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
Carbon‑Welded Single‑Wall Nanotubes Achieve Record‑Low Resistance for Transparent Conductors
Scientists have fabricated a transparent conductive film from carbon‑welded isolated single‑wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) that reaches a sheet resistance of 25 Ω/□ at 90% optical transmittance. The breakthrough eliminates high‑resistance Schottky junctions and enables OLEDs with a 2.5 V turn‑on voltage and 75 cd/A current efficiency, positioning the material as a viable ITO replacement for flexible displays and photovoltaics.
ASGCT 2026: AI-Optimized Cas12l Gene Editor Offers Compact Cas9 Alternative
Researchers at Caszyme and Vilnius University unveiled an AI‑engineered Cas12l variant, M82, that delivers 67% indel editing efficiency—essentially on par with the industry‑standard Cas9. The 867‑amino‑acid nuclease is markedly smaller, recognizing C‑rich PAMs and showing up to 56% homology‑directed repair...
Cogent Biosciences Targets Transformational 2026 with Bezuclastinib
Cogent Biosciences Inc. says its lead drug candidate Bezuclastinib will hit several regulatory and clinical checkpoints in 2026, positioning the firm for a pivotal year. The tyrosine‑kinase inhibitor targets the KIT D816V mutation that drives most gastrointestinal stromal tumors and...
A Greenland Explorer Will Eat only Decaying Seal for a Month
British explorer‑chef Mike Keen will ski roughly 320 km across Greenland’s icy north, surviving for about a month on slowly decomposing seal meat. The trek, undertaken with a sled dog, doubles as a scientific probe: he and the dog will provide...
Customizable Drinks Could Provide Essential Nutrients During Space Missions
Following Artemis II, NASA is planning longer deep‑space missions that demand better nutrition than today’s dried, shelf‑stable foods provide. A new ACS Food Science & Technology study demonstrates that microfluidic‑produced beverage nanoemulsions can be customized for sweetness and flavor while delivering...
Single‑Atom‑Induced Electronic Polarization at Adjacent Cluster Promotes Efficient Hydrogen Storage in Magnesium Hydride
Researchers have engineered a niobium single‑atom/cluster composite (NbSA/AC) on magnesium hydride (MgH₂) to boost hydrogen storage performance. The catalyst enables MgH₂ to release roughly 4 wt% hydrogen at just 175 °C, surpassing traditional Nb single‑atom or cluster catalysts. Computational analysis shows that...
Experimentally Validated AI Model Predicts Virulence of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus
Researchers at Sungkyunkwan University unveiled DeepTYLCV, an AI model that predicts the virulence of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) from genome sequences. The hybrid Transformer‑CNN framework achieved 100% concordance with experimental infection assays across 15 diverse isolates, surpassing the...
Sustaining Radicals in Aqueous Media Through Formation of a Trigger‐Inclusive Microenvironment in Hydrogen‐Bonded Frameworks for Antibacterial Activity
Researchers engineered hydrogen‑bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) with high‑aspect‑ratio 1D channels to trap both a radical‑generating trigger and the resulting radicals. The elongated channels act as diffusion barriers while extensive π‑π stacking delocalizes electrons, jointly extending radical lifetimes to over 30...
How Exercise Influences Cancer Cell Viability
Dr Mhairi Morris of Loughborough University has built a 3‑dimensional co‑culture system that recreates the obesogenic breast‑cancer micro‑environment using visceral and subcutaneous adipocytes. The model shows that adipocyte‑rich cultures boost cancer cell viability, while exercise‑conditioned media reverses this effect. To measure outcomes,...
Astronomers Pin Down the Origins of a Planetary Odd Couple
MIT astronomers used JWST to probe the atmosphere of TOI‑1130b, a mini‑Neptune orbiting inside a hot Jupiter 190 light‑years away. The spectrum revealed water vapor, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and traces of methane, indicating a heavy, volatile‑rich envelope. Such an...
Rare Seals Spotted Snoozing in an Underwater ‘Bubble Cave’
Scientists have identified a hidden underwater "bubble cave" off Greece’s Formicula islet that Mediterranean monk seals use to rest away from tourists. Camera monitoring recorded seal presence in the bubble cave on 119 of 141 days, far exceeding use of...
Don Juan Pond: Antarctica's Salty, Syrupy Lake that Never Freezes, Even when It's Minus 58 F
Don Juan Pond in Antarctica’s McMurdo Dry Valleys remains liquid despite winter lows of minus 58 °F because its water is more than 40% salt, chiefly calcium chloride. The shallow, syrup‑like lake covers an area slightly smaller than six football fields and...
