Today's Science Pulse
UK-led study reveals hidden giant star clusters deep inside nearby galaxies
Astronomers using the VLA and ALMA uncovered previously unseen massive star clusters embedded in nearby galaxies, describing them as “ring factories” that produce giant clusters. The findings highlight how young stellar activity drives the evolution of their host galaxies.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Foundation Alloy raises $22M Series A
Scientists Discover How Coffee Impacts Memory, Mood, and Gut Health
Scientists have identified that both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee influence brain function and gut health. Clinical studies show caffeine improves short‑term memory, while decaf enhances mood by modulating the microbiome. Regular consumption of two to three cups daily reshapes gut bacterial diversity and lowers anxiety markers. The findings suggest coffee’s bioactive compounds act beyond stimulation, offering mental‑health benefits.
Do You Take After Your Dad’s RNA?
A 2025 mouse study showed that fathers who exercised before conception produce offspring with superior endurance, driven by elevated microRNAs in their sperm. Injecting these RNAs into unrelated embryos replicated the fitness boost, confirming a causal link at natural sperm...
Swiss Real‑World Study Confirms Psychedelic Therapy Cuts Severe Depression
Researchers at Geneva University Hospitals analyzed compassionate‑use data and found that single‑session psychedelic‑assisted psychotherapy with LSD or psilocybin produced rapid, strong reductions in severe depression and anxiety among treatment‑resistant adults. The findings, published in Psychiatry Research, provide the first real‑world...
Global Sewer Networks Emit Up to 1.95 Million Tons of Methane Annually, Study Finds
An international team led by Professor Yuan Zhiguo of City University of Hong Kong has quantified methane emissions from urban sewer systems at 1.18‑1.95 million tons per year, challenging the zero‑emission assumption in IPCC inventories and prompting a rethink of mitigation...
Brain Scans Reveal a Shocking Difference Between Psychopaths and Other People
Neuroscientists from NTU Singapore, the University of Pennsylvania and California State University reported that the striatum—a brain region tied to reward and motivation—is about 10 percent larger in adults with psychopathic traits than in a control group. The finding comes from...
Masers Are the Future of Clean Energy – According to Quaise
Quaise Energy is pioneering a new geothermal drilling method that uses high‑frequency maser (millimeter‑wave) beams to ablate and melt rock, eliminating the need for conventional drill bits. Demonstrations in Texas have achieved a 387‑foot borehole using a 100‑kW gyrotron, the...
The Mangled Remains of Probes Sent to Venus May Still Be There
A new study challenges the long‑held belief that Venus’s extreme heat and pressure would instantly destroy any hardware that lands there. By recreating Venusian conditions in NASA’s GEER lab, researchers found that at least seven of the twenty probes sent...
How a Pill Approved 25 Years Ago Transformed Cancer Treatment
Gleevec, the brand name for imatinib, emerged from Dr. Brian Druker's vision of a targeted cancer therapy that switches off the BCR‑ABL enzyme driving chronic myeloid leukemia. After early‑stage trials showed 100% response with mild side effects, Novartis accelerated the...
James Webb Telescope Zooms in on a Black Hole that Could Reveal the Truth About 'Little Red Dots'
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope and archival Chandra data have identified an X‑ray‑bright object, 3DHST‑AEGIS‑12014, that closely resembles the mysterious "little red dots" (LRDs) seen in the early universe. The source, dubbed the X‑ray dot (XRD), emits strong...
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The Astronomy Picture of the Day featured a red‑blue stereo view of the Messier and Messier A craters on the Moon’s Sea of Fertility. The craters measure roughly 15 × 8 km and 16 × 11 km, reflecting a shallow‑angle impact that produced elongated shapes and bright...
Low‑Carb Diets: Scientists Agree on Some Benefits, Disagree on Limits
Does a low carb diet impede endurance performance? The debate 🎤 Whether or not low carb impairs endurance performance has been debated in the scientific literate and online for years 📚 Recently, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition invited two heavy...
