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’s Artemis II Moon Mission Reaches Greatest Distance From Earth
NASA’s Artemis II crew reached a record‑breaking 252,756 miles (406,771 km) from Earth on April 6, marking the farthest distance humans have traveled since Apollo 13. The astronauts also passed the Moon at a closest approach of 4,067 miles (6,545 km), during a 40‑minute communications blackout caused by lunar obstruction. The 10‑day mission will total nearly 700,000 miles, providing a critical test of Orion’s deep‑space systems ahead of future lunar landings.
The Dark Side of the Moon Is Really the Far Side
The New York Times clarifies that the so‑called "dark side" of the Moon is a misnomer; the far side receives as much sunlight as the near side but remains hidden from Earth‑based observers. The article notes NASA’s current focus on...
Moon's Far Side Gets as Much Sunlight as Near Side
Ok wait it's important to me that we clarify: it is the FAR side of the moon, NOT the dark side of the moon. It's the far side because it never faces Earth, but it is not permanently dark, it...
Orion, Moon, Earth: Humanity Captured in One Frame
This is wild: Orion in the foreground, the Moon, and a crescent Earth in the distance. All of who we are, all of what we know in one photo. #ArtemisII
A Nanoparticle Therapy to Treat Lung Cancer and Associated Muscle Wasting at the Same Time
Researchers at Oregon State University have engineered lipid nanoparticles that carry follistatin messenger RNA to lung tumors, simultaneously attacking the cancer and the muscle‑wasting cachexia that often accompanies it. In mouse models the nanocarriers bind circulating vitronectin, home to integrin‑rich...
Creating Autonomous Health via Real-Time Multi‑Omic Monitoring
I've measured my body a lot. I'm about to dwarf what we've done by building real-time continuous multi-omic monitoring and intervention. Cars drive themselves. Software writes itself. I'm building Autonomous Health. First for me, then for you. > Peptides...
Artemis 2 Loses Contact for 40 Minutes at Closest Moon Pass
NASA is providing live coverage of Artemis 2 sharing obs of the Moon, but at 6:44pmET they'll be behind the Moon and comms will be lost for ~40 min. During that time, they'll make their closest approach to the surface...
Genetic Study Unravels the Link Between Caffeine Intake and Sleep Timing
Researchers at the University of Bristol applied Mendelian randomisation to UK Biobank data to test whether caffeine consumption directly influences sleep. Genetic variants linked to higher coffee and tea intake were associated with reduced daytime napping and less morning grogginess,...
WHO Labels Night Shift Work a Probable Carcinogen
“The link between lack of sleep and cancer is now so strong that the World Health Organization has classified any form of nighttime shift work as a probable carcinogen." https://t.co/179qEbvyZe
Artemis Crew Faces 40‑minute Lunar Blackout, Relies on Camaraderie
Artemis astronauts about to lose contact with the Earth for about 40 minutes as they pass behind the Moon. At least they have each other. https://t.co/jAC1YLps9f
Stitching Precise Patterns – With Lasers
University of Pittsburgh engineers have devised a laser‑induced graphene (LIG) manufacturing method that uses an iron‑oxide ink layer to precisely control graphene formation on polymer films. The technique enables tunable electrode thickness and conductivity, and can create graphene on either...
Artemis Reaches 6,544 Km Perilune, 413,146 Km
At 2302 TDB (2300 UTC) Artemis will reach a perilune of about 6544 km altitude. Four minutes later it will reach a maximum distance to the geocenter of 413146 km. [Blue: geodistance; Red: height above moon; Magenta: geocent radial...
Food Ingredients Combine to Supercharge Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Powerful Synergies Between Plant Compounds Can Dramatically Reduce Inflammation Researchers discover that familiar food ingredients can work together inside immune cells to drastically boost each other's anti-inflammatory effects. https://t.co/CfZ8b8fjw1 https://t.co/S3ZJeOWy7z
Artemis Moon Mission Sets Record; Trump Sets Tuesday 8PM Deadline For Iran
NASA’s Artemis II crew set a new distance record, reaching roughly 252,760 miles from Earth during a lunar flyby and confirming Orion’s performance ahead of a planned 2028 Moon landing. The astronauts will splash down near San Diego on April 10 after...
One Psychedelic Dose Quickly Eases Depression, Trial Shows
Single dose of a psychedelic drug can rapidly reduce depressive symptoms, clinical trial suggests https://t.co/c72qpfwQPm https://t.co/xR7hbj4v8e
Artemis II Hits Moon at 4,067 Miles, Reaches 252,756 Miles
Astronaut Jenni Gibbons, in Houston, transmits the latest information on Artemis II's trajectory to astronaut Victor Glover, a quarter-million miles away. Closest approach to the Moon: 7:00:46 pm EDT at a distance of 4,067 miles Farthest distance from Earth: 7:02:51 pm...
Camera Traps Take First Photos of Rare Island Antelope on Zanzibar
Conservationists using 20 motion‑activated camera traps have captured the first photographs of the elusive Pemba blue duiker in Zanzibar’s Ngezi Nature Forest Reserve. The images show the tiny antelope across roughly half of the 2,030‑hectare reserve, providing the first visual...
