Today's Science Pulse
Hidden Star Clusters Discovered Deep Inside Nearby Galaxies
A UK‑led study using VLA and ALMA data uncovered previously hidden giant star clusters deep within nearby galaxies, describing them as “ring factories.” The findings highlight how young stellar activity shapes galactic evolution across the universe.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Foundation Alloy raises $22M Series A
Using Webb Astronomers Think They Have Detected Daily Weather Changes on Exoplanet
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope’s infrared spectroscopic data say they have observed daily weather cycles on hot‑Jupiter WASP‑94A b, a gas giant about half Jupiter’s mass that orbits its star every four days. The observations reveal magnesium‑silicate clouds forming on the planet’s morning side, while the evening side appears cloud‑free. Researchers propose either supersonic winds clearing the evening atmosphere or a fog‑like cloud that evaporates with daylight. Although the findings are tentative, they represent the first possible detection of diurnal weather on an exoplanet.
Researchers Successfully 3D Print Living Cornea
Researchers have successfully 3D‑printed a living cornea using decellularized donor tissue as a scaffold and stem cells to repopulate it. By applying extrusion shear forces, they aligned collagen fibers to replicate the natural architecture, achieving 90% cell viability and observable...
UT‑Austin Engineers 100‑nm DNA Origami ‘Longhorn’, Boosting Nanofabrication Yields
University of Texas at Austin scientists have fabricated the smallest DNA‑origami Longhorn logo—about 100 nm wide and 2 nm thick—using new thermodynamic design rules. The breakthrough cuts folding time to under two hours and lifts yields by up to 17%, promising faster,...
Pasqal Shows Logical Qubits Beat Physical Counterparts by 50% in Differential Equation Solving
Pasqal Holding SAS demonstrated that logical qubits outperform physical qubits by more than 50% on average—and up to ten‑fold on select differential equations—using its neutral‑atom processor. The breakthrough, detailed in an arXiv paper, provides the first full‑application evidence that error‑corrected...
DESI Telescope Deploys 5,000 Robotic Fingers to Map Dark Energy
The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) operates a telescope equipped with 5,000 robotic fingers that autonomously reset and point with sub‑hair precision each night. Over three years the system has surveyed 14 million galaxies, delivering a new 3‑D map of the...
An Ancient Solar Storm Left Clues in Tree Rings and a Famous Poet's Diary: 'Red Lights in the Northern Sky'
Scientists at Japan’s OIST have identified a “sub‑extreme” solar proton event (SPE) that struck Earth between 1200 and 1201 CE, using carbon‑14 spikes in tree rings and a 1204 diary entry describing a red aurora over Kyoto. The research reveals that...
Seal Pups Were Dying From a 'Corkscrew Killer' On a Canadian Island. It Turned Out to Be Cannibals.
Researchers have finally solved a decades‑old mystery on Sable Island, identifying cannibalistic male gray seals as the source of spiral‑shaped lacerations that killed seal pups. The study, published in Marine Mammal Science, documented direct attacks and analyzed drone footage from...
Zvezda Module on ISS Is Leaking Once Again
The Zvezda service module on the International Space Station has begun leaking air again, losing roughly one pound of atmosphere per day. The leak re‑emerged after recent repairs aimed at sealing stress fractures that appeared earlier this year. NASA confirmed...
X-BATT’s Glassact SiOC Spherical Anode Targets 800 mAh/G and 8,000 Cycles—More than Double Graphite’s Capacity
X‑BATT introduced Glassact, a spherical silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) anode that targets over 800 mAh/g reversible capacity—more than twice that of conventional graphite. The company also claims the material can charge at rates exceeding 8 C while retaining at least 80% of its...
ASCO26: 5 Data Snapshots Ahead of the Year’s Biggest Cancer Drug Meeting
Ahead of the ASCO Annual Meeting, several late‑stage oncology trials were previewed in newly released abstracts. Merck’s antibody‑drug conjugate sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac‑TMT) combined with Keytruda cut disease‑progression risk by 65% and achieved a 70% response rate in first‑line non‑small cell...
Clitoral Anatomy Mis‑taught Until 1998, Widening Orgasm Gap
The clitoris was not correctly mapped in a peer-reviewed medical journal until 1998. Every gynecologist who graduated before 2000 trained on an incomplete anatomy and passed their lack of knowledge onto you. Most of their patients never knew. It led to not...
