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
NASA JPL, Ubotica and Open Cosmos Collaboration
Ubotica Technologies and Open Cosmos have partnered with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to launch the Flight Demonstration of Federated Autonomous MEasurement (FAME) under NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office. The program will initially test six satellites in summer 2026, eventually linking more than 50 spacecraft to create an autonomous, AI‑driven Earth observation network. Leveraging Ubotica’s SPACE:AI platform and Open Cosmos’ Hammer and Accenture‑1 satellites, FAME will process data in orbit, generate alerts, and task follow‑on assets without human or ground‑station intervention. The multiyear effort aims to transform passive data collection into a rapid, federated intelligence system.
Artemis 2's Heat Shield Seems to Have Aced Its Trial by Fire
NASA’s Orion capsule “Integrity” completed Artemis 2’s Earth return with its 16.5‑foot heat shield largely intact, despite earlier concerns from Artemis 1’s damage. Engineers mitigated risk by steepening the re‑entry angle, shortening exposure to peak temperatures around 5,000 °F (2,800 °C). Crew members reported...
Industry Panel: Moon Base Essentials Include Transportation, Surface Power
NASA aims to establish a permanent lunar surface base by 2030, launching nearly monthly robotic missions through 2028 to test habitation technologies. An industry panel highlighted three pillars—reliable transportation, continuous communication relays, and robust surface power—as essential for sustained operations....
How Female Anglerfish Evolved to Have It All
Researchers examined over 100 anglerfish species and built a detailed family tree, revealing that female lures evolved not only for hunting but also to attract mates. The study, published in Ichthyology and Herpetology, shows a striking diversification of bioluminescent and...
Obesity, GLP-1s, and Metabolic Care
In an interview, hVIVO’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Thomas Forst explains how GLP‑1 receptor agonists have reshaped obesity treatment by targeting metabolic dysfunction rather than just weight loss. He highlights that these drugs reduce cardiovascular events, improve renal outcomes and...
Metformin Misses Target in Type 1 Diabetes Trial
As a medical school professor, I love when medicine humbles us. Metformin has been around for a century. We thought we understood it. We were wrong. A new clinical trial gave metformin to people with type 1 diabetes -- not type 2....
This Everyday Blood Sugar Pattern Is Linked To 69% Higher Alzheimer's Risk
A genetic analysis of more than 350,000 UK Biobank participants found that individuals genetically predisposed to higher blood‑sugar levels two hours after eating face a 69% greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The same study showed no significant association between...
Childhood Flu Infection Leaves Lasting Immune Imprint
A new study in Science Advances shows that the influenza strain first encountered in childhood creates a lasting immune imprint that shapes mortality risk throughout life. By analyzing U.S. death records from 1860 to 2020, researchers found that cohorts imprinted...
Thomas J. Walker Studied the Songs of Crickets and Katydids
Thomas J. Walker, a University of Florida entomologist who died at 94, spent four decades redefining insect taxonomy through the acoustic behavior of crickets and katydids. He argued that living sound recordings, not just preserved specimens, are essential for species...
NIH Researchers Discover Pain-Relieving Drug with Minimal Addictive Properties
NIH scientists have identified a novel nitazene‑derived opioid, DFNZ, that delivers potent, two‑hour pain relief in rats without causing respiratory depression, tolerance or significant withdrawal. The compound briefly enters the brain yet sustains analgesia, and unlike traditional opioids it fails...
C&EN Weekly Chemistry News Quiz, April 17
C&EN’s weekly quiz highlighted several breakthrough chemistry stories: researchers uncovered a new family of plant‑derived antivirals called dicitriosides, and a simple 1 % water‑etch bath was shown to suppress dendrite growth on lithium‑metal anodes, a key step toward longer‑range electric vehicles....
Rocket Lab Enters the Thruster Market with Gauss
Rocket Lab unveiled Gauss, a Hall‑effect electric thruster designed for in‑orbit maneuvering, marking its entry into the spacecraft propulsion market. The thruster complements the company’s expanding component business and leverages its experience with reaction wheels and star trackers. Simultaneously, Rocket...
