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Scientists have designed a clay that can prevent fruits and vegetables from rotting too quickly
The gas ethylene causes fruit and vegetables to ripen faster and is responsible for millions of tons of food being lost annually during transport and storage. Now researchers from the University of Copenhagen, among others, have succeeded in getting clay to collect the gas and hope that the material can help reduce food waste in the long term.
Scientists want to 3D print houses on Mars with the help of yeast
Mars is a terrible place to build a house. It’s bitterly cold, blasted by radiation, and a near vacuum. Not to mention that the building materials, even for a modest shelter, could spend months hurtling through space before construction begins. But they don’t have to. In a study publishing September 10 in the journal Chem Circularity, researchers developed a recipe that could one day be used to 3D print houses on Mars. The recipe combines Martian rocks with Earthly ingredients: gelatin and yeast. Once dried and hardened, this living building material is as strong as low-grade concrete and can be broken down, recycled, and brewed again for new construction.
Why is climate action “easier said than done”? The key lies in the strong coupling between climate and society
A new Perspective in Science Bulletin argues that the persistent gap between climate science and climate action stems from a conceptual blind spot: treating climate and social systems as separate domains rather than as one integrated, co-evolving entity. The authors introduce the Climate-Social Coupling System (CSS) paradigm and, by re-contextualizing the classic Environmental Kuznets Curve, sort national trajectories into “strong,” “weak,” and “de-coupling” states, showing that governance is the decisive, reversible steering mechanism that determines a country’s climate future.
Robotic lab sets up and runs optics experiments on demand
The process of building and running an optics experiment to analyze a material’s properties could one day be fully automated, MIT scientists say. Taking a step toward such a future, they developed a reconfigurable, robotic optics laboratory.
How to decipher smells like a fruit fly
In the animal kingdom, energy conservation is essential for survival. That’s why our brains have evolved to be extremely energy and resource efficient at storing and processing information. Since the 1980s, computational scientists have tried to mimic brain structure and function, but have not yet succeeded in creating functional, low-memory solutions that work in real-world scenarios. Published in Neuromorphic Computing & Engineering, a new fly brain-inspired algorithm developed by researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) demonstrates promise for achieving practical applications under realistic constraints.
Digital Science's 2026 Catalyst Grant seeks agentic AI workflows you can trust
Digital Science today launches its Catalyst Grant round for 2026 to support innovative technology ideas. This year's theme is: Agentic Workflows You Can Trust.
Project ASCENT at ILL selected for EU funding under "Choose Europe for Science"
The Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) will lead the ASCENT project, funded at 1.4 M€ by the European Commission as part of the initiative "Choose Europe for Science 2025". The goal is to train the next generation of researchers and sustain Europe’s leadership in neutron science. ASCENT is one of 16 projects (three of them in France) funded under the pilot call of a programme that aims to enhance the attractiveness of research careers in Europe and address the challenge of scientific talent retention. It is also the only project led by a large-scale infrastructure.
SAVE THE DATE: COSPAR 2026 – The World’s largest Space Science Assembly heads to Florence (1-9 August 2026)
Registration is now officially open for media representatives, bloggers, and freelance communicators to attend the 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly in August 2026. The event will gather over 3,000 global experts to unveil and discuss the latest groundbreaking discoveries shaping the future of space research
A spatially programmable microfluidic chip for multi-stage particle and cell separation
A programmable microfluidic device developed at Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, combines deterministic lateral displacement, a microfluidic technique that is used to separate particles according to their size, with temperature-responsive polymer micropillars to dynamically change the separation conditions along a single channel. Using this device, the researchers successfully separated multiple particle populations. Additionally, they efficiently isolated viable cancer cells, white blood cells, and red blood cells from diluted whole blood.
Blue light boosts key medicinal compounds in Astragalus, study finds: Multi-omics and genetic tools uncover light-driven isoflavonoid biosynthesis
Astragalus mongholicus, a cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine, produces isoflavonoids—bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, and antiviral properties.
The Eureka Machine: Richard Socher Breaks Down Science In The AI Age
Richard Socher’s The Eureka Machine argues agentic superintelligence could transform science through simulation, integration, experimentation, and discovery.