Hi-Res Microscopes Give Biologists Petabytes of Data. Scientists Are Creating an AI Assistant to Make Sense of It
University of California, Berkeley researchers have built MOSAIC, a multimodal microscope that integrates twelve imaging techniques into a single platform, generating petabyte‑scale, five‑dimensional (3D + time + color) data sets. The system captures live cellular and organismal dynamics at unprecedented resolution, from single molecules...
Rocket Lab Launches Radar Satellite for Japanese Company Synspective
Rocket Lab successfully lifted off its Electron rocket from New Zealand, delivering the ninth radar satellite for Japan’s Synspective under a 27‑launch contract. The launch marks Rocket Lab’s seventh launch worldwide in 2026, placing it behind SpaceX, China and Russia in...
Moderate Sex Frequency Minimizes Heart Risk, Extremes Harmful
Americans who had sex 1-3x/week (52–103x/year) had the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease and death. Both very low frequency (<12x/year) and extremely high frequency (≥365x/year) were linked to a higher risk. Low sexual activity might suggest cardiovascular problems (ED), hormonal dysfunction, or...
U.S. Streamlines Review Process for Fusion Energy
Fusion energy poised for simpler U.S. review https://t.co/DlwoCqRGP4 via @axios with reporting from @WebSummit Vancouver. https://t.co/zg6hM8eYOv
On‐Surface Synthesis of B3N3‐Substituted Two‐Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks with Distinct Pore Sizes and Kagome Band Structures
Researchers have achieved on‑surface synthesis of single‑layer, B3N3‑substituted two‑dimensional covalent organic frameworks (COFs) on Ag(111) and Au(111) substrates under ultra‑high vacuum. Multi‑method characterization—including STM, bond‑resolved AFM and photoemission spectroscopy—reveals a non‑planar, chiral lattice with kagome topology. By varying the spacer...
GLP‑1 Cancer Link Unclear, Dedicated Trials Needed
Whether there is a real impact of GLP-1 drugs on cancer is unresolved. If confirmed, it could simply reflect weight loss or, as seen for other conditions (e.g. heart, kidney), weight loss independent effects. We need dedicated trials to resolve...
Stressed Crystal Creates Nanoscale Patterns on Chip Materials at Room Temperature
Rice University researchers introduced a room‑temperature method that uses an anisotropic alpha‑molybdenum trioxide crystal to imprint nanoscale ripple patterns onto hard dielectrics such as silica, aluminum oxide and silicon nitride. The electron‑beam‑induced stress buckles the crystal layer while softening the...
Using Brain Waves to Translate Thoughts Into Pictures
Physics students at Stevens Institute of Technology trained machine‑learning models to reconstruct visual categories from EEG brain‑wave recordings, correctly identifying images such as pizza and pandas. The work shows that inexpensive, portable EEG—costing a few hundred to a few thousand...
MIT Celebrates Haystack Observatory’s Return To Operation
MIT’s Haystack Observatory has brought its 37‑meter radio telescope back online after a multi‑year upgrade that began in 2010. On Dec. 8, 2025, the facility used Very Long Baseline Interferometry with the VLBA and Greenland Telescope to capture unprecedented detail of the...
OSE’s Tedopi-Keytruda Combo Clears Phase II Ovarian Cancer Hurdle
French biotech OSE Immunotherapeutics announced positive Phase II data for its cancer vaccine Tedopi combined with Merck's Keytruda in platinum‑sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer. The combination improved median progression‑free survival to 4.1 months versus 2.8 months with best supportive care, cutting the risk of...
Could Sodium Replace Lithium as the Dominant Ingredient in Batteries?
Researchers at the University of Limerick have created a dual‑cation battery that blends sodium and lithium ions. Adding a small amount of lithium salt to a sodium‑dominant electrolyte doubled the half‑cell’s storage capacity and sustained 1,000 charge‑discharge cycles at higher...
Varda CEO Foresees Space-Based Medicine Moving From Research Novelty to Manufacturing Mainstream
Varda Space Industries announced its first public pharma partnership with United Therapeutics, aiming to fly a microgravity‑manufactured drug in 2027 and begin production the following year. CEO Will Bruey framed the deal as proof that space‑based manufacturing is moving from...
HANTAVIRUS: Should You Actually Be Scared? And My Science-Backed Antiviral Approach.
The blog examines the recent surge in hantavirus concerns following the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak in May 2026. It separates hype from data, explaining the virus’s long‑standing presence and actual risk profile. The author also outlines a science‑backed antiviral...
