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
Asteroid-Mining Microbes Extract Metal From Rocks in Space
Scientists demonstrated that bacteria and fungi can leach precious metals from asteroid material in microgravity, marking a breakthrough for in‑situ resource utilization (ISRU). The BioAsteroid project tested the bacterium Sphingomonas desiccabilis and the fungus Penicillium simplicissimum on Earth and aboard the ISS, finding that microbes outperformed abiotic methods for platinum‑group elements. Notably, palladium extraction by the bacterium increased 13.6‑fold in space, while the fungus showed superior overall performance. Metabolomic analysis also revealed pharmaceutical‑grade compounds and bioplastic precursors, hinting at broader industrial uses.
FDA Receives sBLA for Zenocutuzumab Targeting NRG1‑Positive Cholangiocarcinoma
Partner Therapeutics submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application for Zenocutuzumab in advanced NRG1‑fusion cholangiocarcinoma, prompting the FDA to accept the filing and the NCCN to list the drug as a Category 2A/2B option. The move follows a phase 2 trial that showed...
Voyager and IBM Demonstrate Post-Quantum Security on the International Space Station
Voyager Space and IBM have demonstrated a post‑quantum secured link between Earth and the International Space Station using Voyager’s Space Edge™ micro‑datacenter and IBM’s Quantum Safe Remediator. The system upgrades legacy encryption through a software proxy that translates to NIST‑standardized...
Stem Cell Editing Programs the Immune System to Make Own Therapeutic Proteins
Researchers at Rockefeller University used CRISPR to edit hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), programming them to produce therapeutic antibodies or other proteins after vaccination. In mice, as few as 7,000 edited HSPCs generated durable, high‑titer antibody responses that protected...
Northumbria University Wins £4m to Crack the Code on Earth’s Deadliest Space Radiation
Northumbria University has secured a £4 million (≈$5.1 million) grant from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council to study the erratic behavior of Earth’s radiation belts. Led by Professor Clare Watt, the five‑year project will merge spacecraft data from global missions...
Seifertite Elasticity Explains Deep Mantle Seismic Anomalies
Researchers used density‑functional theory to calculate seifertite’s elastic constants at core‑mantle‑boundary pressures, revealing compressional and shear wave speeds that surpass those of bridgmanite and post‑perovskite. The mineral’s strong anisotropy and a CaCl₂‑type to seifertite transition that reduces shear velocity by...
Ancient DNA Study of 15,800 Genomes Shows Accelerated Human Evolution in Last 10,000 Years
Researchers led by David Reich and Ali Akbari analyzed DNA from 15,836 ancient individuals across western Eurasia, identifying 479 gene variants that underwent strong directional selection over the past 10,000 years. The findings suggest that human evolution accelerated dramatically after...
Will Retatrutide Help Me Lose Weight or Look ‘Shredded’?
Retatrutide, an experimental triple‑hormone peptide, has shown more than 20% body‑weight loss in a 48‑week clinical trial, outperforming existing GLP‑1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Researchers say it works by modulating GLP‑1, GIP and glucagon pathways to suppress appetite and...
Nix Biosensors Teams with Baylor Athletics for Campus‑Wide Real‑Time Hydration Monitoring
Nix Biosensors has signed a two‑year agreement with Baylor University to equip all 19 Division‑I programs and roughly 450 student‑athletes with its Nix Pro wearable, delivering individualized, real‑time sweat and electrolyte data. The partnership aims to transform hydration protocols, reduce...
Plant‑Based Diet Cuts Multimorbidity Risk in Seniors, Study Finds
A multinational research team has demonstrated that increasing plant‑based food consumption markedly reduces the likelihood of older adults developing two or more chronic conditions. The findings, published this week, provide empirical backing for dietary biohacking strategies aimed at extending healthspan....
OQ Technology Secures ESA Contract to Bring 5G Beamforming to Satellite‑to‑Phone Services
OQ Technology, the Luxembourg‑based satellite operator, was awarded an ESA ARTES contract to adapt terrestrial 5G beamforming for space‑based direct‑to‑device services. The project, dubbed BEAMSAT‑5G, builds on a recent €25 million (≈$27 million) venture debt round and targets commercial‑scale satellite “cell towers”...
