Today's Science Pulse
Twisting 2D hBN layers unlocks unprecedented control of quantum light
Researchers demonstrated that rotating ultra‑thin hexagonal boron nitride sheets can reversibly shift the color and wavelength of embedded quantum emitters far beyond what traditional solid‑state hosts allow. By picking up, stacking, and twisting the layers, they achieved spectral tuning orders of magnitude larger, a breakthrough reported in Science Advances.
Visible Light Replaces Metal Catalysts in New Method for Making Porous Semiconducting Polymers
Researchers at Koç University introduced a visible‑light‑driven synthesis that uses bismuthene as a photocatalyst to create porous semiconducting polymers without metal catalysts, operating under ambient conditions. The approach revives century‑old diazonium chemistry, yielding high‑molecular‑weight polymers and allowing direct halogen incorporation. Demonstrations include a light‑driven oxidation of styrene to benzaldehyde with conversion and selectivity exceeding 99 %. This method offers a sustainable, scalable alternative to traditional high‑temperature, metal‑catalyzed routes.
Rowansci for Computational Chemistry of Your Favorite Molecules. Free Credits
Rowan offers a cloud‑based quantum‑chemistry platform with free compute credits, enabling users to run GFN2‑xTB and other methods on complex molecules. In a rapamycin case study, the tool identified electrophilic hotspots concentrated in oxygen‑rich carbonyl/ester regions and mapped electron‑rich sites...
Rowansci for Computational Chemistry of Your Favorite Molecules. Free Credits
RowanSci’s recent run on rapamycin identified a suite of low‑frequency vibrational modes between 3 and 32 cm⁻¹, with a single small imaginary mode treated as a floppy coordinate. The analysis mapped these soft motions to the same atoms that exhibit the...
Brain: Universe's Most Complex System Runs on 20 W
The most complex object in the known universe: brain, only uses 20 watts of power. It would require a nuclear power plant to energize a computer the size of a city block to mimic your brain, and your brain does it...
Scientists Commission Crucial Subsystem in Pioneering Particle Physics Experiment
Argonne National Laboratory has commissioned the Cosmic Ray Veto (CRV) detector, a critical subsystem for Fermilab’s Mu2e experiment. The 83‑module, 60‑ton CRV filters out cosmic‑ray muons, meeting a 99.99% rejection requirement. Its successful testing satisfies a key DOE milestone and...
Germinal Centers in Thymus Act as Prognostic Factor in Thymoma-Associated Myasthenia Gravis
A new study in the Journal of Neuroimmunology finds that ectopic germinal centers (GCs) in the thymus serve as a prognostic marker for poorer outcomes in thymoma‑associated myasthenia gravis (TAMG). Among 111 patients who underwent thymectomy, 62.2% had at least...
Promising Study Links Coffee Consumption To Reduced Dementia Risk
A new JAMA study of more than 100,000 health professionals followed for four decades found that regular consumption of caffeinated coffee is associated with a roughly 50% lower risk of developing dementia. The protective effect peaked at two to three...
NASA’s Artemis II Astronauts Spread ‘Moon Joy’ to the Public
NASA’s Artemis II crew completed a historic lunar flyby, capturing high‑resolution images of the far side while expressing vivid wonder about the Moon’s landscape. Astronauts such as Christina Koch described an "overwhelming sense" of being moved, turning technical briefings into emotionally resonant...
The Road to Producing New Bodies Starts with Multi-Organ Pseudo-Embryos
Biotech researchers are moving from organoid cultures toward multi‑organ pseudo‑embryos that mimic early human development without brains. Companies such as R3 Bio and Kind Biotechnology are pioneering these brain‑less constructs as a bridge between tissue engineering and full‑body regeneration. The...
First Close Pair of Supermassive Black Holes Detected
Astronomers using 23 years of high‑resolution radio data have identified a second supermassive black hole (SMBH) at the core of galaxy Markarian 501, revealed by a previously unseen jet. The two SMBHs orbit each other every 121 days at a separation only a...
A Breath Test Reveals Infections Deep Inside Tissues
UCSF researchers have created a breath test that injects ^13C‑labeled sugars into the bloodstream, allowing bacteria deep in tissues to convert them into detectable ^13CO₂. In mouse models of muscle, bone, lung and bloodstream infections, the test identified infection within...