NIH Researchers Identify Avenue for Enhanced GLP-1-Induced Weight Loss
NIH scientists have mapped how the GLP‑1 agonist semaglutide triggers intracellular signaling in mouse hindbrain neurons, pinpointing cyclic AMP (cAMP) elevation in the area postrema as a key driver of weight loss. The study revealed that cAMP responses differ across...
Astronomers Discover a Super-Earth Orbiting a Nearby Red Dwarf
Astronomers led by Giuseppe Conzo announced the discovery of Ross 318 b, a temperate super‑Earth orbiting the nearby red dwarf Ross 318, just 28 light‑years from Earth. The planet completes an orbit every 39.63 days at 0.16 AU, with a minimum mass of 6.21 Earth...
ISS National Lab Provides Fresh Lens on Aging and Health, Sparking Space Medicine Programs Nationwide
The International Space Station National Lab is turning its 26‑year microgravity research platform into a catalyst for new health breakthroughs on Earth. At Cedars‑Sinai, stem‑cell‑derived heart cells grown in space are being leveraged for scalable regenerative therapies. The University of...
Hubble Captures Galaxy Cluster MACS J1141.6-1905
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope released a new visible‑and‑infrared image of the galaxy cluster MACS J1141.6-1905, located about 4 billion light‑years away in the constellation Crater. The picture combines data from two Hubble programs that target X‑ray‑bright clusters to study gravitational lensing...
Cognitive Effects Vary by Therapy for Advanced Prostate Cancer
A phase‑2 ARACOG trial presented at ASCO showed that men with advanced prostate cancer receiving darolutamide experienced significantly less cognitive decline over 24 weeks than those on enzalutamide. The study enrolled 111 patients (median age 71) and evaluated five computer‑based neurocognitive tests,...
Higher Cardiorespiratory Fitness Cuts Depression, Dementia Risk
Cardiorespiratory fitness and risk of mental disorders and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis High CRF was associated with a reduced risk of depression (HR = 0.64); all-cause dementia (HR = 0.61) and psychotic disorders (HR = 0.71) in adults. https://t.co/5dNZ0WfU8H
Tuna Has Overtaken Cod as the UK’s Top-Selling Seafood – Here’s Why
Tuna has overtaken cod as the UK’s top-selling seafood, reflecting a surge in sustainably sourced tuna and a steep decline in cod stocks. In the southwest UK, tuna numbers have risen enough to support a regulated fishery with a 230‑tonne...
Scientists Discover a Strange Hidden State in “Sandwich” Molecules
Scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology have isolated and fully characterized a doubly ring‑slipped intermediate in the formation of ruthenocene, marking the first crystal‑structure evidence of such a species. The discovery was achieved using single‑crystal X‑ray diffraction,...
NASA’s Moon Base Vision Includes Swarms of Lunar Robots
NASA used the 2026 FIRST Robotics World Championship to unveil its robot‑first strategy for a permanent lunar outpost. The agency outlined a first phase of up to 30 Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) landings by 2027, delivering rovers, hoppers and...
Johns Hopkins Team Clears Cloudy View of Hot Jupiter WASP-94A B with New JWST Method
A Johns Hopkins team led by David Sing applied a new cloud‑detecting method to James Webb Space Telescope observations of the hot Jupiter WASP‑94A b, separating morning cloud cover from clear evenings and delivering the most detailed atmospheric profile yet. The...
Texas A&M Nasal Spray Reverses Brain Aging Markers in Mice
Texas A&M scientists unveiled a nasal spray packed with extracellular vesicles that, in mouse trials, erased neuroinflammation and restored mitochondrial function, leading to measurable cognitive gains. The two‑dose regimen produced effects within weeks that lasted months, positioning the therapy as...
Superconducting Vortices Moonlight as Controllable Qubits, Turning a Disruption Into a Resource
Researchers at Germany's Karlsruhe Institute of Technology demonstrated that magnetic vortices in granular‑aluminum superconducting films can be harnessed as controllable qubits. By exploiting the material’s nanoscale island structure, vortices form low‑loss two‑level systems that can be coherently manipulated and read...
Black Diamond Shares Tumble 6% Despite 15‑month PFS for Silevertinib in 1L NSCLC
Black Diamond Therapeutics saw its shares drop 6.2% to $3.33 after announcing that its Phase 2 trial of Silevertinib delivered a median progression‑free survival of 15.2 months in first‑line EGFR‑non‑classical NSCLC. The market reaction highlights investors’ skepticism that the data will...