Agrovoltaic Systems Can Save Water, Generating Energy and Making Tomato Cultivation More Sustainable at the Same Time
Researchers from the University of Seville and the Polytechnic University of Madrid demonstrated that tomatoes can be cultivated under photovoltaic panels while generating solar power, creating a dual‑use agrovoltaic system. By pairing regulated deficit irrigation with the shade of solar...
Indian Wastewater Rife with Drug Resistance Genes
Researchers examined 447 wastewater samples from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, uncovering abundant antimicrobial‑resistance (AMR) genes that were strikingly similar across the four metros. The Nature Communications study highlights sewage as a critical hotspot where resistant bacteria proliferate and exchange...
Wellcome Leap Announces $2M Prize in $50M Quantum for Bio Challenge Program
Wellcome Leap announced that Algorithmiq earned the $2 million prize in its $50 million Quantum for Bio (Q4Bio) Challenge, marking the first end‑to‑end quantum‑classical workflow that simulates a photosensitizer drug for photodynamic cancer therapy. The program, launched in 2023, devoted $40 million to...
U.S. Space Force Grants Lockheed Martin $68.6 M Modification for Next‑Gen OPIR
The U.S. Space Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $68.6 million contract modification for its next‑generation Over‑the‑Horizon Infrared (OPIR) system, bringing the program’s cumulative value to about $8.2 billion. The funds, drawn from FY‑2026 RDT&E, will support engineering and integration work at Lockheed’s...
Northwestern Engineers 3D‑Print Artificial Neurons That Communicate With Living Brain Cells
Northwestern University engineers printed flexible artificial neurons that generate realistic electrical spikes and successfully activated living mouse brain cells. The work, published in Nature Nanotechnology, showcases a new class of printable, low‑cost neural interfaces that could reshape neuroprosthetics and brain‑inspired...
IonQ Links Two Commercial Quantum Computers with Photonic Interconnect
IonQ announced that it has successfully created a photonic interconnect between two independent trapped‑ion quantum computers, marking the first time commercial quantum systems have been entangled over distance. The milestone validates distributed quantum computing architectures and underscores IonQ’s ties to...
Cala Secures FDA Clearance for Next‑Gen TAPS Wearable Targeting Tremor in ET and Parkinson's
Cala Health announced FDA clearance of its next‑generation kIQ Plus wearable neurostimulation system for essential tremor and Parkinson's disease. The device introduces new therapy modes and adaptive calibration, and will be showcased with clinical data at the American Academy of...
AI-Driven CRISPR‑GPT Enables Fully Autonomous Lab Experiments
A junior researcher walks up to a CRISPR experiment they've never run before. An AI agent has already decomposed the workflow, selected the guide RNAs, anticipated failure modes, and drafted the protocol. They run it successfully on their first attempt. That's not...
I Built Dragon’s LiDAR, yet People Doubted Me
People oddly assumed that I didn’t understand LiDAR, even though I oversaw the custom LiDAR development that Dragon uses to dock with the Space Station
Double Shifts Disrupt Normal Cortisol Patterns
A recent study in Nursing Open examined how single‑ and double‑shift schedules affect salivary cortisol among 52 female nurses in Turkey. Researchers collected cortisol samples before, after, and at midnight for each shift type and found that double‑shift workers had...
7‑8 Hours Nightly Cuts Type 2 Diabetes Risk
This Is How Much Sleep You Need to Lower Your Type 2 Diabetes Risk https://t.co/UI9VyQiv3a https://t.co/ac9eBXPIBu
Certain Fibers Boost Colonic Sugar Fermentation in Obesity
Ha, it may seem like an esoteric subject, but I'm hot on the trail of something Specific dietary fibers steer toward distal colonic saccharolytic fermentation using the microbiota of individuals with overweight/obesity https://t.co/6b8y6du2On
Ceruloplasmin Deficiency Drives a Fusiform-Centric Lipid–Myelin Pathology Underlying a Visual Subtype in Autism
A multimodal study of 179 children with autism identified a distinct fusiform‑centric lipid‑myelin pathology in those with atypical visual processing (ASD‑AVP). Using Dixon‑based PDFF mapping, synthetic MRI myelin quantification, and serum iron‑ceruloplasmin‑lead profiling, researchers found elevated lipid accumulation and abnormal...
