Today's Science Pulse
UK-led study reveals hidden massive star clusters deep inside nearby galaxies
Astronomers using the VLA and ALMA uncovered previously unseen giant star clusters, described as "ring factories," embedded within nearby galaxies. A complementary analysis of roughly 18,000 star‑forming regions showed that the energetic activity of young stars plays a decisive role in shaping galaxy evolution.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Foundation Alloy raises $22M Series A
One-Time Pest Turned Eco-Warrior Degrades Polystyrene
Researchers from Harbin Institute of Technology and Stanford University found that the tropical cockroach Blaptica dubia can rapidly degrade polystyrene. In a 42‑day experiment, 50 roaches consumed about 6 mg of plastic per day, removing 54.9% of the material and achieving a degradation rate of 3.3 mg per cockroach daily. Metagenomic analysis showed enrichment of plastic‑degrading bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Citrobacter, while host transcriptomics revealed up‑regulation of β‑oxidation and TCA‑cycle pathways. The study demonstrates a fully integrated microbe‑host system that outperforms other plastic‑eating insects.
Accelerator Report: The 2026 Run Will Be Short but Intense
On 7 March 2026 CERN declared stable beams for the Large Hadron Collider, marking the start of its final data‑taking run before the High‑Luminosity upgrade. The nine‑month campaign, compressed into a July‑June window, will sequentially increase beam intensity from four to...
US DoE Unveils Nuclear Energy Launch Pad
The U.S. Department of Energy and the National Reactor Innovation Center have launched the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad, a two‑pathway program designed to fast‑track advanced nuclear technologies. Building on the Reactor Pilot and Fuel Line Pilot programs, the initiative offers...
Viagra Compound May Hold Promise for Treating Fatal Genetic Disease
Researchers have identified the erectile‑dysfunction drug sildenafil as a potential therapy for Leigh syndrome, a fatal mitochondrial disorder affecting roughly one in 40,000 births. In cell models, the compound corrected mitochondrial membrane potential and normalized gene expression, while treated mice...
Free-Standing 3D Na Ion Anode Material for Higher Energy Density
Researchers have developed a free‑standing sodium‑ion battery anode that combines bismuth nanoparticles, MoS₂ nanospheres, and a carbon nanofiber matrix with a thin carbon coating. The Bi@MoS₂@C composite delivers a reversible capacity of about 275 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹ and retains 96 % of...
Arguing for PPARα Agonist Fenofibrate to Be Geroprotective
Researchers report that fenofibrate, a PPARα agonist approved for hyperlipidemia, extends lifespan and reverses cellular senescence in several mouse models, including D‑galactose‑induced, 18‑month‑old, and SAMP8 strains. The drug reduces age‑related lipid accumulation and restores mitochondrial function by up‑regulating CPT1C, a...
Periodontitis Alters the Gut Microbiome to Accelerate Osteoporosis
Researchers have shown that periodontitis reshapes the gut microbiome, accelerating bone loss in a mouse model of osteoporosis. Salivary microbiota from gum‑disease patients increased gut dysbiosis, suppressed tryptophan metabolism and reduced the osteoclast‑inhibiting metabolite indole‑3‑lactic acid (ILA). The altered microbiome...
Large Series C Signals Scale-Up of China’s Laser Satellite Communications Sector
Shanghai‑based BlueStar Optical Domain announced a Series C round of roughly 500 million yuan ($72 million). The capital will fund a production‑line upgrade aimed at delivering 1,000 laser communication terminals annually by mid‑2026. The move positions BlueStar as a mass‑production supplier for China’s...
DNA Barcoding Reveals Which Gene-Therapy Nanoparticles Reach Targets in Vivo
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a DNA‑based barcoding assay that measures, in living mice, which lipid nanoparticles successfully deliver gene‑editing cargo to target cellular compartments. The technique identified that many particles are degraded in lysosomes, while a newly...
Reading the Sun's Mind Weeks Before It Erupts
Researchers at Southwest Research Institute and NCAR unveiled PINNBARDS, a physics‑informed neural network that reconstructs the Sun’s deep‑layer magnetic activity from Solar Dynamics Observatory data. By mathematically inverting surface magnetic patterns, the tool can identify emerging flare‑producing regions weeks before...