Butterfly lilies wing their way to Science
Many animals and plants show left-right differences in how their bodies or organs are arranged, but we still know little about how such asymmetries evolve or how genes control them in natural populations. Mirror-image flowers, in which female and male sex organs are deflected to opposite sides in left- and right-handed forms, provide a notable example of such asymmetry. Here, we studied South African butterfly lilies, where individual plants produce only left- or right-handed flowers. Their mirror-image flowers promote outcrossing by depositing pollen from each floral form onto a specific region of a pollinator’s body that matches the stigma position of the opposite form. This suggests that selection for efficient pollen transfer between forms maintains this natural polymorphism. Our work uncovers a hemizygous supergene that coordinates the left-right orientation of female and male sex organs in mirror-image flowers by linking two independently acting genes for style and stamen handedness in a single, nonrecombining genomic segment. This architecture ensures the coinheritance of a matched pair of organ orientations that is essential for efficient cross-pollination between floral forms. At the developmental level, we show that floral handedness emerges from the interaction between an intrinsic tissue chirality and a gravitropic response that orients the style and median stamen relative to gravity. Together, these findings reveal how a supergene, hormone and microRNA signaling, tissue chirality, and an external physical cue combine to produce and maintain a stable left-right polymorphism in natural plant populations.
Eureka Springs, Ark., begins trial run of permanent entertainment district
The trial period started on July 1, and it’s coming in for mixed reviews.
Eureka Springs, Ark., begins trial run of permanent entertainment district
KY3's Billie Brightman reports.
A review argues the family dog may become science’s unlikely ally against autism
This peer-reviewed Perspective synthesizes a decade of research on a surprising candidate for autism science: the laboratory Beagle. Drawing together scattered studies, the review authors argue that dogs carrying engineered changes in the Shank3 gene reproduce core human features of autism spectrum disorder, including social withdrawal, altered sensory responses, and reduced attention to the eyes of a face. The synthesis assembles, for the first time in one place, the parallels between mutant dogs and autistic people, alongside early signals that oxytocin, a psychedelic, and a third compound may soften these traits. The authors frame the dog as a complementary, ethically governed model, not a replacement for existing ones.
Readers can now nominate favorites for Best of Eureka Contest
Readers can nominate their favorite locally owned and operated businesses, organizations and attractions from now until Sept. 27.
Although research on animal production and climate is growing, bringing science to the field remains challenging
A research group from the University of São Paulo analyzed over 1,600 articles and found that research increased by 9.5% annually between 1974 and 2025. The authors advocate for regionalized solutions and public policies to bridge the gap between evidence and implementation.
Scrolling for science: How a Twitter post discovered a new wasp in Fukuoka, Japan
Researchers at Kyushu University recently identified a wasp species, Eupelmus curvator, in Japan for the first time after citizen scientists posted photos of it on Twitter (now X), marking both a new national record and the first formal description of the male of the species. The discovery highlights the growing role of social media in biodiversity research, allowing scientists to tap into observations from the public that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Ocean indicators NOAA scientists are tracking for El Niño’s arrival on the West Coast
NOAA Fisheries scientists are tracking West Coast conditions as part of our Integrated Ecosystem Assessment. Here are some of the changes in ocean conditions and marine life that typically signal the arrival of El Niño’s influence along the West Coast.
Antarctic ozone recovery alters austral summer Southern Hemisphere circulation patterns
Antarctic ozone recovery alters austral summer Southern Hemisphere circulation patterns
Rice materials science brings hidden history into view at Menil Collection
Pages from a once-classified U.S. government document appear and fade from view on glass walls at renowned museum, the Menil Collection, as part of artist Jitish Kallat’s installation, “Wall Drawing/Redux A119.” Researchers from Rice University collaborated on this dynamic display, helping to bring the installation to life.
Tackling crop lodging: new study unlocks genetic keys to stronger rapeseed stems
Lodging, the bending and breaking of plant stems, is a primary threat to global rapeseed production, causing significant yield losses and complicating mechanical harvesting.
Scientists identify the origin of noise in spin qubit quantum processors
Charge noise arising from two-level fluctuators is considered to play a key role in causing qubit frequency shifts in silicon spin qubits, resulting in deteriorated gate fidelity. Higher temperatures can improve gate fidelity, but the microscopic origins of this effect and of qubit frequency shift have not yet been established. Now, using statistical simulations, researchers have clarified the parameter regimes under which gate fidelity can be improved and the potential origin of qubit frequency shifts.
Entertainment briefs | A Company of Voices to present concert in Eureka
A Company of Voices will present a concert titled “All Who Wander” Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church.
Watching water nanodrops spread themselves thin
Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, have determined the molecular origin of line tension for a water nanodroplet on a surface. This tension is the force along the droplet edge where liquid, solid, and gas phases meet. Computational studies showed that at complete wetting, collapse of tetrahedral order in liquid water causes the line tension to change sign. An ice bilayer did not wet a hydrophilic surface, showing that local order can outweigh surface chemistry.