CAR-T Therapy for Stiff Person Syndrome Nears Approval
Kyverna Therapeutics is close to securing regulatory approval for its CAR‑T cell therapy aimed at treating stiff person syndrome (SPS), a rare autoimmune neurological disorder with no approved drugs. The therapy uses engineered T cells to eliminate the B‑cell populations...
Agdia Releases Rapid Molecular Test Kit & Service for Emerging Coguviruses in Cucurbit Crops
Agdia, Inc. has introduced a rapid, field‑deployable molecular test kit that detects Watermelon crinkle leaf‑associated virus 1 and 2 (WCLaV‑1, WCLaV‑2) directly in cucurbit fields. The kit is paired with a laboratory service that expands screening to additional cucurbit pathogens. Validation...
Columbia Researchers Identify CO2 Mechanism Cooling Earth's Stratosphere
Researchers at Columbia University have pinpointed the physics behind the paradox of a warming surface and a cooling upper atmosphere. Their Nature Geoscience paper shows that increasing CO2 enhances infrared emission in a narrow “Goldilocks” band, driving stratospheric temperatures down...
Making Eyes ‘Photosynthetic’ Could Treat Common Vision Problem
A team from the National University of Singapore has created a light‑activated particle called LEAF, derived from whole spinach thylakoids, that boosts NADPH and ATP production in mammalian eye cells. When applied as eye drops to mice with chemically induced...
Four‑Week Whole‑Food Diet Cuts Biological Age Scores in Seniors
Researchers at the University of Sydney reported that a four‑week dietary switch to whole‑food, plant‑rich meals reduced biological age scores in 104 older adults. The study used the Klemera‑Doubal Method to quantify changes, prompting discussion about whether brief nutrition tweaks...
Microbe ‘Cities’ May Solve a Key Ocean Mystery
Scientists have identified dense microbial "cities" living inside sinking marine‑snow particles as a key driver of calcite dissolution, weakening the ocean’s ability to lock away carbon. Using a microfluidic chip that mimics marine snow, researchers observed that tightly packed, oxygen‑breathing...
Engineering NiO Particle Size in Hydrogen Electrode Functional Layers for Enhanced Performance of Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells
The study examined how nickel oxide (NiO) particle size in hydrogen electrode functional layers (HEFLs) influences the performance of protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (PCECs). Using nano‑sized NiO particles produced a denser electrolyte membrane and finer, more uniform microstructures after reduction,...
Lipopolysaccharide Exposure Before Injury Improves Regeneration in Aged Skin
Researchers discovered that a brief pre‑exposure to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) dramatically improves wound healing in aged mouse skin. The LPS pulse triggers innate immune cells to form neutrophil extracellular traps and macrophage protrusions, creating a rapid physical barrier. This barrier...
Japanese Team Shows Liquid‑Like Gold Nanoparticles Enable Adaptive Materials
Scientists at Tohoku University have demonstrated that gold nanoparticles coated with responsive organic ligands can behave like a liquid at an air‑water interface, shifting from island‑like to network structures when heated to about 104 °F (40 °C) or mechanically compressed. The finding...
A Multimodal Variable‐speed Microrobot With Asymmetric Multilayer Structure for Moving Agility and Adaptability
Researchers have unveiled a soft piezoelectric microrobot that uses an asymmetric multilayer structure to achieve multimodal locomotion with variable speeds. By tuning the driving frequency, the robot switches between distinct gaits, reaching 20.6 and 43.2 body lengths per second in...
NASA’s Psyche Probe Uses Mars Flyby to Speed Toward ‘Trillion‑Dollar’ Asteroid
NASA’s Psyche mission executed a gravity‑assist flyby of Mars at roughly 2,800 miles altitude, giving the spacecraft extra velocity for its journey to the metal‑rich 16 Psyche asteroid. The asteroid, estimated to hold a trillion‑dollar worth of metals, is expected to be...
Catalysis‐Derived Robust Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Stable SiO Anode
Researchers introduced a catalytic interfacial engineering approach that decorates silicon monoxide (SiO) particles with nickel nanoparticles and nitrogen‑doped carbon. The Ni sites catalyze fluorinated electrolyte decomposition, forming a dense LiF‑rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) that tolerates volume change and improves...
