Today's Science Pulse
UK-led study reveals hidden massive star clusters deep within nearby galaxies
Astronomers using the VLA and ALMA uncovered previously unseen giant star clusters embedded deep inside nearby galaxies. The findings show that young stellar activity drives the evolution of these galaxies, reshaping their interstellar environments. Multiple observations confirm the clusters act as hidden “ring factories” of star formation.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Foundation Alloy raises $22M Series A
Study Finds Potential for Double West Coast Earthquake Threat
Researchers at Oregon State University have uncovered evidence that the Cascadia subduction zone and the northern San Andreas fault can trigger earthquakes within minutes or hours of each other. By analyzing 3,100 years of sediment cores, they identified “doublet” layers that record paired seismic events, including three instances in the past 1,500 years such as the 1700 quake. The findings suggest a synchronized fault scenario that could amplify damage across the Pacific Northwest and California. This challenges the traditional view of a single, isolated “Big One.”
South Korean Researchers at KIST Develop an Ultrathin Composite Film
South Korean researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology have created an ultrathin (10‑20 µm), stretchable, 3D‑printable composite film that simultaneously shields electromagnetic interference (EMI) and neutron radiation. The film combines single‑walled carbon nanotubes for EMI absorption with boron...
Analyses of Human Lungs Reveal Seven Subphenotypes of Pneumonia
Researchers at Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine have mapped seven distinct pneumonia subphenotypes by analyzing lung tissue from several hundred autopsies. Using 20 histopathological markers and machine‑learning clustering, each group showed unique patterns of cellular damage, microbial...
This Hand-Held Cancer Probe Feels What Surgeons May Miss and Changes How Tumors Are Found in Real Time
Researchers from Australian universities and a Polish institute have created a wireless, hand‑held probe that uses optical elastography to differentiate cancerous from healthy tissue during breast‑conserving surgery. The device, called stereoscopic optical palpation (SOP), measures tissue stiffness and displays a...
Second Life for Gene Therapy; Takeda Phase 2/3 Win; UK Cancer Biotech's $83M
A Cleveland‑based biotech announced a revamped gene‑therapy platform that could give a previously stalled program a second chance, while Takeda disclosed positive Phase 2/3 results for its oncology candidate. Across the Atlantic, a UK cancer‑focused biotech raised roughly $83 million to accelerate...
ADAPT OCULUS Trial Shows Promising Results in Treatment Efficacy for Ocular MG: Carolina Barnett-Tapia, MD, PhD
The ADAPT OCULUS Phase III trial evaluated efgartigimod alfa (VYVGART) in patients with ocular myasthenia gravis (oMG). In a double‑blind, placebo‑controlled arm, participants receiving the drug showed statistically significant reductions in ptosis and diplopia versus placebo. An open‑label extension confirmed continued...
Malta Signs Artemis Accords
Malta signed the Artemis Accords on May 4, becoming the alliance’s 66th member. The ceremony in Kalkara featured NASA, the U.S. State Department, and Malta’s senior ministers. Malta joins a rapidly expanding roster that includes Ireland, Latvia, Jordan, Morocco and...
Genome Mining Unlocks the Chemistry of Biocontrol Fungi
Researchers at the Technical University of Denmark applied genome‑mining tools to 82 Hypocreales fungi, uncovering dozens of secondary metabolites, many of which are non‑ribosomal peptides. The study revealed both common small peptides and rare large 18‑member structures, and successfully linked...
Prolific Machines Sets Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) Manufacturing Record with Light-Controlled Platform
Prolific Machines, an SOSV portfolio company, announced a record 21 g/L monoclonal antibody titer in a 15‑day intensified fed‑batch CHO run using its light‑controlled optogenetic platform. The photomolecular system lets operators toggle gene expression in real time with light, offering reversible,...
‘You’ in Other Universes May Be Silently Shaping Your Reality, Oxford Physicist Claims
Oxford physicist Vlatko Vedral proposes that alternate quantum branches can subtly influence the reality we experience, reversing the common notion that observers create reality. He illustrates the idea with a photon‑sunglasses experiment, showing how entangled outcomes exist simultaneously and could,...
