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
Results of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing Compare Well to Those From Invasive Methods, with Better Safety and Cost
A new non‑invasive fetal sequencing (NIFS) technique can analyze roughly 23,000 genes from a maternal blood draw, matching the diagnostic yield of invasive genome sequencing. In a study of 565 pregnancies, NIFS identified 95‑99% of the variants found by amniocentesis or CVS and captured 97.2% of clinically important mutations. The method requires only slightly more sequencing reads than current invasive tests, making it cheaper and eliminating procedural risk. Researchers aim to scale NIFS for universal prenatal screening, potentially reshaping early‑diagnosis and treatment pathways.
Blood Test Can Find Thousands of Genetic Conditions in Pregnancy, Say Scientists
Scientists unveiled non‑invasive fetal sequencing (NIFS), a maternal blood test that can screen for thousands of genetic disorders during pregnancy. In a validation study of 565 pregnancies at around 17 weeks, the test identified 95‑99% of variants detected by amniocentesis...
Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Reduces Parkinson’s Motor Symptoms in New Trial
Researchers demonstrated that transcranial temporal interference stimulation can noninvasively target the subthalamic nucleus and reduce Parkinson’s motor symptoms. In a randomized, double‑blind crossover trial of 30 early‑to‑mid stage patients, a single 20‑minute session lowered motor scores for up to an...
Identifying Retinal Cell Subgroups May Boost Success of Cell Transplants
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have mapped three distinct developmental stages of retinal photoreceptor cells using single‑cell RNA sequencing. The study shows that early‑stage cells possess stem‑like resilience, mid‑stage cells balance maturity and durability, and late‑stage cells are functionally...
University of Oklahoma Secures $11.5 Million NIH Grant to Launch Statewide Immunoengineering Research Center
The University of Oklahoma has been awarded an $11.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to establish a statewide Immunoengineering Research Center. The center will bring together more than a dozen Oklahoma universities, hospitals and biotech firms to accelerate...
Cerebellar Structural Changes Influence Social Behavior in Autism
Researchers at Kanazawa University discovered that loss of perineuronal nets (PNNs) in the deep cerebellar nuclei disrupts neuronal activity across brain circuits, leading to social deficits in autism mouse models. Enzymatic degradation of PNNs reproduced these deficits, while suppressing the...
Making ALS Heterogeneity Tractable — McGill’s Angela Genge
Angela Genge, neurologist at McGill and CMO of AL‑S Pharma, says ALS drug development is finally tackling disease heterogeneity. She highlights progress in three fronts: prioritizing a few actionable pathways such as SOD1, using the TRICALS model to predict progression...
As Tick Threat Grows, Navy Lab Investigates ‘Gummy Bear’ Bug Repellent
The Naval Research Laboratory has created a polymer‑based “gummy bear” material that embeds DEET and can be woven into fabrics or patches to provide at least six months of continuous insect protection. Laboratory tests published in 2024 show the resin...
New Vascularized Grafts May Improve Bladder Surgery for Children
UC Davis pediatric urologist Eric Kurzrock secured a $4 million NIH grant to test a bioengineered, vascularized bladder graft for children with neurogenic bladders caused by spina bifida or spinal cord injury. The graft uses an acellular pig‑derived scaffold modified with...
Scientists Race to Test Treatments as Ebola Outbreak Widens
Scientists in the Democratic Republic of Congo are treating a widening Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which has infected 695 people and killed 138. The makeshift Rwampara treatment center provides intensive supportive care, improving survival compared with past...
Japan's H3 Rocket Bounces Back From Failure with Successful Return to Flight Launch Carrying 6 Satellites
Japan's aerospace agency JAXA successfully launched the H3 rocket on June 11, marking its first flight since a December mishap that destroyed the Michibiki 5 satellite. The launch, from Tanegashima Space Center, employed a three‑engine configuration and delivered six payloads—including PETREL,...
Swallowable Smart Pills Detect, Communicate, Deliver Drugs
Justin Stine, Reza Ghodssi, and Luke Beardslee share their work on smart pills that can sense, transmit information, and target drugs to specific areas inside your body. "We’re building swallowable devices that integrate sensors, actuators, and wireless links in packages...
IBM Quantum Releases Open-Source “Ffsim” Library for Specialized Fermionic Circuit Simulation
IBM Quantum unveiled ffsim, an open‑source Python library that dramatically speeds classical simulation of fermionic quantum circuits by exploiting particle‑number and spin‑z symmetries. The tool compresses the state‑vector space, enabling a 64‑qubit Hubbard lattice simulation to run on a desktop...
