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
The Scientific Domains of Space Exploration
The article outlines how space exploration is a sprawling scientific ecosystem rather than a single discipline, linking physics, geology, biology, engineering, law, economics, and more. It traces the evolution from Apollo’s multidisciplinary sample analysis to modern missions like Artemis and Mars Sample Return that blend planetary science, human physiology, autonomous robotics, and international regulations. By mapping historical milestones, the piece shows how each new frontier expands the domain roster, incorporating fields such as radiation science, climate modeling, and space‑law. Ultimately, it argues that viewing exploration through a narrow lens misrepresents the complex, interdependent nature of contemporary space endeavors.
I Missed the Savor Gene, Got Devour Mode
Whatever the gene is that makes people savor their food and take pictures of it, I missed that one. The one I got makes people devour their food without chewing or utensils.
NASA Won't Give up Hope on Silent MAVEN Mars Probe: 'We're Still Looking for It'
NASA announced on March 16 that it still has not re‑established contact with the MAVEN orbiter, which went silent after emerging from Mars’ far side on Dec. 6, 2025. The agency has resumed Deep Space Network attempts following a solar conjunction,...
Kent Meningitis Outbreak May Have Peaked as UKHSA Reports Slowdown in Cases
The UK Health Security Agency reported that the meningitis outbreak in Kent appears to have peaked, with only two new cases reported on Friday. To date, 18 confirmed and 11 probable cases have been recorded, totaling 29 infections, of which...
Orthogonal Tri‐Modular Coiled‐Coil Assembly for Programmable Multi‐Cargo Display on Escherichia Coli Nissle 1917
Researchers have engineered a tri‑specific scaffold cell (TriSC) platform in the probiotic strain *Escherichia coli* Nissle 1917 that uses three orthogonal coiled‑coil motifs to create a programmable, reversible surface. The system enables simultaneous, selective attachment of multiple nanobody cargos and...
Microscopic Spikes on Snakeskin Block Bacterial Buildup
Researchers examined ball python scales and found dense arrays of 9 µm spikes that dramatically curb bacterial adhesion. In laboratory tests, the spiked skin reduced Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation by 88% and 78% respectively, compared with standard polystyrene....
Chemistry of Ancient Vietnamese Tooth Blackening Revealed
Researchers at the Australian National University examined two 2,000‑year‑old molars from northern Vietnam. Using non‑invasive SEM‑EDS analysis they identified iron and sulfur residues, indicating that ancient peoples mixed iron salts with tannin‑rich botanicals to blacken teeth. A modern animal tooth...
Silicon Metasurface Design Could Enable Dual-Channel Optical Encryption
Researchers have designed a silicon metasurface that uses circular polarization as a cryptographic key, enabling two distinct holographic images to be stored in a single nanostructured layer. By applying an improved Gerchberg–Saxton algorithm and FDTD simulations, they mapped phase information...
A New Entanglement-Enhanced Quantum Sensing Scheme
Researchers from the University of Strasbourg and Macquarie University introduced an entanglement‑enhanced quantum‑sensing protocol that manipulates spin ensembles inside an optical cavity using tailored global drive pulses. By generating symmetric Dicke states, the scheme achieves near‑Heisenberg‑limited precision even when realistic...
LinusBio Expands Its Laser-Powered Hair Test to Help Rule Out Autism in Older Children
LinusBio has broadened its ClearStrand‑ASD hair‑based screening to children up to ten years old, extending beyond the original under‑48‑month validation. The test analyzes a single strand of hair with proprietary robotics and laser technology to detect metabolic patterns linked to...
Epigenetic Age Acceleration Links to MRI Aging Markers
Association of epigenetic age acceleration with MRI biomarkers of aging and Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration https://t.co/VSJVp4MYij
NASA's Curiosity Rover Detects Ancient Underground Water on Mars, Extending Habitability Timeline
NASA announced that the Curiosity rover has identified geological formations indicating underground water persisted on Mars longer than previously believed. The discovery, made in a boxwork region on a three‑mile‑high mountain, suggests protected habitats could have existed well after surface...
A Proteomic Map of the Hallmarks of Aging
Researchers created a single‑cell, subcellular proteome atlas of replicative aging in yeast, revealing hundreds of previously unknown protein changes tied to the classic hallmarks of aging. Spatial analysis showed that hallmark phenotypes often manifest as compartment‑specific relocalization and aggregation. Over...
