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
Re: Men Need Fair Information About Screening for Prostate Cancer
A recent letter highlights how the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer’s 23‑year data are being misread. The trial showed one prostate cancer death prevented for every 456 men invited to PSA screening, but the accompanying statistic of one death averted per 12 diagnoses actually reflects the number needed to diagnose (NND), a measure of overdiagnosis. Roughly 62 men are diagnosed for each death prevented, including about 12 excess cancers caused by screening. The author urges clearer communication to avoid overstating benefits and to support informed consent and policy decisions.
Databricks Launches AiChemy Multi-Agent AI for Drug Discovery
Databricks unveiled AiChemy, a reference architecture for a multi‑agent AI system that merges internal enterprise data with external scientific databases via its Model Context Protocol. The platform leverages Delta Lake, Mosaic AI and Agent Bricks to create domain‑specific skills such...
Ketogenic Diet May Counteract Genetic Lp(a) Vascular Damage
Can you fix Lp(a) With Diet? Let's go inside the artery... 1/2) Lp(a) is a genetically determined risk factor for cardiovascular disease. But that doesn't mean you can't change your risk. In today's deep-dive video (21 minutes, just released and linked...
Ginseng Boosts Mitochondria via AMPK/PGC‑1α Pathway
Ginseng for exercise and injury recovery 🍃 Panax ginseng is a well-known traditional medicine which has been gathering data for it’s ergogenic and antioxidative properties 📚 This new review highlighted it’s primary mechanisms and benefits 🔍 Here are the key takeaways...
Stipple Bio Launches with $100M to Find More Precise Targets on Cancer Proteins
Stipple Bio, founded by cancer biologists Aaron Ring and colleagues, announced its launch with a $100 million Series A round. The company’s mission is to pinpoint highly precise binding sites on cancer‑related proteins, steering clear of oversaturated targets like PD‑1×VEGF or HER2....
How Climate Science Is Sneakily Getting Funded Under Trump
A leaked USDA memo instructed staff to avoid more than 100 climate‑related terms, effectively banning words like “climate change” and “global warming” from research contracts. The policy coincided with a sharp drop in climate‑focused NSF grants, which fell 77% from...
Parkinson’s Awareness Month 2026: Alpha Synuclein Emerges as Leading Target in Disease Pipeline
During Parkinson’s Awareness Month 2026, GlobalData reports a clear shift in the drug development landscape toward alpha‑synuclein as the top therapeutic target. While 53% of the 64 approved Parkinson’s drugs still focus on dopamine receptors, the pipeline now includes 62...
‘Artemis II’ Nears Spaceflight Record & NeeDoh Craze Causes Shortage
In this episode, Neil Freiman and Toby Howell discuss NASA's Artemis II mission, highlighting its record‑breaking distance of over 252,000 miles, the historic far‑side lunar view, and quirky onboard issues like a malfunctioning toilet and the first iPhone in space. They...
This Outrageously Pretty Purple Tile Is Actually Made Out of Sea Urchins
A surge of purple sea urchins is decimating kelp forests along Northern California’s coast, threatening marine biodiversity. Berkeley‑based Primitives Biodesign has turned this ecological problem into a design opportunity by harvesting urchins from restoration sites and converting their shells into...
JWST Reveals Thousands of Hidden Massive Stars in W51 Star‑Forming Region
The James Webb Space Telescope has identified thousands of massive stars previously concealed by dust in the W51 star‑forming complex. Infrared imaging combined with ALMA data provides an unprecedented look at the region’s stellar nursery, prompting a reassessment of how...
$31 Million Federal Study Finds Daily Multivitamins Don't Prevent Disease in Healthy Adults
A federally funded COSMOS trial involving 21,442 healthy adults over 3.6 years found daily multivitamins did not lower cardiovascular events or cancer rates. The $31 million study challenges a habit followed by roughly 86 million Americans and could prompt revisions to clinical...
A Review Focused on Exerkines in Extracellular Vesicles Generated by Muscle Tissue
A new review examines how muscle‑derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) act as carriers of exercise‑induced exerkines, linking physical activity to systemic health benefits. It details the molecular cargo—proteins, lipids, and non‑coding RNAs—that modulates muscle stem‑cell activation, combats sarcopenia, and influences distant...
