Science News and Headlines
Science News and Headlines
Researchers at the University of Minnesota are applying for $862,000 in state funds to scale a liquid‑phase plasma reactor that can destroy per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water. The system is designed to treat up to 60 gallons per hour, breaking PFAS molecules down to harmless calcium fluoride and water. If commercialized, the technology could provide a permanent solution for industries such as textiles and dye manufacturing that face tightening wastewater regulations. Successful validation would mark a significant step toward large‑scale PFAS remediation.
Scientists have used European Space Agency satellite data to create a 20‑year, pan‑Arctic record of river discharge and runoff, revealing that Arctic rivers deliver roughly 4,760 km³ of freshwater to the ocean each year. The new STREAM‑NEXT model, calibrated on the...
The review examines how tailoring the electronic structure of metal‑based catalysts can make peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation more selective and efficient for water purification. It surveys four primary modulation tactics—coordination‑environment control, metal doping, defect engineering, and electron‑buffering metal‑support interactions—linking each to...
E‑magy will present new silicon‑dominant anode data at the 2026 International Battery Seminar in Orlando, showcasing 12 Ah 6S2P cells designed for high‑performance drone packs. The nanoporous silicon material promises higher energy density and faster charging compared with conventional chemistries, backed...
Scientists have released the first verified video of sperm whales deliberately head‑butting each other, captured by drones during fieldwork in the Azores and Balearic Islands between 2020 and 2022. The footage, published in Marine Mammal Science, confirms a behavior long...
Researchers at Kiel University measured the predatory strike force of the Australian giant rainforest mantis from early nymph stages to adulthood, revealing that adult females deliver about 196 mN—roughly three times the force of males and far exceeding predictions based on...
Researchers published a meta‑analysis of 19 randomized trials showing that topical diclofenac gel significantly reduces the incidence of grade 2 or higher chemotherapy‑induced hand‑foot syndrome, especially in patients receiving capecitabine. The analysis also identified topical silymarin, pyridoxine 400 mg, and celecoxib as...
A new retrospective cohort study of over 3 million commercially insured U.S. adults found that COVID‑19 infection dramatically increases the risk of kidney complications compared with influenza. Adjusted hazard ratios show nearly double the risk of any kidney disease (HR 1.93), a...
The World Meteorological Organization reported that 2025 set a new record for Earth’s energy imbalance, with roughly 91% of excess heat absorbed by the oceans and the remainder heating land, ice and the atmosphere. This accelerated warming manifested in unprecedented...
Canada’s Minister of National Defence, David J. McGuinty, toured the Institute for Quantum Computing’s Quantum‑Nano Centre at the University of Waterloo, underscoring a federal commitment to fund quantum technologies for defence. The visit highlighted direct government financing aimed at accelerating research,...
Researchers examined how tongue‑worm parasites affect the mating calls of American green tree frogs. They found that heavy parasite loads lower call frequency but also shorten call duration, creating mixed signals for females. Playback experiments showed females avoided heavily infected...
A prospective study of 200 adults compared low‑dose photon‑counting CT (PCCT) with conventional energy‑integrating detector CT for lung cancer imaging. PCCT reduced effective radiation dose by 66% (1.36 mSv vs. 4.04 mSv) and iodine load by 27%, while adverse reactions fell to...
Gut health research has moved from niche science to a core component of healthcare delivery. Recent FDA approval of Seres Therapeutics' Vowst and the rise of bioactive‑based microbiome products signal a shift toward industrialized, reproducible therapies. Companies across biotech, nutrition...
The European Commission has launched the Euratom Work Programme 2026‑2027, placing nuclear technologies at the heart of its research agenda. The plan allocates roughly $244 million to bridge fusion energy from labs to the grid and about $119 million for fission safety,...
The 21‑year‑old Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is spiraling toward re‑entry, and NASA has awarded Katalyst Space Technologies a $30 million contract to build and launch a robotic servicing vehicle, Link, to reboost the satellite. Katalyst must design, test, and launch the mission within...
A mouse study published in Cell Host & Microbe shows that the gut virome—primarily bacteriophages—modulates carbohydrate metabolism by activating immune pathways. Disrupting the virome with an antiviral cocktail caused sharp blood‑glucose spikes in mice fed a high‑carbohydrate diet, while enriching...
Insmed announced that a Phase 3 trial showed adding its inhaled antibiotic Arikayce to standard therapy significantly improved respiratory symptoms and boosted culture conversion rates in patients with newly diagnosed mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung infection. The study met its primary...