Native Litter Inoculation Enhances Microbial Recovery in Waste Rock Soils
Researchers at the Ranger Uranium Mine applied native Eucalyptus‑derived litter to waste‑rock based soils during the wet season, spreading it 5 cm deep across 20 m × 20 m plots. After 15 weeks the inoculated soils showed higher microbial diversity, a shift toward decomposer taxa, and...
A Review of the Role of Chronic Inflammation in Sarcopenia
Recent review highlights chronic inflammation as a central driver of age‑related sarcopenia, linking pathways such as cellular senescence, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and gut dysbiosis. Key inflammatory cytokines—including IL‑6, CRP, and TNF‑α—disrupt muscle protein balance and serve as potential biomarkers....
Skin Flaring Up Before A Big Deadline? Science Finally Knows Why
Researchers at Fudan University identified a specific subset of sympathetic Pdyn⁺ neurons that transmit psychological stress signals from the brain to the skin, triggering eosinophil‑driven inflammation in atopic dermatitis. The finding, published in Science, was supported by a retrospective analysis...
China Scales Shoucell to Step up Race for Sustainable Cellulose
China has begun commercial production of Shoucell, a next‑generation regenerated cellulose fiber aimed at reducing textile pollution. The fiber employs a closed‑loop process that lowers water consumption and chemical waste compared with traditional viscose. Shoucell’s launch dovetails with Beijing’s green...
The Vernal Equinox 2026
The Vernal Equinox for 2026 occurs on Friday, 20 March at 14:46 UTC, marking the astronomical start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Although commonly cited as 21 March, the equinox has fallen on 20 March every year since 2008 and will continue until...
Building Muscle Strength May Help Prevent Depression, Especially in Women
Researchers at University College London used Mendelian randomization on UK Biobank data (up to 341,326 adults) and found that greater muscle strength, measured by grip strength adjusted for body weight, causally reduces risk of depression and several core symptoms, especially...
T-20 Days: Smile to Launch on 9 April
The European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences will launch the Smile mission on a Vega‑C rocket from French Guiana on Thursday 9 April at 08:29 CEST. The spacecraft will perform the first X‑ray imaging of Earth’s magnetic field and monitor...
New Report on L.A. Post-Fire Beach Contamination Finds Something Unexpected: Good News
Researchers from USC’s CLEAN Waters project report that, a year after the 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires, lead and other heavy metals in Los Angeles coastal waters and sand remain well below EPA and California safety limits. Initial spikes recorded...
Shionogi Enrols First Patients in Esprit Trial for Pompe Disease
Shionogi announced the first patient enrollment in its global Phase II Esprit trial, evaluating the oral substrate‑reduction therapy S‑606001 in adults with late‑onset Pompe disease. The 52‑week, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled study will run across the EU, the UK and the United States,...
New Spider Mimics ‘The Last of Us’ Zombie Fungus Cordyceps
Researchers have identified a new spider species in Ecuador’s Amazon that mimics the appearance of the parasitic fungus Gibellula, a relative of the cordyceps made famous by “The Last of Us.” The spider, belonging to the rarely seen genus Taczanowskia,...
First-of-Its-Kind Implant Could Transform Tissue Loss Treatment
Researchers at Technion’s Levenberg Laboratory have created a first‑of‑its‑kind three‑dimensional implant that merges muscle, fat, a hierarchical blood vessel network and, uniquely, a lymphatic system. The construct is printed with a custom extracellular‑matrix bio‑ink and matured in a flow‑controlled bioreactor....
Mind-Altering Substances Are (Still) Falling Short in Clinical Trials
Psychedelic research has surged, but recent psilocybin trials reveal modest benefits that fail to outpace placebo. A German study with 144 treatment‑resistant depression patients found no statistically significant advantage for high‑dose psilocybin. An open‑label review of 24 trials concluded psychedelics...
Explore a Mind‑Bending Quantum Mechanics Mystery in This Podcast
An interesting episode to add to your podcast list 👇 (There are many unintuitive parts when trying to understand quantum mechanics. This excellent episode explains one of them.)
