- Computers and Math

- Fossils and Ruins

- Gender Difference

- Health and Medicine

- Matter and Energy

- Space and Time

Computers and Math

- This AI-powered lab runs itself—and discovers new materials 10x faster: 2025 Jul 14

This AI-powered lab runs itself—and discovers new materials 10x faster

Date: July 14, 2025

Source: North Carolina State University

Summary: A new leap in lab automation is shaking up how scientists discover materials. By switching from slow, traditional methods to real-time, dynamic chemical experiments, researchers have created a self-driving lab that collects 10 times more data, drastically accelerating progress. This new system not only saves time and resources but also paves the way for faster breakthroughs in clean energy, electronics, and sustainability—bringing us closer to a future where lab discoveries happen in days, not years.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

A cutting-edge self-driving lab now uses real-time experiments to gather data continuously, making materials discovery 10x faster and far more efficient. Credit: Milad Abolhasani, North Carolina State University

Researchers have demonstrated a new technique that allows "self-driving laboratories" to collect at least 10 times more data than previous techniques at record speed. The advance - which is published in Nature Chemical Engineering - dramatically expedites materials discovery research, while slashing costs and environmental impact.

Self-driving laboratories are robotic platforms that combine machine learning and automation with chemical and materials sciences to discover materials more quickly. The automated process allows machine-learning algorithms to make use of data from each experiment when predicting which experiment to conduct next to achieve whatever goal was programmed into the system.

"Imagine if scientists could discover breakthrough materials for clean energy, new electronics, or sustainable chemicals in days instead of years, using just a fraction of the materials and generating far less waste than the status quo," says Milad Abolhasani, corresponding author of a paper on the work and ALCOA Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at North Carolina State University. "This work brings that future one step closer."

Until now, self-driving labs utilizing continuous flow reactors have relied on steady-state flow experiments. In these experiments, different precursors are mixed together and chemical reactions take place, while continuously flowing in a microchannel. The resulting product is then characterized by a suite of sensors once the reaction is complete.

"This established approach to self-driving labs has had a dramatic impact on materials discovery," Abolhasani says. "It allows us to identify promising material candidates for specific applications in a few months or weeks, rather than years, while reducing both costs and the environmental impact of the work. However, there was still room for improvement."

Steady-state flow experiments require the self-driving lab to wait for the chemical reaction to take place before characterizing the resulting material. That means the system sits idle while the reactions take place, which can take up to an hour per experiment.

"We've now created a self-driving lab that makes use of dynamic flow experiments, where chemical mixtures are continuously varied through the system and are monitored in real time," Abolhasani says. "In other words, rather than running separate samples through the system and testing them one at a time after reaching steady-state, we've created a system that essentially never stops running. The sample is moving continuously through the system and, because the system never stops characterizing the sample, we can capture data on what is taking place in the sample every half second.

"For example, instead of having one data point about what the experiment produces after 10 seconds of reaction time, we have 20 data points - one after 0.5 seconds of reaction time, one after 1 second of reaction time, and so on. It's like switching from a single snapshot to a full movie of the reaction as it happens. Instead of waiting around for each experiment to finish, our system is always running, always learning."

Collecting this much additional data has a big impact on the performance of the self-driving lab.

"The most important part of any self-driving lab is the machine-learning algorithm the system uses to predict which experiment it should conduct next," Abolhasani says. "This streaming-data approach allows the self-driving lab's machine-learning brain to make smarter, faster decisions, honing in on optimal materials and processes in a fraction of the time. That's because the more high-quality experimental data the algorithm receives, the more accurate its predictions become, and the faster it can solve a problem. This has the added benefit of reducing the amount of chemicals needed to arrive at a solution."

In this work, the researchers found the self-driving lab that incorporated a dynamic flow system generated at least 10 times more data than self-driving labs that used steady-state flow experiments over the same period of time, and was able to identify the best material candidates on the very first try after training.

"This breakthrough isn't just about speed," Abolhasani says. "By reducing the number of experiments needed, the system dramatically cuts down on chemical use and waste, advancing more sustainable research practices.

"The future of materials discovery is not just about how fast we can go, it's also about how responsibly we get there," Abolhasani says. "Our approach means fewer chemicals, less waste, and faster solutions for society's toughest challenges."

The paper, "Flow-Driven Data Intensification to Accelerate Autonomous Materials Discovery," will be published July 14 in the journal Nature Chemical Engineering. Co-lead authors of the paper are Fernando Delgado-Licona, a Ph.D. student at NC State; Abdulrahman Alsaiari, a master's student at NC State; and Hannah Dickerson, a former undergraduate at NC State. The paper was co-authored by Philip Klem, an undergraduate at NC State; Arup Ghorai, a former postdoctoral researcher at NC State; Richard Canty and Jeffrey Bennett, current postdoctoral researchers at NC State; Pragyan Jha, Nikolai Mukhin, Junbin Li and Sina Sadeghi, Ph.D. students at NC State; Fazel Bateni, a former Ph.D. student at NC State; and Enrique A. López-Guajardo of Tecnologico de Monterrey.