Moon’s Faint Glow Is Earthshine, Not Extra Sunlight
Can someone help me understand the light in this image? The glow is the sun’s corona, ofc, but there’s also something faintly lighting up the upper left portion of the moon. I assume that the light source is sunlight bouncing...
Scientists Discover How Bacteria Rotate Tiny Pucks and Create Unusual Materials
Scientists at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria have revealed that swimming *E. coli* generate a hydrodynamic torque capable of spinning symmetric micro‑discs without any physical contact. Published in *Nature Physics*, the work overturns the prior belief that only asymmetric...
Giant Exoplanet TOI-5205b Has Carbon-Rich, Oxygen-Poor Atmosphere, Webb Observations Show
Astronomers using JWST's NIRSpec have measured the atmosphere of TOI-5205b, a Jupiter‑sized gas giant orbiting an M4 red dwarf in just 1.63 days. The transmission spectrum reveals an atmosphere unusually poor in heavy elements, even less metallic than its host...
Growth Hormone Supplementation Can Restore the Thymus, but What Is Its Effect on Lifespan?
Recent debates on growth hormone (GH) supplementation highlight its ability to rejuvenate the thymus but raise serious concerns about lifespan effects. Experts from the 2013 Erice workshop and subsequent literature argue that while transient GH can restore immune tissue, chronic...
How a Century-Long Argument over Light’s True Nature Came to an End
The century‑long Einstein‑Bohr dispute over whether light is a wave or a particle has finally been resolved: modern quantum theory treats light as inherently dual, exhibiting both wave‑like and particle‑like behavior. Historical milestones such as the Davisson‑Germer electron diffraction experiment...
Early Life Stress Fundamentally Alters Alcohol Processing in the Brain
A study by Binghamton University and Brigham Young University found that rats raised in social isolation during adolescence develop a heightened preference for alcohol. The isolation altered dopamine signaling in the ventral pallidum, making alcohol less effective at suppressing dopamine...
Magnetic Coil Setup Guides Microrobots without Seeing Them
SMU researchers have built a triaxial Helmholtz coil system that creates a uniform magnetic field gradient, enabling microrobots to be guided without continuous visual tracking. The six‑coil arrangement, calibrated with a triaxial magnetometer and refined by Tikhonov regularization, delivers consistent...
Nikon D5 DSLR Outshines Modern Cameras in NASA Earthset Shot
NASA reveals 'generational' Earthset photo taken on a Nikon D5 — the decade-old DSLR with one secret weapon over modern cameras for space photography https://www.techradar.com/cameras/dslrs/nasa-reveals-generational-earthset-photo-taken-on-a-nikon-d5-the-decade-old-dslr-with-one-secret-weapon-over-modern-cameras-for-space-photography #ArtemisII
NASA Artemis II Photo Captures Moon Eclipse of Sun — 'Absolutely Stunning'
NASA’s Artemis II mission captured a striking image of the Moon eclipsing the Sun during its six‑hour lunar flyby, a moment NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called “absolutely stunning.” The crew also broke Apollo 13’s 56‑year‑old record for the farthest distance traveled by...
The Guardian View on Artemis II: The Light and Dark Sides of the Moon | Editorial
NASA’s Artemis II mission successfully sent astronauts, including Christina Koch, around the Moon’s far side on April 6, 2026, marking the first crewed flight beyond low‑Earth orbit since Apollo. The flight rekindled public awe, echoing the Earthrise image’s cultural impact, while also highlighting...
Geographic Disparities Persist in the Decline of U.S. Cancer Deaths
Researchers from Mississippi State University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory analyzed nearly 3,000 U.S. counties from 1981 to 2019, confirming that the nationwide decline in cancer deaths has been uneven. Urban, affluent counties experienced the steepest mortality reductions, while rural...
Pol Theta Enzyme Identified as Key Driver of Cancer Resilience
Researchers at Scripps Research discovered that the enzyme Pol θ mediates microhomology‑mediated end joining (MMEJ) directly at collapsed replication forks, overturning the previous belief that break‑induced replication (BIR) was the primary responder. Fork‑MMEJ, initiated by RPA, produces distinctive asymmetric deletions that...
Newly Developed Smart Molecules Offer a Safer and More Precise Approach to Cancer Care
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have created manganese‑based smart molecules that act as both MRI contrast agents and cancer therapeutics. The compounds stay inert in healthy tissue and activate in the acidic micro‑environment of tumors, releasing manganese ions that enhance...