Repurposing Approved Drugs: Small Trials Explore New Uses
Great reporting from @Philanthropy on our grantee @CuresWReach, which runs small trials testing whether existing, approved drugs might work for entirely different diseases.
AI Self‑Improvement Likely Outpaces Biological Evolution
when do we see self-improvement in AI research vs. biology? @LiamFedus, Cofounder @periodiclabs and former lead of post-training OpenAI, on @NoPriorsPod https://t.co/NdyTDy1ynR
STOMP
The term “microplastic” entered mainstream science after a 2004 *Science* paper, but plastic production has surged to over 9 billion tons since 1950, half of it after 2004. New studies show 43 trillion particles deposited annually on Swiss snow and a 50 %...
Asteroid Bennu’s Minerals and Organic Matter Occur in Distinct Chemical Domains: Study
Scientists at Stony Brook University used nanoscale infrared and Raman spectroscopy on NASA’s OSIRIS‑REx sample OREX‑800066‑3 from asteroid Bennu. The analysis revealed that organic compounds and minerals occupy distinct chemical domains at 20‑500 nm resolution, indicating water‑driven alteration was spatially heterogeneous....
Space Records Remain Rare After 55 Years
MyPOV - Always good to see new records, but once in space are rare - 55 years - and special. https://t.co/Gdi5NOqah1
BluGlass Signs $1.3M Agreement to Advance Photonics Manufacturing Collaboration
BluGlass Limited announced a strategic collaboration worth approximately $860,000 (AUD 1.3 million) with an unnamed Fortune 500 data‑storage leader to accelerate photonics manufacturing research. The partnership will tap BluGlass' laser diode and GaN expertise to develop more efficient, lower‑power, and compact photonic...
Cell 'Snowball' May Be Answer to Large-Scale Tissue Engineering
Researchers at Penn State have created bio‑hybrid cell spheroids that self‑assemble like a snowball, rapidly increasing in size while preserving oxygen and nutrient flow. By embedding living cells in microgel particles, the new spheroids overcome diffusion barriers that traditionally limit...
Treating Previously Untreatable Cancers: How CAR-T Cell Therapy Could Be Made Accessible to More Patients
CAR‑T cell therapy, a personalized immunotherapy that re‑programs a patient’s T cells, has transformed treatment for certain leukemias and lymphomas but remains prohibitively expensive in Canada, with commercial products costing roughly $325‑$466 k USD per patient and requiring 4‑6 weeks for manufacturing....
Stitching Precise Patterns—With Lasers
University of Pittsburgh researchers have introduced a laser‑induced graphene (LIG) technique that uses an iron‑oxide ink layer to precisely control graphene thickness and side‑selective formation on polymer films. The method enables the fabrication of flexible microelectrodes that can detect neurotransmitters...
Egg Bioreactors Replace CHO Cells in Biologics Production
We’ve optimized drug design with AI. Why are we still manufacturing with CHO like it’s the 1980s? Neion Bio is rethinking biologics production using chicken eggs as bioreactors. Excited to hear Sam Levin at #SynBioBeta2026. Visit the SynBioBeta website to read the full...
Artemis II Commander Shares iPhone Moon Snapshot
iPhone pic of the Moon from Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman, a sneak peek of what's to come. https://t.co/FnkGVlOeay
Race-Day Nerves Are Costing You More Than You Think (Science Says So)
A 2021 study in the Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences found that both cognitive and somatic pre‑race anxiety directly impair endurance performance. Athletes with heightened anxiety show elevated heart rates, premature pacing, and poorer decision‑making during critical race...
Cracked Bedrock on Mars?
A high‑resolution image from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, taken on Dec 3 2025, shows an unusual flat‑rimmed crater in Mawrth Vallis surrounded by two 50‑70‑foot mesas and a network of cracks. The cracked terrain resembles dried mud, indicating a long‑standing dry environment...
UK Develops Robotic Lab to Study Moon and Mars Rocks
The University of Leicester’s Space Park has unveiled a Double‑Walled Isolator (DWI), an ultra‑clean robotic laboratory designed to store, handle and analyse lunar and Martian samples without contamination. NASA and ESA officials toured the facility and observed the system unpack,...
AI Models Can Retain Prohibited Data—Can We Make Them Forget?
AIs can ‘memorize’ data they shouldn’t. Can they be forced to forget? | Science | AAAS https://t.co/UMBQMMOxB2
Cygnus Heads to the ISS as SpaceX Keeps up the Pace
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus NG‑24 is slated for an April 8 launch from Cape Canaveral, carrying over 11,000 lb of supplies, experiments, and hardware to the International Space Station’s Expedition 73 crew. The spacecraft will be captured by the station’s Canadarm2 and later docked...
A ‘Molecular Fence’ Helps Turn Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel
Researchers in China have introduced a “molecular fence” that confines reaction intermediates on an electrocatalytic surface, dramatically improving the conversion of carbon dioxide to ethylene. The fence, built from benzo‑2,1,3‑thiadiazole molecules, achieves 64% selectivity toward ethylene while suppressing hydrogen side‑reactions....
