Japanese Team Achieves 2 Μm-Band PCSEL Laser Oscillation
Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) and Kyoto University have demonstrated laser oscillation in a 2 μm-band photonic crystal surface‑emitting laser (PCSEL). The breakthrough showcases PCSEL’s ability to deliver high directionality and ultra‑narrow linewidth in a compact infrared source. By operating at 2 μm, the device aligns with strong absorption lines of greenhouse gases such as CO₂ and CH₄, opening pathways for miniaturized, high‑sensitivity sensing. AKM announced plans to accelerate R&D toward manufacturable designs and larger‑scale production.
Half of Seabirds Are Declining. Protecting Marine Flyways Could Help Save Them
A new study maps six global marine flyways used by 151 seabird species—about 40% of all seabirds—showing that nearly half of migratory seabirds are in decline. These routes cross the Exclusive Economic Zones of 54 countries, with France intersecting all...
Earliest Known Vomit: This Ancient Predator Clearly Wasn't Picky
Paleontologists identified a 290‑million‑year‑old fossilized vomit (regurgitalite) from the early Permian Bromacker site in Germany. The 2‑inch clump, designated MNG 17001, contains 41 tiny bones from at least three prey species, including the reptile Thuringothyris mahlendorffae, the bipedal Eudibamus cursoris, and...
Far Away Objects
Artemis II has set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by a crewed spacecraft, reaching a peak of 406,771 km from Earth. The mission demonstrates NASA’s progress toward deep‑space crewed flights beyond low‑Earth orbit. By contrast, the most distant human‑made...
Adolescent Disordered Eating and Epigenetic Age Acceleration
A new longitudinal analysis of the Australian Raine Study examined whether adolescent disordered eating predicts epigenetic age acceleration (EAA). Using DNA‑methylation data from 797 participants at ages 14 and 17, the researchers found that restrictive eating behaviors at 14 were...
Neural Sequences Underlying Directed Turning in Caenorhabditis Elegans
Researchers uncovered a novel error‑correcting turning strategy in Caenorhabditis elegans, showing that worms adjust the angle of each reorientation to improve their bearing in odor gradients. Using whole‑brain calcium imaging of freely moving animals, they mapped a stereotyped sequence of...
Analysis of Rare Coding Variants in Schizophrenia-Associated Genes and Generalised Cognition in the UK Biobank
The study examined whole‑exome data from 396,848 UK Biobank participants to test whether rare damaging coding variants in schizophrenia‑linked genes affect generalised cognitive ability (g) in individuals without psychiatric diagnoses. Rare protein‑truncating variants (PTVs) and deleterious missense mutations in loss‑of‑function...
AI-Designed Proteins Built From Scratch Can Recognize Specific Compounds
Researchers at KAIST, led by Gyu Rie Lee and David Baker, used an AI model to design artificial proteins from scratch that selectively bind specific compounds. The team experimentally validated six de novo binding proteins, including a cortisol‑responsive biosensor that functions as a chemical‑induced...
Survival of the Wittiest
Linguist Ljiljana Progovac proposes that early verb‑noun compounds such as "killjoy" were the first forms of verbal wit, giving our ancestors a non‑violent way to compete and cooperate. Brain imaging shows these compounds trigger heightened activity in the fusiform gyrus,...
Antarctic Fur Seals Now Endangered as Climate Change Reduces Krill for Pups
The IUCN Red List has reclassified the Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) from “least concern” to “endangered,” citing a 50% population decline over the past 25 years. Numbers dropped from roughly 2.2 million adults in 1999 to about 944 000 in 2025,...
Emperor Penguins Are Now Endangered Amid Climate Change and Melting Ice
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has upgraded the emperor penguin to endangered status, citing rapid sea‑ice loss across Antarctica. Recent satellite analyses reveal that nearly 10% of the species—about 24,000 mature birds—have died from habitat degradation between...
Colombian Night Monkeys: New Research Looks at These Primates, Little-Known Due to Their Nocturnal Nature
Colombian night monkeys (genus Aotus) have long evaded scientific scrutiny because their nocturnal habits make field observation difficult. Researchers like doctoral student Sebastián Montilla are now pioneering in‑situ studies in Colombia’s coffee‑growing regions, aiming to document behavior that has mostly...
