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
CDC Acting Director Delays Release of Study Showing Covid Vaccines Cut Severe Illness by 50%
Acting CDC director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya postponed the March 19 release of a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report showing that the 2025‑26 Covid‑19 vaccine reduced severe disease risk by roughly 50% among adults. The delay, justified by methodological concerns, has drawn sharp rebuke from former CDC staff and public‑health experts who warn it could erode confidence in vaccine data.
New Project Aims to Improve Aggressive Breast Cancer Diagnosis
The BRIDGE project, a two‑year collaboration between ITQB NOVA and the Portuguese Institute of Oncology, aims to discover glyco‑immune biomarkers that signal aggressive breast cancer progression. By analyzing small molecules on tumor‑cell surfaces, researchers hope to map how cancers silence the...
India's CEA Targets 1,121 GW Power Capacity by 2035‑36, 70% From Renewables
India's Central Electricity Authority released a National Generation Adequacy Plan that seeks to lift installed power capacity to 1,121 GW by 2035‑36, with 70% (786 GW) coming from non‑fossil sources. The plan highlights a 500 GW solar target, a modest rise in coal...
Boston University Test Uses 48‑Gene Panel to Predict Lung Cancer Spread Pre‑Surgery
Researchers at Boston University have validated a 48‑gene signature that predicts vascular invasion in early‑stage lung adenocarcinoma from pre‑operative biopsy samples. The test could give surgeons real‑time risk data, steering patients toward more or less aggressive resections and improving long‑term...
We Can Still Do This
Artemis II returned to Earth after a 695,000‑mile lunar flyby, marking the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 13 in 1972. The four‑person crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—reentered the atmosphere at roughly 25,000 mph, showcasing NASA’s...
Nanomedicine Advances Offer Targeted Breast Cancer Therapy and Early Detection
Researchers have shown that nanocarrier formulations can increase oral bioavailability by more than 3.5‑fold and double tumor‑inhibition rates in pre‑clinical breast‑cancer models. The advances promise more precise drug delivery, reduced toxicity, and earlier detection, potentially changing standard care for the...
Georgia Tech Research Institute Joins DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative
The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) has deployed a 40‑person interdisciplinary team to support DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI). The effort brings together 13 research organizations and more than 400 external experts to evaluate the road‑maps of over a dozen...
Iovance Biotherapeutics Seen as Small‑Cap Play for Healthcare Gains
Iovance Biotherapeutics reported $263.5 million in sales for its melanoma therapy Amtagvi, a 61% year‑over‑year increase, and analysts see the small‑cap biotech as a possible route to outsized returns despite steep manufacturing costs and regulatory uncertainty. The stock’s underperformance versus broader...
April 11, 1970: Apollo 13 Blasts Off for the Moon
On April 11, 1970 Apollo 13 launched as NASA’s third attempted lunar landing, crewed by Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and last‑minute replacement Jack Swigert. Ten minutes after a live TV broadcast, an oxygen tank in the Service Module exploded, crippling the spacecraft’s power and...
Want Better Sleep? Scientists Say This Matters More Than Reducing Blue Light
Recent research overturns the long‑standing view that blue‑light emissions from screens are the chief culprit behind sleeplessness. The 2014 study linking iPad use to delayed sleep onset and lower melatonin sparked a wave of blue‑filter apps and hardware tweaks. However,...
A 67-Year-Old “Crazy” Theory About Vitamin B1 Has Finally Been Proven
Researchers at UC Riverside have stabilized a highly reactive carbene in water, confirming Ronald Breslow's 1958 hypothesis that vitamin B1 can form a carbene intermediate in cells. By encasing the carbene in a protective molecular cage, the team observed it remaining...
The Climate Issue: The Blue Marble, Then and Now
Artemis II astronauts captured new “blue marble” images this week, adding to a half‑century legacy of Earth‑from‑space photos that have shaped public consciousness. The article recalls Stewart Brand’s 1966 vision that a full‑Earth view would alter perception and spark environmental action....
