Science roundup: seven recent research stories including black hole stars, plastic cookies, and sound‑powered drones

Researchers across several fields have unveiled a series of unconventional breakthroughs that could reshape both scientific understanding and everyday technology. Astronomers have identified a new class of objects dubbed “black‑hole stars,” while materials scientists have demonstrated a method for converting plastic waste into edible‑like cookies, and engineers have built miniature drones that operate solely on acoustic energy. The findings, presented in recent conferences and peer‑reviewed journals, highlight the expanding scope of interdisciplinary research.

The “black‑hole stars” were detected by a team at the European Southern Observatory using a combination of X‑ray observations and gravitational‑wave data, revealing stellar remnants whose cores have collapsed into black holes while retaining a luminous outer envelope. In a separate study, researchers at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Materials Science reported a 3‑D‑printing process that transforms shredded polymer into a dough‑like material that can be baked into cookie‑shaped objects, offering a potential route for upcycling plastic waste. Meanwhile, a collaboration between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Tokyo introduced micro‑drones no larger than a grain of rice that harvest ambient sound waves via piezoelectric membranes, enabling sustained flight without batteries.

Collectively, these developments illustrate how novel approaches are bridging gaps between theoretical physics, sustainable manufacturing, and micro‑robotics. As the technologies move from laboratory prototypes toward practical applications, they may influence future strategies for waste management, autonomous sensing, and the study of exotic astrophysical phenomena.