Graph Theory Metric Unlocks New Nanomaterial Properties, Researchers Say
University of Michigan, USC and UIUC researchers introduced a graph‑theory based metric that quantifies the mix of order and disorder in nanomaterials. The metric, backed by a $30 million NSF‑funded COMPASS center, allowed the team to create gold‑nanoparticle networks that strongly...
ParityQC Executes Record 52‑Qubit Quantum Fourier Transform on IBM Heron
ParityQC demonstrated a 52‑qubit Quantum Fourier Transform on IBM's Heron r3 processor, the largest QFT circuit reported to date. The team’s Parity Twine technique cut routing overhead and error rates, nearly doubling the previous best benchmark on trapped‑ion hardware.
Why an Immense Marine Heatwave Off the US West Coast Has Alarmed Scientists
An unprecedented marine heatwave off the U.S. West Coast, now stretching from Hawaii to British Columbia, has persisted since peaking in September 2025 and is projected to expand further. NOAA data shows ocean temperatures surpassing typical peak‑hurricane‑season levels, intensifying drought, wildfires,...
Scientists Just Found a Massive Untapped Reserve of Energy. It Could Help Power Our Future.
Scientists from the University of Toronto and Ottawa have quantified natural, or "white," hydrogen leaking from boreholes in Canada’s Precambrian Canadian Shield, measuring about 0.008 tonnes (8 kg) per year. Their findings suggest the Earth’s crust could hold enough geologic hydrogen to...
NASA Is Updating Its Artemis Moon Base Plan. You Can Find Out How on May 26.
NASA will brief the public on May 26 about its revised Artemis moon‑base roadmap, shifting focus from the lunar Gateway to a permanent surface outpost. The agency announced that Artemis 3 will now test Orion‑landed docking with private lunar landers in Earth...
Exercise‑released Myokines Boost Brain, Inactivity Harms Cognition
Muscle talks to the brain. 💪🧠 Exercise triggers myokines & myometabolites that boost cognition, while inactivity sends harmful signals that impair brain function. This muscle–brain crosstalk shapes behavior and resilience to aging and neurodegeneration. @WuTsaiAlliance https://t.co/63skqJToIa
Monash University Develops New Hydrogen Fuel Cell Membrane for Water-Free Operation at 250°C
Scientists at Monash University have created an ultra‑thin graphene‑boron nitride membrane that lets hydrogen fuel cells run at temperatures up to 250 °C (482 °F) without any water. The membrane uses atomically thin nanosheets infused with nanoconfined phosphoric acid to maintain rapid...
MicroLED Implant Could Cast New Light on Cancer Treatment
Engineers and cancer scientists at the University of Glasgow have created a flexible, disc‑shaped implant that houses wirelessly powered microLEDs to enhance photodynamic therapy for bladder cancer. The 40 mm device can deliver optical power exceeding five milliwatts and penetrate synthetic...
Scientists Warn that Current Vitamin B12 Guidelines May Be Putting Your Brain at Risk
Researchers at UCSF found that older adults with lower biologically active vitamin B12, even when total B12 levels are within the accepted normal range, exhibit slower cognitive processing and increased white‑matter lesions. The study of 231 healthy participants average age 71...
Flatiron Institute Tensor Network Algorithm Overturns Historical D-Wave Quantum Supremacy Claim
Physicists at the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Quantum Physics, in partnership with Boston University, have unveiled a classical three‑dimensional tensor‑network algorithm that accurately simulates the transverse‑field Ising model dynamics previously claimed to require a quantum annealer. The method, published...
Why the Intrinsic Quantum Effects of Axion Dark Matter Are Completely Undetectable
Physicists from the University of Chicago, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley published a study in Physical Review Letters showing that intrinsic quantum effects of axion dark matter are effectively undetectable with current technology. By constructing a fully quantum‑mechanical...
These Tiny Flies Survive, Even Thrive on Snow
Researchers at Northwestern University and international partners sequenced the genome of the wingless snow fly *Chionea alexandriana*, revealing a suite of cold‑tolerance genes. The insects thrive on snow and ice at 0 °C to –6 °C, actively choosing sub‑freezing conditions to lay...
Pasqal Benchmarks Error-Detected Logical Qubits Against Physical Counterparts Using Quantum Kernels
Pasqal Holding SAS demonstrated that error‑detected logical qubits outperform their physical counterparts when running a quantum‑kernel differential‑equation solver. Using a continuous [[4,2,2]] error‑detecting code on its neutral‑atom processor, the team mapped 1,000 equations and achieved more than a 50% reduction...