This work was done with support from the National Science Foundation under grants 1940959, 2315996 and 2420490; and from the University of North Carolina Research Opportunities Initiative program.

Story Source:

Materials provided by North Carolina State University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

1. Fernando Delgado-Licona, Abdulrahman Alsaiari, Hannah Dickerson, Philip Klem, Arup Ghorai, Richard B. Canty, Jeffrey A. Bennett, Pragyan Jha, Nikolai Mukhin, Junbin Li, Enrique A. L&oacute;pez-Guajardo, Sina Sadeghi, Fazel Bateni, Milad Abolhasani. Flow-driven data intensification to accelerate autonomous inorganic materials discovery. Nature Chemical Engineering, 2025; DOI: 10.1038/s44286-025-00249-z

Cite This Page:

North Carolina State University. (2025, July 14). This AI-powered lab runs itself—and discovers new materials 10x faster. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 14, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250714052105.htm

Fossils and Ruins

- Princeton study maps 200,000 years of Human–Neanderthal interbreeding

Princeton study maps 200,000 years of Human–Neanderthal interbreeding

Modern humans and Neanderthals interacted over a 200,000 year period, says geneticist Joshua Akey.

Date: July 13, 2025

Source: Princeton University

Summary: For centuries, we’ve imagined Neanderthals as distant cousins — a separate species that vanished long ago. But thanks to AI-powered genetic research, scientists have revealed a far more entangled history. Modern humans and Neanderthals didn’t just cross paths; they repeatedly interbred, shared genes, and even merged populations over nearly 250,000 years. These revelations suggest that Neanderthals never truly disappeared — they were absorbed. Their legacy lives on in our DNA, reshaping our understanding of what it means to be human.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

Modern humans have been interbreeding with Neanderthals for more than 200,000 years, report an international team led by Princeton University’s Josh Akey and Southeast University’s Liming Li. Akey and Li identified a first wave of contact about 200-250,000 years ago, another wave 100-120,000 years ago, and the largest one about 50-60,000 years ago. They used a genetic tool called IBDmix that uses AI, instead of a reference population of living humans, to analyze 2,000 living humans, three Neanderthals, and one Denisovan. Credit: Matilda Luk, Princeton University

When the first Neanderthal bones were uncovered in 1856, they sparked a flood of questions about these mysterious ancient humans. Were they similar to us or fundamentally different? Did our ancestors cooperate with them, clash with them, or even form relationships? The discovery of the Denisovans, a group closely related to Neanderthals that once lived across parts of Asia and South Asia, added even more intrigue to the story.

Now, a group of researchers made up of geneticists and artificial intelligence specialists is uncovering new layers of that shared history. Led by Joshua Akey, a professor at Princeton’s Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, the team has found strong evidence of genetic exchange between early human groups, pointing to a much deeper and more complex relationship than previously understood.

"This is the first time that geneticists have identified multiple waves of modern human-Neanderthal admixture," said Liming Li, a professor in the Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology at Southeast University in Nanjing, China, who performed this work as an associate research scholar in Akey's lab.

"We now know that for the vast majority of human history, we've had a history of contact between modern humans and Neanderthals," said Akey. The hominins who are our most direct ancestors split from the Neanderthal family tree about 600,000 years ago, then evolved our modern physical characteristics about 250,000 years ago.

"From then until the Neanderthals disappeared -- that is, for about 200,000 years -- modern humans have been interacting with Neanderthal populations," he said.

The results of their work were published the journal Science.

Rethinking the Ice Age Stereotype

Neanderthals, once stereotyped as slow-moving and dim-witted, are now seen as skilled hunters and tool makers who treated each other's injuries with sophisticated techniques and were well adapted to thrive in the cold European weather.

(Note: All of these hominin groups are humans, but to avoid saying "Neanderthal humans," "Denisovan humans," and "ancient-versions-of-our-own-kind-of-humans," most archaeologists and anthropologists use the shorthand Neanderthals, Denisovans, and modern humans.)

Using genomes from 2,000 living humans as well as three Neanderthals and one Denisovan, Akey and his team mapped the gene flow between the hominin groups over the past quarter-million years.

The researchers used a genetic tool they designed a few years ago called IBDmix, which uses machine learning techniques to decode the genome. Previous researchers depended on comparing human genomes against a "reference population" of modern humans believed to have little or no Neanderthal or Denisovan DNA.

