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
Multilayer Device Delivers Solar and Raindrop Energy Harvesting
Researchers at Spain’s Institute of Materials Science of Seville have unveiled a multilayer device that merges perovskite solar cells with a drop‑driven triboelectric nanogenerator. A fluorinated polymer (CFₓ) coating protects the perovskite layer, offers >90% optical transparency, and serves as the triboelectric surface. The hybrid harvester delivers up to 110 V and ~4 mW cm⁻² from raindrops while maintaining 85% of its output after more than 17,000 impacts, and it can simultaneously generate 11.6 mA cm⁻² under 0.5‑sun illumination. A self‑charging prototype powered LEDs, demonstrating viability for low‑power electronics.
Dual-Ligase Strategy Adds New Layer of Control to Targeted Protein Degradation
Researchers at CeMM, AITHYRA and the University of Dundee have identified a small‑molecule degrader that simultaneously engages two distinct E3 ligases to eliminate SMARCA2/4, key subunits of the BAF chromatin‑remodeling complex. The dual‑ligase mechanism acts as a molecular backup: degradation...
CAG-170 Bacterium Abundant in Healthy, Scarce in Illness
A Gut Bacterium Quietly Linked to Good Health As a medical school professor, I've watched the microbiome field generate countless conflicting findings. This one stood out. A large international study from Cambridge, published in Cell Host & Microbe, identified an obscure group...
Paper Battery Uses Cellulose, Eliminates Toxic Metals
A cellulose-based “paper battery” aims to cut harmful metals and fire risk in everyday devices. https://spectrum.ieee.org/flint-sustainable-paper-battery?share_id=9471744
China’s Yangtze River Has Been ‘Pirating’ Water From the Yellow River for More than a Million Years, Scientists Reveal
New geological research shows that over the past 1.7 million years the Yangtze River has been siphoning water from the Yellow River, averaging about five billion cubic meters per year. The study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, documents multiple...
Space Force Awards TrustPoint $4 Million for LEO Navigation Demonstration
Space Force awarded Virginia startup TrustPoint a fully funded $4 million TACFI contract to demonstrate a GPS‑independent low‑Earth‑orbit navigation system. The company will build and launch a four‑satellite constellation and four ground stations within 12 months, conducting a live trilateration test. TrustPoint’s...
Small Cell Lung Cancer Research Moves Toward a More Precision-Driven Era
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is transitioning toward precision oncology as researchers uncover distinct molecular subtypes and high‑frequency targets such as DLL3. Amgen’s DLL3‑directed T‑cell engager tarlatamab and emerging antibody‑drug conjugates illustrate a shift from conventional chemotherapy to targeted immunotherapies....
JWST Maps Cosmic Web in Record Detail Back to Universe's First Billion Years
Using its unprecedented infrared sensitivity, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has completed the COSMOS‑Web survey, the largest JWST General Observer program to date. Researchers at UC Riverside mapped the cosmic web with unprecedented detail, charting 164,000 galaxies across 13.7 billion years...
Fruits and Veggies Shield Obese Mice From Cognitive Decline
Dietary fruits and vegetables mitigate cognitive impairment in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity: a pilot study "The results from this pilot study suggest the causal link between F&V intake and the prevention of cognition impairment caused by a Western-style high-fat diet,...
Uterus Transplants Can Provide a Path to Pregnancy and Parenthood
Uterus transplantation has moved from experimental to clinical, offering a viable path to pregnancy for women with absolute uterine factor infertility (about 1 in 500). Since the first birth in Sweden (2014) and the U.S. (2017), more than 70 babies...
Sunlight Triggered Crystal Lattice Harvests Drinking Water From Air and Stores It
Chemists at the University of Iowa and Université de Sherbrooke have created a light‑activated metal‑organic framework (MOF) that forms microscopic cavities when exposed to ultraviolet sunlight, allowing it to capture and store water directly from the air. The UV‑induced structural...
Fat Cells Harbor Nuclear Enzyme Regulating Their Health
Your Fat Cells Have a Hidden Control System As a medical school professor, I teach that fat cells store and release energy. A new Cell Metabolism study reveals a second job we never knew about. Researchers led by Dr. Dominique Langin found...