Meeting Climate Targets Requires Humanity to Reorient Its Relationship With Nature, New Study Says
A new Frontiers in Science paper argues that meeting global climate targets requires a “Nature Positive” strategy that halts biodiversity loss by 2030 and embeds economies within Earth’s ecological limits. The authors, a mix of scientists, conservationists and Indigenous leaders,...
A New Memory Chip Survives 700°C and Could Enable AI in Space
Researchers at the University of Southern California have demonstrated a memristor memory chip that functions at 700 °C (1,300 °F) without degradation. The device uses a tungsten electrode, hafnium‑oxide insulator and a graphene interlayer that blocks tungsten filament formation. It retains data...
Rethinking the Gut Microbiome: Health Is Not About Staying the Same, Say Experts
University of Amsterdam microbiome engineer Sahar El Aidy proposes a new framework called Adaptive Coherence, redefining gut health as the system’s ability to reorganize while maintaining function. The approach challenges the traditional view of a static, balanced microbiome and explains why...
AI-Based Monitoring Reveals Protein Deficiencies in People Taking GLP-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight Loss
A new real‑world study used an AI‑driven nutrition‑tracking app to examine dietary habits of adults on GLP‑1 receptor agonists semaglutide and tirzepatide. Participants ate significantly fewer calories, with notable drops in protein and micronutrient intake. The AI analysis flagged nutritional...
Psychedelic Retreats Linked to Mental Health Improvements in People with Severe Childhood Trauma
An observational study of 570 participants at psychedelic retreats in the Netherlands and the Caribbean found that individuals with higher numbers of adverse childhood experiences showed greater reductions in anxiety and larger gains in overall well‑being after the ceremonies. The...
Unlocking the Hidden Metabolism of Algae to Advance the Promise of Renewable Fuels and Sustainable Biomass
Researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center used isotope‑assisted metabolic flux analysis to map how the green microalga *Chlamydomonas* rewires its central metabolism when supplied with both light and acetate. The mixotrophic cells activate carbon‑conserving pathways, suppress costly processes,...
Influenza Frequently Missed in Winter Deaths, New Study Finds
A population‑based study of 857 Spanish deaths across four flu seasons found influenza in 11% of winter fatalities, yet only 17% were diagnosed before death and merely 1.4% appeared on death certificates. Post‑mortem PCR testing revealed that many infections, especially...
Visiting Astronomer Travel Coordinator
The European Southern Observatory (ESO) is hiring a Visiting Astronomer Travel Coordinator in Garching, Germany. The role will organise travel for roughly 450 astronomer trips per year to ESO’s Chilean sites, manage the associated budget, and support logistics for meetings...
How to Watch the Artemis 2 Splashdown
NASA’s Artemis 2 crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen—will conclude their historic lunar flyby with a splashdown near San Diego at 8:07 p.m. EDT on Friday. The Orion capsule will re‑enter at roughly 23,864 mph,...
April 9, 2026, Quick Space Links
The post curates a set of recent space‑industry highlights, from Stoke Space unveiling near‑complete photos of its Nova launch vehicle to Axiom marking four years since its inaugural private tourist flight to the ISS. It also shares a rehearsal image...
There Are No Good Ways to Avoid Childhood Eczema but Many Treatment Options, Say Researchers
The American Academy of Dermatology released its first pediatric eczema guidelines, concluding that prevention strategies such as special diets, probiotics, or altered bathing have no proven benefit. Moisturizers earned a conditional recommendation for reducing incidence in children aged six months...
White House Budget Puts 54 NASA Science Missions on the Chopping Block
The White House’s FY 2027 budget proposal slashes NASA’s science program by 46%, reducing the agency’s total allocation to $18.8 billion. An analysis by The Planetary Society flags 54 major missions—including the Juno Jupiter probe, Venus explorers DAVINCI and VERITAS, and several...
Indoor Testing Facilities Available at the NASA Unmanned Autonomy Research Complex (NUARC)
NASA’s Unmanned Autonomy Research Complex (NUARC) now offers the WindShaper, a 9‑by‑7‑foot indoor fan array comprising 1,134 fans (567 wind pixels) that can produce wind speeds up to 16 m/s (36 mph) and rapid acceleration profiles. Researchers can program steady winds, gusts,...