A Single Course of Antibiotics May Reshape the Gut Microbiome for Years
A new Swedish study of nearly 15,000 adults linked a single course of antibiotics to lasting reductions in gut microbial diversity, with effects persisting up to eight years. Clindamycin was the most disruptive, eliminating an average of 47 bacterial species...
New Prototyping Workshop Opens at IdeaSquare
IdeaSquare at CERN has launched ‘The Forge,’ a new prototyping workshop designed for rapid iteration and collaborative building. The space merges the former 3D Printer Studio with two containers, offering a large central worktable, modular peg wall, 3D printers and...
Sunlight-Activated Graphene Membrane Recovers Battery-Grade Lithium From Brines
Researchers at POST, Griffith and King Khalid Universities unveiled a graphene‑based nanofiltration membrane that uses sunlight to pull lithium ions from magnesium‑rich brines. The hybrid membrane, combining edge‑functionalized graphene nanoribbons with photothermally reduced graphene oxide, delivers a lithium flux of...
Adisyn Reports Graphene-Based Radar Signature Reduction for Drones
Adisyn demonstrated that graphene‑enhanced composite materials can cut radar reflection by up to 20 dB in lab tests, and the team is targeting a 30 dB reduction that would shrink a drone’s radar cross‑section by a factor of 1,000. The proof‑of‑concept was...
Short‐Range Order and LixTM4−x Probability Maps for Disordered Rocksalt Cathodes
Researchers used Monte Carlo simulations with a simplified cluster model to map short‑range order (SRO) in cation‑disordered rocksalt (DRX) cathodes. They discovered that the probability of forming Li₄ tetrahedral clusters is governed primarily by nearest‑neighbor pairwise SRO, and that this SRO...
Water Drops Sliding Over Arrays of Janus Micropillars With Hydrophilic Tops: A New Mechanism of Drop Charging
Researchers have engineered arrays of Janus micropillars—hydrophilic tops paired with hydrophobic sidewalls—to reveal a novel drop‑charging mechanism. When a water droplet slides across these structures, it leaves microscopic satellite droplets that evaporate within a second, creating charge separation within the...
Silver‐enhanced Photoresponsive G‐C3N4/Ag Janus Microrobots With Negative Photogravitaxis Efficient Antibiotic Degradation
Researchers have created silver‑enhanced g‑C3N4/Ag Janus microrobots that move upward against gravity when illuminated, a behavior termed negative photogravitaxis. The silver coating improves charge carrier separation, suppressing recombination and boosting photocatalytic activity. This three‑dimensional propulsion increases mass transfer, enabling the...
Additive‐Free Edge‐Functionalized Graphene Dough
Researchers have introduced an additive‑free, edge‑functionalized graphene (EFG) dough synthesized directly from graphite via selective oxidation and physical exfoliation. The resulting few‑layer nanoplatelets retain defect‑free basal planes, exhibit carboxylate and phenolic edge groups, and achieve a high conductivity of 900 S cm⁻¹....
Impact of Sapphire Substrate Reconstruction on the Structural, Electronic, and Photonic Properties of MoS2
The paper investigates how sapphire substrate reconstruction during metal‑organic CVD at 1 000 °C alters the structural, electronic, and photonic behavior of monolayer MoS₂. Elevated temperature induces step‑bunching on the sapphire surface, creating local charge‑doping variations and strain that broaden Raman peaks...
GELITA and Black Drop Collaborate on GelMA Bioinks for 3D Bioprinting Research
GELITA and Black Drop have signed an R&D agreement to develop methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) bioinks for 3D bioprinting applications. The partnership will leverage GELITA’s ultra‑low endotoxin gelatin (MEDELLAPRO) and Black Drop’s custom bioprinting platforms to create clinically usable, scalable bioinks....
New AI Project Aims to Detect and Predict Ocean Plastic Drift From Space
The ADOPT project combines Sentinel‑2 optical imagery with daily high‑resolution PlanetScope data and artificial intelligence to locate floating plastic debris and forecast its short‑term drift. By training a machine‑learning model on GPS drifter records, the system corrects biases in conventional...
Tangled up in Red
Astrophotographer Emil Andronic captured a detailed image of Cederblad 51, a blue reflection nebula embedded in the red emission nebula Sharpless 2‑264 in Orion. The composite combines 69 hours 15 minutes of Hα‑LRGB data collected between September 9 and December 19 2025 using twin 8‑inch f/5 Newtonian telescopes....