New Brain Pathway Protects Women From Parkinson’s Progression
A newly identified brain pathway strengthens dopamine-producing neurons and slows Parkinson’s progression, but this protective effect was observed only in females, highlighting the importance of sex-specific approaches in future therapies. neuroscience
Laser‑threshold Triggers Self‑generated Magnetic Fields in Fusion Plasma
Simulations show that when laser intensity crosses a specific threshold, rapidly expanding fusion plasmas can self-generate strong magnetic fields, fundamentally altering heat flow and plasma behavior in direct-drive inertial fusion systems. fusionenergy
A Brain Mechanism May Help Slow Parkinson's Disease—But only in Females
Researchers identified a nicotine‑responsive receptor pathway that preserves dopamine‑producing neurons, potentially slowing Parkinson's disease progression, but the protective effect was observed only in female animal models. Using gene editing, they increased receptor availability without exposing the brain to nicotine. The...
Outer Solar System Object Has an Atmosphere But Shouldn’t
Japanese astronomers using the Subaru Telescope reported a thin nitrogen atmosphere around the distant trans‑Neptunian object 2007 OR10. The detection came from a stellar occultation that showed a refractive signature, indicating a surface pressure of roughly 0.1 Pa. The object resides about...
Multiplex Modular Nanorobots Combine Magnetic Control with Reusable Catalysis
Researchers from Basel, Max Planck, Heidelberg and Seoul have created modular nanorobots that combine a magnetic Janus particle with enzyme‑loaded polymersomes using DNA‑mediated self‑assembly. The magnetic module provides wireless steering and recovery, while the polymer‑encapsulated enzymes retain catalytic activity even after...
Colored Microplastics Absorb Sunlight, Boost Warming Beyond Estimates
Airborne colored microplastics absorb significantly more sunlight than uncolored particles, trapping nearly one-fifth as much heat as soot and intensifying global warming beyond previous estimates. microplastics
Orexin Therapies Unlock New Horizons Beyond Narcolepsy
Orexin drugs for narcolepsy and more. Listen to Richard Pops @popsalks discuss the emerging opportunity, and his 35-year-career, on The Long Run. Sponsored by @AlphaSenseInc & Dash Bio. https://t.co/Qr6oJ8AwzB
Silicon Insertion Methods Join Skeletal-Editing Toolbox
Two research teams have unveiled complementary silicon‑insertion strategies that expand the skeletal‑editing repertoire. Hao Wei’s group uses a nickel catalyst and readily available dialkylsilanes to insert silicon into benzofuran carbon‑oxygen bonds, forming oxasilacycles with only hydrogen as by‑product. Michinori Suginome’s team employs...
To Lead in Global Innovation, Canada Must Prioritize Basic Science
Canada’s research system is increasingly weighted toward mission‑driven projects, leaving basic, investigator‑led science underfunded. Recent reviews, including the 2017 Fundamental Science Review and the 2023 Advisory Panel, warn that without stable operating support, the country risks losing the “scientific capital”...
Single 25 Mg Psilocybin Dose Triggers Month-Long Brain Changes
A single 25 mg dose of psilocybin leads to brain structural changes that were seen at 1 month. From a cross-over study of 28 healthy volunteers, no prior psychedelic, who also were also assessed after 1 mg. Behavioral results in...
SGK1 Bridges Early Life Adversity, Genetic Risk, and Depression
A new study in Molecular Psychiatry links the protein kinase SGK1 to depression risk by showing its elevated expression in the hippocampus of individuals who died by suicide and had early‑life adversity. Genetic analyses reveal that variants driving higher SGK1...
Study Surveys Dysfunctional Gene Splicing in Metastatic Kidney Disease
Researchers at City of Hope and its TGen division found that a tumor’s “splicing burden” – the frequency of aberrant gene‑splicing events – strongly correlates with clinical response in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). By RNA‑sequencing 101 patient samples, they...
Study Links Childhood Adversity, Heart Disease Risk in Adulthood
A new UConn-led study published in *Ethnicity & Health* links adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to a two‑fold increase in heart disease risk among Black Americans. Analyzing CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 2019‑2022, the researchers examined 30,746 respondents...
Japanese Astronomers Identify Trans-Neptune Body With An Atmosphere
Japanese astronomers at the Ishigakijima Observatory announced the detection of a thin atmosphere around the distant trans‑Neptune object (612533) 2002 XV93. The envelope is estimated to be 50‑100 times thinner than Pluto’s and may be composed of methane, nitrogen or carbon monoxide....
NImmune Biopharma Announces Presentations at Digestive Disease Week 2026 Supporting a Differentiated Profile and Superior Efficacy of Oral, Once-Daily NIM-1324...