CAS Launches ‘Newton’ Agentic AI Built on Curated Scientific Data
The American Chemical Society’s CAS division unveiled CAS Newton, an agentic AI built on its 150‑year‑old, curated scientific literature. The platform delivers conversational, context‑aware answers that draw from the extensive CAS Content Collection, spanning chemistry, biology, materials science and patents....
Surprising Finding in the Eye May Explain How We See in Low Light
Yale School of Medicine researchers discovered that electrical synapses in the retina integrate the dozens of parallel visual channels traditionally thought to operate independently. The study identified a specific bipolar‑cell type, BC6, that orchestrates this hierarchical signaling, creating cloud‑like neurotransmitter...
CPR Goes High-Tech: Transesophageal Echocardiography Turns Blind Compressions Into Precision Hits
Researchers conducted the first randomized clinical trial testing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to guide cardiopulmonary resuscitation. While overall survival rates were similar to standard care, TEE‑guided compressions produced significantly higher end‑tidal CO2, a proxy for blood flow quality. The study, published...
How to Observe Artemis 2’s Last Day in Space with a Telescope
Artemis 2’s Orion capsule will make its final Earth approach on Friday, April 10, with a splashdown scheduled for the evening. The spacecraft will be visible in the pre‑dawn sky across much of the United States, reaching a peak altitude of only...
AI Diffusion Models Tailor Drug Molecules to Custom-Fit Protein Targets, Speeding Drug Development and Evaluation
University of Virginia researchers unveiled YuelDesign, an AI diffusion‑model platform that simultaneously generates drug‑like molecules and their flexible protein binding pockets. Complementary tools YuelPocket and YuelBond locate precise binding sites and ensure chemically realistic bonds, respectively. Early validation on the...
How the Artemis Astronauts Are Protected From Dangerous Space Radiation
NASA is tackling the heightened radiation threat to Artemis 2 astronauts with a layered strategy that combines physical shielding, an on‑board “storm shelter,” and advanced space‑weather forecasting. Orion’s hull incorporates hydrogen‑rich materials such as water and plastics, while crew can reconfigure...
Proto-Mammals Laid Eggs, Paleontologists Finally Confirm
Researchers published definitive proof that early mammal ancestors laid eggs, based on a 250‑million‑year‑old Lystrosaurus fossil from South Africa. Synchrotron X‑ray CT scanning revealed an unfused lower‑jaw symphysis, indicating the specimen was an embryo still inside a soft‑shell egg. The...
Starstruck
On April 7 2026 the crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission captured a striking photograph of the Milky Way from Orion’s deep‑space trajectory. The image reveals the galaxy’s central bar and its two dominant spiral arms, spanning more than 100,000 light‑years. NASA released...
Carbon Nanotube Fiber Sensors Achieve Record Measurement Error Below 0.1%
Skoltech researchers, together with Chinese and Iranian collaborators, demonstrated carbon nanotube fiber (CNTF) sensors that achieve a record‑low measurement error of under 0.1%, far surpassing the typical 2% error of commercial sensors. The study, published in iScience, proves CNTFs can...
Gilead and Roche Bet on Protein Degraders for Their Cancer Drug Pipelines
Gilead exercised its option to license Kymera Therapeutics' CDK2 molecular‑glue degrader KT‑200, triggering a $45 million payment and opening a potential $665 million milestone path, with an IND target of 2027. Roche paid $20 million upfront to C4 Therapeutics to co‑develop degrader‑antibody drug...
Coherent Advances Silicon Carbide Thick Epitaxy Capabilities for High-Voltage AI Datacenter and Industrial Power Applications Up to 10kV
Coherent Corp announced new thick silicon‑carbide (SiC) epitaxy platforms on 150 mm and 200 mm wafers that support power devices up to 10 kV, with demonstrated capability beyond that threshold. The technology targets high‑efficiency, high‑power‑density converters for AI‑intensive datacenters and industrial electrification such...
Children Are Less Likely to Use Deception After Being Given Permission to Deceive, Study Finds
Three experiments with Singaporean children aged 3‑6 showed that giving explicit permission to lie actually reduced their deceptive behavior in a competitive sticker‑under‑cup game. Across 279 participants, children who were told lying was allowed lied less often than controls, contrary...