Scientists Warn: Atlantic Ocean Circulation Instability Rising
Why are scientists more concerned than ever before? DW TV has a clip on the risk of instability of the Atlantic ocean overturning circulation #AMOC. https://t.co/bhQLuQfK6z
Self-Selected Music Boosts Workout Endurance by 20%, Study Shows
Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä discovered that recreational athletes who listened to self‑selected music during a cycling test lasted about six minutes longer—roughly a 20% gain—than when exercising in silence. The effect stemmed from altered perception of effort, not...
Youthful Gut Microbiome Reverses Liver Aging in Mice, Halts Cancer
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch transplanted preserved youthful gut microbes back into aging mice, eliminating liver cancer and restoring youthful liver function. The experiment, unveiled at Digestive Disease Week, demonstrated zero tumors in treated mice versus two...
ACROBiosystems Overhauls HEK293 Licensing to Cut R&D Delays
ACROBiosystems announced a global upgrade to its HEK293 functional cell‑line licensing, moving from a multi‑step approval process to a purchase‑based model. Effective May 9, 2026, the change grants researchers immediate usage rights for internal research, drug discovery and assay development, cutting compliance...
FGF21 Acts in Hindbrain to Modulate Eating During Protein Scarcity
FGF21 signals through hindbrain neurons to alter food intake and energy expenditure during dietary protein restriction https://t.co/U2DzBo2OFj https://t.co/ipZvmcgmDM
Cameco COO Projects Up to 20 New AP1000 Reactors, Highlighting Massive U.S. Nuclear Expansion
Cameco's chief operating officer, Grant Isaac, told investors the company expects as many as 20 AP1000 reactors to be announced for construction, split between a $80 billion Department of Commerce deal and a parallel Department of Energy effort. The announcement signals...
Regrettable Substitution: Structural Gaps in Food Additive Regulation
A recent BMJ cohort study links several common food‑preservative additives to higher cancer incidence, highlighting gaps in how regulators assess safety. The authors argue that focusing on individual compounds ignores two systemic flaws: "regrettable substitution," where banned chemicals are replaced...
Sequential-Release Nanoparticles Eradicate Drug‑Resistant Tumors in Mice
A team led by Prof. Eijiro Miyako at Tohoku University, together with CNRS collaborators, reported on May 6, 2026 that porous amino‑acid nanoparticles delivering a P‑gp inhibitor followed by doxorubicin, plus near‑infrared photothermal heating, eliminated tumors and yielded 100% survival...
The Best Time To Start Hormone Therapy To Lower Disease Risk By 60%
A new analysis of more than 120 million patient records presented at The Menopause Society’s 2025 Annual Meeting found that women who begin estrogen‑based hormone therapy during perimenopause and continue it for at least ten years experience roughly a 60 % lower...
Illinois University and IBM Expand Quantum Computing Facilities Backed by $500M State Investment
The University of Illinois has renewed its partnership with IBM to broaden on‑campus quantum‑computing facilities. The effort taps more than $500 million in Illinois state funding and anticipates $19 million in tax credits, positioning the campus as a new hub for quantum...
NASA Psyche Team Fixes Cold‑Gas Thruster Issue Days Before Launch
NASA engineers resolved a malfunctioning cold‑gas thruster on the Psyche spacecraft just 12 days before launch, averting risk to the $1.2 billion mission. Principal Investigator Lindy Elkins‑Tanton praised the team’s rapid, collaborative response that kept the schedule intact.
Zhejiang Wenda’s NHWD-870 Gains Breakthrough Therapy Designation in China for Rare NUT Carcinoma
Zhejiang Wenda Pharmaceutical’s oral BET inhibitor NHWD-870 has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by China’s NMPA for advanced thoracic NUT carcinoma. The Phase II data showed a 45% objective response rate and median overall survival of 9.33 months, far exceeding the...
Is Novo Nordisk Turning the Page on CagriSema?
Novo Nordisk says its launch timeline for the dual‑agonist CagriSema remains unchanged despite scrapping a single‑chamber delivery device. The Phase 3 trial showed a 23% average weight loss over 84 weeks, impressive but still below Lilly’s tirzepatide at 25.5%. Meanwhile, Novo...