Astronomers Spot Record‑Breaking Supermassive Black Hole Binary 4.4 Billion Light‑Years Away
A team of international astronomers announced the discovery of a supermassive black‑hole binary 4.4 billion light‑years away, the most massive pair ever observed. The finding pushes the limits of current models for how such giants form and merge.
Global Studies Show Psychedelics Lower Brain Hierarchy and Death Anxiety
Two recent studies reveal that psychedelic experiences flatten the brain's hierarchical organization and significantly reduce fear of death. The findings, based on a multinational brain‑imaging analysis and a survey of 106 adults, suggest a neuro‑psychological pathway for deeper existential acceptance.
NIH Study Finds EPA May Hinder Brain Repair After Repeated Mild Head Injuries
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health reported that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a key ingredient in fish oil, may impede the brain’s natural repair mechanisms after repeated mild traumatic brain injuries. The findings raise concerns for athletes, military personnel, and...
Penn State Study Finds Each Step Triggers Brain‑Cleaning Glymphatic Flow
Researchers at Penn State, led by Professor Patrick Drew, reported that the tiny abdominal pressure generated by each step moves cerebrospinal fluid, clearing metabolic waste from the brain. The finding, published in Nature Neuroscience, could reshape how mindfulness practices like...
Study Finds 8,500 Daily Steps Enough for Weight Maintenance, Upending 10,000‑Step Myth
Researchers from Italy and Lebanon have identified 8,500 daily steps as the optimal target for preventing weight regain, overturning the popular 10,000‑step benchmark. The finding comes from a systematic review of 18 randomized trials involving 3,758 adults, showing modest but...
Scarlet Therapeutics Secures $4 Million Seed Round After Lab‑Grown Blood Mirrors Donor Survival
Scarlet Therapeutics announced a $4 million seed funding round alongside data showing its lab‑grown universal red blood cells survive in the bloodstream as long as donor‑derived cells. The result validates a key performance metric for engineered blood products and positions the...
Peeling Tape Emits Tiny Supersonic Sound Bursts
The screech when peeling tape is tiny supersonic sound bursts The screeching of peeling tape is a familiar albeit annoying sound. However, despite decades of study, its source has remained elusive. The peeling of adhesive tape from a solid surface is...
Water-Based Nanocrystal Provides a Sticky Solution to a Pesky Agricultural Problem
University of Waterloo researchers have created a water‑based nanocrystal formulation that dramatically improves pesticide adhesion to plant leaves. The cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) suspension stabilizes droplets, preventing splash and runoff even in wind and rain. Early field trials on cabbage in...
Space42, Sindan Team Up to Test Autonomous Systems with Satellite Connectivity
Space42 and Sindan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly test satellite‑communication solutions on autonomous aerospace platforms. Announced at Make it in the Emirates 2026, the partnership aims to validate real‑time connectivity in operational conditions and aligns with the...
Driven Quantum Systems Reveal Hidden Topological Changes Via Wave Packet Motion
A team led by Xin Shen introduced an extended‑Hilbert‑space perturbative framework that amplifies centre‑of‑mass (CoM) oscillations of wave packets in periodically driven (Floquet) quantum systems by roughly 1,883 times. The method captures multi‑frequency motion that mirrors the underlying Floquet band...
Students Invented a New Diagnostic for Lyme Disease — and a Tool for CRISPR Researchers
Lambert High School’s 2025 iGEM team unveiled LANCET, a CRISPR‑Cas12a diagnostic that detects the Lyme‑causing bacterium’s CspZ protein up to 100 days after infection. The assay couples proximity‑dependent ligation of DNA aptamers with RPA amplification and a lateral‑flow readout, delivering...
Mayo Clinic Starts Clinical Use of New Phase’s Magnetic Nanoparticle System to Ablate Tumors
Mayo Clinic has begun treating patients with New Phase’s magnetic nanoparticle‑mediated hyperthermia system, marking the first U.S. clinical use of the technology. Six stage‑4 metastatic cancer patients have already received the investigational therapy under an FDA‑granted IDE, highlighting a new...