The World's Most Neglected Disease
A new meta‑analysis of 6.1 million people across 119 countries shows hypertension prevalence has nearly doubled since 2000, with the surge concentrated in low‑ and middle‑income nations. While high‑income regions saw modest declines and control rates rise to 40%, only one...
Friday Hope: Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA): Inhibits Spike Entry, Reduces Proinflammatory Markers in COVID and Improves Symptomology in Long COVID
Recent peer‑reviewed studies demonstrate that palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), a naturally occurring lipid, can block SARS‑CoV‑2 spike protein entry, cut viral replication by roughly 70%, and lower key inflammatory biomarkers in acute COVID‑19 patients. A separate real‑world cohort shows PEA supplementation markedly...
ALMA and JWST Investigate Giant Disk Galaxy's Formation and Evolution
European astronomers used ALMA and JWST to study ADF22.1, a giant barred spiral galaxy at redshift 3.09 in the SSA22 protocluster. The galaxy boasts a stellar mass of roughly 100 billion M☉, an outer rotation speed of about 530 km s⁻¹, and a dark‑matter...
A Few Weeks Of This Brain Training Could Protect Your Mind For Decades
A 20‑year study of 2,021 adults over 65 compared memory, reasoning and speed‑training exercises. Only the brief speed‑training protocol, which targets rapid visual processing, reduced dementia diagnoses by 25 %. The benefit persisted only when participants added occasional booster sessions. The...
Novo May Have Muscle Advantage over Lilly in Weight-Loss Race: Preprint
A new medRxiv pre‑print analyzing nearly 8,000 GLP‑1 patients finds Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide preserves lean body mass better than Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide, despite the latter delivering greater overall weight loss. In the first year, 6.7% of semaglutide users fell into a...
ProVeg China Taps World No.1 Food Science Institution for NeoProtein Research Hub
ProVeg China and Jiangnan University have signed an MOU to launch a NeoProtein Innovation Center of Excellence in Wuxi. The university, ranked number one worldwide in Food Science and Engineering, will lead research across four pillars: scientific innovation, industry‑academia technology...
Coral Reefs Are Nearing Extinction. 2026 Must Mark a Turning Point | Jason Momoa
Coral reefs face near‑extinction as the planet endures its longest recorded bleaching event, lasting 33 months and ending in 2025. Scientists warn that at 1.5 °C of global warming, up to 90% of reefs could disappear, threatening coastal protection and marine...
Policy Watch: FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Genome-Editing Safety
The FDA released a draft guidance urging sponsors to use next‑generation sequencing to evaluate off‑target effects of CRISPR‑Cas9 and other gene‑editing therapies, recommending short‑read or long‑read approaches based on the type of DNA alteration. The guidance dovetails with a February...
New Bioengineered Patch Makes Its Own Oxygen to Heal Wounds and Grow Tissue
Researchers at UC Riverside and Rowan University unveiled a self‑oxygenating tissue patch, the Smart Self‑Oxygenating Tissue (SSOT) system, that creates oxygen on‑demand via low‑voltage electrolysis in a conductive hydrogel called BioGel. The BioGel incorporates a choline‑based ionic liquid, boosting stiffness...
Physical Intelligence Shows Robot Model with LLM-Like Generalization, Flaws Included
Physical Intelligence unveiled π0.7, a robot foundation model that recombines learned skills much like large language models reassemble text. Built on Google’s 4 billion‑parameter Gemma3 model plus an 860‑million‑parameter action expert, it leverages rich metadata and subgoal images to train on...
This Chain of Atoms Can Detect Electric Fields with Stunning Precision
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University have demonstrated a new quantum‑metrology technique that uses a chain of interacting Rydberg atoms to sense low‑frequency electric fields. By monitoring how the chain’s dipolar interactions shift under an external field, the method extracts both...
Replimune Cries Foul on Regulatory Flexibility. But Many Americans Want a Stricter FDA
The FDA rejected Replimune’s RP1 melanoma combination therapy twice, citing patient‑population heterogeneity that it says undermines efficacy interpretation. The biotech’s CEO decried the agency’s lack of regulatory flexibility, while a Politico poll revealed most Americans prefer a slower, more rigorous...