Outcomes of Treatment for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
A retrospective study of 125 patients with MRSA‑associated ventilator‑associated pneumonia compared trimethoprim‑sulfamethoxazole (SMX‑TMP) to the standard vancomycin therapy. Mortality was 28% with SMX‑TMP versus 37% with vancomycin, a difference that was not statistically significant. Clinical cure rates at day 5 and...
IQM Lands World-First Private Enterprise Quantum Sale with 54-Qubit System
IQM Quantum Computers announced the sale of its 54‑qubit Radiance system to Poland’s Galaxy Systemy Informatyczne, marking the world’s first quantum computer purchased by a private enterprise. The on‑site installation, scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026, will become Poland’s...
Combination of Ranibizumab, Dexamethasone Superior to Ranibizumab Alone for Macular Edema
A retrospective real‑world study of 139 eyes with non‑ischemic retinal vein occlusion‑related macular edema found that sequential ranibizumab followed by a dexamethasone implant yielded superior visual outcomes compared with three monthly ranibizumab injections alone. At three months, the combination group...
Astronauts Suggest Naming a Moon Crater 'Carroll' After Their Commander's Late Wife
Artemis II astronauts broke the record for the farthest human distance from Earth and became the first crew to see the Moon’s far side. During the historic lunar flyby they identified two unnamed craters and proposed naming them “Integrity” and “Carroll,”...
Carbon Removal Is Coming Home — Science and Justice Must Meet It There.
Carbon removal projects are moving from research labs onto farms, industrial perimeters, and oceans, but technical success alone won’t guarantee long‑term viability. The article argues that community engagement, equity, and justice must be woven into deployment strategies from the outset....
Parkinson's Disease
Recent preclinical and early clinical studies explore a range of nutraceuticals and repurposed drugs that target oxidative stress, metal homeostasis, and gut integrity in Parkinson’s disease. Benfotiamine combined with methylcobalamin showed symptomatic improvement in a case series and activates Nrf2...
Known Unknowns
Harvard Gazette’s "Known unknowns" compiles insights from leading Harvard scholars on the most persistent scientific mysteries, from life’s origins and quantum measurement to AI consciousness and prime number distribution. The piece highlights rising young‑onset colorectal cancer, the potential health impact...
High-Throughput Platform for Fast-Acting Covalent Protein Therapies
Researchers at Westlake University unveiled a high‑throughput yeast‑surface‑display platform to engineer fast‑acting covalent protein therapeutics. The system screens diverse crosslinkers and millions of protein variants, enabling precise spatial positioning of warheads that dramatically speeds covalent bond formation. Using the platform,...
The Timing of Schedule-Induced Behavior
Researchers investigated schedule‑induced drinking (SID) in rats to see if the timing of excessive licking could be shifted away from the immediate post‑pellet interval. In Experiment 1, lick‑contingent delays failed to move SID, while a signaling cue actually amplified licking through...
Frailty-Related and Hepatic Prognostic Markers in Acute Biliary Tract Infections: A Diagnosis-Stratified Retrospective Cohort Study
A retrospective cohort of 94 adults with acute biliary tract infections revealed markedly higher 30‑day mortality in acute cholangitis (30%) versus acute cholecystitis (4.1%). Patients with cholangitis also showed lower prognostic nutritional index, higher FIB‑4 scores, reduced albumin and hemoglobin,...
Peripheral Inflammatory Profiles in Acute Schizophrenia Relapse: Associations with 6- Month Antipsychotic Treatment Coverage
A retrospective analysis of 127 adults hospitalized for acute schizophrenia relapse examined how six‑month antipsychotic coverage—long‑acting injectable (LAI) monotherapy, regular oral monotherapy, or no treatment—relates to peripheral inflammatory markers. The study found that LAI treatment was consistently associated with lower...
DNA Reveals Ancestry of Man Buried in Stone Age Monument in Spain, but His Religion Remains a Mystery
DNA analysis of two medieval men buried in Spain’s Dolmen de Menga reveals a complex ancestry that blends European, North African and Middle Eastern lineages, with a Y‑chromosome traceable to the Iberian Copper Age. The 10th‑11th‑century individual was over 45...
Correlates of Viral Load Suppression Among People Living with HIV on Antiretroviral Treatment in Mbujimayi, Democratic Republic of Congo: A...