Researchers have revived a dead bacterial cell by transplanting the complete genome of Mycoplasma capricolum into a chemically inactivated host, creating the first living synthetic bacterium assembled from non‑living parts. The experiment builds on the 2010 landmark where a synthetic...
Pfizer and Valneva’s experimental Lyme vaccine cut the risk of infection by more than 70% in a late‑stage trial, offering a promising preventive tool for a disease that affects roughly 476,000 Americans annually. The study, however, missed its primary statistical...
Astronomy Magazine featured a striking photo of Saturn and Venus in close conjunction over the western horizon near Punta Braccetto, Sicily. The celestial duo appears low in the sky with Venus outshining the ringed planet. Photographer Gianni Tumino captured the...
Gray wolves are facing a coordinated legislative push that could strip federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections from both Mexican gray wolves and the larger Northwestern and Great Plains subspecies. The House Natural Resources Committee advanced the "Enhancing Safety for...
Apogee Therapeutics reported that its experimental long‑acting eczema biologic, zumilokibart, achieved sustained skin‑clearance in a mid‑stage trial. Seventy‑five percent of patients receiving the drug every three months and 85 % of those dosed every six months maintained an EASI‑75 response after...
On 25 March 2026, ESA’s Celeste low‑Earth‑orbit positioning, navigation and timing (LEO‑PNT) mission will lift off aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron from New Zealand, deploying its first two demonstration satellites. The launch marks the inaugural step of an 11‑satellite constellation designed to test...
Astronomers have applied a new “space archaeology” technique to the spiral galaxy NGC 1365, using detailed chemical fingerprints in its gas to reconstruct its 12‑billion‑year assembly history. By mapping oxygen abundance across the galaxy and matching it with Illustris simulations, they...
Researchers at Harvard Medical School created a nine‑dot illusion that makes a centrally viewed purple dot appear more purple while surrounding dots shift toward blue. The effect stems from the scarcity of blue‑sensitive cones in the fovea and a yellow...
Researchers at the University of Manchester and IBM Zurich have synthesized a novel "half‑Möbius" molecule that spontaneously twists 90°, creating a unique electronic topology. The 13‑carbon ring contains two isolated conjugated systems that merge into a single 24‑electron delocalized network,...
Researchers at the American Chemical Society meeting unveiled an experimental nail polish that can trigger capacitive touchscreens. By adding ethanolamine or taurine to a clear polish, the coating disrupts the screen’s electric field, allowing a fingernail to register as a...
In 2005 the MESSENGER spacecraft captured a time‑lapse of Earth as it drifted away on its trajectory toward Mercury. The video shows the planet’s bright, sun‑lit side dominating the frame, rendering background stars invisible. After the flyby, MESSENGER continued to...
NASA’s Artemis II, slated for an April 1 launch, will carry four astronauts on a ten‑day lunar flyby, marking the first crewed deep‑space mission since Apollo. After resolving hydrogen‑leak and helium‑flow issues on the Space Launch System, the crew will test Orion’s...
The UK National Audit Office warned that the nation is ill‑prepared for a severe space‑weather event, despite improved forecasting from the Met Office. Recent solar storms have already displaced thousands of satellites, highlighting vulnerability. The government estimates a 5‑25 percent chance...
A new study reveals that deficiency of the enzyme ADA2 markedly increases programmed cell death and disrupts normal metabolic pathways. Researchers observed heightened apoptosis in immune cells and multiple organ tissues of ADA2‑knockout mice, accompanied by severe inflammation and organ...
Researchers introduced a yolk–shell BFO@tBT‑C nanoparticle that exploits shear stress at clot sites to trigger coupled tribo‑ and piezoelectric effects, generating reactive oxygen species for thrombolysis. The dynamic p–n heterojunction yields potentials 3.6‑ and 2.1‑fold higher than isolated triboelectric or...
Researchers introduced 1,3,5‑tris(3‑vinyl‑10H‑phenoxazin‑10‑yl)benzene (V3PXZ) as an organic cathode that undergoes in‑situ electrochemical post‑crosslinking (IEPC) to form insoluble, non‑conjugated polymer networks. The IEPC process simultaneously creates high‑surface‑area nanostructures, enabling rapid ion transport and delivering 56 % of capacity in just 36 seconds (100 C)....
Researchers engineered a tumor‑targeted nanozyme, MnO2‑dsDNA@BiTE/APT, that simultaneously delivers a double‑strand DNA STING agonist and a PD‑L1/CD3 bispecific T‑cell engager. The MnO2 carrier releases Mn2+ ions, activating the STING pathway, while the surface‑bound BiTE recruits T cells to cancer cells....
