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
Flexible Wearable Batteries on the Cards?
Researchers at Empa have created a stretchable polymer electrolyte based on modified silicone that conducts ions while retaining elasticity. The flexible electrolyte can suppress lithium dendrite growth and fill microscopic voids, enhancing solid‑state battery stability and energy density. Its ultra‑thin film format is compatible with scalable manufacturing, opening pathways for flexible batteries in wearables, medical implants, and electric vehicles. The development promises safer, higher‑performance solid‑state batteries for low‑emission technologies.
Aging Is Primarily Loss of Epigenetic Information
When Andrew Huberman asked about the root cause of aging, Dr. David Sinclair gave a surprisingly simple answer: "Aging is a loss of information in the same way you try to copy a cassette tape, or even if you send information...
Defining a Lunar Base: Landers, Proximity, Night Survival
This does get to the question of what is a “lunar base”. Is one CLPS lander the first element of a lunar base? Two, near each other? Do they have to survive the lunar night??
Aplagon Doses First Patient in P-IIa (HEALING) Trial of APAC for Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease/Chronic Limb Threatening Ischemia
Aplagon Therapeutics has administered the first dose of its intravenous APAC candidate to a patient in a Phase 2a (HEALING) trial for peripheral arterial occlusive disease leading to chronic limb‑threatening ischemia in Finland. The study will enroll approximately 42 CLTI...
Bridging Promise and Evidence in Psychedelic Medicine
Jacobs and colleagues present a state‑of‑the‑art review of psilocybin and MDMA‑assisted therapies, highlighting their potential for treatment‑resistant depression and PTSD. The authors emphasize the distinct, session‑based paradigm that leverages acute neurobiological changes to produce lasting clinical benefits. However, they also...
Quantum AI May Evolve Into Unknowable Consciousness
Quintelligence: Quantum AI could become an unknowable consciousness...Paul Davies, Natalia Ares, and Yours Truly https://t.co/I0VHY4bx7B
Holcim UK and Canary Wharf Group Explore Graphene-Enhanced Concrete
Holcim UK and Canary Wharf Group finished a six‑month R&D program on ultra‑low‑carbon, circular concrete mixes. The trials highlighted a graphene‑infused concrete that slashes carbon emissions by more than 50% while delivering higher strength and durability. Test pours were conducted...
New Glenn Vs. Nova
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket completed its first flawless propulsive landing in November 2025, cementing the company’s entry into the operational, partially reusable heavy‑lift market. The launch delivered NASA’s ESCAPADE probes and demonstrated a rapid test‑fix cycle after a failed first attempt...
How Does Cocaine Rewire the Brain?
Researchers at Michigan State University used mouse models and CRISPR technology to map how cocaine rewires the ventral hippocampus‑nucleus accumbens (vHPC‑NAc) circuit. They discovered that the transcription factor ΔFosB acts as a molecular switch, accumulating with repeated cocaine exposure and...
Breakthrough Capsule Technology Offers New Insights Into Individual Cells
Researchers at Umeå University have unveiled a capsule‑based platform that encapsulates individual cells in semi‑permeable shells, enabling multiple, sequential molecular assays on the same cell. The design permits small reagents to diffuse in while retaining DNA and RNA, and it...
Gene Conversion Boosts Selection in Clonal Fish
Researchers have demonstrated that gene conversion—a non‑reciprocal DNA repair process—significantly boosts genetic variation in clonal fish populations, thereby enhancing natural selection efficiency. Laboratory experiments with a model clonal species showed a three‑fold increase in beneficial allele fixation compared with standard...
War Deepens Iran's Water Crisis Amid Climate Change
War is pushing Iran deeper into a water crisis, compounding the effects of climate change and decades of mismanagement by authorities https://t.co/810aKlEkkp
Yttrium-Doped Nickel Catalyst Boosts Ammonia to Hydrogen Conversion Efficiency
Researchers at Tohoku University have created a yttrium‑doped nickel‑ceria catalyst (Ni₁Ce₁₋ₓYₓOα) that dramatically improves ammonia decomposition into hydrogen. The yttrium addition generates stable surface oxygen vacancies and tunes the electronic structure around nickel sites, lowering reaction energy barriers. The optimized...
