau Herculids meteor shower appeared first on BGR.

STORY: Boeing's uncrewed Starliner capsule lands back on Earthcompleting a high-stakes test flight to carry humans into spaceLocation: White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico The capsule touched down after a five-hour return tripfrom the International Space Station, 250 miles above EarthStarliner could be NASA's next avenue for transporting astronautspending a redesign addressing issues that popped up mid-missionNASA previously relied solely on rockets made by SpaceXThe Starliner program cost Boeing nearly $600 million over the past few years

Move over, sharknado. It's 2022, and now we have ... sharkcanos?

The Starliner spacecraft landed successfully Wednesday, May 25 at White Sands Space Harbor toward the northern portion of the White Sands National Park.

The asteroid 1989 JA is more than a mile long and is twice the size of the tallest building in the world. But no need to fear: It won't hit us.

A Falcon 9 rocket successfully returned to Cape Canaveral, Florida, after launching 59 spacecraft on Wednesday, May 25.SpaceX said the rocket completed the Transporter-5 mission to carry a number of different spacecraft including “CubeSats, microsats, non-deploying hosted payloads, and orbital transfer vehicles.”The completed mission was the company’s 22nd launch and landing of the year, SpaceX said. Credit: Wandering Rose Adventures via Storyful

Before humans, before dinosaurs, before even so much as a trilobite appeared, Earth is thought to have been covered in primordial ooze from which life somehow emerged. What would eventually form the genes of every life-form on Earth was probably floating around on our pre-pre-prehistoric planet. Kind of like Alien Origin, the nucleosides and phosphates that would eventually become life could have crashed here via asteroids and comets that got in the way of the young and volatile planet as it wen