A cross‑sectional study of 561 people living with HIV in Mbujimayi, Democratic Republic of Congo identified key behavioral determinants of viral load suppression. Strict antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence increased suppression odds elevenfold, while having no casual sexual partners doubled the...
Association of Cervical Pessary Use with Preterm Birth in Singleton Pregnancies with a Short Cervix and Threatened Preterm Labor: A...
A retrospective cohort of 180 singleton pregnancies with threatened preterm labor and cervical length ≤25 mm compared cervical pessary use (2021‑2024) to historical controls (2017‑2020). Preterm birth before 37 weeks fell from 51.2 % to 20.9 % with pessary. Adjusted odds ratio 4.65...
Pulsed Intra-Arterial Infusion with Synchronously Controlled Blood Flow: A Novel Strategy for Optimizing Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy
Researchers introduced a pulsed intra‑arterial infusion technique with synchronized blood‑flow control (PBC‑IA) to improve chemotherapy delivery. In rabbit models, the method produced more than 20‑fold higher doxorubicin concentrations in the target gastrocnemius muscle compared with standard intravenous injection, while heart...
TIFR Researchers Identify Protein Essential for Survival and Function of Vomeronasal Sensory Neurons
Researchers at TIFR Hyderabad identified the protein Cnpy1 as a critical endoplasmic‑reticulum factor that sustains vomeronasal sensory neurons in mice. The study, published in PNAS, shows that Cnpy1 maintains functional pheromone‑receptor complexes despite the organ’s unusually high ER‑stress‑like environment. Mice...
April Update Shows El Niño May Match 2015‑16 Strength
I've updated my El Niño forecast plume with the latest April data (ECMWF, NMME, CFSv2, Canadian models). Its now looking like it might end up giving 2015/2016 a run for its money in terms of strength, with a peak of...
ISS and Artemis II Ship‑to‑Ship Call at 2:
Ship-to-ship call between ISS and Artemis II coming up soon at 2:40 pm ET. Audio only. Listen on NASA's YouTube channel: https://t.co/3y6Tm3VF4k
More than a Pretty Picture, Star-Shaped Nanomaterial Changes Energy Storage
University at Buffalo scientists synthesized the first star‑shaped vanadyl hydroxide (VOOH) nanomaterial, converting its electrochemical profile from a bulk‑like battery to a surface‑dominant pseudocapacitor. The transformation occurs over 84 hours as flat sheets evolve into rods and finally six‑armed stars, dramatically...
New Visual Backdrops Reveal Unbuilt Soviet Lunar Dreams
This week, I got so many new backgrounds for my visualizations of unrealized Soviet and Russian lunar exploration projects:
Navigated TMS Significantly Boosts Combat PTSD Recovery Rates
A randomized clinical trial led by UT Health San Antonio demonstrated that MRI‑guided, robotic‑controlled navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) added to intensive psychotherapy produced significant symptom relief for combat‑related PTSD. Eighty‑five percent of participants receiving active navigated TMS showed clinically...
Assessing Nuclear Energy’s Scale and Timeline at ARPA‑E
Nuclear energy is a hot topic. But can it scale? If so, how much and by when? Those are the issues I’ll be focusing on today at the ARPA-E conference in San Diego. #nuclear #alternativeenergy https://t.co/e5GokospMI
NASA to Host Media Call with Artemis II Crew on Way Home From Moon
NASA will host a 20‑minute virtual media call on April 8 at 9:45 p.m. EDT with the Artemis II crew as they travel back toward Earth. The conference, streamed on NASA’s YouTube channel, requires on‑site journalists to RSVP by 1 p.m. that day. Artemis II,...
TerraSpark, Dcubed to Test Space Solar on 2027 SpaceX Mission
TerraSpark, Dcubed to test space solar on SpaceX 2027 mission #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/7bJQOviMER
The MAHA Media Hub – The War on Microplastics
MAHA Action is hosting a live Media Hub on April 8 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET to discuss the U.S. government’s “war on microplastics” led by HHS and EPA. The hour‑long program features a diverse lineup, including FDA Deputy Commissioner Kyle Diamantas,...
Judith Rapoport Obituary
Child psychiatrist Judith Rapoport, who died at 92, is celebrated for bringing obsessive‑compulsive disorder into public consciousness through her 1989 book *The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing*. Her research established OCD as a neurological condition affecting roughly 2 % of people...