NImmune Biopharma presented Phase 1 data for its oral LANCL2 drug NIM‑1324 at Digestive Disease Week, showing safety, tolerability, target engagement and superior efficacy versus existing IBD therapies. The study met all primary and secondary endpoints with no dose‑limiting toxicities and...
Hepta Reveals Blood-Based Epigenetic Signatures of GLP-1 Response, Enabling Precision Medicine in Obesity and MASH
Hepta unveiled a blood‑based cfDNA methylation assay at Digestive Disease Week 2026 that can identify patients who will lose at least 10% of body weight on semaglutide before the first dose. The SAMARA trial showed baseline epigenetic signatures distinguished responders...
Conduction System Pacing Defibrillator Lead Successful in Trial
Abbott’s bipolar conduction‑system‑pacing (CSP) implantable cardioverter‑defibrillator lead met its primary safety and effectiveness endpoints in the pivotal ASCEND CSP trial presented at Heart Rhythm 2026. The study enrolled 205 patients needing left‑bundle‑branch‑area pacing, achieving a 98.5% implantation success rate and 97.5%...
Infigratinib
Infigratinib, a pan‑FGFR inhibitor previously approved for cholangiocarcinoma, is being repurposed to treat achondroplasia. After its FDA accelerated approval was rescinded in 2024 due to enrollment challenges, BridgeBio reported that the Phase 3 PROPEL 3 trial met its primary endpoint in February 2026....
We Cleaned Up Childhood… and Something Broke
The article argues that the drive to keep children’s environments ultra‑clean has stripped away essential microbial diversity, a factor linked to rising rates of allergies, asthma and autoimmune disease. A pilot program in Finland rewired 43 daycare playgrounds with soil,...
ESA Awards Thales Alenia Space €26 Million Contract for LISA Telescopes
The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded Thales Alenia Space a €26.1 million (≈$28.7 million) contract to design, build, and test six high‑precision Zerodur® optical telescopes for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. LISA, a €1.05 billion (≈$1.16 billion) flagship project, aims to...
Bio-Based MOF Aerogel Combines Electromagnetic Shielding, Fire Resistance, and Insulation
Researchers at Beijing Institute of Technology and the University of Southern Queensland have created a bio‑based aerogel that merges electromagnetic shielding, fire resistance, thermal insulation, and sound absorption. By embedding nickel‑based metal‑organic frameworks into a cellulose matrix and carbonizing the...
Russia's Ekspress‑AMU4 Launch Pushed to 2028
Ekspress-AMU4, Russia's first civilian geostationary communications satellite to be developed in isolation from the West, completed acoustic tests, but its launch just slipped from 2026 to 2028 due to components' delays... https://t.co/Mz5ys2bFrq
STAT+: Are Analysts Too Quick to Gloss over Lilly’s Liver Case?
Analysts are being criticized for downplaying a recent liver safety issue at Eli Lilly, raising concerns about market oversight. Meanwhile, biotech earnings showed mixed results, with Vertex shelving an mRNA cystic fibrosis candidate and Pfizer and Alkermes delivering near‑consensus Q1 numbers....
The First Male Neanderthal Genome
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute have released the first high‑coverage male Neanderthal genome, extracted from a 110,000‑year‑old bone found in Russia’s Altai Mountains. The genome reveals a small, roughly 50‑person population with signs of inbreeding, and shows that the...
Large AI Models Gain Spatial Intelligence for Complex Robot Manipulation
A new Science #Robotics study endows large AI models with spatial intelligence, enabling them to guide robots through complex manipulation tasks such as orienting objects towards a camera or rearranging spoons to align them perfectly. https://t.co/HtYuOHGgTd https://t.co/5pEPLQOHeM
Research Shows Sulfur Cathodes Show High Theoretical Promise, but Practical Battery Performance Remains a Major Barrier
A new Nature review highlights sulfur cathodes’ extraordinary theoretical energy density—up to 2,600 Wh/kg and 1,675 mAh/g—but shows that performance collapses when cells are built to commercial standards. Under realistic sulfur loadings of 4‑6 mg/cm² and lean electrolyte (<5 µL/mg), capacities fall to 400‑600 mAh/g...
Astronomers Explore the Surface Composition of a Nearby Super-Earth
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope captured infrared spectra of the nearby super‑Earth LHS 3844b, revealing mineral signatures that indicate a silicate‑rich, airless surface. The planet, 48 light‑years from Earth and roughly 1.3 times Earth’s radius, orbits its red‑dwarf host every 11...