Robots and AI find a hidden reaction inside 135-year-old chemistry
Chemical reactions are often written as simple equations: starting materials go in, and a product comes out. In reality, the samesubstrates can follow many different pathways depending on their concentrations, temperature, catalysts, and other conditions. Exploring all of these possibilities by hand is practically impossible. Now, advances in laboratory automation and chemical artificial intelligence are allowing researchers to systematically map this vast “reaction hyperspace”—and uncover chemistry that may have remained hidden even in reactions studied for more than a century. To address this question, scientists led by Prof. Bartosz A. GRZYBOWSKI, Director of the Center for Algorithmic and Robotized Synthesis within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) used an automated robotic platform to explore 960 different sets of conditions for the Biginelli reaction, a classic multicomponent reaction first reported in 1891.
Listening for quantum oscillations in the Kondo insulator YbB12
Magnetic quantum oscillations have been unexpectedly observed in insulators, where freely moving charge carriers are not expected to exist. A joint study by researchers from Tokyo University of Science, The University of Tokyo, and Kobe University investigated this puzzling behavior in the Kondo insulator YbB12 using ultrasound. While no oscillations were detected in the insulating state, clear signals emerged after the material became metallic, offering new insight into unusual quantum behavior in next-generation materials.
Australian science prize awarded to researcher studying memory accuracy of domestic violence survivors
Helen Paterson’s work on advancing how police and courts understand memory is recognised in prestigious Eureka prizes
Richard E. Carson, Ph.D., receives SNMMI 2026 Paul C. Aebersold Award for Outstanding Achievement in Basic Nuclear Medicine Science
Richard E. Carson, PhD, has been named the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Paul C. Aebersold Award. Carson is professor of Biomedical Engineering and of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, as well as emeritus director of the Yale PET Center. The award was announced by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its 2026 Annual Meeting.
Filipina aquaculture scientist Dr. Janice Ragaza appointed to leading animal science journals
Dr. Janice Ragaza is one of the first Filipinas to serve on the editorial boards of several globally-recognized academic journals.
JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies invites submissions on implementation science in rehabilitation and assistive technologies
JMIR Publications invites submissions to a new section focused on “Implementation Science in Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies” in its open access journal the JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies.
Scientists discover how astrocytes help memories last
Some memories remain with us for years, shaping how we learn from experience and adapt to the world around us. Others disappear quickly, even when they once seemed important. Although scientists have long studied how memories are formed in the brain, far less is known about what allows certain memories to persist over time. A research team led by Dr. KOH Wuhyun at the Center for Memory and Glioscience within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), together with researchers at the Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), has now discovered that astrocytes play a critical role in this process. Astrocytes are star-shaped cells in the brain that have traditionally been considered support cells for neurons. The study shows that these cells actively help determine whether memories can be maintained over long periods of time, revealing a previously unknown mechanism that supports long-term memory persistence.
Eureka Ergonomic Launches Commercial Space Business and New B2B Platform
Los Angeles, California, Sept. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eureka Ergonomic officially announces the launch of its commercial space business, a...
Managing water with local wisdom and science
In Asakura, the river follows the past. Long before modern science, villagers reshaped the land. Researchers are now learning how those systems still work, collaborating with local communities to manage rivers and prevent disasters while preserving biodiversity.
The Apophis encounter in 2029: A rare opportunity for planetary science and defense
The near-Earth asteroid Apophis will make an extremely close flyby of Earth on April 13, 2029, at a distance of approximately 38,000 km—an event that occurs on average only once every 7,500 years, offering an unprecedented opportunity for planetary science and planetary defense. However, significant uncertainties remain regarding the physical parameters of Apophis, such as its shape, spin state, internal structure, and material composition, and predictions of tidal effects—including potential orbital changes, spin acceleration, surface material displacement, and dust ejection during the flyby—are highly dependent on model assumptions. Although multiple nations have planned exploration missions, how to coordinate global observational resources within the limited time window, optimize rapid-response mission architectures, and translate scientific understanding into effective planetary defense strategies remain critical challenges to be addressed.
Digital Science launches AI-Assisted Profile Curation in Symplectic Elements
Digital Science has announced a new suite of AI-powered capabilities for Symplectic Elements that streamline how research information is captured and maintained across higher education institutions.