Akey's team has established that even those referenced groups, who live thousands of miles south of the Neanderthal caves, have trace amounts of Neanderthal DNA, probably carried south by voyagers (or their descendants).

With IBDmix, Akey's team identified a first wave of contact about 200-250,000 years ago, another wave 100-120,000 years ago, and the largest one about 50-60,000 years ago.

Challenging the Out-of-Africa Model

That contrasts sharply with previous genetic data. "To date, most genetic data suggests that modern humans evolved in Africa 250,000 years ago, stayed put for the next 200,000 years, and then decided to disperse out of Africa 50,000 years ago and go on to people the rest of the world," said Akey.

"Our models show that there wasn't a long period of stasis, but that shortly after modern humans arose, we've been migrating out of Africa and coming back to Africa, too," he said. "To me, this story is about dispersal, that modern humans have been moving around and encountering Neanderthals and Denisovans much more than we previously recognized."

That vision of humanity on the move coincides with the archaeological and paleoanthropological research suggesting cultural and tool exchange between the hominin groups.

Li and Akey's key insight was to look for modern-human DNA in the genomes of the Neanderthals, instead of the other way around. "The vast majority of genetic work over the last decade has really focused on how mating with Neanderthals impacted modern human phenotypes and our evolutionary history -- but these questions are relevant and interesting in the reverse case, too," said Akey.

They realized that the offspring of those first waves of Neanderthal-modern matings must have stayed with the Neanderthals, therefore leaving no record in living humans. "Because we can now incorporate the Neanderthal component into our genetic studies, we are seeing these earlier dispersals in ways that we weren't able to before," Akey said.

Shrinking Populations and Genetic Illusions

The final piece of the puzzle was discovering that Neanderthals had a smaller population than researchers previously thought.

Scientists often estimate population size by looking at genetic diversity. In general, more variation in the genome suggests a larger group. But when Akey’s team applied their tool, IBDmix, they found that much of the apparent diversity in Neanderthal DNA actually came from genes inherited from modern humans, who had far larger populations.

With this new insight, scientists lowered their estimate of the Neanderthal breeding population from about 3,400 individuals to roughly 2,400.

Taken together, these findings help explain how Neanderthals disappeared from the fossil and genetic record around 30,000 years ago.

"I don't like to say 'extinction,' because I think Neanderthals were largely absorbed," said Akey. His idea is that Neanderthal populations slowly shrank until the last survivors were folded into modern human communities.

This "assimilation model" was first articulated by Fred Smith, an anthropology professor at Illinois State University, in 1989. "Our results provide strong genetic data consistent with Fred's hypothesis, and I think that's really interesting," said Akey.

"Neanderthals were teetering on the edge of extinction, probably for a very long time," he said. "If you reduce their numbers by 10 or 20%, which our estimates do, that's a substantial reduction to an already at-risk population.

"Modern humans were essentially like waves crashing on a beach, slowly but steadily eroding the beach away. Eventually we just demographically overwhelmed Neanderthals and incorporated them into modern human populations."

This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant R01GM110068 to JMA).

Story Source:

Materials provided by Princeton University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

1. Liming Li, Troy J. Comi, Rob F. Bierman, Joshua M. Akey. Recurrent gene flow between Neanderthals and modern humans over the past 200,000 years. Science, 2024; 385 (6705) DOI: 10.1126/science.adi1768

Cite This Page:

Princeton University. (2025, July 13). Princeton study maps 200,000 years of Human–Neanderthal interbreeding. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 13, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250713032519.htm

Gender Difference

- One shot, seven days: Long-acting levodopa gel tackles Parkinson’s tremors: 2025 Jul 14

- Not all exercise boosts mental health — it’s the why that matters most

One shot, seven days: Long-acting levodopa gel tackles Parkinson’s tremors

Date: July 14, 2025

Source: University of South Australia

Summary: Researchers in Australia have created a biodegradable gel that delivers Parkinson’s medications through a single weekly shot, replacing the need for multiple daily pills. Injected just under the skin, the gel steadily releases levodopa and carbidopa for seven days, helping keep tremors and stiffness in check while easing side effects linked to fluctuating doses.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

A once-a-week injection steadily feeds Parkinson’s drugs into the bloodstream, aiming for smoother symptom control and far fewer pills. The culmination of years of research to benefit Parkinson's patients: UniSA PhD candidate Deepa Nakmode and her supervisor Professor Sanjay Garg. Credit: University of South Australia

A new weekly injectable drug could transform the lives of more than eight million people living with Parkinson's disease, potentially replacing the need for multiple daily tablets.

Scientists from the University of South Australia (UniSA) have developed a long-acting injectable formulation that delivers a steady dose of levodopa and carbidopa - two key medications for Parkinson's - over an entire week.

Their findings have been reported in the journal Drug Delivery and Translational Research.