Glycolysis Orchestrates CD8+ T Cell Antitumor Immunity Through SREBP-Dependent Lipid Metabolic Reprogramming
The study identifies phosphoglycerate mutase 1 (Pgam1) as a linchpin linking glycolysis to CD8⁺ T‑cell antitumor activity. In a mouse MC38‑OVA model, Pgam1‑deficient T cells showed markedly lower tumor infiltration, proliferation, and effector differentiation. Transcriptomics revealed that loss of Pgam1 suppresses the...
Framework Enables Real-Time Control of Distributed Quantum Experiments
Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, UC Berkeley, Caltech and the University of Innsbruck have unveiled a new framework that automates real‑time control of distributed quantum experiments. The system features a two‑level scheduler that distinguishes network‑wide non‑time‑critical tasks from node‑wide...
The Ancient Roots of Modern Winemaking
Archaeologists from the University of York extracted DNA from 2,000‑year‑old grape seeds recovered in a Tuscan well, revealing that ancient Chianti produced white wine rather than the modern red. The seeds belong to a single cultivar that persisted from Etruscan...
Co-Design Approach Optimizes Multinode Quantum Computer Performance
Researchers introduced the ARQUIN model to quantify performance tradeoffs in multinode superconducting quantum computers that rely on optical links between dilution‑refrigerated nodes. The study shows that even noisy quantum links can surpass classical interconnects by preserving entanglement, offering a clear...
Microsoft and Quantinuum Publish Peer-Reviewed Quantum Error Correction Data in Nature
Microsoft and Quantinuum published a peer‑reviewed Nature paper detailing quantum error correction experiments on Quantinuum’s trapped‑ion QCCD hardware using Microsoft’s QDK virtualization platform. The study reports logical error‑rate reductions of 11× to 800×, with a 12‑qubit Knill code and a...
Transcriptomics-Guided Multi-Cohort Machine Learning for Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis
Researchers developed a transcriptomics‑driven machine‑learning pipeline that classifies Alzheimer’s disease using brain‑tissue RNA profiles. Six classifiers were trained on 30 differentially expressed genes from 231 samples, achieving cross‑validation AUCs of 0.84‑0.88. A Gradient Boosting Machine reached an internal‑test AUC of...
Integrated Transcriptomic and Mendelian Randomization Analyses Identify Novel Biomarkers of Depression and Diabetes Comorbidity
Researchers integrated transcriptomic data with Mendelian randomization to uncover immune‑related genes driving the comorbidity of type 2 diabetes and depression. The analysis highlighted 21 causal genes, prioritizing ARPC2 and ATG7 as key pathogenic factors. Functional enrichment linked these genes to...
Optimizing EUV Source Efficiency With Radiation-Hydrodynamic Simulations (U. Of Osaka Et Al.)
Researchers from Osaka University and partner institutes used the STAR-1D radiation‑hydrodynamics code to simulate over 140,000 laser‑parameter combinations for tin‑plasma extreme ultraviolet (EUV) sources. The study identified a global conversion‑efficiency maximum of 5.63 % at a 5.5 µm driver wavelength, and a...
Scientists Rush Trials Amid Growing Bundibugyo Outbreak
As the Bundibugyo outbreak continues to grow, researchers are scrambling to start clinical trials of antivirals and monoclonal antibodies to see if any work against the virus. Here's my story on this race, with Stephanie Nolen. Gift link: https://nyti.ms/4eEZHqR
Hantavirus One-Shot mRNA Vaccine Fully Protects in Syrian Hamster Model
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch have demonstrated that a single-dose mRNA vaccine targeting the Andes hantavirus provides complete protection in a Syrian hamster model. The vaccine encodes the virus’s envelope glycoproteins Gn and Gc and achieved 100%...
Earth’s Permafrost Could Soon Release Hidden ‘Deep Carbon,’ Supercharging Warming
A new analysis reveals that deep permafrost—soil layers beyond three meters—contains a hidden carbon reservoir that could be released much sooner than earlier models predicted. The study estimates a tipping point by 2100, when melting northern permafrost may emit more...
Raccoons Might Be Spreading Diarrhea-Causing Bacteria in Japan
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have identified raccoons as a major reservoir for the diarrheal bacterium Escherichia albertii in Japan. Sampling of six rivers showed the pathogen in 77% of water samples during warm months, while 56% of 122 wild...