UCSF Researchers Reverse Mouse Brain Aging by Targeting FTL1 Protein
Scientists at UCSF pinpointed the FTL1 protein as a molecular trigger of brain aging and demonstrated that reducing its levels in aged mice restores neuronal connectivity and memory performance. The discovery offers a concrete target for biohackers seeking to reverse...
Pentagon Picks Impulse Space and Anduril for Golden Dome Missile‑Tracking Prototypes
The U.S. Pentagon awarded development contracts to satellite startup Impulse Space and defense‑tech firm Anduril to build prototypes for the Golden Dome space‑based missile tracking and targeting system. The move advances President Trump’s 2025 executive order, even as critics warn...
Physical Activity Correlates With a Sizable Difference to Late Life Mortality
A 15‑year emulated trial of 11,169 Australian women found that consistently meeting WHO guidelines of at least 150 minutes of moderate‑to‑vigorous activity per week cut all‑cause mortality risk by half, equating to a 5.2‑percentage‑point absolute reduction. The study also observed...
Aging Science Reveals How to Extend Dogs' Lifespans
Dr. Daniel Promislow has spent 30+ years studying the biology of aging and has published 180+ papers. Now he’s applying that science to something millions of people care about personally: Why do dogs age the way they do, and can we help...
Higher BMI Predicts Late-Life Mobility and IADL Disability
Late-life disability following the action for health in diabetes (Look AHEAD) trial 😷Regardless of age, those with higher BMI had increased late-life mobility and IADL disability. https://t.co/QeU9TJhf9y https://t.co/zeCNrGcO7x
Honor and OnePlus Unveil High‑Capacity Silicon‑Carbon Batteries, Challenging Apple and Samsung
Honor and OnePlus disclosed details of their silicon‑carbon (Si‑C) battery designs, showing 15‑32% silicon content that enables 5,500‑7,300 mAh capacities in ultra‑thin handsets. The move signals a shift in flagship smartphone power‑train performance, putting pressure on Apple and Samsung to catch...
Swiss-U.K. Team Shows Nanoparticles Reverse Alzheimer’s in Mice
Scientists from the Paul Scherrer Institute and University College London unveiled a bioactive nanoparticle that crossed the blood‑brain barrier, removed up to 60% of toxic amyloid proteins in an hour, and fully restored cognitive function in aged mice. The breakthrough...
Artemis II Set to Shatter Apollo 13’s Distance Record on Moon Flyby
NASA’s Artemis II astronauts will surpass Apollo 13’s 248,655‑mile distance record by roughly 4,000 miles during a six‑hour lunar flyby on Monday. The mission will deliver unprecedented far‑side imagery and a brief total solar eclipse from Orion’s window, underscoring the next steps toward...
FDA Clears AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi‑FLOT Combo, First Immunotherapy for Resectable Gastric Cancer
The FDA has approved AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi (durvalumab) combined with standard FLOT chemotherapy for resectable gastric and gastro‑esophageal junction cancers, citing a 22% overall‑survival improvement in the Phase III MATTERHORN trial. The decision creates the first immunotherapy regimen for early‑stage disease and...
This Nobel Prize–Winning Breakthrough Turns Air Into Drinking Water
Nobel laureate Omar M. Yaghi’s metal‑organic framework (MOF) technology can harvest water from extremely dry air, producing up to 1,000 liters of near‑distilled drinking water per day in a shipping‑container‑sized unit. The system works by absorbing moisture at night and...
Study: Toxic Exposure in Pregnancy May Drive Disease Risk Across Generations
A Washington State University study found that a single exposure to the fungicide vinclozolin during pregnancy can trigger disease patterns that persist for up to 20 generations in rats. The epigenetic alterations in germline cells act like stable mutations, with...
The Antibiotic Trap
India’s antibiotics are cheap, ubiquitous and often sold in half‑doses by street‑side pharmacies to workers who cannot afford missed wages. Weak regulatory oversight, rampant use in livestock and massive pharmaceutical‑plant waste have created a perfect storm for antimicrobial resistance (AMR)....