The biodegradable formulation is injected under the skin or into muscle tissue, where it gradually releases the medication over seven days.

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurological disorder, affecting more than 8.5 million people worldwide. Currently there is no cure and the symptoms - tremors, rigidity and slow movement - are managed with oral medications that must be taken several times a day.

The frequent dosing is a burden, especially for elderly patients or those with swallowing difficulties, leading to inconsistent medication levels, more side effects, and reduced effectiveness.

Lead researcher Professor Sanjay Garg, from UniSA's Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, says the newly developed injectable could significantly improve treatment outcomes and patient adherence.

"Our goal was to create a formulation that simplifies treatment, improves patient compliance, and maintains consistent therapeutic levels of medication. This weekly injection could be a game-changer for Parkinson's care," Prof Garg says.

"Levodopa is the gold-standard therapy for Parkinson's, but its short life span means it must be taken several times a day."

UniSA PhD student Deepa Nakmode says the in-situ implant is designed to release both levodopa and carbidopa steadily over one week, maintaining consistent plasma levels and reducing the risks associated with fluctuating drug concentrations.

"After years of focused research, it's incredibly rewarding to see our innovation in long-acting injectables for Parkinson's disease reach this stage. Our invention has now been filed for an Australian patent," Nakmode says.

The injectable gel combines an FDA-approved biodegradable polymer PLGA with Eudragit L-100, a pH-sensitive polymer, to achieve a controlled and sustained drug release.

Extensive lab tests confirmed the system's effectiveness and safety:

- More than 90% of the levodopa dose and more than 81% of the carbidopa dose was released over seven days.

- The implant degraded by over 80% within a week and showed no significant toxicity in cell viability tests.

- The formulation can be easily administered through a fine 22-gauge needle, minimising discomfort and eliminating the need for surgical implant.

"The implications of this research are profound," Prof Garg says. "By reducing the frequency of dosing from multiple times a day to a weekly injection is a major step forward in Parkinson's therapy. We're not just improving how the drug is delivered; we're improving patients' lives."

Prof Garg says the technology could also be adapted for other chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, pain management, and chronic infections that require long-term drug delivery.

The system can be tuned to release drugs over a period ranging from a few days to several weeks depending on therapeutic needs.

UniSA scientists hope to start clinical trials in the near future and are exploring commercialisation opportunities.

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of South Australia. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

1. Deepa D. Nakmode, Sadikalmahdi Abdella, Yunmei Song, Sanjay Garg. Development of an in-situ forming implant system for levodopa and carbidopa for the treatment of parkinson&amp;#8217;s disease. Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2025; DOI: 10.1007/s13346-025-01892-y

Cite This Page:

University of South Australia. (2025, July 14). One shot, seven days: Long-acting levodopa gel tackles Parkinson’s tremors. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 14, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250714052239.htm

Not all exercise boosts mental health — it’s the why that matters most

How, where, why you work out may be more important than the amount of exercise you get.

Date: July 13, 2025

Source: University of Georgia

Summary: Movement helps your mood, but it's not one-size-fits-all. Exercising for fun, with friends, or in enjoyable settings brings greater mental health benefits than simply moving for chores or obligations. Researchers emphasize that context — who you're with, why you're exercising, and even the weather — can make or break the mood-boosting effects.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

The mental boost from exercise depends more on the why and where than just the what. Group fun, good weather, and a sense of purpose can transform a workout into a mental health enhancer. Credit: Shutterstock

Research often points to exercise as a good way to boost mental health, but a recent study from the University of Georgia suggests that it's not just physical movement that affects mental health.

It's how, where and why you exercise that makes the difference.

"Historically, physical activity research has focused on how long someone exercises for or how many calories were burned," said Patrick O'Connor, co-author of the study and a professor in the Mary Frances Early College of Education's Department of Kinesiology. "The 'dose' of exercise has been the dominant way researchers have tried to understand how physical activity might influence mental health, while often ignoring whether those minutes were spent exercising with a friend or as part of a game."

While research shows that leisure-time physical activity -- like going for a run, taking a yoga class or biking for fun -- correlates with better mental health outcomes, these benefits may vary significantly depending on the environment and circumstances surrounding the activity, according to the researchers.

To analyze these factors, the researchers reviewed three types of studies. These included large-scale epidemiological studies that examined health patterns in populations, randomized controlled trials where some groups received exercise treatments and others did not, and a much smaller but growing set of investigations into contextual factors.

Exercise and mental health

Multiple studies found that people who engage in regular leisure-time physical activity tend to report lower levels of depression and anxiety. But it's less clear for other forms of activity like cleaning the house or working for a lawn care company. The context may matter as much as the intensity or amount of physical activity.