#3: Home Worlds Encode Intelligences
A multidisciplinary team led by Tufts biologist Michael Levin and artist Agnieszka Kurant explored how arbitrary physical patterns can function as distributed memory that guides synthetic organisms. Using xenobots and an agent‑based simulation, they showed that fractals, noise, and even paintings...
Molecular Anchors on Gut Phages Could Open New Therapeutic Avenues
Researchers at Hungary's HUN‑REN Biological Research Centre discovered that certain gut bacteriophages display surface proteins acting as molecular anchors, enabling them to attach to human intestinal cells, enter them, and linger longer in the gastrointestinal tract. By genetically adding these...
Metabolic Characteristics and Factors Associated with Prediabetes in Chinese Adults Based on Real-World Health Examination Data: A Cross-Sectional Study
A cross‑sectional study of 20,271 Chinese adults undergoing routine health exams identified distinct metabolic patterns in prediabetes. Compared with normoglycemic peers, prediabetic participants were older, had higher BMI, more hypertension and fatty liver, and displayed adverse lipid and bilirubin profiles....
MASLD and Sarcopenia Research (2012–2025): A Multi-Database Bibliometric Analysis
A new bibliometric study covering 701 English‑language papers from 2012 to 2025 maps the rapidly expanding research field at the intersection of metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and sarcopenia. The analysis shows a 36.6 % compound annual growth rate, with...
Secretor Status-Dependent Modulation of in Vitro Immune Responses by Human Milk Oligosaccharides
The study demonstrates that an individual’s Secretor (FUT2) genotype, rather than the specific composition of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), primarily dictates peripheral blood mononuclear cell cytokine responses. Secretor‑positive (Se+) donors produced significantly more anti‑inflammatory IL‑10, and only genotype‑matched HMOs suppressed...
Transparent OLED Advance Could Improve AR Displays and Smart Windows
Seoul National University researchers have created a high‑performance transparent OLED using a metal‑mesh top electrode fabricated via a selective metal‑vapor‑desorption layer. The electrodes deliver 93‑99% optical transparency while maintaining a low sheet resistance of 1.1‑4 Ω/sq, yielding a figure‑of‑merit above 10,000....
Aging Linked to Loss of Cellular Information, Not Damage
NEW PREPRINT: Scientists may have found direct evidence that aging is driven by the loss of cellular information, not just the accumulation of damage For decades we've focused on what aging cells accumulate. This paper focuses on what they lose:...
Boosting SIRT6 Reverses Liver Aging and Restores Youthful Genes
This study suggests that increasing SIRT6 can reverse age-related changes in liver cells, restoring a more youthful gene expression pattern by reducing inflammation, improving metabolism, and rejuvenating chromatin structure. https://t.co/eEUz3KACvO
Treating Pancreatic Tumours May Have Revealed Cancer’s Master Switch
Scientists at a Chicago oncology conference celebrated the trial results of daraxonrasib, a novel drug for pancreatic cancer. In the phase II study, median overall survival increased from 6.7 months to 13.2 months, effectively doubling patient outcomes. The compound targets...
IL‑17/IL7R Identified as Central Immune Disease Drivers
Interleukin-17 (IL-17 and its receptor, IL7R) is emerging as a key mediator in many immune-related diseases. Today @SciImmunology a superb review https://t.co/QjRc9cr9Wl https://t.co/86y5bM46p5
Genomic Characterization of a Type IV Hepanhamaparvovirus Decapod1 (DHPV) Isolated From Cultured Penaeus Vannamei in Thailand
Researchers have sequenced a Hepanhamaparvovirus decapod1 (DHPV) strain from farmed Penaeus vannamei in Thailand. Phylogenetic analysis shows the isolate groups with newly identified Type IV variants, distinct from the historic Types I‑III. The study fills a gap in genomic data for emerging...
A Galaxy as Seen by Hubble and Webb
On March 20, 2026 NASA’s Hubble and James Webb space telescopes coordinated a joint observation of Messier 64, the Black Eye Galaxy. The resulting composite image blends Hubble’s ultraviolet, visible and near‑infrared data with Webb’s near‑ and mid‑infrared view, rendering dust lanes in vivid false‑color...
Engineered Bacterium Turns Potato Starch Into Biodegradable Plastic in 24 Hours
A University of Barcelona team engineered Bacillus subtilis with CRISPR‑Cas9 to convert raw potato starch directly into the biodegradable polymer polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) in a single 24‑hour step. The modified bacterium achieved 5.8 g L⁻¹ PHB, representing 51.8 % of dry cell weight, comparable...