Your Nose Could Detect Alzheimer’s Years Before Symptoms Begin
Researchers at Germany's DZNE and LMU discovered that a declining sense of smell can signal Alzheimer’s disease years before memory loss appears. The study, published in Nature Communications, shows that microglia mistakenly attack nerve fibers linking the olfactory bulb to...
Carbs For Brain Health? What 13 Years Of Research Just Uncovered
A 13‑year UK Biobank study of more than 200,000 adults found that diets low in glycemic index and glycemic load are associated with a reduced risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Participants who consumed slower‑digesting, fiber‑rich carbohydrates experienced fewer cognitive...
New Study Shows How the Brain Weighs Evidence to Make Decisions
A new study published in Imaging Neuroscience shows that the brain uses the same evidence‑accumulation process for both free and forced decisions. Using EEG recordings while participants chose between coloured balloons, researchers observed a gradual “loading‑bar” neural signal that rose...
Artemis II's Parachutes Deploy Flawlessly, Awe-Inspiring Safe Return
Literally holding my breath watching Artemis II deploy those parachutes and return safely. How amazing?!
Before the Space Age: Congreve and the Pioneers of Early British Rocketry
William Congreve transformed early 19th‑century rockets from experimental curiosities into standardized weapons by introducing iron‑cased designs, launch racks, and systematic testing. His rockets saw combat in Copenhagen, the War of 1812 and elsewhere, demonstrating both destructive power and psychological impact....
What NASA’s Artemis II Tells Us About the ‘Overview Effect,’ Moon Joy and Awe
NASA’s Artemis II crew completed the first crewed lunar flyby in over five decades, splashing down in the Pacific on April 4, 2026. The mission delivered unprecedented live video of the Moon’s far side, a total solar eclipse from orbit, and the...
Artemis II Proves Engineering Consistency Fuels Lunar Future
53 years after Apollo 17, humans circled the Moon again with Artemis II and returned safely. The Orion capsule's re-entry was a high-stakes test: faster than ISS returns, intense heat, but the adjusted trajectory and robust design delivered. Crew healthy,...
Original Apollo 11 Code Open-Sourced by NASA — Original Command Module and Lunar Module Code Repos Are Now Public Domain...
NASA has released the original Apollo 11 Guidance Computer software for the Command Module (Comanche 055) and Lunar Module (Luminary 099) as public‑domain code on GitHub. The repositories were digitized by Virtual AGC and the MIT Museum, providing full machine‑code listings and build tools....
Artemis II Splashes Down
NASA’s Orion spacecraft safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026, concluding the ten‑day Artemis II mission. The crew set a new distance record for human spaceflight, surpassing Apollo 13, and returned with unprecedented images of the Moon’s far...
Beetroot Juice Impairs Bench Press Power in Women
Does beetroot juice work for female athletes? This new study recruited 18 resistance-trained women to a crossover design where they supplemented with… 1️⃣ Beetroot juice (~400mg nitrate) 2️⃣ Nitrate-depleted beetroot juice …2.5 hrs prior to resistance-exercise ⏰ Results 📊 There were no differences...
Choosing Cutoffs for P‑values, Log2
🧵“What cutoff should I use for p-value, log2FC, or mito content?” This is the most common question I get. Here's why it’s not simple: https://t.co/A4P37eEwdc
Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope Begins Operations on Chile's Cerro Chajnantor
The Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope (FYST) officially opened on Chile's Cerro Chajnantor, marking the culmination of a 34‑year effort by Cornell and international partners. The new submillimeter observatory will map the sky with unprecedented speed, tackling dark energy, dark matter...
Canada’s Key Contributions to Artemis II Revealed
When the Moon Met Canada Have you been watching Artemis II with awe? The Canada Letter today, by @LaVjosa, illuminates the Canadian elements in the mission. Sign up to get the New York Times Canada newsletter in your inbox every...
AI Accelerates All Science; Open‑Source Models Will Prevail
EVERY field of Science is currently being accelerated transformed by AI and in the long run, open source models will win over closed.
