Latest Science News
Caltech demonstrates scalable steps toward a quantum internet using rare‑earth nodes
Caltech researchers built a two‑node quantum network employing rare‑earth doped crystals and nanophotonic resonators to multiplex entanglement, showing higher entanglement rates by using multiple ions per node — a key advance toward on‑chip quantum repeaters and a practical quantum internet.Nature‑published results highlight that nodes hosting many distinguishable ions can act as separate channels, suggesting eventual nodes with hundreds of qubits and on‑chip repeaters for long‑distance secure quantum links.
James Webb Telescope may have captured the earliest known supernova
Astronomers analyzing JWST data report a candidate for the earliest supernova yet observed, which — if confirmed — would push the timeline for stellar explosions closer to the universe's first generations of stars and inform early chemical enrichment models.Lab and observational analyses of JWST images underpin this claim and are being followed up with spectroscopy to confirm redshift and progenitor properties.
New dating technique finds hidden 'clock' in fossilized dinosaur eggshells
Researchers discovered natural timekeeping signals preserved in dinosaur eggshells that can provide unexpectedly precise ages for fossils and sites, offering a method to refine timelines of dinosaur evolution and paleoecology.This technique could revolutionize dating of fossil sites worldwide by delivering more precise chronological constraints than some existing methods.
Bioluminescent tool lets neurons glow without external light sources
Scientists developed a self‑illuminating bioluminescent reporter that enables sustained neural activity imaging without lasers, avoiding phototoxicity and bleaching and improving long‑term in vivo recordings.The new tool enhances neuroscience experiments by permitting prolonged observation of neural circuits with less invasive optics and has been reported in recent research updates.
Scientists identify DNA 'switches' in brain support cells linked to Alzheimer's
Researchers found regulatory DNA elements in glial (brain support) cells that influence genes implicated in Alzheimer's disease, providing fresh molecular targets for understanding disease mechanisms and potential therapies.The study emphasizes the role of non‑coding DNA in neurodegeneration and suggests new directions for biomarker and drug‑target discovery.
Engineered 'smart bacteria' improve crop resilience and nutrition under climate stress
UK‑led research engineered plant‑associated bacteria that sense stress and modulate crop physiology to maintain growth, increasing yield, biomass, and protein content under moderate environmental stress — offering a path to reduce fertilizer and pesticide reliance.Field translation and commercialization efforts progressed in 2025, aiming to bring these microbes into agricultural practice.
Natural sunscreen molecule discovered in heat‑loving cyanobacteria
Researchers uncovered a previously unknown UV‑protective compound produced by thermophilic cyanobacteria that acts as a natural sunscreen, expanding understanding of microbial photoprotection and offering potential templates for biodegradable UV filters.This discovery could inform development of new sun‑protection materials inspired by extremophile biochemistry.
Solid‑state sodium‑ion battery advances promise cheaper, safer EV batteries
Teams reported progress on solid‑state sodium‑ion batteries with improved stability and energy density, presenting a lower‑cost alternative to lithium systems that could make electric vehicles more affordable and reduce reliance on critical lithium resources.Researchers highlight material and manufacturing challenges remain but view the technology as promising for large‑scale EV and grid applications.
AI and precision nutrition reshape food research and personalized diets
During 2025, AI matured as a core engine for nutrition science — accelerating personalized diet design, bioactive discovery, and clinical research — while GLP‑1 therapeutics and microbiome innovations pushed nutrition‑health convergence, influencing product development and public acceptance.These trends were reviewed across industry and academic forums and highlighted commercialization moves in precision‑fermented proteins and microbiome therapeutics.
Scientists decode Ca2+ signaling pathway that reduces stone cells in crops
Researchers decoded a calcium (Ca2+) signaling cascade that regulates formation of stone cells (sclereids) in certain crops, providing molecular targets to reduce undesirable textural traits and improve fruit quality and processing yields.The work, released via institutional research notices, offers actionable pathways for breeding or biotechnological interventions in horticultural crops.
Giant rotating galaxy structure and other large‑scale cosmic discoveries continue with survey data
Astronomical surveys in 2025 reported extremely large, rotating structures of galaxies and other puzzling large‑scale features that challenge conventional models of cosmic structure formation, prompting reanalysis of cosmological simulations and survey biases.These findings are driving new theoretical work and targeted observations to confirm extent and physical origin.
Genetic evidence reveals human populations isolated for extended periods
Population genetic studies published in 2025 identified human groups that were isolated for tens of thousands of years, revealing deep and extreme ends of human genetic variation and refining models of human dispersal and admixture.These results inform interpretations of ancient population structure and have implications for understanding local adaptation and health‑relevant genetic variation.