Novonesis & DTU to Convert Carbon Into Protein As Part of Bill Gates-Backed Project
Novonesis has teamed up with the Technical University of Denmark’s Bright hub to engineer microbes that convert waste carbon dioxide into protein using acetate as feedstock. The collaboration is part of the Gates‑ and Novo Nordisk‑backed Acetate Consortium, which has...
A Church’s Geothermal Experiment Could Pave the Way for Projects Across New York
Christ Church Bronxville installed a $4.4 million geothermal heating and cooling system, using 14 deep boreholes drilled in its parking lot. The project, funded by federal rebates and Con Edison incentives, reduces reliance on natural‑gas boilers and cuts the church’s carbon footprint....
Carbon Accounting Can Help Tackle the Hidden Emissions of War
Researchers estimate the US‑Israeli conflict with Iran has already emitted more than 5 million tonnes of CO₂e in just the first two weeks. Using spend‑based accounting, the $11.3 billion U.S. expenditure in the first six days translates to roughly 3.4 million tonnes of...
10% of the Ocean Is Protected. Now Just 20% More to Go
The United Nations Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre reports that protected marine areas now cover just over 10% of the global ocean, marking the first time the 10% threshold has been crossed. However, the more ambitious 30% by 2030...
Re: Accuracy of Glomerular Filtration Rate Estimation Based on Creatinine and Cystatin C for Monitoring Moderate Chronic Kidney Disease in...
A recent BMJ prospective cohort study examined how well glomerular filtration rate (GFR) equations that use creatinine, cystatin C, or both track kidney function in adults with moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD). All equations showed low sensitivity but high specificity...
Conductive Smart Hydrogels as Battery Electrolytes: Promising for Lithium, Sodium, and Zinc-Ion Chemistries
A new systematic review of 186 studies (2008‑2025) positions conductive hydrogels as viable battery electrolytes, especially for lithium, sodium, and zinc chemistries. Water‑based hydrogels eliminate the fire risk of flammable organic liquids and can self‑repair, offering a safety advantage for...
859: Modeling How Ecological and Evolutionary Processes Drive Adaptation in a Changing World - Dr. Lawrence Uricchio
In this episode, Dr. Lawrence Uricchio, an assistant professor of biology at Tufts, explains how his lab uses mathematical modeling to understand ecological and evolutionary processes that shape species distributions and genetic variation in a changing world. He discusses the...
Avio Delays SMILE Launch After Component Production Issue Identified
Avio has postponed the European Space Agency’s SMILE mission, originally slated for 9 May, after a supplier flagged a technical issue on a subsystem component during production. The launch would have been the first Vega C flight managed directly by Avio...
Shining a Blue Light on an Overlooked Posttranslational Modification
Rice University chemist Zachary Ball unveiled a photochemical technique that selectively tags the often‑overlooked post‑translational modification pyroglutamate. By irradiating a protein mixture with 350‑400 nm blue light, a nickel‑based catalyst binds to the pyroglutamate ring and attaches a reporter tag. The method...
AeroSociety Leader Highlights Artemis' Human vs Robotic Race
Great to see @AeroSociety President-Elect Malcolm Macdonald on BBC Breakfast this morning, talking about robotic vs human spaceflight, the significance of #Artemis and the new space race #ArtemisII #NASA #spaceflight https://t.co/foGQbGreeG
Can Theoretical Neuroimaging Solve Problematic Internet Use?
A Los Angeles jury awarded $6 million in damages after finding Meta and YouTube negligent in platform design that contributed to a young woman's social‑media addiction. The verdict underscores the legal gray area surrounding problematic internet use, which lacks an official...
Quantum Computing Could Fix AI’s Sustainability Problem
Artificial intelligence’s soaring energy demand threatens to raise the tech sector’s carbon footprint beyond 3 % of global emissions. Neutral‑atom quantum processing units, such as Pasqal’s Orion system, consume only a few kilowatts and emit kilograms of CO₂ per hour, dramatically...
The Impact of Annealing on Copper-Plated Heterojunction Solar Cells
A University of New South Wales team examined how different annealing regimes affect copper‑plated contacts on heterojunction (HJT) solar cells. Fast annealing at 205 °C for 45 seconds increased microstrain in both the copper and the underlying indium tin oxide (ITO),...