How the Crew of Artemis II Reacted to Seeing the Moon up Close
Artemis II’s crew performed a seven‑hour flyby of the Moon, becoming the farthest humans from Earth since the Apollo era. The spacecraft lost contact for about 45 minutes as it passed behind the lunar far side, giving the astronauts a rare...
Mechanical Inputs Boost Diamond Quantum Sensor States as Q Factor Tops One Million
UC Santa Barbara researchers have demonstrated a diamond optomechanical resonator with a mechanical quality (Q) factor exceeding one million at a 10‑gigahertz frequency, a record for diamond‑based devices. The resonator integrates a telecom‑frequency optical cavity and hosts nitrogen‑vacancy (NV) centers that serve...
Rubin Observatory Unveils 11,000 New Asteroids, Boosting Solar‑System Census
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory announced the discovery of more than 11,000 new asteroids and measurements of tens of thousands additional objects, underscoring the telescope’s unprecedented survey speed and its potential to transform planetary defense and solar‑system research.
Scientists Urge a Shift to Micro‑joys After Massive Study Shows Habit Resets Fail
Researchers from UC Berkeley’s Big Joy project and psychologists like Richard Wiseman say the pursuit of big‑picture happiness reforms is faltering. A study of 17,598 volunteers found that integrating brief, science‑backed micro‑joys daily improves wellbeing, challenging corporate wellness programs that rely on...
UNSW Introduces Novel Ageing Test for TOPCon Degradation
UNSW unveils new ageing method to assess TOPCon solar module degradation #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/JYxEBd5ZVf
Listen: What the Iran War Is Costing Our Climate
The Marketplace piece examines how the ongoing Iran war is amplifying climate change, highlighting the surge in carbon emissions from intensified military activity and disrupted energy markets. It details how the conflict’s use of fossil‑fuel‑intensive weaponry, increased oil production, and...
Immunotherapy Enhanced by Restoring Mitochondrial Function in Dendritic Cells
A new study in Science by St. Jude researchers reveals that tumors suppress dendritic cell function by crippling mitochondrial fitness, undermining the body’s antitumor immunity. Restoring mitochondrial activity in dendritic cells reactivates their ability to prime immune responses and dramatically...
DIG-RHD: Digoxin Effective in Rheumatic Heart Disease
The DIG‑RHD trial, presented at ACC 2026, randomized 1,759 patients with symptomatic rheumatic heart disease in India to digoxin or placebo. Over a median 2.1‑year follow‑up, digoxin achieved a 4.1‑percentage‑point absolute reduction in the composite of all‑cause death or new‑onset/worsening...
Abu Dhabi AI Platform Targets Early Detection of Alzheimer’s, Boosts Big‑Data Medicine
Researchers at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) launched MAGNET-AD, an AI platform that predicts Alzheimer’s disease up to two decades before clinical onset. The system leverages massive multimodal health datasets and a spatiotemporal graph neural network, delivering...
Mayo Clinic's Dual-Drug Nanotherapy Doubles Survival in Glioblastoma Models
Mayo Clinic scientists have created a lipid‑based nanocarrier that transports everolimus and vinorelbine across the blood‑brain barrier, extending survival more than twofold in patient‑derived glioblastoma models. The preclinical breakthrough could reshape treatment strategies for the deadliest brain cancer.
Ep. 789: What Happens When a Planet's Star Dies
In this episode of Astronomy Cast, host Frizzo Kane and planetary scientist Dr. Pamela Gay explore the fate of planetary systems when their host stars die, focusing on our Sun’s evolution into a red giant and then a white dwarf....
Antares Receives DOE Approval of Mark-0 Demonstration Reactor
Antares, a California‑based advanced nuclear firm, received U.S. Department of Energy approval for the Documented Safety Analysis of its Mark‑0 micro‑reactor, confirming the final design and safety case. The approval follows a preliminary safety review earlier this year and triggers...
Screening and Treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease in Heart Disease Patients Needs to Be Expanded
A new multinational INTERASPIRE study of 4,548 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients found chronic kidney disease (CKD) is under‑detected and undertreated. Relying solely on eGFR missed about half of CKD cases, while adding urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) captured the majority....
Artemis II Completes Historic Lunar Flyby—Watch Livestream
Congratulations to @NASA’s Artemis II on making history with their lunar flyby 🌕 You can continue watching the rest of their journey back to 🌎 by tuning into the official and creator-led livestreams on @youtube. https://t.co/topBlVXt4c
High‑fat Diets Linked to Rapid Decline in Protective Gut Immune Cells
A preclinical study from Mass General Brigham shows that short‑term consumption of a high‑fat diet rapidly depletes intestinal group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s). The loss, driven by microbiota‑induced inflammation and mitochondrial stress, reduces IL‑22 production, increases gut permeability, and sparks...
Low-Cost, Single Sample Blood Test Detects Different Cancers, Liver Disorders, and Other Diseases
UCLA researchers unveiled MethylScan, a low‑cost blood test that analyzes cell‑free DNA methylation to detect multiple cancers and liver disorders in a single sample. By using methylation‑sensitive enzymes to strip away background DNA, the assay reduces sequencing needs to about...