CAR T-Cell Therapy Bolstered by Stiffening up Cancer Cells First
Researchers have discovered that pre‑treating cancer cells to increase their stiffness markedly improves the effectiveness of CAR T‑cell therapy in mouse models of aggressive melanoma. The physical alteration of tumor mechanics enhances immune cell infiltration and tumor killing, offering a novel...
An Improved Method for Space-Based Gravitational-Wave Measurements
Researchers at the University of Maryland have unveiled an enhanced time‑delay interferometry technique that synchronizes spacecraft clocks using an optical frequency comb, achieving sub‑nanosecond precision. The method reduces laser and clock noise below LISA’s detection threshold and simplifies the hardware...
New Math Method Cuts Earth‑Moon Fuel Use by 58 M/S
A new mathematical method mapped a more economical route between Earth and the moon’s orbits, cutting fuel use by 58.80 m/s. The route came from exploring far more trajectory options than earlier work. space
Mathematical Method Calculates Most Efficient Earth-Moon Route Yet
Researchers introduced a new mathematical method based on the theory of functional connections that identifies the most fuel‑efficient Earth‑Moon transfer to date. By simulating 30 million trajectories, the team found a path that saves 58.80 m/s of delta‑v compared with the best...
Fraunhofer ISE Achieves 31.3% Record Solar-to-Hydrogen Efficiency in CPV Electrolysis
Researchers at Fraunhofer ISE have set a new outdoor record for solar‑to‑hydrogen conversion, reaching 31.3% efficiency with a four‑junction micro‑concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) array driving two series‑connected PEM electrolyzers. The CPV module delivered 34.7% solar‑to‑electricity conversion while the electrolyzer operated at...
Discovery Could Reshape RNA Editing with DNA-Guided CRISPR
University of Florida engineers unveiled the first DNA‑guided CRISPR system, allowing Cas12 enzymes to locate and edit RNA targets using stable DNA guides. The approach cuts guide‑synthesis costs, boosts specificity, and delivers near‑perfect diagnostic accuracy for viruses like HIV and...
Study Maps Reuse Paths For SLS Waste Powder
Researchers published a study in Physchem outlining practical pathways to valorize waste powder from Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). The paper details two main routes: restoring the powder for further additive manufacturing through sieving, blending or reactive extrusion, and diverting aged...
The Sky Today on Friday, May 15: A Double Shadow Transit at Jupiter
On the night of May 15, 2026, Jupiter will host a rare double‑shadow transit as the shadows of moons Europa and Ganymede sweep across its cloud tops. Ganymede’s shadow appears first at 9:58 PM EDT and finishes around 11:26 PM MDT, while Europa’s shadow follows,...
Weekly Neuroscience Update
The latest neuroscience roundup delivers a suite of breakthroughs, starting with the first brain‑wide map of the histamine system that ties neurotransmitter activity to genetics, behavior and mental‑health disorders. A pilot trial shows transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) can safely...
Poor Sleep Not Just Symptom, but Potential Sign of Alzheimer’s Disease
University of Kentucky researchers propose that poor sleep may act as an early biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease, appearing before memory loss. Their mouse studies show tau protein redirects brain glucose toward excitatory pathways, keeping the brain over‑active and preventing restorative...
Blind Quantum Computing Achieved on Modular Superconducting Processor
Do you wonder how you can execute a #quantum algorithm on a quantum server in a way that the operator of the server does know neither the task nor the result? Here we conceptually demonstrate blind quantum computing using ...
Can Supplements Slow Parkinson’s Disease? Review Reveals Where the Evidence Stands
Researchers reviewed human clinical trials to assess whether dietary supplements can modify Parkinson’s disease progression. The analysis highlighted modest benefits from omega‑3 fatty acids—particularly when paired with vitamin E—nicotinamide riboside, and multi‑strain probiotics, while large trials found no effect for creatine,...
Technological Telepathy: Is an ”Internet of Minds” Possible?
The article examines how advances in brain‑computer interfaces, AI decoding models, and neuroscience are converging toward what the author calls "technological telepathy" – a low‑bandwidth network that can transmit selected cognitive signals rather than full thoughts. It traces the lineage...
Study Pinpoints Phase‑mismatch Errors Undermining MEMS Gyroscope Precision
A multinational research team identified that phase‑mismatch errors in the sense‑mode control loops of MEMS gyroscopes cause the greatest loss of precision, especially in scale factor and zero‑rate output. Their findings, published in Microsystems & Nanoengineering, propose targeted calibration to...