Processed Foods Impair Aged Brain’s Emotional Memory via Low Fiber
Emotional memory region of aged brain is sensitive to processed foods "Lack of fiber is linked to cognitive problems, animal study suggests..." https://t.co/q6EbUnLkWc
As Rocket Launches Increase, They May Be Polluting the Skies
Rocket launches have surged, nearly tripling in the past five years to about 320 flights in 2025, driven largely by private megaconstellations like SpaceX’s Starlink. Researchers warn that exhaust—especially black carbon from kerosene‑based fuels and chlorine from solid boosters—accumulates in...
Research Bits: Apr. 6
Researchers at Loughborough University unveiled a nanoporous niobium‑oxide memristor that performs reservoir computing directly in hardware, achieving up to 2,000‑times lower energy consumption than conventional software solutions. The same chip accurately forecasted short‑term Lorenz‑63 chaos, recognized pixelated digits and executed...
MBC-Guanidine-Ni: A Stable Magnetic Biochar-Based Nanocatalyst for Optimization and Control of a Coupling in the Propargylamine Synthesis
Researchers at Ilam University have developed a magnetic biochar nanocatalyst (MBC‑Guanidine‑Ni) derived from olive‑kernel waste that combines guanidine functional groups with nickel sites. The catalyst contains 4.14 wt% nickel, exhibits a saturation magnetization of 42 emu/g for rapid magnetic separation, and remains...
Spider Venom Phospholipase D Toxin Structure: Interfacial Binding Site, Mechanism, Activation, and Head Group Preference
Researchers solved crystal structures of a phospholipase D toxin from the Chilean six‑eyed sand spider at 1.85‑2.6 Å resolution, capturing the enzyme bound to a micelle‑like assembly of sphingolipid substrates and products. The structures reveal the active‑site geometry, an interfacial binding site...
Toward the Simultaneous Detection of Multiple Diseases with a Highly Cost-Effective Cell-Free DNA Methylome Test
Researchers introduced MethylScan, a low‑cost cell‑free DNA methylome sequencing assay that profiles the entire cfDNA methylome from a single blood draw. In a cohort of 1,061 individuals, the test achieved an AUROC of 0.938 for multicancer detection (63.3% sensitivity at...
Hydraulic Stress Limits Thermal Acclimation in Trees Under Chronic Drought
A five‑year field experiment on European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and downy oak (Quercus pubescens) shows that trees can acclimate leaf cooling when temperatures rise but water is plentiful. When chronic soil‑moisture deficit is added, hydraulic safety margins shrink, stomata close,...
AI Reveals Aging Cells Lose Identity, Suggests Rejuvenation
New paper @GladstoneInst @UCBerkeley @nvidia reinforces the Information Theory of Aging (ITOA). Looking at 175M single-cell gene expression patterns, AI found cells lose their identity over time. The model then predicted how to restore lost information to rejuvenate cells…🧵 https://t.co/oU3fYiqRzd
Spp1 Key to Bushy Cells in Hearing Loss
Researchers used spatial transcriptomics to compare the cochlear nucleus of normal and hearing‑loss mice, uncovering a pivotal role for the gene Spp1 in bushy cells. The study shows Spp1 is markedly down‑regulated in bushy cells after auditory damage, compromising synaptic...
Artemis II Captures First View of Orientale Basin
The first Artemis II image of the moon includes a portion of the Orientale basin (far left)- @NASA #ArtemisII https://t.co/JUWYGEPBFN
Climate Cracks Are Spreading — and Even the System Knows It Can’t Hold
A wave of suppressed UK reports—from intelligence agencies, the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, and Defra—warn that ecosystems are on a “pathway to collapse,” food security could fail by 2030, and nature loss may cost twice the 2008 financial crash....
Daily Multivitamins May Slow Aging, Especially in Older Bodies
Daily multivitamin may slow biological aging Greatest gains for participants who were biologically older, researchers say https://t.co/GhRJHwgr9B https://t.co/OxfNd0ZmEE
Monday Briefing: Can Human-Based Space Exploration Still Be Meaningful?
Artemis II’s four‑person crew will spend a brief period alone on the lunar far side, out of contact with Earth, marking the deepest human spaceflight since Apollo. During this blackout they will photograph regions of the Moon never seen by astronauts,...