A Surprising Way Daily Moisturiser May Slow Brain Ageing
Recent research suggests that a simple daily habit—applying moisturiser—may help slow age‑related cognitive decline. The study followed 200 adults over 65 for three years, comparing a group that moisturised their forearms and lower legs twice daily with a control group...
Editing Away Autoimmunity at the HLA Source
In this episode, Daniel Levine interviews Richard Freed, CEO of Rheumagen, about the pivotal role of HLA genes in autoimmune diseases and the company’s innovative gene‑editing approach to cure them. Freed explains how a single amino‑acid change at a conserved...
Precise Wording Matters: Avoid Overclaiming “All Molecules”
This is a far better tweet about the work. Note no claim of "all molecules". This may be pedantic, but words have meaning and if the difference between a quantum leap in virtual cell vs incremental progress rests on words...
What the Moon Rocks Were Hiding
Oxford researchers have linked the magnetic strength of Apollo Moon rocks to their titanium content, revealing that only titanium‑rich basalts recorded intense magnetic fields. The study shows the Moon’s magnetic history was dominated by a weak field, punctuated by brief,...
ESA Readies Self-Healing Materials For Use On Spacecraft
The European Space Agency (ESA) is advancing Project Cassandra, a collaboration with CompPair, CSEM and Com&Sens to adapt self‑healing carbon‑fibre composites for spacecraft. The HealTech material, originally developed by CompPair, uses embedded fibre‑optic sensors and 3D‑printed aluminium grids to detect...
AI Could Make Alien Contact More Likely for SETI's 'Project Hail Mary'
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, with AI‑driven pipelines now processing SETI data up to 600 times faster than legacy systems. Breakthrough Listen’s NVIDIA‑backed model boosted detection accuracy by 7% while slashing false positives by an order...
CCC: Net-Zero Will Protect UK From Fossil-Fuel Price Shocks
The Climate Change Committee’s new analysis shows that the UK’s net‑zero transition will generate average annual benefits of £110 billion between 2025 and 2050, outweighing its costs by 2029. A single fossil‑fuel price shock would cost the nation more than the...
Using Mosquitoes to Vaccinate Bats Could Curb the Spread of Deadly Diseases
Scientists have engineered Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to carry oral vaccines for rabies and Nipah virus, allowing the insects to inoculate bats through feeding or saline drinking stations. Laboratory trials showed that vaccinated bats and mice generated neutralising antibodies and survived...
Daily Briefing: ‘Virtual Cell’ Simulates Nearly Every Chemical Reaction in the Real Thing
Researchers unveiled a three‑dimensional “virtual cell” that reproduces DNA replication, cell division and nearly every chemical reaction in a bacterial cell, providing a powerful platform for systems‑biology experiments. Simultaneously, China announced a 10 % boost to its science‑technology budget this year...
Genetic Pathways Linking Oxytocin-Vasotocin Hypothalamic Subunit Architecture with Psychiatric and Metabolic Traits
A recent genome‑wide analysis identified genetic variants shaping oxytocin‑vasotocin hypothalamic subunits that also influence risk for severe mental disorders and metabolic syndrome. Using UK Biobank data, researchers derived polygenic scores for oxytocin‑pathway genes and found significant associations with schizophrenia, bipolar...
![[Perspectives] Bill Foege: Building Global Health Coalitions with Compassion](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/c8d08700ef09b2c0504934249079ae30.webp)
[Perspectives] Bill Foege: Building Global Health Coalitions with Compassion
Bill Foege, the American epidemiologist who helped eradicate smallpox, died on Jan 24 2026. His career was defined by building global health coalitions grounded in compassion, scientific rigor, and relentless optimism. Colleagues like David Heymann recall his mentorship and gentle yet visionary...
Thermal Drones Boost Detection of Entangled Seals
Researchers at Monash University and Phillip Island Nature Parks have demonstrated that thermal‑infrared drones can reliably spot marine‑debris entanglements in Australian fur seals. In 54 surveys, 81% of dual‑RGB + TIR detections showed a clear heat signature, with 95% agreement among human...
Astronauts and Space Leaders to Appear at the 2026 International Space Development Conference
The National Space Society will host the 44th International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in McLean, Virginia, from June 4‑7, 2026. The agenda features high‑profile NASA astronauts and industry leaders, including former shuttle commander Michael López‑Alegria, planetary scientist Lindy Elkins‑Tanton of the...