Could Sea Squirts’ Nano-Packaging Unlock a New Era in Sea Forest Restoration?
Researchers at POSTECH have identified a nano‑scale delivery system that sea squirts use to transport adhesive proteins, packaging them with iron, chromium and vanadium into solid condensates. These nanocondensates travel within specialized cellular compartments to the rhizoid tips, where metal...
The Goldilocks Sleep Zone: Study Links Too Little and Too Much Sleep to Biological Aging
A new Nature paper from the MULTI consortium used UK Biobank data to map self‑reported sleep duration against 23 organ‑specific biological aging clocks. The analysis uncovered a robust U‑shaped curve: both short ( 8 h) sleep were linked to larger biological age...
Science Shorts: Vitamin D, Postbiotics, HMB Protein, NMN in the Spotlight
A series of recent clinical studies highlight emerging functional ingredients that deliver measurable health benefits. A chocolate wafer delivering 400‑800 IU vitamin D normalized serum levels in 65% of deficient Indian women within three months, while a heat‑inactivated Lactiplantibacillus postbiotic reduced gingival...
Archer Materials Advances Biosensor Prototype Toward Preclinical Validation
Archer Materials announced that its alpha Biosensor prototype, built on its Biochip platform, has reached clinical‑grade potassium‑sensing accuracy. The company is now engineering a beta prototype designed for pre‑clinical validation and eventual patient trials, with the first beta system expected...
Biogen Finds Alzheimer’s Path for Tau ASO Despite Mixed Data
Biogen reported Phase 2 data for its tau‑targeting antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) in Alzheimer’s disease, showing a roughly 30% reduction in cerebrospinal fluid tau levels. Cognitive endpoints, however, delivered only modest, statistically non‑significant improvements versus placebo. The safety profile remained clean,...
SIRT6 Overexpression Reverses Liver Chromatin Aging
SIRT6 overexpression counteracts chromatin aging in the male murine liver “Furthermore, AAV-mediated SIRT6 overexpression in aged male mice demonstrates that SIRT6 not only slows age-related chromatin changes but can also reverse them, rejuvenating chromatin accessibility to a youthful state.” https://t.co/fpGJtiOjvL @NatureComms
From Tractor‑Driver’s Son to Space‑Tech Founder: Dr. Anand Megalingam’s Rise
Dr. Anand Megalingam, founder and CEO of Space Zone India, transformed a childhood of six‑kilometre school walks and a college dropout into a gold‑medalist aeronautical engineer and private‑space pioneer. His upcoming RHUMI Twin project, targeting simultaneous rocket launches from Chennai,...
Screening Leads to Moderate Reduction in Prostate Cancer Mortality
A new Cochrane systematic review of six large trials involving nearly 800,000 men finds that prostate‑specific antigen (PSA) screening cuts prostate cancer mortality, preventing one death for every 500 men screened (about two deaths per 1,000). The analysis, anchored by...
RNA‑ROS Nanoplatform Cuts Skin Inflammation in Preclinical Tests
Researchers led by Cui, Lu and Cai unveiled a multifunctional nanoplatform that simultaneously delivers double‑stranded RNA and scavenges reactive oxygen species, achieving marked reductions in TNF‑α, IL‑6 and IL‑1β in skin inflammation models. The study, published in Nature Communications, signals...
Rigetti Launches 108‑qubit Modular Quantum Computer at 99.1% Fidelity, Sparking Scaling Debate
Rigetti Computing announced the general availability of its 108‑qubit modular quantum computer, Cepheus‑1‑108Q, achieving a median two‑qubit gate fidelity of 99.1%. The figure falls short of the 99.5% benchmark the company set for fault‑tolerant scaling, igniting debate over the viability...
FDA Approves First All‑Oral Decitabine/Cedazuridine + Venetoclax Regimen for Older AML Patients
Taiho Oncology announced that the U.S. FDA has approved Inqovi (decitabine/cedazuridine) combined with venetoclax for newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia patients aged 75 or older, or those unsuitable for intensive induction chemotherapy. The approval, based on a Phase 2 trial showing...
Estrogen Levels May Dictate How the Brain Reacts to Psychedelics, New Animal Study Indicates
A new study in Neuropharmacology shows that adolescent rats respond minimally to psilocybin, while adult rats exhibit robust head‑shaking behavior, a proxy for psychedelic effect. Adult female rats showed greater sensitivity during low‑estrogen estrous phases, indicating hormonal modulation of serotonin...