MXenes Move Closer to Real World Use in Energy Storage and Medicine
A Swiss research initiative, TailorX, has advanced the synthesis, modeling, and sustainable production of MXenes, a versatile class of 2‑D transition‑metal carbides and nitrides. The team built a high‑purity library of MAX‑phase precursors, deployed AI models to predict MXene structures...
Rethinking Endocrine Therapy in ER-Positive Breast Cancer
Dr. Steven Quay, CEO of Atossa Therapeutics, highlighted a new focus on tolerability and prevention in estrogen‑receptor‑positive breast cancer, where five‑year survival now exceeds 90%. Atossa is developing a next‑generation SERM that aims to reduce side‑effects while maintaining efficacy and...
Injectable Mini-Livers as an Alternative to Liver Regeneration
Researchers have introduced INSITE, an injectable platform that combines primary human hepatocytes with hydrogel microspheres to form self‑assembling, vascularizable tissue ensembles in situ. Using ultrasound guidance, the scaffold is delivered to an ectopic site where it integrates with host vasculature...
FAST‐CRISPR: Fusogenic Association and Secured Transfection of CRISPR/Cas9 Ribonucleoproteins Using Lipid‐Silica Hybrid Nanoparticles for Therapeutic Genome Editing
Researchers introduced FAST‑CRISPR, a lipid‑silica hybrid nanoparticle that fuses directly with cell membranes to deliver CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins. By combining a 1:1 weight ratio of cationic DOTAP and ionizable DODMA lipids with large‑pore silica cores, the platform achieves high RNP loading...
Emerging Atomically Engineered RuNi‐Zn‐ZIF‐8 Catalyst for Remarkably High Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia and Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Researchers have engineered a RuZn‑based carbon‑nitrogen framework decorated with atomically dispersed nickel and minor Ni clusters, creating a bifunctional electrocatalyst for nitrate reduction to ammonia and oxygen evolution. The catalyst delivers an ammonia yield of 10,199 µg h⁻¹ mg⁻¹ cat with 84% Faradaic...
A Red Brick‐Derived Fe2P‐Based Cocatalyst Sheet Enables Monolithic Photocatalysts for Efficient Solar Hydrogen Production
Researchers have converted common red brick into a Fe2P‑based cocatalyst sheet that serves as a scaffold for semiconductor particles, creating monolithic photocatalysts for solar water splitting. The CdS‑Fe2P/RB monolith delivers a visible‑light hydrogen evolution rate of 7.7 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ and an apparent...
A Balloon Electrochemical Sensor for Conformal Interfacing With Intestinal Wall and Real‐Time Monitoring of Serotonin Release
Researchers have created a balloon‑shaped electrochemical sensor using gold nanotubes that expands to conform to the soft curvature of the intestinal lumen. The device is inserted endoluminally, inflates to mimic physiological distension, and records real‑time serotonin (5‑HT) release from the...
Iron Incorporation‐Induced Phosphorus Vacancies in MoP: A Dual‐Functional Strategy Toward Efficient Solar Driven Hydrogen Production
Researchers introduced iron atoms into molybdenum phosphide (MoP) to generate phosphorus vacancies, forming a dual‑functional catalyst for solar‑driven hydrogen production. The Fe substitution replaces Mo sites, creating electron‑trapping vacancies while Mo atoms serve as hole traps, markedly improving charge separation....
FAST‐CRISPR: Fusogenic Association and Secured Transfection of CRISPR/Cas9 Ribonucleoproteins Using Lipid‐Silica Hybrid Nanoparticles for Therapeutic Genome Editing (Small 15/2026)
Researchers at UNIST and collaborators introduced FAST‑CRISPR, a lipid‑silica hybrid nanoparticle system designed to ferry CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins into cells. The platform leverages a fusogenic lipid coating that promotes rapid endosomal escape, securing high‑efficiency genome editing while preserving RNP integrity. Preclinical...
Mechanically Responsive Microwave Absorption and Shielding in Hierarchical Heterogeneous Architectures for Electromagnetic Interference Protection
Researchers have created a mechanically responsive composite (FPCEL) that combines Fe3O4‑functionalized cellulose nanofibers, polypyrrole, liquid metal, and Ecoflex silicone. The hierarchical, asymmetric architecture yields strain‑dependent microwave absorption and shielding, shifting from reflection‑dominated to absorption‑enhanced behavior as the material is stretched...
