Latest Science News
Webb spots colossal precessing black hole jet blasting 10 quintillion ‘H-bomb’ energies per second
Astronomers using the **James Webb Space Telescope** have observed an enormous stream of super‑hot gas erupting from a nearby disk galaxy, driven by a central supermassive black hole. The jet, the first known **kiloparsec‑scale precessing radio jet in a disk galaxy**, is pushing out a vast, coherent structure of coronal gas and may reshape the galaxy’s long‑term evolution.
China’s ‘artificial sun’ breaks key fusion density limit
Experiments on China’s **EAST nuclear fusion reactor** have kept plasma stable at record‑high densities, surpassing a long‑standing theoretical limit thought to constrain tokamak performance. Demonstrating stability at such extreme densities is a major step toward practical fusion power, bringing reactors closer to conditions needed for net energy gain.
Rogue ‘lonely’ planet discovered wandering the Milky Way
Scientists have identified a **rogue planet** drifting through the Milky Way without a parent star by combining ground‑based observations with a space telescope. The rare dual perspective let researchers **weigh the planet and pinpoint its distance**, improving understanding of how starless planets form and populate our galaxy.
NASA’s SPHEREx mission combines 100 cosmic maps into a single 3D survey
NASA’s upcoming **SPHEREx space telescope** has compiled 100 existing maps of the universe into one integrated dataset to prepare for its all‑sky infrared survey. The mission will map hundreds of millions of galaxies and measure the cosmic infrared background, promising new insights into **inflation, galaxy evolution, and the origin of water in planetary systems**.
Key simulation breakthrough prepares China’s Xuntian space telescope for high‑yield science
A Chinese team has built an **end‑to‑end observation simulation suite** for the Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST, or Xuntian), achieving pixel‑level mock data of its main instruments. The work acts as a “digital rehearsal” to evaluate performance and optimize observing strategies, laying the groundwork for major discoveries in **cosmology, galaxies, and exoplanets** once the 2‑meter telescope launches.
New quantum ‘light cage’ memory advances prospects for a quantum internet
Researchers have developed a chip‑based **quantum memory** that uses 3D‑printed “light cages” to trap light in atomic vapor, enabling fast, reliable storage of quantum information. The nanoprinted structures can be mass‑fabricated on chips, offering a scalable way to link quantum devices and a key building block for a future **quantum internet**.
Researchers uncover a reversible epigenetic aging program in the gut
Scientists at the Leibniz Institute on Aging have discovered a **hidden aging program** in gut cells driven by accumulating DNA methylation changes that elevate cancer risk. By reactivating TET enzymes with genetic and pharmacological approaches, they restored the cells’ ability to clear excess methylation, suggesting certain aspects of **epigenetic aging can be reversed**.
New antibodies supercharge the immune system’s attack on cancers
Researchers have engineered a **new class of antibodies** that cluster immune receptors receiving weak signals from tumors, dramatically amplifying the immune response against cancer cells. By boosting signaling rather than simply blocking checkpoints, the strategy could improve treatment across multiple cancer types when combined with existing immunotherapies.
Simple design tweak could fix safety and power issues in solid‑state batteries
Scientists in South Korea report that a **design change in all‑solid‑state batteries**—rather than adding expensive metals—can enhance both safety and power output using affordable materials. The redesigned architecture addresses interface problems that limit current solid‑state cells, potentially accelerating commercialization of **safer, higher‑density EV and grid batteries**.
Novel enzyme ‘gearbox’ approach may treat diseases caused by slow proteins
A Rockefeller University team has identified a molecular **‘gearbox’** in the enzyme VCP and designed small molecules that shift it into a higher‑activity state. Their cryo‑EM‑guided strategy shows it is possible to **speed up** loss‑of‑function enzymes, opening avenues for therapies in certain neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, and heart failure where key proteins work too slowly.
Greenland ice core shows ancient dome vanished at temperatures similar to this century’s projections
Scientists drilling through Greenland’s **1,600‑foot‑deep Prudhoe Dome** found it fully melted in the early Holocene, when temperatures were comparable to those expected by 2100. The finding implies parts of the Greenland Ice Sheet may respond faster than expected to current warming, sharpening projections of **future sea‑level rise**.
NASA builds new Spectre instrument to rapidly characterize near‑Earth asteroids
Engineers are developing **Spectre**, an integral‑field spectrograph for NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility on Maunakea designed to quickly analyze newly discovered near‑Earth asteroids. Covering optical through thermal‑infrared wavelengths with cryogenic optics, Spectre will determine asteroid composition, size, and hydration signatures on short timescales, strengthening **planetary defense and small‑body science**.