Human Space Research Gets a Boost From Retired NASA Centrifuge
Texas A&M University has received NASA’s retired human centrifuge and installed it in the Anthony Wood ’87 Artificial Gravity Lab, creating one of the nation’s most advanced facilities for simulating lunar and Martian gravity. The centrifuge, originally built for the...
Revolution Medicines' Daraxonrasib Cuts Pancreatic Cancer Death Risk by 60% – This Week in Biotech #96
Revolution Medicines announced Phase 3 RASolute 302 results for its oral RAS‑ON inhibitor daraxonrasib in second‑line metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The trial reported a median overall survival of 13.2 months versus 6.7 months with standard chemotherapy, a hazard ratio of 0.40 and a 60%...
FDA Commissioner Makary: Miracle Cancer Cures Are in the Pipeline
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has announced that "miracle" cancer cures are on the horizon, promising faster FDA approvals and unprecedented transparency in clinical data. He suggests that trials could be completed within months using thousands of volunteers, dramatically shortening the...
Lilly’s Tirzepatide Sheds Lean Muscle Harder than Novo’s Semaglutide, Study Suggests
A new, pending‑peer‑review study compares Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide with Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, confirming tirzepatide delivers greater overall weight loss but also leads to a larger reduction in lean body mass. Researchers used dual‑energy X‑ray absorptiometry to quantify fat‑free mass loss, finding up...
Ketone Ester Adds No Benefit to 120 G/Hr Carbs
Ketone monoester does not offer metabolic advantage when consuming 120 g/hr carbohydrate 🥤 This new study recruited 8 trained male cyclists to a crossover design where they completed 3hr at 95% lactate threshold (LT) followed by 150% LT to exhaustion tests...
Six States Accelerate Renewable Energy Project Approvals
California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey and Oregon are among the states expediting renewable energy projects. https://t.co/KftgZHgZHv
New Study Sets Six‑Element Standard for Positive Mental Wellbeing
An international consortium of 122 experts published a new definition of positive mental wellbeing in Nature Mental Health, identifying six core elements. The framework aims to replace fragmented metrics and guide governments, schools, and health systems toward more holistic mental‑health...
C12 Unveils Roadmap to Utility-Scale Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing by 2033
French startup C12 released a decade‑long roadmap to build a utility‑scale, fault‑tolerant quantum computer by 2033. The plan hinges on purified carbon‑12 nanotube spin qubits, promising unprecedented noise isolation and low power per qubit. Four generational milestones—Aidōs (2027), Zélos (2030),...
Astronomers Pinpoint Black Hole Jet Power at 10,000 Suns and Speed Half Light
An international team led by Steve Prabu measured the instantaneous power and velocity of jets from Cygnus X‑1, finding a power output equal to 10,000 suns and a speed of about 355 million mph—roughly half the speed of light. The breakthrough reshapes how...
How Can Astronauts Tell How Fast They’re Going?
Spacecraft cannot rely on conventional speedometers, GPS, or visual cues to gauge their motion. Instead, engineers combine Doppler tracking, inertial measurement units, and optical navigation to derive velocity with high precision. Each technique offers a different perspective—radial speed from frequency...
This New Test Could Be a Breakthrough in UTI Treatment
Researchers evaluated an experimental rapid susceptibility test, RMD AST, on 352 urine samples and found it matched standard laboratory cultures 96.95% of the time. The assay delivers results in six hours, a dramatic cut from the typical 48‑72‑hour culture period. Faster,...
Mars Orbiter Watches Mysterious Wave of Darkness Spread Across Red Planet’s Surface
European Space Agency’s Mars Express has released a high‑resolution image showing a fast‑moving dark band across Utopia Planitia. The contrast between bright rusted sand and a newly darkened area points to wind‑blown volcanic ash reshaping the surface within decades. Comparison...
Multiple Myeloma Drug Blenrep Backed for Wider NHS Use
The UK’s health technology regulator NICE has broadened the approved use of GSK’s BCMA‑targeting drug Blenrep, allowing it to be combined with Takeda’s Velcade and dexamethasone for a larger second‑line multiple myeloma population. The new guidance lifts the restriction that...
Seven-Day Meditation Retreat Triggers Measurable Brain Rewiring, Study Finds
Researchers at UC San Diego reported that a seven‑day meditation retreat with 20 participants produced measurable changes in brain activity, metabolism and immune markers, suggesting rapid neural rewiring. The findings, published in Nature, could reshape how meditation is viewed in...