Review Panel Finds Anti‑amyloid Alzheimer Drugs Offer Little Benefit
Medical Review Group Questions Usefulness of Some Alzheimer’s Drugs Group says anti-amyloid treatments don’t offer noticeable benefits https://t.co/Z9tRQquyZX
GLP‑1 Drugs Show Promise for Treating All Addictions
GLP-1 medications get at the heart of addiction: study Diabetes and obesity drugs show promise in treating and preventing all substance use disorders https://t.co/buHywnw9Wk https://t.co/0lunbQbjsb
New Open-Source Python-Based Software Boosts Space-Weather Modeling
University of Birmingham researchers, together with Los Alamos, Exeter and Northumbria, have released PIRAN, a free open‑source Python package that computes relativistic diffusion coefficients for wave‑particle interactions in Earth’s radiation belts. The tool reproduces results from legacy proprietary codes while...
AI Creates Orexin Activator to Boost Focus, Reduce Sleep
Two researchers just used AI to design a selective orexin activator. If you care about focus, steady energy, or needing less sleep, this is worth paying attention to. https://t.co/3qbzB6J7X3
Methane Emerges From Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS as It Exits the Solar System
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, the third‑ever detected object from outside the solar system, is now exiting beyond Jupiter after a close solar pass in October 2025. Using JWST’s mid‑infrared spectrograph, Caltech researchers observed a marked increase in methane outgassing as the...
‘Godzilla El Niño’ Threat Looms as Indonesia’s Fire Season Starts Early
Indonesia’s 2026 fire season is accelerating, with burned area already at 32,637 ha—about 20 times the size recorded at the same time last year. The surge coincides with a 50‑80% probability of a weak to moderate El Niño and a 25% chance...
From Lockdown to the Lab: Researcher Develops 'Decoy Molecule' To Slow Down Coronavirus
During the COVID‑19 lockdown, Ph.D. candidate Koen Rijpkema engineered decoy molecules that bind tightly to the coronavirus Mac1 enzyme, which normally dampens immune signaling. By mimicking the enzyme’s natural substrate, the decoys keep Mac1 occupied, allowing the immune system to detect...
Gut Microbes Reveal a Surprising Tie to Cortisol Spikes During Acute Stress
Researchers at the University of Vienna have shown that greater gut microbial diversity and the capacity to produce specific short‑chain fatty acids are linked to heightened cortisol spikes and perceived stress during acute challenges. The study, published in Neurobiology of...
Boeing and Millennium Space Systems Add Mid-Class Resolute Satellite Bus
Boeing and its subsidiary Millennium Space Systems unveiled Resolute, a new mid‑class satellite bus delivering 2‑4 kW of power. The platform bridges the capability gap between Millennium’s 50 W‑1 kW small sats and Boeing’s 4‑30 kW larger systems, leveraging existing flight computers, avionics, and...
LLNL Combines Machine Learning and 3D Printing for Shockwave Control Experiments
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Imperial College London and collaborators have used a machine‑learning optimization algorithm together with polymer 3D printing to create a void‑filled target that suppresses the Richtmyer‑Meshkov instability during shock‑wave experiments. The AI‑designed void geometry reshapes the incoming...
Quantum Bottleneck Breaks Wide Open as One Light Beam Carries 23 Secure Channels at the Same Time
Bar‑Ilan University researchers have demonstrated a way to transmit, manipulate, and measure quantum information across many frequency channels at once, breaking the long‑standing detector bandwidth bottleneck. Using broadband squeezed light, spectral shaping and parametric homodyne detection, they performed continuous‑variable quantum...
Oldest Reptile Mummy Sheds Light on the Ancient Art of Breathing
Paleontologists from the University of Toronto have described a 289‑million‑year‑old mummified reptile, *Captorhinus*, that possesses the oldest known costal (rib‑assisted) breathing system in a vertebrate. The fossil, recovered from an Oklahoma cave, retained bone, skin, cartilage and even protein fragments,...