"For example, if a soccer player runs down the field and kicks the game-winning ball, their mental health is fantastic," O'Connor said. "In contrast, if you do the exact same exercise but miss the goal and people are blaming you, you likely feel very differently. Anecdotes such as these show how context matters even when people are performing a similar exercise dose."

Numerous randomized controlled trials also showed that adopting regular exercise routines boosted mental health, especially for individuals with existing mental health disorders. However, these studies were typically based on small, short-term and homogenous samples, so the results likely aren't generalizable to larger, more diverse groups.

"The average effects on mental health are small across all the randomized controlled studies of exercise, and that's partly because most of the studies focused on people who were not depressed or anxious -- you do get bigger effects in those studies," added O'Connor. "We're communicating to scientists that larger- and longer-term controlled studies are needed to make a compelling case whether exercise does, or does not, truly impact mental health."

Why context matters

Where the evidence is thinnest -- but potentially most important -- is in understanding contextual factors. The same physical activity can feel very different depending on who the activity was done with, as well as where, when and how.

Context can range from peer dynamics and instructor style to external conditions like weather or time of day. "If you're outside and it's hot, and you're having to walk to work, that's part of the context," he added. "Or if you go and take a group exercise class -- some instructors you really like, and some you don't. So, that's also part of the context.

"If we're trying to help people's mental health with exercise, then not only do we need to think about the dose and the mode, we also need to ask: What is the context?" O'Connor said.

For O'Connor, the takeaway is clear. It's not just movement that matters. It's the meaning, the setting and the experience surrounding the activity that determines the impact of exercise on mental health.

Co-authors of the study include Eduardo Bustamante of the University of Illinois Chicago; Angelique Brellenthin of Iowa State University; and David Brown, who recently retired from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Georgia. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

1. EDUARDO E. BUSTAMANTE, ANGELIQUE G. BRELLENTHIN, DAVID R. BROWN, PATRICK J. O&amp;#8217;CONNOR. Up for Debate: Does Regular Physical Activity Really Improve Mental Health? Medicine &amp; Science in Sports &amp; Exercise, 2025; 57 (5): 1056 DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003636

Cite This Page:

University of Georgia. (2025, July 13). Not all exercise boosts mental health — it’s the why that matters most. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 13, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250713031443.htm

Health and Medicine

- Fasting twice a week could be a game-changer for type 2 diabetes: 2025 Jul 15

- Sweet but risky: Common sweeteners may be accelerating puberty in kids

- Can zebrafish help humans regrow hearing cells?

- Deadly disguise: How candy-like nicotine pouches caused a 763% spike in child poisonings

- Not just diabetes: How slightly high blood sugar wrecks men’s sexual health

Fasting twice a week could be a game-changer for type 2 diabetes

Date: July 15, 2025

Source: The Endocrine Society

Summary: A new study comparing three popular diets—intermittent fasting, time-restricted eating, and continuous calorie cutting—found that all can help people with type 2 diabetes lose weight and lower blood sugar. But one diet stood out: the 5:2 intermittent fasting plan, where participants eat normally five days a week and restrict calories on two. It led to better results in fasting blood sugar, insulin response, and sticking with the plan.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

A fasting plan done just two days a week helped people with diabetes more than other diets, and most stuck with it, too. Credit: Shutterstock

Intermittent energy restriction, time-restricted eating and continuous energy restriction can all improve blood sugar levels and body weight in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes, according to a study presented at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, California.

"This study is the first to compare the effects of three different dietary interventions intermittent energy restriction (IER), time-restricted eating (TRE) and continuous energy restriction (CER) in managing type 2 diabetes with obesity," said Haohao Zhang, Ph.D., chief physician at The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in Zhengzhou, China.

Although researchers identified improved HbA1c levels, and adverse events were similar across the three groups, the IER group showed greater advantages in reducing fasting blood glucose, improving insulin sensitivity, lowering triglycerides, and strengthening adherence to the dietary interventions.

"The research fills a gap in directly comparing 5:2 intermittent energy restriction with a 10-hour time-restricted eating in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes. The findings provide scientific evidence for clinicians to choose appropriate dietary strategies when treating such patients," Zhang said.

Zhang and colleagues performed a single-center, randomized, parallel-controlled trial at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from November 19, 2021 to November 7, 2024.

Ninety patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to the IER, TRE or CER group, with consistent weekly caloric intake across all groups. A team of nutritionists supervised the 16-week intervention.

Of those enrolled, 63 completed the study. There were 18 females and 45 males, with an average age of 36.8 years, a mean diabetes duration of 1.5 years, a baseline BMI of 31.7 kg/m², and an HbA1c of 7.42%.

At the end of the study, there were no significant differences in HbA1c reduction and weight loss between the IER, TRE and CER groups. However, the absolute decrease in HbA1c and body weight was greatest in the IER group.