Greening in China and India reshapes climate both locally and far away
A new study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences shows that greening in China generally cools the local climate with more rainfall over southern and northeastern China, while greening in India tends to produce warming and less rainfall. The Co-occurring greening in China and India yields uniform climate feedbacks across over half global lands, producing cooler and wetter southern China, cooler western Eurasia, and warmer northern North America.
Interpretable AI in materials discovery: Uncovering how models make predictions
A method to interpret artificial intelligence (AI) models used in materials discovery by analyzing their learned features has been developed by researchers from Japan. The method extracts key features from an AI model trained on atomic structural data and optical absorption spectra, and then groups materials with similar structural and spectral characteristics. This approach can be extended to reveal how atomic arrangements influence other material properties, paving the way for more efficient materials design.
Intelligent Computing appoints Philip S. Yu and Osmar R. Zaïane as new editors-in-chief
Intelligent Computing, a Science Partner Journal co-founded by Zhejiang Lab and the American Association for the Advancement of Science(AAAS), has appointed Philip S. Yu and Osmar R. Zaïane as its new Editors-in-Chief. Philip S. Yu and Osmar R. Zaïane succeed the journal's founding Editors-in-Chief at a pivotal stage of development, as Intelligent Computing continues its rapid growth as an international open-access journal dedicated to advancing the convergence of intelligence and computing.
Seoul National University of Science and Technology researchers explore how probabilistic analysis can help improve nuclear safety
Traditional approaches for designing primary coolant pipes in nuclear power plants consider highly unlikely, extreme scenarios. Estimating pipe rupture frequency is a more practical approach. In a new study, researchers investigated the pipe rupture frequency of coolant pipes using a probabilistic framework that accounts for material properties, degradation pathway, and even inspection performance, offering a risk-informed approach to design and evaluation.
Discovery Supercomputer’s first applications selected for Day-One Science
Scientific computing experts at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have selected the first nine research projects that will run on Discovery, the nation’s next flagship supercomputer, slated for deployment in 2028. The projects will be developed through the Discovery Center for Accelerated Application Readiness program at ORNL’s Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility. The program is designed to ensure that a suite of leading-edge scientific applications is optimized and ready to deliver results as soon as Discovery becomes operational.
Do black holes have hidden hair? Scientists find a new way to check
A team led by researchers from Nagoya University in Japan has found a way to check for black hole hair using changes in ringdown waves. They found that hidden matter does not affect these waves uniformly; the frequency and fade-out speed of the waves respond differently. This difference may show us if hidden matter is present, and how its pressure is arranged around a black hole. For spinning black holes, hidden matter affects ringdown differently, depending on whether the waves move with or against the black hole’s spin. Published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, the study tells us what pattern in the gravitational wave signal would be a clue that hidden hair is present and may help future observations tell a hairy black hole apart from an ordinary one.
Opening the future of science
The U.S. NSF LCCF Overview and Characteristic Science Applications virtual panel featured remarks from NSF and TACC leaders, followed by a moderated panel of researchers using TACC's Frontera and Vista supercomputers to tackle some of science's most complex challenges.
Study finds social, financial, and healthcare factors shape resilience in adults with sickle cell disease
A new study explores how individual and community health experiences of adults with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) shape resilience — the capacity to adapt to adversity.
Photos | Redwood Coast Music Festival fills Eureka with listening entertainment through weekend
Venues include the Sequoia Conference Center, Veterans Memorial Building, Adorni Center, Eagle House, Red Lion Hotel, Eureka Theater and the Morris Graves Museum.
Lessons from 7 October for European mass casualty planning
Regular drills are crucial if a mass casualty plan is to work in a wartime situation. Focusing on staff safety in the plan itself and taking information flows into account are also important factors for success. These are the findings of a study from Linköping University, Sweden, published in the scientific journal Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness.
Book Review: The Messy Business of Making Science Happen
Roberta Kwok’s “Lost in Curiosity” makes the case for luck and hard work over eureka moments in advancing science.
Eureka Springs Police Chief creates unique system for enforcing the rules of the permanent entertainment district trial
To make understanding this trial easier, Eureka Springs Police Chief Billy Floyd set up a patrol checklist to track disturbances and how many times they’ve had to remind people of the rules.
Eureka Science Museum seeks local artists for outdoor murals
Museum looks to bring STEAM subjects to life along playground walls
Inhaled fine particulate matter travels beyond the lungs to the brain
A research team led by Drs. Byung-Yong Yu and Gwan-Ho Lee at the Advanced Analysis and Data Center of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST; President Sang-Rok Oh) announced that it has developed a new analytical platform that can precisely measure the accumulation of fine particulate matter in individual organs, overcoming the limitations of existing analytical technologies.