The U.S. Forest Service Is Closing Down Research Stations Ahead of a Catastrophic Wildfire Season
The U.S. Forest Service announced a sweeping reorganization that will shutter 57 of its 77 research stations and relocate its headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City. The cuts come as the nation heads into a wildfire season already...
BBC Inside Science
NASA’s Artemis II mission marked the first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo, sending astronauts around the Moon and back to Earth. The 28‑minute BBC Inside Science episode examined whether this flyby is merely a test or a stepping stone toward a...
How Advances in Nuclear Medicine Are Changing Patient Care
Advances in nuclear medicine are reshaping patient care by delivering faster, lower‑dose imaging and highly personalized radiopharmaceutical therapies. Modern PET and SPECT scanners provide clearer images in half the time, while hybrid systems combine modalities for earlier disease detection. Theranostic...
Rain Key to Grassland Recovery Following Nebraska Wildfires
University of Nebraska rangeland ecologist Dirac Tidwell says recovery of sandhill grasslands burned by recent wildfires hinges on rainfall in the coming weeks. An inch of precipitation can trigger primary production, while ongoing drought could delay regrowth for years. Medium‑term...
Time Is an Illusion—Meaning the Past, Present, and Future Exist Simultaneously, Physicist Claims
Physicist Vlatko Vedral argues that time is not a fundamental entity but an emergent measurement derived from correlations between physical systems. He highlights the Page‑Wootters framework, which removes the time variable from quantum equations by entangling a system with a universal...
BBB Access Route via Proteomic Vascular Mapping
Researchers led by Jiefu Li at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute have unveiled an in‑vivo proteomic method that tags and isolates proteins on the luminal surface of blood vessels. By perfusing a lectin‑conjugated peroxidase, they biotinylate adjacent proteins, enabling mass‑spectrometry...
CTO PCI Reduces Symptoms, Improves Quality of Life: Meta-Analysis
A new meta‑analysis of the EUROCTO and DECISION‑CTO trials, encompassing 518 patients with a single chronic total occlusion, shows that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) markedly improves health status compared with optimal medical therapy (OMT). PCI achieved an 88.7% first‑attempt success...
Tirzepatide Outperforms Dulaglutide on Cardiorenal Outcomes in High-Risk Diabetes
A post‑hoc analysis of the SURPASS‑CVOT trial shows tirzepatide (Mounjaro) delivering superior cardiorenal protection compared with dulaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. Over a median 47‑month follow‑up, the composite of mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization,...
DNA Uptake in Cholera May Increase Defense Mechanisms
Researchers at EPFL discovered that Vibrio cholerae can take up extracellular DNA when grown on chitin, inserting new gene cassettes into the first position of its sedentary chromosomal integron (SCI). About 10% of these cassettes encode antiviral defenses, instantly boosting...
House‑Size Asteroid to Zoom Past Earth Tonight: Here’s What NASA and ESA Are Saying
A newly discovered 16‑meter asteroid, designated 2026 GD, will pass Earth at 250,000 km (0.65 lunar distance) at 6:59 p.m. EDT on 9 April 2026. Discovered only three days earlier, its trajectory is well known and poses no threat. NASA and ESA have added it...
Crew of Tiny Worms Readies for April 11 Launch to International Space Station
British scientists are sending dozens of *Caenorhabditis elegans* worms to the International Space Station aboard Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo vehicle, launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on April 11. The worms will spend up to 15 weeks on an external ISS platform where automated...
Seer to Apply Deep Proteomics Tech to Singapore Population Cohort Study
Seer announced that its Proteograph® platform will profile the plasma proteome of about 10,000 participants in Singapore’s PRECISE‑SG100K cohort. The proteomic data will be merged with Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Olink® Reveal sequencing‑based results and Orbitrap Astral mass‑spectrometry outputs. PRECISE‑SG100K, the...
Department of Energy, Shine Working on $263M Deal to Establish Mo-99 Supply in US
The U.S. Department of Energy is preparing a conditional loan of up to $263 million to Shine Technologies to complete its Chrysalis facility, which aims to produce molybdenum‑99 (Mo‑99) domestically. Mo‑99 is a critical medical isotope used in tens of thousands...