Compared to TRE and CER, IER significantly reduced fasting blood glucose and triglycerides and increased the Matsuda index, a measure of whole-body insulin sensitivity. Uric acid and liver enzyme levels exhibited no statistically significant changes from baseline in any study group.

Two patients in the IER group and the TRE group, and three patients in the CER group, experienced mild hypoglycemia.

The IER group had the highest adherence rate (85%), followed by the CER group at 84% and the TRE group at 78%. Both the IER and CER groups showed statistically significant differences compared with the TRE group.

Zhang said these findings highlight the feasibility and effectiveness of dietary interventions for people who have obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Story Source:

Materials provided by The Endocrine Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Cite This Page:

The Endocrine Society. (2025, July 15). Fasting twice a week could be a game-changer for type 2 diabetes. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 15, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250715043351.htm

Sweet but risky: Common sweeteners may be accelerating puberty in kids

Date: July 15, 2025

Source: The Endocrine Society

Summary: Kids who consume artificial and natural sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, and glycyrrhizin may face an increased risk of early puberty, especially if they carry specific genetic markers. This large-scale Taiwanese study links sweeteners to hormonal changes and gut bacteria imbalances that can speed up puberty, with effects differing between boys and girls. Early onset puberty has been tied to serious health consequences later in life, including emotional stress and metabolic disorders. The findings could reshape dietary recommendations and encourage genetic screening to mitigate long-term risks.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

Certain sweeteners commonly found in food and drinks may accelerate puberty in kids, especially those with a genetic predisposition. Credit: Shutterstock

Consuming certain sweeteners commonly found in foods and beverages may increase the risk of early puberty in children, particularly among those who are genetically predisposed, according to a study presented at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

The researchers found that consuming aspartame, sucralose, glycyrrhizin and added sugars was significantly associated with a higher risk of early puberty, especially in children with certain genetic traits. The more of these sweeteners the teens consumed, the higher their risk of central precocious puberty.

"This study is one of the first to connect modern dietary habits -- specifically sweetener intake -- with both genetic factors and early puberty development in a large, real-world cohort," said Yang-Ching Chen, M.D., Ph.D., of Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital and Taipei Medical University in Taipei, Taiwan. "It also highlights gender differences in how sweeteners affect boys and girls, adding an important layer to our understanding of individualized health risks."

A type of early puberty known as central precocious puberty is increasingly common. It can lead to emotional distress, shorter adult height, and increased risk of future metabolic and reproductive disorders.

Chen's previous research found that certain sweeteners can directly influence hormones and gut bacteria linked to early puberty. For example, one artificial sweetener called acesulfame potassium or AceK was shown to trigger the release of puberty-related hormones by activating "sweet taste" pathways in brain cells and increasing stress-related molecules. Another sweetener, glycyrrhizin -- found in licorice -- was found to change the balance of gut bacteria and reduce the activity of genes involved in triggering puberty.

"This suggests that what children eat and drink, especially products with sweeteners, may have a surprising and powerful impact on their development," Chen said.

The new findings come from the Taiwan Pubertal Longitudinal Study (TPLS), begun in 2018. The study included data from 1,407 teens. Central precocious puberty was diagnosed in 481 teens. The researchers assessed teens' sweetener intake through validated questionnaires and testing of urine samples. Genetic predisposition was quantified using polygenic risk scores derived from 19 genes related to central precocious puberty. Early puberty was diagnosed based on medical exams, hormone levels and scans.

Sucralose consumption was linked to a higher risk of central precocious puberty in boys and consumption of glycyrrhizin, sucralose and added sugars was associated with a higher risk of central precocious puberty in girls.

"The findings are directly relevant to families, pediatricians and public health authorities," Chen said. "They suggest that screening for genetic risk and moderating sweetener intake could help prevent early puberty and its long-term health consequences. This could lead to new dietary guidelines or risk assessment tools for children, supporting healthier development."

Story Source:

Materials provided by The Endocrine Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Cite This Page:

The Endocrine Society. (2025, July 15). Sweet but risky: Common sweeteners may be accelerating puberty in kids. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 15, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250714052231.htm

Can zebrafish help humans regrow hearing cells?

Stowers scientists identify specific genes involved in zebrafish sensory hair cell regrowth, providing new insights that could inform future research into hearing loss treatments.

Date: July 14, 2025

Source: Stowers Institute for Medical Research

Summary: Zebrafish can regenerate sensory hair cells that humans permanently lose, like those in the inner ear linked to hearing and balance. New research reveals two specific genes that control how different supporting cells in zebrafish divide and regenerate, offering clues to how mammals might someday tap into similar regenerative powers.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

Two zebrafish genes hold the key to regenerating inner ear cells, offering hope for future human therapies. Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research

While humans can regularly replace certain cells, like those in our blood and gut, we cannot naturally regrow most other parts of the body. For example, when the tiny sensory hair cells in our inner ears are damaged, the result is often permanent hearing loss, deafness, or balance problems. In contrast, animals like fish, frogs, and chicks regenerate sensory hair cells effortlessly.