Eureka Business Launches Procurement-Season Initiative to Help Companies Plan and Furnish Complete Workspaces
Los Angeles, California, Sept. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As businesses enter a critical period for year-end purchasing and upcoming workpla...
‘This can’t be correct’ – how scientists formed a new theory around Arctic erosion
Sometimes science throws up the unexpected. When a team of researchers set out to model river erosion in Canada’s High Arctic, they did not expect the findings to defy common sense.
Scientists discover asymmetric diffusion of magnetic skyrmions in simulations
Magnetic skyrmions are nanoscale spin textures that can behave like particles and move and diffuse in real space. This makes them promising information carriers for future memory and computing technologies. A new computational study in npj Spintronics shows how geometry and topology can guide asymmetric thermal diffusion of magnetic skyrmions, offering insights for unlocking unconventional computing paradigms, including future stochastic and neuromorphic computing devices for more efficient artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
Book Review: The Messy Business of Making Science Happen
Roberta Kwok’s “Lost in Curiosity” makes the case for luck and hard work over eureka moments in advancing science.
When DNA sounds a lasting alarm: cGAS-STING links aging to brain inflammation
Neurodegenerative diseases, cerebrovascular disorders and other age-related neurological conditions are major causes of long-term disability. A review published in SCIENCE CHINA Life Sciences by researchers from Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, examines how damaged nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA can become immune danger signals. The authors highlight cGAS-STING as a key molecular hub linking cellular damage, inflammaging and neuroimmune dysfunction, and discuss opportunities for more precise therapeutic intervention.
Media invitation: Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC) 2026
The Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC) 2026 will be held in hybrid format at the Amare arts venue in The Hague, Netherlands, and online, from 6–11 September 2026. EPSC2026 covers the full spectrum of planetary research and technology across over 125 scientific sessions, keynotes, debates and community events. Around 1200 planetary scientists from over 40 countries in Europe and around the world are expected to attend the conference.
Scripps Research and collaborators awarded $19.5 million to establish an open-access autonomous chemistry laboratory
A new award from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) totaling $19.5 million over four years will expand robotic systems, analytical instrumentation and dedicated staff at the Automated Synthesis Facility at Scripps Research by supporting a collaborative effort among Scripps Research, UCLA and Sunthetics (an AI-for-chemistry company) to establish a nationally accessible, fully automated chemistry laboratory. This “Chemistry Node” will be one of 20 AI-enabled NSF Test Bed: Toward a Network of Programmable Cloud Laboratory (NSF PCL) nodes across the United States, which will test, scale and demonstrate new methods and tools that advance automated science and engineering, driving discoveries across a wide range of fields.
Spiraea genome reveals how Rosaceae evolved a key defense hormone
A chromosome-level genome of Chinese spiraea reveals how the rose family conserved and remodeled a major route for producing salicylic acid, a hormone central to plant immunity and environmental stress responses.
Education program in Eureka and Fortuna delves into brain health
This program provides research-backed guidance on brain health and the importance of taking action to protect your brain at every age.
Eureka Springs Police Chief creates unique system for enforcing the rules of the permanent entertainment district trial
KY3's Billie Brightman reports.
UNO Research Shows What Motivates Female Students to Pursue STEM Research Experiences
The study of urban and rural schools revealed the important role science fairs play in inspiring young learners.
How combining science and community knowledge could shape coral reef conservation in Indonesia
Coral reefs in Indonesia’s Spermonde Archipelago are under pressure from both natural and anthropogenic activities. Researchers from Hasanuddin University assessed reef conditions across three islands using underwater photography and drone surveys, while also gathering local perspectives on reef conditions and restoration. They found greater live coral cover in clearer waters but limited community readiness to participate in conservation efforts, suggesting that training and institutional support could strengthen local communities’ role in protecting these natural treasures.
Can windows cool buildings without electricity?
Thermochromic smart windows can automatically adjust solar and thermal radiation in response to temperature, offering a passive route to reduce building energy demand and improve indoor comfort. A new review published in Science Bulletin examines why these windows have not yet achieved large-scale application, despite rapid materials progress. The authors identify key challenges in spectral regulation, switching temperature, response speed, durability, scalable fabrication, glazing integration, lifecycle impacts, and building control. They argue that future development should shift from isolated material optimization toward deployment-oriented design and system-integrated adaptive building envelopes.