Ofirnoflast NEK7 Inhibitor Shows Promise in Lower‑risk MDS
MDS Oral - Clinical - OFIRNOFLAST NEK7i in LR MDS - Bafna #EHA2026 #MDSsm #leusm https://t.co/6b7pX0rR8g
The Surprising Things You Find Digging Through Frozen Prehistoric Squirrel Poop
Paleontologists in Yukon have examined frozen ground‑squirrel droppings that are 30,000 to 700,000 years old. The coprolites yielded DNA from more than 200 plant species and large mammals such as mammoths, horses, bison, caribou and wolves. Genetic analysis shows the...
Rare Dinosaur Fossils Finally Returned to Mongolia 20 Years After Theft
Mongolia’s National Museum of Natural History has received 29 dinosaur fossil sets, including a rare half‑complete Tarbosaurus bataar, repatriated after being stolen in 2006. French customs seized the specimens between 2013 and 2015 and returned them following a hand‑over ceremony...
Approximately 10,000 Years Ago, Teenagers in What Is Now Western Sweden Chewed Wads of Birch Bark Pitch and Spat Them...
Archaeologists at the Huseby Klev site in western Sweden uncovered about ninety chewed pieces of birch bark pitch dating to roughly 9,700 years ago. Modern DNA techniques extracted complete human genomes from three of the wads, linking the individuals to Western...
Astronomers May Have Found Supernova Remnant Near Milky Way’s Central Black Hole
Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X‑ray Observatory, ESA's XMM‑Newton and South Africa's MeerKAT radio telescope have identified a candidate supernova remnant just 26,000 light‑years from Earth, near the Milky Way’s central black hole Sagittarius A*. The X‑ray "blob" appears to be expanding...
SOLiTHOR’s Solid-State Electrolyte Hits 465 Wh/Kg at Stack Level, Passes Nail Penetration Test
Belgian startup SOLiTHOR announced that its sol‑gel solid‑composite electrolyte reached 465 Wh/kg (1,400 Wh/L) at stack level in a multilayer pouch cell, delivering 5C continuous discharge and over 500 cycles with >80% capacity retention. The technology operates without liquid electrolyte, passing overcharge...
Top Medtech Stories From ADA’s Scientific Sessions
The American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions spotlighted fully closed‑loop insulin‑delivery technologies, aiming to eliminate manual bolusing for diabetes patients. Insulet revealed pivotal data on its upcoming Omnipod 6 patch pump and a Type 2‑focused closed‑loop system that requires no user input. MiniMed...
Single-Ion Traps and Cubic Cavities for Field-Deployable Laser-Cooled Optical Atomic Clocks
Researchers have unveiled a compact, transportable strontium‑ion optical clock that outperforms existing microwave atomic clocks in accuracy while dramatically reducing size, weight, and power (SWaP). The design integrates a redesigned single‑ion trap and a dual‑axis cubic optical cavity that stabilizes...
A Cornerstone of Milky Way History May Need Rewriting with Evidence of Multiple Ancient Mergers
Astronomers using Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) data and a new clustering tool, GS³ Hunter, have identified 17 stellar streams, including four substructures within the Gaia‑Sausage/Enceladus (GSE) region. Chemical signatures, orbital dynamics, and a 5‑billion‑year age spread among these groups indicate...
Hubble Captures Galaxy Swarm with Lensed Arcs From Early Universe
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured a striking image of the galaxy cluster MACS0329‑0211, showcasing a swarm of elliptical, spiral and lenticular galaxies along with dramatic gravitational‑lensed arcs. The observations employed Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide Field Camera 3, collecting...
Testosterone and Aging: What the Research Shows
Testosterone levels begin a gradual decline in men’s mid‑30s to 40s, with total testosterone falling about 0.4 % per year and free testosterone dropping roughly three times faster. The drop is driven by age‑related changes in the hypothalamic‑pituitary‑gonadal axis, Leydig cell...
Two‐Step Electrophoretic Fabricated Sandwich‐Structured CNT Cold Cathode With Defect‐Coupled Multilevel NiOx for Superior Field Emission
Researchers have developed a post‑annealed carbon nanotube (CNT) cold cathode using a two‑step electrophoretic deposition that incorporates a multilevel NiOx structure and a Ni‑C‑Cu sandwich distribution. The architecture reduces the tunneling barrier to 4.74 eV and yields a field‑enhancement factor of...