New Metal with Triple Copper’s Heat Conduction Challenges Fundamental Physics
Researchers at UCLA have identified a new metallic phase, θ‑phase tantalum nitride, that conducts heat at roughly 1,110 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹—about three times the thermal conductivity of copper. The breakthrough stems from a highly ordered crystal lattice that lets both electrons and phonons...
SpaceX Launches NG-24, Falcon 9 Lands Booster Successfully
🚀SpaceX launched Northrop Grumman NG-24 (CRS-24) this morning at 7:41 a.m. ET from SLC-40. The Falcon 9 carried the Cygnus spacecraft (S.S. Steven R. Nagel) with ~11,000 lbs of supplies and science to the ISS. Booster B1094 (7th flight) nailed...
New Model Could Revolutionize Anti-Doping and Athlete Longevity
Great podcast: Dr. Kristen Holmes in convo with my @enhanced_games co-founder & CEO, Maximilian Martin. From anti-doping rules to athlete longevity, they dive into the science of human performance & explore whether our new model could change sport forever https://t.co/rNp7EXcFIQ
Research Worth Sharing, April 2026 Edition
The April 2026 edition of “Research Worth Sharing” spotlights four breakthrough studies: paternal endurance exercise boosts offspring VO₂ max via sperm‑borne microRNAs; SARS‑CoV‑2 mRNA vaccination within 100 days of immune‑checkpoint inhibitor therapy cuts mortality in NSCLC and melanoma, especially in immunologically cold tumors;...
Falcon 9 Lifts ISS Cargo as China Readies Jielong‑3 Launch
LAUNCH at 1141 UTC Apr 11 of a Falcon 9 from Canaveral with the ISS Cygnus NG-24 cargo ship SS Steven R. Nagel. Also waiting to confirm LAUNCH at 1133 UTC of a Jielong-3 from the Yanjiang area in the South...
Decelerators: Slowing Mach 33 to 20 Mph for Planetary Landings
Inspired by the #ArtemisII moon mission and/or working in the space industry? June sees @aiaa and @Aerosociety conference on aerodynamic decelerators - how do you slow down an object from Mach 33 to 20mph to land on Earth or other...
Mouse Study Links Sucralose and Stevia to Metabolic Changes Across Generations
Researchers at Universidad de Chile found that mice given sucralose or stevia exhibited gut‑microbiome shifts and gene‑expression changes that persisted into two subsequent generations, leading to impaired glucose tolerance. The findings raise fresh questions about the long‑term safety of popular...
Weather Prediction Markets Could Sharpen Forecast Accuracy
From global temperatures to snowfall in New York, people are betting on the weather. But can markets like Kalshi and Polymarket actually improve forecasts? Read how traders are predicting the weather while climate experts are debating the results here: https://t.co/hAZF79PENx 📷: Charly...
IL6R Protects, IL6 Harms: Genetic Proof of Survival Impact
Causal effects of inflammation on long-term mortality: A mendelian randomization study 🔑"The IL6/IL6R axis has a causal impact on human survival through cardiovascular mechanisms: IL6R exerts a protective effect, whereas IL6 is detrimental." https://t.co/0TwQldDrQe
Meta‑analysis Shows Creatine Lifts Performance but Needs Resistance Training for Muscle Gains
A systematic review and meta‑analysis of 18 randomized trials in men aged 18‑30 confirms creatine consistently enhances high‑intensity performance. However, gains in lean body mass appear only when supplementation is combined with structured resistance training, reshaping guidance for strength athletes.
2015 Study Shows Unprecedented Atlantic Circulation Slowdown
The journal Nature Climate Change is celebrating its 15th birthday by looking back at highlights from this time. I'm honored that our 2015 paper "Exceptional twentieth-century slowdown in Atlantic Ocean overturning circulation" is first in the series 🌊: https://t.co/HJ4kAOjyVt
Intense Light Therapy Cuts Hypoxia‑Induced Heart Damage in Mice
Researchers at Army Medical University demonstrated that targeted intense light exposure dramatically lessens right‑ventricular hypertrophy, fibrosis, and inflammation in mice subjected to chronic hypoxia. The findings suggest a non‑drug biohack that could protect the heart in high‑altitude or lung‑disease settings.