Formation Mechanism of BN Flakes on MWCNTs
Researchers have developed a CVD method to coat multi‑wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with hexagonal boron nitride (h‑BN) flakes, creating a three‑layer heterostructure of CNT core, coaxial BN nanotubes, and outer BN flakes. Experiments and molecular dynamics simulations reveal a two‑step...
How Does the Body Detect Physical Force?
Scientists at Scripps Research used MINFLUX super‑resolution microscopy to reveal why the ion channel PIEZO2 is uniquely tuned for light touch. They discovered that PIEZO2 is intrinsically stiffer than its sibling PIEZO1 and is physically tethered to the actin cytoskeleton...
Fortified Salad Packs a Healthy Punch to Meet a Growing Vitamin B12 Need
A research‑industry partnership has used aeroponic indoor farming to fortify pea shoots with vitamin B12, delivering the full recommended daily allowance in a 15‑gram serving. The fortified shoots maintain B12 stability during cold storage and are bioavailable in simulated digestion tests....
Long-Term Neurodevelopment Effects of Antenatal COVID-19
A new longitudinal study finds that children born to mothers infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy exhibit measurable neurodevelopmental deficits. Brain scans at two years reveal reduced cortical thickness and lower IQ scores compared with unexposed peers. The research, spanning over...
What Happens in the Brain When We Improvise
Recent neuroscience research shows that improvisation quiets the brain’s inner critic while activating networks tied to exploration, play, and reward. Studies with musicians and children reveal reduced default‑mode activity and heightened dopamine release during spontaneous creation. The concept of a...
Moving CAR-T Beyond Oncology
Researchers are expanding CAR‑T cell therapy beyond cancer to treat autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Sail Biomedicine’s chief products and operations officer highlighted on the Pharmaceutical Executive podcast that the company has pivoted to RNA‑based CAR‑T platforms,...
Early Life Probiotics May Support Gut and Immune Development, Study Suggests
A randomized controlled trial of 119 infants showed that daily supplementation with Bifidobacterium infantis YLGB‑1496 for 12 weeks markedly improved gastrointestinal health, reducing stomach aches, diarrhea episodes, and related clinic visits. The probiotic also sustained higher fecal sIgA levels and...
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Astronomers using Chandra, Hubble and infrared telescopes have imaged the astrosphere of HD 61005, a Sun‑like star 120 light‑years away and only 100 million years old. The star’s powerful stellar wind has carved a bubble roughly 200 AU across, pushing aside surrounding dust...
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NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day posted March 7, 2026 features two total lunar eclipses from Saros 133, one captured in February 2008 and the other on March 3, 2026. The side‑by‑side comparison illustrates how eclipses separated by one Saros period (18 years, 11⅓ days) produce nearly identical geometry....
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Astronomers at Chile’s Paranal Observatory are using powerful lasers to generate artificial guide stars, a cornerstone of modern adaptive‑optics systems. These laser‑created points of light allow telescopes to measure and correct atmospheric turbulence in real time, dramatically sharpening images of...
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The James Webb Space Telescope captured a striking mid‑infrared image of the Cranium Nebula, whose brain‑like silhouette has sparked scientific intrigue. Astronomers are divided between classifying it as a planetary nebula surrounding a white dwarf or as a massive Wolf‑Rayet...
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NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day features cometary globule CG 4, a molecular cloud 1,300 light‑years away in Puppis. The globule’s head spans 1.5 light‑years while its tail stretches eight light‑years, resembling a comet’s shape. Researchers link its elongated tail to...
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NASA's James Webb Space Telescope captured a near‑full rotation of Uranus using its NIRSpec instrument. Over 1,000 spectra were collected during a continuous 15‑hour observation, revealing the planet’s ionosphere, auroral emissions, and cloud dynamics. The video provides a three‑dimensional view,...
Is Being A "Bad Sleeper" Genetic? Here's What The Science Says
Around 30% of adults face short‑term sleep disorders and 10% grapple with chronic insomnia, prompting questions about genetic destiny. Sleep experts cite research showing genetics account for roughly 31‑58% of insomnia risk and influence chronotype and sleep need. However, lifestyle...
