Latest Science News
Hidden companion star to Betelgeuse detected by Hubble
Astronomers have found strong evidence that red supergiant **Betelgeuse** has a long-suspected hidden companion, nicknamed **Siwarha**, by detecting a dense “wake” in its outer atmosphere using Hubble Space Telescope data over eight years. This wake shows how the companion disturbs Betelgeuse’s gas envelope, offering new insight into how massive stars shed material and eventually explode as supernovae.
Ancient Australian crystals reveal new clues to Earth–Moon formation
Geologists analyzing tiny **zircon crystals** in some of Australia’s oldest rocks have uncovered chemical signatures that refine models of how Earth and the Moon formed. The work suggests early continental crust emerged sooner than thought after the giant impact that created the Moon, reshaping timelines of Earth’s early evolution.
New eye implant trial aims to restore sight in advanced macular degeneration
Researchers at USC have begun testing a **hair‑thin stem cell implant** designed to replace damaged retinal cells in people with advanced dry age‑related macular degeneration. Placed under the retina, the patch aims to restore central vision and, if successful, could offer the first regenerative treatment for a major cause of blindness in older adults.
Engineered ‘super’ antibodies boost immune attack on cancer
Scientists have developed a new class of **four‑pronged antibodies** that cluster immune receptors on T cells, greatly amplifying their response to tumor signals. In preclinical studies, these antibodies enhanced anti‑tumor immunity where normal antibodies give only weak activation, pointing to a potential new platform for next‑generation cancer immunotherapies.
China achieves key data-simulation milestone for its Xuntian space telescope
A Chinese team has built an **end‑to‑end observation simulation suite** for the upcoming Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST, or Xuntian), enabling high‑quality, pixel‑level mock data. The system will evaluate and optimize the telescope’s performance and observing strategy before launch, supporting future discoveries in cosmology, galaxy evolution, and exoplanet science.
New ‘Spectre’ instrument to strengthen planetary defense against near‑Earth asteroids
NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility in Hawaii is preparing **Spectre**, a new instrument that will rapidly collect optical-through-infrared spectra of newly found near‑Earth objects. By quickly revealing asteroid composition, size, and surface properties, Spectre will improve risk assessment for potential impactors and also aid studies of supernovae and other fast-changing cosmic events.
Fusion researchers in China break longstanding plasma density barrier
Using China’s “**artificial sun**” fusion reactor, scientists report surpassing a long‑standing **density limit** while maintaining stable plasma, an important constraint in tokamak fusion research. Demonstrating stability at higher density moves experimental reactors closer to the conditions needed for practical fusion energy, though commercial fusion power still remains years away.
North Atlantic right whales see hopeful baby boom but remain critically endangered
At least **18 new North Atlantic right whale calves** have been documented this calving season off the southeastern United States, a welcome rise for the critically endangered species. The population has inched up about 2.1% recently, to roughly 384 animals, yet fewer than 80 breeding females and ongoing ship strikes and entanglements keep scientists only “cautiously optimistic.”
Magnetic nanoparticles both kill bone cancer cells and aid bone repair
Researchers have created **magnetic nanomaterials** that heat up under an alternating magnetic field to destroy bone cancer cells while simultaneously supporting bone regeneration. The particles combine localized hyperthermia therapy with a scaffold that encourages new bone growth, potentially improving outcomes and recovery in bone cancer treatment.
New imaging method lets scientists watch plants ‘breathe’ in real time
A novel high‑resolution imaging technique now allows researchers to monitor how plants **exchange carbon dioxide and water with the atmosphere** in real time. By visualizing gas fluxes at fine scales, the method could sharpen climate and crop models by revealing how different species respond to heat, drought, and rising CO₂.
NASA’s Pandora mission set to probe atmospheres of 20 exoplanets
NASA’s forthcoming **Pandora** small satellite mission will observe about 20 exoplanets as they transit their stars, disentangling planetary atmospheres from stellar activity. By characterizing gases such as water vapor and other molecules, Pandora will complement the James Webb Space Telescope and improve techniques for studying potentially habitable worlds.
Genome’s 3D ‘hidden architecture’ mapped in unprecedented detail
Scientists have produced a high‑resolution map of the **3D folding and looping of DNA** inside cells, revealing how physical genome structure governs gene activity. The work connects changes in chromatin architecture to switches in gene expression, offering new targets for understanding cancers and other diseases where gene regulation goes awry.