The review surveys recent progress in supported metal active centers for oxygen electrocatalysis, emphasizing single‑atom catalysts and their role in oxygen evolution and reduction reactions. It critiques the over‑broad use of the strong metal‑support interaction (SMSI) term, distinguishing multiple mechanisms...
Researchers have demonstrated a neuromorphic photodetector that mimics eye‑like gain control in the infrared‑polarization spectrum. The device uses a gate‑tunable Au/BP/PdSe₂ van der Waals heterostructure to achieve nonlinear gain compression via electrostatic barrier reconfiguration. Integrated with a neural‑network microcontroller, it autonomously adjusts...
Researchers have introduced a nickel‑based metal‑organic framework (Ni‑BPA) electrochromic film that switches rapidly between transparent and neutral dark‑brown states. The film, fabricated by electrostatic spray deposition, delivers 78% optical modulation at 490 nm and a coloration efficiency of 88.57 cm² C⁻¹. Strong hydroxide...
Researchers have engineered a strain‑modulated high‑entropy vanadium‑based chalcogenide (VMoFeCoNi)Sx using an optimized solvothermal route, achieving a single‑phase pyrite structure with 0.67% compressive micro‑strain. The nanoflower/nanoflake catalyst exhibits exceptional oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity in alkaline media, delivering overpotentials of 210 mV...
The review highlights p‑block metal‑based electrocatalysts as sustainable alternatives to precious‑metal catalysts for energy‑conversion reactions such as CO₂ reduction, nitrogen reduction, and oxygen reduction. It details diverse architectures—single atoms, alloys, compounds, and doped systems—and explains how electronic tuning, oxophilicity, and...
Researchers engineered mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) to encapsulate insulin and co‑formulated them with succinylated β‑lactoglobulin into pH‑responsive tablets. Surface grafting with polyethylene glycol and phosphonate groups boosted insulin solubility by roughly 2.5‑fold and stabilized the particles in gastrointestinal fluids. The...
Researchers have created a Ni‑MOF‑74@ZU‑609 core‑shell heterostructure that simultaneously delivers high propylene uptake and selectivity. Dynamic breakthrough tests show a record‑high selectivity of 5.51 and a capacity of 1.14 mmol g⁻¹ at 298 K and 1 bar, surpassing the performance of the individual parent...
Researchers evaluated nutritional status in 113 Chinese Huntington’s disease patients using CONUT, GNRI, and PNI scores and compared them with matched healthy controls. Malnutrition was markedly more common in HD, especially by CONUT (34.5% vs 13.3%) and GNRI (8% vs...
A Korean stroke registry of 1,484 acute ischemic stroke patients examined whether the C‑reactive protein‑to‑albumin ratio (CAR) and the CRP‑triglyceride‑glucose index (CTI) predict 90‑day functional outcomes. After multivariable adjustment, higher CAR (OR 1.25) and higher CTI (OR 1.38) were independently associated with...
University of Michigan researchers discovered that photoreceptor cells can reverse apoptosis when stressors are removed, highlighting the pivotal role of functional mitochondria and mitophagy in cell recovery. Using mouse cell lines and retinal detachment models, the team showed that damaged...
A new study in Cell Research links social hierarchy to immune competence by showing that pre‑frontal cortical synaptic strength governs peripheral T‑cell activity. Lower‑ranking animals displayed weakened synaptic transmission, which correlated with reduced T‑cell activation, while higher‑ranking peers exhibited stronger...
UK food security minister Dame Angela Eagle announced that alternative proteins are a major opportunity in the forthcoming Good Food Cycle strategy and that the government will accelerate novel food approvals. The announcement follows the Food Standards Agency’s recent moves...
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are being engineered into diverse therapeutic cell types, while in vivo reprogramming aims to convert resident cells directly within patients, eliminating traditional cell‑manufacturing steps. Both strategies depend on precise recombinant growth factors, cytokines, extracellular matrix proteins...
Researchers Cheng, Zhi and Midgley have unveiled reinforced biotubes—bioengineered vascular grafts that combine living cells with nanofibrous reinforcement—to address durability and availability limits of current grafts. The tubes are fabricated in bioreactors, seeded with smooth‑muscle and endothelial progenitor cells, and...
Gene‑therapy candidates for hereditary hearing loss are gaining traction as safety concerns ease with localized delivery. Regeneron’s DB‑OTO and Eli Lilly’s AK‑OTOF have each demonstrated clinically meaningful hearing improvements in early‑stage trials, positioning them as frontrunners for the first approved deafness...