Declassified Apollo 12 Images Show UFOs on the Moon — Space Photo of the Week
Declassified Department of Defense files released May 8 include Apollo 12 photographs that appear to show unexplained lights over the lunar horizon. Astronaut Alan Bean reported seeing flashes while descending to the surface, describing them as particles sailing off into space. NASA...
Intensity Matters: High-Intensity Interval Exercise Enhances Motor Cortex Plasticity More Than Moderate Exercise
A recent Cerebral Cortex study shows a single 20‑minute high‑intensity interval training (HIIT) session markedly enhances motor‑cortex plasticity, outperforming moderate‑intensity continuous exercise and rest. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation, researchers observed increased cortico‑motor excitability and reduced intracortical inhibition after HIIT, while...
Omega-3 Supplements May Increase Risk of Cognitive Decline, Scientists Warn
Recent clinical observations highlight nuanced effects of cardiovascular therapies and diet on atrial fibrillation and neurovascular health. A small randomized trial found that high‑dose telmisartan (80 mg) reduced AF recurrences compared with the standard 40 mg dose, despite similar blood‑pressure control. Real‑world...
This ‘Hidden’ Body Fat May Matter More Than Your Weight
A new MRI study of more than 11,000 adults found that fat stored within muscle tissue, known as intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), is strongly linked to higher blood pressure, poorer blood‑sugar control, and adverse cholesterol levels. The risk escalates dramatically...
The Surprising Brain Upgrade That Happens When You Nap
A controlled study of 20 adults found that a 45‑minute afternoon nap reduces overall synaptic strength while enhancing the brain's ability to forge new connections. Researchers used EEG and transcranial magnetic stimulation to measure changes before and after the nap,...
Researchers Explain What The Redness On Your Face Actually Is
Researchers published a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology comparing sensitive skin and rosacea, revealing distinct biological signatures. Demodex mite levels were identical in both groups, while the antimicrobial peptides cathelicidin and dermcidin were lower in...
Why Neuroscientists Are Suddenly Interested In Strawberries & Walnuts
A recent scientific review highlights urolithins—metabolites produced by gut bacteria from ellagitannin‑rich foods such as pomegranates, berries and walnuts—as potential neuroprotective agents. Laboratory and animal studies show these compounds can cross the blood‑brain barrier, protect neurons from tau toxicity, reduce...
Are We More Closely Related to Cats or Dogs?
Humans, cats, and dogs are all mammals, but humans split from the carnivore lineage about 90–95 million years ago, while cats and dogs diverged from each other roughly 55 million years ago. Genetic analyses reveal that overall DNA similarity is comparable, yet...
Weekly Reads: Lab-Grown Sperm, Stem Cell Pills, Intranasal EVs, EMF Cell Paper Doubts, Makary Toast?
A Wired report says Paterna Biosciences has produced human sperm in the lab using stem‑cell techniques, suggesting in vitro gametogenesis could soon enable fully lab‑derived embryos. At the same time, a South Korean study claiming magnetic control of genes is under...
The Sky Today on Sunday, May 10: Can You Catch Comet Tempel 2?
Comet 10P/Tempel 2 is currently brightening to magnitude 15 and rising in Aquila after sunset, reaching about 20° above the southeastern horizon around 2 A.M. local time. Experienced observers can spot it with a 4‑ to 6‑inch telescope under dark skies, using Lambda Aquilae...
Scientists Discover the Brain’s Hidden “Stop Scratching” Switch
Scientists at the University of Louvain have identified the ion channel TRPV4 as a key component of the brain's "stop scratching" feedback loop. By deleting TRPV4 only in sensory neurons of mice, they showed that the animals scratched less often...
Beware of Wolves, but Straw Houses Could Help With Climate Change
A Princeton University team built a tiny cottage near Hudson, N.Y., using primarily straw—an agricultural byproduct—showcasing a more sustainable alternative to brick and concrete. The structure demonstrates straw’s ability to act as both framing and insulation, sequestering carbon that would...
Award for Scientist Who Brought Space to Millions
British planetary scientist James O'Donoghue of the University of Reading has been awarded the 2026 Carl Sagan Medal by the American Astronomical Society. He has produced more than 100 educational space animations that have amassed over 400 million views worldwide. The...