Now, scientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have identified how two distinct genes guide the regeneration of sensory cells in zebrafish. The discovery improves our understanding of how regeneration works in zebrafish and may guide future studies on hearing loss and regenerative medicine in mammals, including humans.

"Mammals such as ourselves cannot regenerate hair cells in the inner ear," said Stowers Investigator Tatjana Piotrowski, Ph.D., the study's co-author. "As we age or are subjected to prolonged noise exposure, we lose our hearing and balance."

New research from the Piotrowski Lab, published in Nature Communications on July 14, 2025, seeks to understand how cell division is regulated to both promote regeneration of hair cells and to also maintain a steady supply of stem cells. Led by former Stowers Researcher Mark Lush, Ph.D., the team discovered that two different genes regulating cell division each control the growth of two key types of sensory support cells in zebrafish. The finding may help scientists study whether similar processes could be triggered in human cells in the future.

"During normal tissue maintenance and regeneration, cells need to proliferate to replace the cells that are dying or being shed -- however, this only works if there are existing cells that can divide to replace them," said Piotrowski. "To understand how proliferation is regulated, we need to understand how stem cells and their offspring know when to divide and at what point to differentiate."

Zebrafish are an excellent system for studying regeneration. Dotted in a straight line from their head to tailfin are sensory organs called neuromasts. Each neuromast resembles a garlic bulb with "hair cells" sprouting from its top. A variety of supporting cells encompass the neuromast to give rise to new hair cells. These sensory cells, which help zebrafish detect water motion, closely resemble those in the human inner ear.

Because zebrafish are transparent during development and have accessible sensory organ systems, scientists can visualize, as well as genetically sequence and modify, each neuromast cell. This allows them to investigate the mechanisms of stem cell renewal, the proliferation of progenitor cells -- direct precursors to hair cells -- and hair cell regeneration.

"We can manipulate genes and test which ones are important for regeneration," said Piotrowski. "By understanding how these cells regenerate in zebrafish, we hope to identify why similar regeneration does not occur in mammals and whether it might be possible to encourage this process in the future."

Two key populations of support cells contribute to regeneration within neuromasts: active stem cells at the neuromast's edge and progenitor cells near the center. These cells divide symmetrically, which allows the neuromast to continuously make new hair cells while not depleting its stem cells. The team used a sequencing technique to determine which genes were active in each type and found two distinct cyclinD genes present in only one or the other population.

The researchers then genetically altered each gene in the stem and progenitor populations. They discovered that the different cyclinD genes were independently regulating cell division of the two types of cells.

"When we rendered one of these genes non-functional, only one population stopped dividing," said Piotrowski. "This finding shows that different groups of cells within an organ can be controlled separately, which may help scientists understand cell growth in other tissues, such as the intestine or blood."

Progenitor cells lacking their cell type-specific cyclinD gene did not proliferate; however, they did form a hair cell, uncoupling cell division with differentiation. Notably, when the stem cell-specific cyclinD gene was engineered to work in progenitor cells, progenitor cell division was restored.

David Raible, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Washington who studies the zebrafish lateral line sensory system, commented on the significance of the new study. "This work illuminates an elegant mechanism for maintaining neuromast stem cells while promoting hair cell regeneration. It may help us investigate whether similar processes exist or could be activated in mammals."

Because cyclinD genes also regulate proliferation in many human cells, like those in the gut and blood, the team's findings may have implications beyond hair cell regeneration.

"Insights from zebrafish hair cell regeneration could eventually inform research on other organs and tissues, both those that naturally regenerate and those that do not," said Piotrowski.

Additional authors include Ya-Yin Tsai, Shiyuan Chen, Daniela Münch, Julia Peloggia, Ph.D., and Jeremy Sandler, Ph.D.

This work was funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (award: 1R01DC015488-01A1), the Hearing Health Foundation, and with institutional support from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Stowers Institute for Medical Research. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

1. Mark E. Lush, Ya-Yin Tsai, Shiyuan Chen, Daniela M&uuml;nch, Julia Peloggia, Jeremy E. Sandler, Tatjana Piotrowski. Stem and progenitor cell proliferation are independently regulated by cell type-specific cyclinD genes. Nature Communications, 2025; 16 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60251-0

Cite This Page:

Stowers Institute for Medical Research. (2025, July 14). Can zebrafish help humans regrow hearing cells?. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 14, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250714052110.htm

Deadly disguise: How candy-like nicotine pouches caused a 763% spike in child poisonings

Experts urge stronger regulations, a ban on flavors for all nicotine products, and secure at-home storage to help prevent nicotine ingestions.