Latvia to Sign Artemis Accords
NASA announced that Latvia will sign the Artemis Accords on April 20, 2026, becoming the 62nd nation to join the U.S.-led space partnership. The ceremony at NASA Headquarters will feature Latvia’s minister for education and science alongside senior U.S. officials....
Choose the Right Design, Not One‑Size Truth
n=1 is can work for cancer and infectious disease, but often you need a clinical trial. We need to always be asking what the best tool is to get to truth. Don't assume that one experimental design is always correct. And don't...
Mitochondrial Transplantation Reverses Cell Degeneration
In terms of my top bets for rejuvenation-based therapies, mitochondrial transplanation has entered the chat Cell-type-targeted mitochondrial transplantation rescues cell degeneration https://t.co/izvDaRk7kz
Menstrual Cycle Reshapes Nearly 200 Blood Proteins, Offering a Broader View of Women's Health
A team at Aarhus University mapped the blood proteome across the menstrual cycle, identifying nearly 200 proteins that fluctuate systematically. The study, published in Nature Medicine, reveals that these changes affect immune, hormonal, and metabolic pathways far more than previously...
Cellular Stress Drives Stem Cell Aging, Revealing Therapy Targets
Beyond Cell Death: The Hidden Drivers of Stem Cell Aging “The findings shed light on how cellular stress shapes stem cell aging and highlight potential pathways for developing therapies to counter age-related decline...” https://t.co/hBUchsNtQ4 https://t.co/6HyOSZZ6ZS
Reversing Aging Could Halt Chronic Disease Progression
Aging is the primary driver of most chronic diseases. But what if aspects of aging can be reversed? I join @TomBilyeu on Impact Theory to discuss the latest about what we’re learning in the lab and in human clinical trials Full conversation:...
780,000-Year-Old Charcoal Reveals How Early Humans Mastered Fire
Archaeologists analyzing 780,000‑year‑old charcoal from Israel’s Gesher Benot Ya’aqov site discovered that early hominins relied on driftwood gathered along a lakeshore for fire. Microscopic examination of 266 fragments revealed a diverse mix of species, including ash, willow, olive and the...
Wet Dress Rehearsal Boosts Confidence for Upcoming Flight
Nice full Wet Dress today is making flight in a few weeks look real good. We are close my friends.
Over 3,000 Brain Genes Show Sex‑Specific Expression
Sex-specific gene expression of the human brain, for >3,000 genes (of our ~20,000 total) @ScienceMagazine https://t.co/jQUFgARmuA https://t.co/0qNr9XPnP4
Tetragnatha, the Long-Jawed Orbweaver, or the Stretch Spider
The article spotlights Tetragnatha, the long‑jawed orbweaver often called the stretch spider, featuring a striking photograph of the tiny arachnid hanging from dry grass. These spiders are distinguished by their elongated chelicerae and horizontal, sheet‑like webs that thrive in moist...
Stress‑induced Mitochondrial Condensate Fusion Drives Aging
It works by phase separation, where mitochondrial DNA and proteins cluster into droplet-like biomolecular condensates that organize gene activity, but under stress these droplets fuse and grow abnormally, disrupting function and contributing to aging. https://t.co/dRzhFVzxQQ
Gene Discovery Opens New Path for Disease-Resistant Rice Breeding
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and partner universities have cloned a broad‑spectrum bacterial blight resistance gene, Xa48, in the indica rice variety Shuangkezao. Xa48 encodes an NLR immune receptor that directly detects the XopG effector, triggering degradation of...
High-Precision Human Immune Aging Clock Identifies RUNX1 as Key Target for T Cell Senescence
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences unveiled a high‑precision Human Immune Aging Clock (HIAC) that leverages single‑cell multi‑omics to predict immune age with a 5.66‑year mean absolute error. The clock identifies T cells as the most sensitive cellular indicator...
Sharp HealthCare Taps Apple Vision Pro for Surgical Innovation
Sharp HealthCare in San Diego has launched an IRB‑approved clinical study to evaluate Apple’s Vision Pro headset in cataract surgery. The feasibility and safety study will measure how spatial‑computing tools affect depth perception, workflow efficiency, and surgeon ergonomics. Conducted at Sharp...