China Launches Hanyuan‑2, First Dual‑Core Neutral‑Atom Quantum Processor
CAS Cold Atom Technology in Wuhan announced Hanyuan‑2, the world’s first dual‑core neutral‑atom quantum computer. The cabinet‑sized system packs 200 qubits—100 rubidium‑85 and 100 rubidium‑87 atoms—and consumes under 7 kW. The launch signals China’s push to commercial‑grade quantum hardware using a...
NASA Unveils $30 B Artemis Moon Base Plan Targeting 2039 Surface Operations
NASA announced a $30 billion, 11‑year Artemis moon‑base roadmap that aims for surface operations by 2039. The plan calls for 79 launches, a nuclear‑powered outpost and a sustained crew rotation every six months by 2032, positioning the U.S. to lock in...
Pancreatic Cancer Patient Gains Years with New Targeted Drug Daraxonrasib
Patient Vicky Stinson, diagnosed with stage‑III pancreatic cancer, is now living beyond expectations after receiving daraxonrasib, a mutation‑targeting therapy that recent trial data say triples survival compared with standard chemotherapy. The story underscores a wave of biotech advances that could...
Teen Builds ‘Bionic Underwater Robotic Turtle’ to Detect Ecological Threats
Fifteen‑year‑old Evan Budz of Burlington, Ontario, built a bionic underwater robotic turtle (BURT) that mimics sea‑turtle locomotion and uses AI to detect ecological threats such as coral bleaching, invasive species and microplastics. The robot weighs about 11 lb, can operate up...
Building Nests Is Hard. That’s Why Some Birds Steal.
Researchers equipped 216 Hawaiian honeycreeper nests with GPS tags and documented 39 cases of nest‑material theft, a behavior termed kleptoparasitism. The study, published in *American Naturalist*, identified three scarlet and golden honeycreeper species stealing twigs and soft lining from both...
Escaping the Icarian Fate: A Surprisingly Thick Atmosphere on the Ultrahot Super-Earth TOI-561 B
Astronomers used the James Webb Space Telescope to observe four eclipses of the ultra‑short‑period super‑Earth TOI‑561 b, constructing its dayside emission spectrum. The spectrum is inconsistent with a bare, molten rock surface but matches models that include a thick, volatile‑rich atmosphere...
Star Catcher Closes $65M Series A
Star Catcher announced a $65 million Series A round, lifting its total capital to $88 million. The round was led by B Capital and co‑led by Shield Capital and Cerberus Ventures, with board seats for former Space Force chief Jay Raymond and senior energy...
Super-Resolution Microscopy Provides Real-Time Picture of Bacteria Degrading Biomass with Enzyme Complexes
Researchers at the National Laboratory of the Rockies used super‑resolution microscopy combined with machine‑learning clustering to analyze 15,000 images of the bacterium Clostridium thermocellum. The study visualized and quantified cellulosome complexes, showing they concentrate at points where the microbe contacts...
Poor Weather Causes NASA, SpaceX to Scrub Launch Attempt of 34th Cargo Dragon Mission to the Space Station
NASA and SpaceX scrubbed the CRS‑34 Cargo Dragon launch on Tuesday due to unfavorable weather, moving the liftoff to Wednesday, May 13 at 6:50 p.m. EDT. The mission will deliver roughly 6,500 lb of scientific experiments and supplies to the International Space...
Weather Models Suggest El Nino Could Be of at Least Moderate Strength, Says Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology says climate models are converging on an El Niño of at least moderate strength, with central tropical Pacific sea‑surface temperatures projected to hit El Niño thresholds by early southern‑hemisphere winter. While the oceanic warming—up to 2 °C above average...
Fenix Space Flies Tow-Launch Prototype
Fenix Space, a California launch startup, finished a week‑long test campaign of its alpha tow‑launch prototype, proving the vehicle can separate from a carrier aircraft and execute autonomous flight maneuvers. The system uses a horizontal‑lift approach, taking off and landing...
Solvents’ Molecular Orientation Now Accurately Models Quantum Behaviour
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University and the University of Surrey have unveiled a mixed quantum‑classical hydrodynamic framework that models quantum solutes in classical polar solvents. By representing the solvent as a continuous ideal fluid and coupling its density and velocity...