Researchers create polar wurtzite nitride semiconductor NbAlN
Polar wurtzite nitride semiconductors such as aluminum nitride and gallium nitride underpin high-power and high-frequency electronics. Researchers have now achieved the first epitaxial growth of niobium aluminum nitride (NbAlN) on GaN while preserving its polar crystal structure. Used as a barrier layer, NbAlN increased the interfacial two-dimensional electron gas density from 5.1 × 1012 to 1.7 × 1013 cm−2, opening new possibilities for polarization-based materials design in future GaN electronic devices.
BhSUN coordinates calcium signaling, microtubule organization, and hormone metabolism to drive directional fruit growth in wax gourd
Fruit shape determines market value in wax gourd (Benincasa hispida), but the genetic programs that make some fruits long and cylindrical while others turn out short and round have remained largely mysterious.
Studying the holistic health habits of tropical bats
What do bats do when they feel ill? SELFCURE, a multi-disciplinary project taking place in Gamboa, Panama, tracks the behavior of tropical bats when immune-challenged to understand how they take care of themselves, and what lessons we can learn from them.
Scientists achieve the first total synthesis of a complex alkaloids isolated from plant
Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) are plant-derived molecules with unique pharmaceutical potential, but their highly complex and intricate structures make them difficult to produce in the laboratory. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a new strategy that enables the total synthesis of bisleuconothine A and bousigonine B, two biologically relevant oligomeric MIAs. Their findings lay the foundation for further studies of this family of molecules. Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) are plant-derived molecules with unique pharmaceutical potential, but their highly complex and intricate structures make them difficult to produce in the laboratory. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a new strategy that enables the total synthesis of bisleuconothine A and bousigonine B, two biologically relevant oligomeric MIAs. Their findings lay the foundation for further studies of this family of molecules.
Lighter X-ray aprons could spare health-care workers from chronic pain
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a lightweight, flexible polymer material that could replace lead in X-ray aprons while providing comparable protection from harmful radiation. By incorporating specially engineered tungsten nanoparticles into a silicone-based nanocomposite, the team created a shielding material that is nearly 90 per cent lighter than traditional lead aprons, potentially reducing the back and neck injuries commonly experienced by health-care workers who wear them for extended periods.
EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum to host Fiesta Hispana
The EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum will host Fiesta Hispana on Sunday, Nov. 1, celebrating Hispanic culture, community achievements and bilingual education in Grand Junction.
First atmosphere detected on a habitable-zone rocky world
In a major milestone in the search for life on other planets, astronomers have detected, for the first time, an atmosphere surrounding an Earth-like, rocky planet orbiting within the habitable zone of another star.
Eureka! McConnell Science Museum seeks muralists
The EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum is hiring an experienced muralist to design and paint two STEAM-themed walls at its outdoor playground.
Operations workforce powers ORNL’s autonomous science future
Behind every self-driving laboratory at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a team people most never see. Facilities and Operations workers are building and maintaining the infrastructure that makes autonomous science possible. More than a dozen self-driving labs operate at ORNL, placing the Tennessee national lab among the first research institutions in the world to create this autonomous laboratory model at scale.
A fluorinated imine additive helps graphite anodes endure 1,000 cycles
A newly developed electrolyte additive could help lithium-ion batteries keep graphite anodes stable over prolonged cycling. Researchers synthesized pentafluorophenyl thiophene imine (FPTI), which forms a protective, LiF-rich solid electrolyte interphase on graphite. At 4 mg/mL, FPTI enabled 95.6% capacity retention after 1,000 cycles in graphite/Li half-cells and improved lithium-ion transport. NMC811/graphite full cells using FPTI-conditioned anodes reached an energy density of approximately 233 Wh/kg, highlighting its potential for longer-lasting battery systems.
Why do some proteins accumulate even on protein-resistant surfaces?
Proteins with exposed arginine can selectively accumulate even on protein-resistant coatings, as reported by researchers from Science Tokyo. Through an in-depth analysis of which and how proteins adhere to various anti-fouling surfaces, the team found arginine disrupts the protective water layer that normally blocks adsorption. Their results will help scientists develop safer and more effective biocompatible materials for medical devices, such as stents and advanced biosensors.
Industry and academic leaders explore how engineering innovation is powering the next era of space science at the 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
Leading voices from across the aerospace industry and academia gathered in Florence, Italy for the panel titled "Engineering Innovation Enabling Scientific Research," examining how advances in engineering are unlocking new scientific missions and how ambitious science goals are, in turn, driving engineering breakthroughs. The panel, moderated by Alison Nordt, Director of Space Sciences & Instrumentation at Lockheed Martin Space's Advanced Technology Center, brought together six panellists to discuss the evolving relationship between space science and systems engineering: Marius Anger (Aalto University), Jon Arenberg (Northrop Grumman), Mayra Montrose (L3Harris), Giampiero Di Paolo (Thales Alenia Space Italia), Steve Squyres (Blue Origin) and Eric Stallmer (Voyager).