What Donut Labs Data Shows on Solid-State Battery Energy Density
Donut Labs announced a solid‑state battery that it says reaches 400 Wh/kg, a level far above the 250‑300 Wh/kg typical of today’s lithium‑ion cells. The company also touts thermal stability and fast‑charging, but it has not released voltage profiles or third‑party test...
Meteorite Hunters Scour Ohio for Fragments of 7-Ton Space Rock that Crashed Into Earth
An estimated 7‑ton meteoroid exploded over Ohio on March 17, producing a bright fireball and a sonic boom heard across the Midwest. The rock, roughly 6 feet in diameter, fragmented on impact, scattering black, fusion‑crusted pieces that residents and professional meteorite...
ESA to Purchase SpaceX Crew Dragon Mission to ISS
The European Space Agency announced it will purchase a dedicated SpaceX Crew Dragon flight to the International Space Station, creating the ESA Provided Institutional Crew (EPIC) mission. The EPIC flight is planned as a medium‑duration stay of roughly one month,...
Natural Superlattice 2D Materials‐based Volatile Memristor Promotes Artificial Nociceptor
Researchers have created a volatile memristor using the natural superlattice 2D material BiTiS3, which exploits interlayer coupling and sulfur‑vacancy‑induced lattice distortions to lower ion migration barriers. The device switches at low voltage within nanoseconds, as visualized by in‑situ conductive atomic...
Multifunctional Flexible Sensor with Bionic Micro‐Nano Hierarchical Structure for Dual‐Mode Pressure and Temperature Sensing
The study introduces a bioinspired multifunctional flexible sensor (BMF) that mimics ant, spider, mosquito and lotus leaf structures. Built from MXene‑coated melamine foam and CNT/PVDF nanofiber membrane, it delivers ultra‑high pressure sensitivity of 986.51 kPa⁻¹ across 0–200 kPa and temperature sensitivity of...
A Partially Stripped Succinonitrile Shield Rendering Air‐Stable Li5FeO4 Prelithiation Agent for Dendrite‐Free and Long‐Lifespan Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Researchers introduced a succinonitrile (SN) coating on Li₅FeO₄ (LFO) particles, creating an air‑stable prelithiation additive (LFO@SN). The SN layer suppresses surface alkalization, preserving a high initial charge capacity of 623.8 mAh g⁻¹ after one hour of ambient exposure. In electrolyte, the coating...
Research Progress of Porous Framework‐Based Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Upconversion Materials
The review surveys porous‑framework‑based triplet‑triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA‑UC) materials, emphasizing metal‑organic frameworks (MOFs) and porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs). It explains how these scaffolds improve oxygen resistance and enable solid‑state upconversion. The article details structure‑performance relationships, recent efficiency breakthroughs, and applications...
Why Does the Universe Follow Universal Laws?
Ask Ethan: Does nature need to obey laws at all? One of the most profound facts about the Universe is that it obeys the same laws in all places and at all times. But why are there laws that govern it...
The Sky Today on Friday, March 20: The Moon Passes Venus on the Vernal Equinox
On March 20, 2026, the Moon will pass five degrees north of Venus, an alignment that coincides with the vernal equinox. While the conjunction occurs at 9 A.M. EDT, the two bodies become visible together in the evening sky, with Venus shining at...
ML and Quantum Computing Unite for Next‑Gen Drug Discovery
#compchem #machinelearning #quantumcomputing New preprint: "The Convergence Frontier: Integrating Machine Learning and High Performance Quantum Computing for Next-Generation Drug Discovery". @qubit_pharma https://t.co/4D23DV0uAk
John Bell Institute Summer School 2026: Space and Time
The John Bell Institute announces its 2026 Summer School on Space and Time, scheduled for August 17‑28 at the MEDLIS campus in Split, Croatia. It targets advanced master’s students, PhD candidates, and early‑career researchers, offering lectures, tutorials, and interactive discussions on...
Sustainable Terephthalic Acid Modified Polyimide Binder for Enhanced Li‐Ion Storage in Silicon Nanoparticles (Small 17/2026)
Researchers Yuan Qiao and Ali Reza Kamali introduced a green, scalable polyimide binder modified with terephthalic acid for silicon anodes in lithium‑ion batteries. The binder reinforces electrode integrity, accelerates lithium‑ion kinetics, and boosts both capacity and long‑term cycling stability. Full‑cell...