Rotated Lithium Niobate Crystals Unlock Conductive Interfaces in Otherwise Insulating Material
Researchers at Paderborn University and international partners have shown that rotating two lithium niobate crystals creates highly conductive interfaces, even though the bulk material is insulating. By thermally compressing and twisting the crystals at precise angles, they observed emergent conductivity...
From Telecom to Longevity: Big Science Aging Talk
TODAY @ 10AM PT: LBF Conversation with Todd White @DToddWhite (Director @ Thalion Initiative). We'll be discussing Big Science for Aging Biology, fundraising, and his founder story pivoting from a career in telecom to longevity biotech. 👉 RSVP: https://t.co/UJP8xs8nrc
28ft Rogue Wave Slams Florida Beach ‘Like a Tsunami’ (Video)
A 28‑foot rogue wave slammed Fort De Soto beach in the Florida Gulf, tossing tents, chairs and beachgoers into the surf. The incident follows a University of South Florida study that recorded 32 rogue waves in Tampa Bay over a four‑year span,...
MRI Body Composition Predicts Diabetes, Heart Events, Mortality
Body composition from MRI of 66,000 people was linked to diabetes, major cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality @radiology_rsna https://t.co/KUkMppvorA https://t.co/FdyHjpWqW1
Impact of Physical Activity Patterns on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Adults with Hypertension
A UK Biobank analysis of 38,960 adults with hypertension followed for an average of 7.9 years found that both short (≤3 min) and long (>5 min) bouts of moderate‑intensity activity reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Short bouts of...
Ruby Bio Reports Fermentation Breakthrough for Clean-Label Emulsifiers as Pressure on Synthetics Mounts
Ruby Bio announced that its fermentation platform achieved titers exceeding 100 g per liter for lipid‑based natural emulsifiers, a level the company says meets cost parity with synthetic alternatives. The breakthrough comes as health researchers, retailers and regulators push synthetic emulsifiers...
Tiny Insect Brain Discovery Offers a Blueprint for Faster and More Efficient AI and Robots
Researchers at the University of Sheffield discovered that house flies and fruit flies employ a "high‑frequency jumping" mechanism that triples the speed of visual data transmission to the brain. This active, movement‑driven process synchronises eye saccades with body motion, eliminating...
A Quiet Alaska Fault Is Missing The Fluids Scientists Expected
A new marine electromagnetic survey of the Shumagin Gap—a 75‑mile creeping segment of the Alaska‑Aleutian subduction zone—found far less high‑pressure fluid than the prevailing “lubricated fault” model predicts. The imaging revealed a rugged fault surface with normal‑pressure fluids and limited...
The Edge of Our Galaxy Eluded Scientists for Years. They Finally Found It.
A team from the University of Malta has pinpointed the Milky Way’s outer edge at roughly 40,000 light‑years from its core, marking the galaxy’s final star‑forming region. By cross‑referencing over 100,000 giant stars from APOGEE‑DR17, Gaia and LAMOST‑DR3, the researchers...
Two‑Week Elemental Diet Cuts IBS Symptoms by 30% in 82% of Patients
Researchers at Cedars‑Sinai presented data showing that a 2‑week exclusive elemental diet lowered abdominal pain, bloating and discomfort by 30% or more in 82% of IBS patients. The improvement persisted after participants returned to their regular diets, offering a concrete,...
White House Reviews SEC Plan to Scrap Climate Disclosures
The White House is reviewing a proposal from the Securities and Exchange Commission to formally end Biden-era climate disclosure rules for publicly-traded companies. https://t.co/Xw3zksqcOJ
Aspen Neuroscience Begins First Personalized Brain‑Repair Trial for Parkinson’s
Aspen Neuroscience announced the start of its ASPIRO Phase 1/2a trial, the first personalized brain‑repair therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Eight patients received autologous dopamine‑producing cells, reporting roughly two extra hours of “Good ON” time per day. The trial marks a...
Twist Bioscience Q2 2026 Loss Widens as Synthetic DNA Demand Slows
Twist Bioscience Corp posted a second‑quarter 2026 net loss of $44.0 million, or $0.71 per share, compared with a $39.3 million loss a year ago. Revenue rose 19.3% to $110.7 million, but the widening loss highlights pressure on the synthetic‑DNA market as demand...