Study Looks at Reintroduction of Storks in Britain
A study led by Harper Adams University PhD candidate Sophie Rabone examines the feasibility of reintroducing the historically native white stork to Britain. Recent pilot actions include releasing ten birds in North Devon and planning a breeding colony at Eastbrookend Country...
Rainbows And How They Work
The podcast "Rainbows" breaks down how sunlight, water droplets, and optics create the familiar multicolored arc. It explains refraction, dispersion, and internal reflection, noting the primary rainbow’s 42° angle and the secondary rainbow’s 51‑54° angle. The episode also highlights that...
Fat Cells Burn Energy to Make Heat – Making Them the Next Frontier of Weight Loss Therapies
New obesity drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have proven that appetite suppression can drive significant weight loss, but they address only half of the energy balance equation. Researchers are now turning to adipose tissue, especially brown and beige...
Kenya Wildlife Census: Wildebeest and Buffalo Numbers Plunge in New Report
Kenya’s latest wildlife census shows dramatic drops in key rangeland species, with buffalo falling from 40,300 in 2023 to 27,400 in 2025 and wildebeest shrinking from 58,000 to 34,200. The hirola antelope is down to just 245 individuals, and African...
Dumped Goldfish Endangering Native Carp in Lake
Pet goldfish were illegally dumped into Halls Pool at Milton Country Park, endangering the protected crucian carp population. The Environment Agency reported that 20 goldfish were released, prompting a rapid removal effort that has so far captured 15 fish, with...
DRDO Advances Hypersonic Missile Programme With Long-Duration Scramjet Combustor Test
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully completed a long‑duration ground test of a full‑scale, actively cooled scramjet combustor, running for over 1,200 seconds on May 9, 2026. The test, conducted at the Scramjet Connect Pipe Test facility in Hyderabad,...
Sand Self‑Organizes at the Edge of Stability
"Sand organizes itself on the edge between stability and uncertainty." Beautiful essay on the science and poetry of sand by my friend Willow https://t.co/KSqqVZ749c
What Happens When Something Breaks on the International Space Station
When a component fails on the International Space Station, the response begins with alarm detection, sensor verification, and isolation before any repair is attempted. Astronauts work hand‑in‑hand with ground controllers, robots, spare parts stored on‑board, and cargo vehicles to execute...
Unmanned Lab Opens with Robots at Work as Researchers Push AI, Automation
Tokyo’s Institute of Science has inaugurated the Robotics Innovation Center, an unmanned laboratory staffed entirely by ten dual‑arm robots, including the humanoid Maholo LabDroid. The robots perform tasks such as reagent dispensing, equipment handling and cell‑culture operations, eliminating the need...
Partner Therapeutics’ Bizengri Gains FDA Approval and Fast‑Track Voucher for Rare Bile‑Duct Cancer
Partner Therapeutics announced that its antibody Bizengri (zenocutuzumab‑zbco) has been approved by the U.S. FDA for adults with advanced NRG1‑fusion cholangiocarcinoma. The agency also granted a fast‑track voucher, signaling regulatory confidence in the drug’s potential to address an unmet oncology...
China’s CAS Cold Atom Technology Launches Hanyuan‑2, First Dual‑Core Neutral‑Atom Quantum Computer
CAS Cold Atom Technology, a Wuhan‑based subsidiary of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, unveiled Hanyuan‑2 on May 9, 2026. The system is a 200‑qubit dual‑core neutral‑atom processor that operates at room temperature, a departure from the ultra‑cold environments required by...
'Ghost of the Forest' Returns to Kenya as Conservationists Reintroduce Rare Antelope Into the Wild
The mountain bongo, Kenya’s critically endangered forest antelope, is being reintroduced by the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy. With fewer than 100 individuals left in the wild, the program aims to raise the wild population to 750 by 2050. The conservancy...
Berkeley Lab Cuts Quantum Sensor Interference 1,000‑Fold, Eliminating Need for Shielding
Berkeley Lab researchers have demonstrated a self‑referencing quantum sensor that suppresses environmental interference by a factor of 1,000, removing the need for external shielding. The technique, validated at TRL‑4, enables broadband magnetic field detection up to 1.25 kHz and promises applications...