Strategic Screening of Dopants for Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.67O2 Cathodes: A Computational Roadmap for Sodium‐Ion Battery Innovation
Researchers used machine‑learning potentials and density‑functional theory to evaluate six dopants—Mg2+, Al3+, Ti4+, Zr4+, Nb5+ and Mo6+—in the P2‑type, cobalt‑free Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.67O2 (NNMO) cathode. The study shows that high‑valence dopants (Zr, Nb, Mo) mainly reinforce bulk structural stability while preserving energy...
False Online Posts Fuel Self-Diagnosis, Says Study
Researchers from the University of East Anglia and NHS Norfolk and Suffolk examined 5,057 social‑media posts and found high rates of misinformation about ADHD and autism, especially on TikTok. The study reported 52% of ADHD‑related TikTok videos and 41% of...
Great Discoveries Often Begin as Risky Collaborations
Not all impactful science is obvious at the start. Some begins as risky, collaborative experiments. This is one of those stories 👇 https://t.co/y3uhAYmXgB #INPST https://t.co/7Hruocwxb2
![[Comment] Physiologically Guided CABG in Valve Surgery](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/3fd1de683d722a591ac21ac5870e845d.webp)
[Comment] Physiologically Guided CABG in Valve Surgery
Fractional flow reserve (FFR) provides a more precise physiological assessment of coronary lesions than angiography alone, and its wire‑based use has improved PCI outcomes. Angiography‑derived FFR extends this functional insight without pressure wires, showing strong correlation with invasive measurements. In...
![[Comment] Should We Keep Pushing a High Fluid Intake in Kidney Stones?](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/71728300caabf9cdd7e72489bb93c7ec.webp)
[Comment] Should We Keep Pushing a High Fluid Intake in Kidney Stones?
High fluid intake remains the cornerstone for preventing kidney stones, yet patient adherence is consistently low. Systematic reviews and a recent 2026 randomized trial confirm that adequate hydration reduces stone recurrence, but practical, behavioral, and environmental barriers limit real‑world effectiveness....
![[Editorial] Making Treatment for Obesity More Equitable](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/9ad50868737552068254155c5d608c4d.webp)
[Editorial] Making Treatment for Obesity More Equitable
2026 could be a watershed year for obesity treatment as GLP‑1 receptor agonists cement their role after a decade of clinical success. The global market for weight‑loss drugs is forecast to hit US$150 billion by 2035, reflecting soaring demand. More than...
Single-Cell Clocks Offer Precise Insight Into Aging
Single-cell aging clocks: A precision tool for dissecting and targeting the aging process https://t.co/5e47qWtZwH https://t.co/ImfBb45luO
Extra Virgin Olive Oil May Help Better Preserve Cognitive Function than Refined
A two‑year analysis of 656 overweight adults aged 55‑75 in the PREDIMED‑Plus trial found that participants who regularly consumed virgin olive oil exhibited better preservation of cognitive function and greater gut‑microbiome diversity than those who used refined olive oil. The...
Does Lithium Work for Memory Loss? Experts Answer 4 Key Questions
A two‑year pilot trial published in JAMA Neurology found that low‑dose oral lithium (150‑300 mg daily) slowed verbal memory decline in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. The neuroprotective benefit was most pronounced in participants who tested positive for amyloid‑beta, a...
NIH Invests $150 Million in Human-Based Research to Reduce Use of Animal Models
The National Institutes of Health announced a $150 million investment in the new Complement‑ARIE program to develop and standardize human‑focused research tools, known as new approach methodologies (NAMs). The initiative will fund technology development centers, a data hub, and a validation...
Nanofertilizer Expands Worldwide in Just Seven Years
It was just 7 years ago… Glad to see the spread across the country & globe. #Nanofertilizer https://t.co/owi5grwnCS
The Best Places to Look for Alien Life: Scientists Identify 45 Earth-Like Worlds to Explore
A consortium of astronomers has announced the identification of 45 Earth‑like exoplanets that reside within the habitable zones of their host stars. The planets were selected from data gathered by space‑based missions such as Kepler, TESS, and ground‑based surveys, focusing...