Knee Pain? New Study Shows This Supplement Helps (Not Turmeric)
A double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial found that adding creatine to a four‑week physical‑therapy program significantly reduced knee pain and improved functional scores in adults with mild to moderate osteoarthritis. Participants took a 20 g loading dose for one week followed by 5 g...
Apple, GoPro, Microsoft Gadgets Ride Orion on Artemis II Mission
NASA’s Artemis II crew flew Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max, GoPro HERO11 and MAX 1 360° cameras, Nikon D5 DSLRs and Microsoft Surface Pro tablets aboard Orion, turning the lunar test flight into a showcase for consumer gadgets. The mission’s 248,655‑mile journey highlighted how everyday...
Wormholes Might Be More Real than We Thought
Physicists Leonel Bixano and Tonatiuh Matos have published an exact rotating wormhole solution to Einstein’s field equations that does not require exotic matter. By adding an electromagnetic field and a dilaton scalar field—features that appear in string theory, Kaluza‑Klein and...
University of Arkansas‑Little Rock Secures $12.75 M Federal Grant to Accelerate Nanotech Research
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock was awarded $12.75 million in federal funding, earmarked for nanotechnology equipment, cybersecurity initiatives and a veterans legal clinic. The grant, championed by Sen. John Boozman, positions the R2 university to scale high‑impact materials research...
IQM Opens First U.S. Quantum Technology Center in Maryland’s Discovery District
IQM Quantum Computers inaugurated its first U.S. Quantum Technology Center in Maryland’s Discovery District, partnering with the Capital of Quantum public‑private initiative. The hub places the European hardware leader alongside NIST, NASA Goddard and Army Research Lab, aiming to accelerate...
Fusion Startups Secure Over $100 Million Each, Highlighting Surge in Nuclear Tech Funding
Venture investors have poured more than $100 million into each of several fusion power startups, with Commonwealth Fusion Systems alone raising $863 million in its latest round, pushing its total capital to nearly $3 billion. The funding surge signals a shift from speculative...
Type 2 Diabetes in Youth Has Risen 70% Since 2013
New research in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that type 2 diabetes among U.S. youth surged 70% between 2013 and 2024, climbing from 0.73 to 1.24 cases per 1,000. The rise is most pronounced in older adolescents, females, and...
Flight Path Data Shows How Mosquitoes Target Humans
Scientists from Georgia Tech and MIT applied Bayesian inference to more than 53 million data points, creating a dynamic model of Aedes aegypti flight with fewer than 30 parameters. The research uncovered two flight modes—active and idle—and demonstrated that mosquitoes are...
Artemis 3 and Beyond: What's Next for NASA After Artemis 2 Moon Success
NASA’s Artemis 2 crew safely returned on April 10, 2026, marking the first U.S. crewed lunar mission since 1972. The agency has now redirected Artemis 3 from a lunar landing to an Earth‑orbit test of Orion’s docking with SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s...
How to Breathe in Fewer Microplastics in Your Home
Microplastics are now recognized as a pervasive indoor pollutant, with studies showing indoor air can contain over 500 particles per cubic metre and U.S. adults may inhale up to 22 million fibers annually. Synthetic textiles, laundry, and household dust are the...
HIIT Vs. Strength: Just One Session Could Activate Anti-Cancer Proteins
Researchers found that a single session of either resistance training or high‑intensity interval training (HIIT) can trigger a surge in muscle‑derived myokines that suppress breast‑cancer cell growth. Blood samples taken immediately and 30 minutes after exercise reduced the proliferation of...
NASA’s Skyfall Mission Aims to Deploy Helicopters on Mars
NASA’s “Skyfall” Mission Could Drop Helicopters Across Mars by @spaceandtech_ #SpaceTech #Robots #Engineering #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/tNkCvNHm2x