Oregon Prepares for a Challenging Summer of Water Shortages and High Fire Risk
Oregon’s snowpack hit a record low after a warm, rain‑heavy winter, leaving the mountains virtually snow‑free. Fire officials warn that the lack of high‑elevation snow will accelerate the start of the wildfire season and extend its duration. Forecasters predict a...
Scientists Discover Hidden Fat-Burning Switch that Could Strengthen Bones
Researchers at McGill University have identified a molecular switch in brown fat that activates an alternative heat‑producing pathway, the futile creatine cycle, when glycerol binds to the enzyme TNAP. This discovery reveals how brown fat can generate thermogenesis independently of...
7 Years, 700 Mg/dL Cholesterol, Zero Coronary Plaque
🚨New Paper: "Seven Years of 700 Cholesterol Without Coronary Atherosclerosis" After 7 years of ~700 mg/dl cholesterol, 0 mm3 total plaque (soft +calcified) after expert analysis and AI-guided quantification. Open-access paper linked below.
WOG Tech Sets up Research Centre
WOG Technologies inaugurated a 7,000‑sq‑ft Research, Development & Technology Centre in Gurugram’s Udyog Vihar. The facility houses wet, bio, dry and chromatography laboratories plus a modular pilot effluent treatment plant to accelerate commercialization of water, wastewater and renewable‑energy technologies. At...
Quantum States in Phase Space Need Full Reconstruction for Accurate Modelling
Researchers at Chulalongkorn University and Kyoto University introduced a new phase‑space framework that reconstructs quantum states using a signed Moyal residual and weighted empirical measures of carrier trajectories. The approach reduces Wigner‑function error from 5.7 × 10⁻² to 5.4 × 10⁻⁵, a three‑order‑of‑magnitude improvement...
SANA Adds CD8‑targeted Fusosome SG227 to Pipeline
🚨! $SANA has just reported - in its Q1 ER, that it plans to expand its pipeline by advancing a new preclinical program - SG227. SG227 is a CD8-targeted fusosome that by delivering a genetic material to make BCMA-directed CAR...
Interstitium: Possible Physical Basis for Acupuncture’s Chi
The Interstitium: “A 3rd Circulatory System” Its discovery may explain, in modern biomedical terms— how Acupuncture works. Traditional Chinese medicine describes chi as flowing across 12 meridians - which seem to run via the interstitium… https://t.co/dYPBMuJp4K
Surgery May Worsen Knee Osteoarthritis, Study Says, so What Could Help?
A Finnish study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, a common surgery for knee osteoarthritis, leads to worse outcomes over a decade compared with sham procedures. Patients who underwent the meniscus‑removing surgery experienced...
Split‑brain Studies Reveal Two Halves of Consciousness
Can we cut consciousness in half with a scalpel? The fascinating research on split-brain patients. https://t.co/KLdDXnF6KG
ExoMars Prototype Updated, Lander Visible in Background
New version of ExoMars prototype is emerging. Note the lander on the background of one photo:
U.S. Lawmakers Push FDA to Fast‑Track Psychedelic Therapies for Mental Health
A bipartisan group of 32 House members, led by Reps. Jack Bergman and Lou Correa, sent a May 1 letter to FDA Commissioner Martin Makary urging the agency to speed up evaluation of psychedelic‑based treatments for PTSD, depression and substance‑use disorders. The...
JWST Maps Cosmic Web in Unprecedented Detail, Reaching Back 1 Billion Years
A team led by the University of California, Riverside used the James Webb Space Telescope's COSMOS-Web survey to produce the clearest map ever of the cosmic web, tracing filaments and voids to when the universe was just a billion years...
NASA Partners with Microchip to Build Next-Generation Spaceflight Chips with 100x the Power of Current Offerings — Chip Designed to...
NASA has teamed up with Microchip Technology to create a next‑generation system‑on‑a‑chip (SoC) for spacecraft that promises 100 times the computing capacity of today’s spaceflight processors. The partnership will produce two variants: a radiation‑hardened chip for deep‑space, Moon and Mars missions,...
Olive Oil and Coffee Linked to Slower Cellular Ageing in Spanish Study
Researchers from the University of Navarra presented data showing that regular intake of olive oil and coffee correlates with slower telomere shortening in middle‑aged Spaniards. The findings, unveiled at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, add new evidence that...