NASA ESCAPADE Will Study Space Weather From Earth to Mars
NASA’s ESCAPADE mission has activated its twin science instruments to study how the solar wind stripped Mars of its atmosphere, turning a once‑wet world into a barren desert. Launched on 13 Nov 2025, the dual‑orbiter pair is the first to operate together...
AI Accelerates Fundamental Science Across All Industries
AI is dramatically accelerating core scientific discovery outside the tech industry. From 3D mesh creation to optimizing algorithms like AlphaDev and improving weather prediction, AI is boosting efficiency and innovation in fundamental science. #AI #Science #Innovation https://t.co/6AkXWqW8ds
Quantum Communication Achieves 85.35% Bit Matching with New Causal Method
Researchers introduced a quantum key distribution protocol that leverages indefinite causal order, a form of causal nonseparability. In ideal conditions the scheme attains an 85.35% bit‑matching probability, corresponding to a 14.65% raw error rate suitable for standard error‑correction codes. The...
Quantum Bits Maintain Stable Response Even with Multiple Drives Applied
A UCLA‑Princeton team demonstrated that Loss‑DiVincenzo single‑spin qubits in a three‑qubit processor exhibit a strictly linear relationship between microwave drive amplitude and Rabi frequency, even when all qubits are driven simultaneously. The study resolved earlier reports of non‑linearities, showing frequency...
In Criminal Cases, Moss Is Often Underfoot and Overlooked
Scientists and law‑enforcement officials are highlighting moss as a forensic asset often ignored in crime scenes. In a 2025 Pennsylvania case, a forensic botanist used moss growth on a victim's clothing to estimate the remains had been in the woods...
This One Type Of Gut Bacteria Is Linked To 29% Greater Muscle Strength
A recent study published in *Gut* links the gut bacterium Roseburia inulinivorans to markedly higher muscle strength, showing a 29% boost in hand‑grip force among older adults and similar gains in younger participants, including improved VO₂ max. Mouse experiments confirmed...
Her Lab Worked to Future-Proof Fruits and Vegetables
The Horticulture Innovation Lab, funded by USAID, focused on under‑funded fruit and vegetable research to improve nutrition for marginalized populations worldwide. It partnered with scientists across Africa, South Asia, and Central America, delivering soil guidance, climate‑adapted varieties, and low‑energy cooling...
EU Climate Advisers: Eat Less Meat, Redirect Subsidies & Tax Farm Emissions
The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change released a 360‑page report urging the EU to overhaul its agricultural policy to meet climate targets. It recommends phasing out CAP subsidies that favor livestock, introducing a greenhouse‑gas pricing system for farms,...
The Sun and Thousands of Its Twins Migrated Across the Milky Way Just in Time
New studies published in *Astronomy & Astrophysics* reveal that the Sun did not travel alone from its birth near the Milky Way’s crowded core to its present suburban orbit. By analyzing chemical signatures and Gaia‑derived motions of 6,594 solar‑twin stars,...
A 'Mass Migration' Of Stars From the Milky Way's Center Could Explain Why There's Life in Our Solar System
Researchers analyzing Gaia data uncovered 6,594 solar‑twin stars—about thirty times more than earlier surveys—most clustered near the Sun. The findings suggest a massive outward migration of stars from the Milky Way’s crowded centre coinciding with the formation of the galaxy’s...
A Mass Stellar Migration Billions of Years Ago May Have Helped Life Get Started on Earth
Astronomers using ESA's Gaia catalog identified 6,594 solar‑twin stars within 1,000 light‑years, revealing a pronounced age peak of 1,551 stars that are 4‑6 billion years old—matching the Sun’s age. The data suggest the Sun and many of these twins migrated outward...
Entanglement’s Dynamic Response Reveals Connections Between Complex States of Matter
Researchers demonstrated that two entanglement measures respond predictably to modular flow, a real‑time evolution driven by the entanglement Hamiltonian. They unified these responses in a single generating function that generalises the Rényi commutator and directly encodes chiral topological invariants such...
NiTi TPMS Sheet Lattices Promise Lightweight Performance
Researchers have demonstrated laser powder‑bed fused nickel‑titanium (NiTi) triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) sheet lattices that deliver high specific stiffness and energy absorption while retaining superelastic behavior. By pushing wall thicknesses to the limits of LPBF resolution, the continuous‑sheet architecture...