Book Review: The Messy Business of Making Science Happen
Roberta Kwok’s “Lost in Curiosity” makes the case for luck and hard work over eureka moments in advancing science.
Science and AI-enabled research platforms
In an Editorial, Vaughan C. Turekian, Executive Director of the Office of International Networks, Cooperation, and Security at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine argues that science is entering a new phase. In an era of vast computational power, automated experiments, and AI, science will increasingly be built around integrated platforms that link data, models, computing, and instrumentation at scale.
KAIST identifies cause of artifacts in battery nanoscale analysis, paving the way for more reliable measurements
- A research team led by Professors Seungbum Hong and Jong Min Yuk from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Professor Nam-Soon Choi from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering has identified the cause of a measurement artifact in nanoscale battery analysis that can make surface topography appear to represent ion movement. - The team has developed a method to reduce these artificial signals by smoothing rough battery-material surfaces, potentially improving the accuracy of analyses for next-generation batteries, including conventional lithium-ion batteries and emerging technologies such as sodium-ion and solid-state batteries.
Are plants the key to solving energy and food crises worldwide?
Costas Maranas, Robert V. & Gloria H. Waltemeyer Chair and Donald B. Broughton Professor of Chemical Engineering at Penn State, is developing computer models and algorithms to help scientists better understand, analyze and redesign biological organisms, including plants. In this Q&A, Maranas discussed how recent breakthroughs in modeling, artificial intelligence and systems biology are accelerating their work, helping plant scientists better understand and repurpose plants into fuel, plastics and more.
Devoted dads and citizen science: the evolution of parental care in harvestmen is uncovered
Citizen science data from popular platform iNaturalist has helped uncover the evolution of parental guarding behaviour in harvestmen, as shown in research published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
Seoul National University of Science and Technology develops AI framework to test and improve vision-system robustness
A new artificial intelligence (AI)-based system shows how natural damage to traffic signs can mislead deep neural network (DNN)-based vision systems. The framework, AdvWT, uses a generative model to learn realistic damage patterns and then optimize them to trigger misclassification. Tests across multiple AI architectures showed strong attack success, transferability and physical-world robustness. The approach can identify vulnerabilities and improve AI generalization to real-world damage.
Combing the general and the specific for urban science and policy
New study highlights the need to connect research into the uniqueness of cities with research on their similarities
World’s leading soil science congress opens in Nanjing for the first time in China
The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science, often regarded as the “Olympics” of the soil science community, opened in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Held from June 8 to 12 under the theme “Soil and the Shared Future of Humankind,” the congress marks the first time in its nearly 100-year history that this premier global academic event in soil science has been hosted in China.
From spider silk to science: a new way to access hidden fungal diversity
A new study from Thailand demonstrates that the debris-heavy webs of orb-weaving spiders can serve as natural, non-destructive tools for collecting and culturing viable environmental fungi. Through the isolation of living organisms, this innovative approach has already uncovered potentially new, undocumented fungal diversity within tropical rice fields.
K-Air purification technology heads to India’s railway market to tackle extremely high fine-dust levels
A research team at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) – including Principal Researchers Dr. Sang Bok Kim and Dr. Inyong Park and Senior Researcher Dr. Younghun Kim of the Department of Urban Environment Research, Eco-friendly Energy & Environment Research Division – has begun developing a compact electrostatic precipitator-based air purification module for use in Indian trains. The project is a collaborative effort with THN Co., Ltd., a KIMM Family Company (partner firm), as part of KIMM’s flagship air purification brand, Air Five.
Seoul National University of Science and Technology researchers develop AI framework for optimizing solid oxide electrolysis cells
As countries invest in green hydrogen to decarbonize heavy industry, transportation, and energy systems, researchers are seeking faster ways to accelerate the development of hydrogen technologies. Solid oxide electrolysis cells are among the most efficient systems for producing green hydrogen from steam, but identifying their optimal operating conditions requires thousands of computationally intensive simulations, slowing innovation and increasing development costs.