AI and Wearables Achieve 90% Accuracy in Predicting Athlete Injuries
AI-powered wearables are now able to predict injuries in athletes with roughly 90% accuracy, according to recent studies. The technology combines motion analysis, training load, sleep quality and recovery data, offering a proactive alternative to traditional reactive sports medicine.
Afternoon Workouts Cut Blood Sugar More Than Morning Sessions, Study Finds
A new review of circadian‑based exercise research finds that afternoon and evening workouts deliver stronger, longer‑lasting reductions in blood sugar for people with type‑2 diabetes, while also boosting cardiovascular outcomes. The findings challenge the long‑standing belief that morning sessions are...
Japan Drills 6,000‑meter Deep to Tap Rare‑earth‑rich Seabed, Challenging China
Japan’s scientific drilling vessel Chikyu reached 6,000 meters beneath the Pacific to recover rare‑earth‑rich sediments at Minamitorishima, marking the world’s deepest sampling effort. The operation, hailed as a strategic milestone, could unlock over 16 million tons of rare earths and further reduce...
Women Experience Faster Tau Buildup and Cognitive Decline
Women show greater tau buildup and faster cognitive decline than men in Alzheimer's https://t.co/5GKfzXZPSo https://t.co/8L9wxDsFAp
Oxygen Sensing as a Component of Differences in Regenerative Capacity Between Species
Researchers investigated how oxygen sensing influences tissue regeneration by comparing amphibian and mammalian models. They cultured frog tadpole limbs and mouse embryos under varied oxygen levels, focusing on the HIF1A protein that stabilizes under low oxygen. Reduced oxygen accelerated wound...
NASA STTR Award Backs Cold Spray Research for GRX-810
NASA’s Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I award funds a 13‑month collaboration between the University of Utah, Pennsylvania State University and Elementum 3D to study cold‑spray additive manufacturing of GRX‑810, NASA’s award‑winning high‑temperature alloy. The research will map particle‑level bonding dynamics...
Boeing and Millennium Space Systems Expand Production, Shares Slip 3.2%
Boeing and its subsidiary Millennium Space Systems announced a joint effort to expand space production capacity and launch the Resolute mid‑class satellite platform. The move aims to raise annual deliveries from four in 2025 to 26 in 2026, but the...
Pfizer Unveils Nanoparticle Platform to Sharpen Cancer Treatment
Pfizer disclosed a new nanoparticle platform designed to deliver cancer drugs directly to tumors, promising higher precision and fewer side effects. The initiative is led by Puja Sapra, head of the Targeted Therapeutics Unit in Oncology R&D, and is part...
Quantum Stocks Surge Over 50% as Nvidia Unveils Open‑Source AI Models
Nvidia's launch of open‑source AI models built to accelerate quantum workloads sent quantum‑computing stocks soaring. Xanadu Quantum Technologies led the charge, jumping 54% to a $7.9 billion market cap, while D‑Wave, IonQ and others posted double‑digit gains. The rally underscores growing...
Artemis II Crew Returns, Hails Orion Heat Shield and Calls Artemis III Ready for Launch
NASA’s four‑person Artemis II crew landed after a 10‑day, 694,481‑mile mission, praising Orion’s heat‑shield performance and declaring the vehicle fit for the upcoming Artemis III lunar landing. Their reflections underscore both the mission’s historic milestones and the path forward for NASA’s moon‑return...
Viking Therapeutics Gains Strong‑Buy Consensus as Obesity Market Eyes $100B by 2030
Wall Street analysts have given Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) an average brokerage recommendation of 1.33, bordering on a strong buy, as its GLP‑1 obesity candidates move through phase‑3 trials. The stock’s 121% one‑day surge in early 2024 and a $100 billion market...
Radio Blips in the Ice Are Promising Sign for Neutrino Hunt
The Askaryan Radio Array (ARA) at the South Pole has confirmed that radio pulses generated by high‑energy cosmic‑ray showers can be detected deep in Antarctic ice, validating the Askaryan effect as a viable neutrino‑detection technique. During a 208‑day run in...