B‑vitamins Lower Homocysteine, Slow Brain Atrophy in MCI
Homocysteine-lowering by B vitamins slows the rate of accelerated brain atrophy in mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial https://t.co/Xt9HqmmyGi
First NSF NOIRLab Follow-Up Observations Triggered by NSF–DOE Rubin Alerts
NSF’s NOIRLab has completed its first set of follow‑up observations triggered by alerts from the Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). Within minutes of the alerts, NOIRLab telescopes—including the 4‑meter Mayall and the 2.4‑meter Blanco—obtained imaging and...
3D Imaging Reveals Messy-Looking Supraparticles Can Be Nearly Perfect Crystals Inside
Researchers at Utrecht University have, for the first time, mapped the three‑dimensional structure of photonic supraparticles using super‑resolution confocal and STED microscopy combined with machine‑learning analysis. The study shows that particles appearing disordered on the surface often form nearly perfect...
TOI-6255 B: A Planet on the Edge of Destruction
Astronomers confirmed the ultra‑short‑period exoplanet TOI‑6255 b, an Earth‑sized world orbiting its star every 5.7 hours, using combined data from TESS and the Keck Planet Finder. The planet sits just outside its star’s Roche limit, meaning tidal forces are already stretching it...
China’s Solar Surge Outpaces Declining US Installations
US solar installation: Down 14% between 2024 and 2025. Chinese solar installation: Up 14% between 2024 and 2025. Last year China installed more than 7 times more solar capacity than the US. So much for energy dominance... https://t.co/te4ziwFqlX
Twistors and Unification
The author proposes Penrose’s twistor theory as a chiral alternative to conventional spacetime symmetries, linking Wick rotation to a gauge choice in complex projective space. By treating PT≈CP³ with an SU(2,2) conformal action, particles become representations of a larger symmetry...
Cook Medical Launches Interventional MRI Research Initiative
Cook Medical has designated Indiana University as one of its inaugural Interventional MRI (iMRI) Centers of Excellence, part of a five‑year collaboration with the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences. The initiative blends device engineering, imaging science, and clinical research to...
The Rubin Observatory's LSST Will Detect Imminent Impactors Before They Crash Into Earth
The Vera Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) is poised to detect one to two meter‑scale near‑Earth objects each year, roughly doubling the current discovery rate for imminent impactors. Simulations of 343 historic fireballs show a median detection...
AI-Enabled Quantum Refinement Cracks the Code of Difficult-to-Map Proteins
A new tool called AI‑enabled Quantum Refinement (AQuaRef) merges quantum‑mechanical calculations with machine‑learning to refine protein structures. Developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and Carnegie Mellon, it is integrated into the Phenix software suite used worldwide. In tests on 71...
Interstellar Comet 3I/Atlas Has Another Surprise: It’s Full of Alcohol
Interstellar comet 3I/Atlas, the third confirmed object from beyond the solar system, is departing at 60 km/s after a close solar pass. New ALMA data show its coma contains methanol concentrations up to four times higher than typical solar comets, making...
AI Augments, Not Replaces, Human Insight in Complex Biology
"AI will not replace biological reasoning, but it may become indispensable for navigating biological systems whose complexity exceeds human intuition." A perspective on future applications for cancer neuroscience https://t.co/TnDFZ7NRFN @scisignal https://t.co/ijbhfbjXcs
No Signs of Technology on Exoplanet K2-18 B
A joint VLA‑MeerKAT campaign conducted a 33‑day, broadband radio survey of the hycean exoplanet K2‑18 b, covering 544 MHz to 9.8 GHz. After filtering over 20 million detections, the team found no narrowband technosignatures, marking the most extensive search of its kind for this...
Sharing Genetic Risk Scores Can Unwittingly Reveal Secrets
Genetic risk scores, which condense millions of DNA variants into a single health probability, can be reverse‑engineered to approximate the underlying genotype. Researchers show that mathematical techniques using reference panels can reconstruct DNA from these scores, exposing private health information....
SpaceX Now Targeting Early April for Next Starship/Superheavy Test Flight
SpaceX announced on March 7 that it is targeting early April for the 12th Starship/Superheavy orbital test flight. Booster 19, the first Block 3 Superheavy prototype, has been rolled to Pad 2 and is undergoing fueling‑system checks, ambient pressure tests, and static‑fire rehearsals with...