Entertainment briefs | Triangle Fire stops in Eureka on ‘final big tour’
Triangle Fire will stop in Eureka during its “final big tour.” The show is set for Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Savage Henry Comedy Club, 415 Fifth St., Eureka. Arüspex from Grass Valley and local band Brain Dead Rejects will also perf…
A new strategy enables precise fabrication of nanoporous carbon structures
Nanoporous carbon materials have attracted significant interest for applications in lightweight structural materials, microdevices, and bio-integrated systems due to their low density, chemical stability, electrical conductivity, and tunable mechanical properties. However, existing fabrication approaches often struggle to simultaneously achieve precise patterning, controllable porosity, and desirable mechanical performance. A research team led by Professor Min Qiu at Westlake University has developed a new fabrication strategy, termed Mix-ice lithography (Mix-IL), that enables direct construction of nanoporous carbon structures with tunable pore architectures and complex geometries. The study has been published in Science Bulletin.
Weak hydrogen bonds dethrone copper as the most stable metal binder, opening a new path for metal selection
- KAIST researchers reversed a decades-old metal-complex stability trend by tuning weak hydrogen bonds around the complexes without altering the metals’ direct coordination environments - The discovery could provide new design strategies for selective metal separation and recognition, catalysis, and biomimetic systems
Three Lehigh University materials science students awarded 2026 NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
Three students from Lehigh University's Department of Materials Science and Engineering have received National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, one of the nation's most competitive honors for emerging STEM researchers. Their success highlights the impact of a course designed to strengthen scientific communication, proposal writing, and fellowship preparation.
KIER achieves world-record 26.7% efficiency in perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells
The Photovoltaic Research Department of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) achieved a certified world-record efficiency of 26.7% for perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells, opening a new chapter in next-generation thin-film photovoltaics. This achievement was officially certified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Germany and listed in the Best Research-Cell Efficiencies Chart published by the US National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR, formerly NREL).
A machine learning system that identifies cancer cells based on how they scatter light
Cytology tests are widely used for cancer screening, but diagnosis can be challenging when tumor and non-tumor cells look very similar. Researchers from Japan developed a machine learning system that identifies tumor cells based on their white-light scattering spectra. The approach achieved high diagnostic accuracy for mesothelioma and showed potential for distinguishing several other tumor types, offering a promising approach for enhancing cytological diagnosis.
Scientists discover how to decode weather on faraway, deep-space worlds
Scientists from Trinity College Dublin have developed a powerful way to unravel the changing weather patterns on distant worlds. Using this approach, they discovered that the weather on a well-studied brown dwarf, “SIMP 0136”, previously linked with Northern Lights-like phenomena, is largely shaped by just two dominant processes: changes in temperature and the vertical structure of its clouds.
Entertainment briefs | ‘4 Cool Bands’ perform at Arcata Playhouse
“SoniX at the Graves,” an immersive sound experience, is slated for Sept. 13 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Morris Graves Museum of Art, 636 F St., Eureka.
Reducing excessive boundary-layer mixing helps ocean models recover internal lee waves
Reducing excessive boundary-layer mixing helps ocean models recover internal lee waves
Digital Science brings real-world research impact data into AI workflows with new Altmetric MCP
Digital Science has announced the launch of its Altmetric MCP, a new Model Context Protocol server that connects AI agents to Altmetric’s research attention tracking data.
A film thinner than a human hair blocks electromagnetic waves—and hides heat!
CHANGWON, South Korea — A research team led by Dr. Taehoon Kim of the Composites & Convergence Materials Research Division at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), headed by President Chul-jin Choi, has collaborated with research teams led by Dr. Seon Joon Kim and Dr. Jaewoo Kim of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) to develop an ultrathin composite film that combines electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, infrared (IR) stealth, and high mechanical strength. The researchers achieved these multifunctional properties by combining carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers and MXene in a structure resembling “bricks and mortar.” The technology is expected to protect military systems and aerospace electronics while also reducing electromagnetic interference in 5G/6G communication devices and wearable electronics.
Eureka Science Museum seeks local artists for outdoor murals
Museum looks to bring STEAM subjects to life along playground walls
Cal Poly offers first synthetic cell course to students, partnering with network of innovative scientists
A new course offered this spring quarter at Cal Poly introduced upper-division undergraduates to the fundamentals of building synthetic cells while collaborating on innovative projects. The cutting-edge course titled “Engineering Synthetic Cells,” taught by Javin Oza, a Cal Poly biochemistry associate professor, involves a partnership with the San Francisco-based company b.next, an open-source synthetic cell platform Nucleus, and an international science network.
Maternal health knowledge strong, but gaps remain
An Annenberg Public Policy Center survey finds that, while most Americans know that the health of a pregnant person affects the health of the baby, uncertainty about specific maternal health recommendations remains.