Date: July 14, 2025

Source: Nationwide Children's Hospital

Summary: A massive spike in young children accidentally ingesting nicotine pouches has alarmed poison control researchers, with a 763% rise reported between 2020 and 2023. Unlike other nicotine products, these pouches have quickly become the most dangerous form ingested, often leading to hospital visits. Experts say appealing packaging and flavors are part of the problem and they're pushing for tougher safety measures, including childproof storage and flavor bans.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

A new study shows a 763% jump in kids ingesting nicotine pouches—far more dangerous than other nicotine products. Credit: Shutterstock

A new study reveals that ingestions of nicotine pouches by young children have surged in recent years. Researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and the Central Ohio Poison Center analyzed calls to U.S. poison centers and found an alarming 763% increase in the rate of reported nicotine pouch ingestions among children younger than 6 years old from 2020 to 2023. Nicotine pouches were also more likely to be associated with serious medical outcomes or hospital admissions than other nicotine products like gum/lozenges, e-liquids, powder/granules, and tablets/capsules/caplets.

Nicotine pouches, which contain nicotine powder and are placed in the mouth, were not tracked in national poison center data until 2020. However, between 2020 and 2023 (the most recent year of data from the study), the rate of unintentional ingestion of nicotine pouches by young children increased at a fast rate -- even as ingestion rates for other formulations of nicotine declined.

"Nicotine pouches are a serious and growing toxic ingestion hazard among young children," said Hannah Hays, MD, co-author of the study and medical director of the Central Ohio Poison Center.

"The rapid increase in the number and comparative severity of nicotine pouch ingestions is a reminder of the public health challenges of the changing nicotine product market. This is why we need to continue ongoing surveillance and increase our efforts to prevent nicotine ingestions among young children."

The study, published in Pediatrics, also investigated other nicotine products and formulations. Researchers examined nearly 135,000 cases of nicotine ingestions among children younger than 6 years old that were reported to U.S. poison centers from 2010 through 2023. Most ingestions occurred at home and involved children under the age of 2 years. While most exposures resulted in minor or no effects, there were 39 cases with major medical outcomes and two deaths.

The overall rate of all nicotine ingestions increased 59% from 2010-2015 before decreasing 34% from 2015-2023. This rate was primarily driven by the ingestion rate for liquid nicotine and nicotine solid formulations such as tablets, capsules, and caplets. The ingestion rate for liquid nicotine increased by 450% from 2010-2015 and then decreased by 45% from 2015-2023.

"This abrupt change in the rate trend for liquid nicotine ingestions corresponded with the passage of both state and federal legislation, including the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015, which required child-resistant packaging of liquid nicotine," said Gary Smith, MD, DrPH, senior author of the study and director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's. "This suggests that legislation can make a difference. However, despite this improvement, the ingestion rate for liquid nicotine remained higher than the rates for any other nicotine product, which clearly indicates that there are opportunities for further improvement.

"Many nicotine products are flavored and sold in colorful packaging that may be attractive to a young child," said Dr. Smith. "Banning flavors in all nicotine products helps reduce unintentional ingestions by young children as well as discourage use among teens."

Researchers also shared a few safety tips for parents and caregivers of young children. The safest choice is to keep all nicotine products out of the home. If you choose to have them in your home, you can lower the risk by following these steps:

- Store nicotine products safely. If these products are kept in the home, store them up, away from food, and out of sight -- preferably in a locked cabinet, drawer or box. While storing these products in purses or backpacks is not recommended when you have young children that live in or visit your home, if you are going to keep them in these places, make sure to store the purse/backpack up, away, and out of sight of children. Ask that caregivers around your child do the same in their homes.

- Avoid using these products in front of children. It is helpful to not use these products in front of your children, especially if packaged to look like treats.

- Save the national Poison Help Line number (1-800-222-1222) in your phone and post it in a visible place in your home. The Poison Help Line provides free, confidential advice from experts, 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Data for this study were obtained from the National Poison Data System (NPDS), which is maintained by America's Poison Centers. Poison centers receive phone calls through the national Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222) and document information about the exposure, which is reported to the NPDS.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Nationwide Children's Hospital. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Cite This Page:

Nationwide Children's Hospital. (2025, July 14). Deadly disguise: How candy-like nicotine pouches caused a 763% spike in child poisonings. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 14, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250714014133.htm

Not just diabetes: How slightly high blood sugar wrecks men’s sexual health

Declines in sperm movement, erectile function may be linked to elevated blood sugar

Date: July 13, 2025

Source: The Endocrine Society

Summary: Aging men aren't just battling time—they're up against rising blood sugar. New research reveals that subtle increases in metabolic markers like glucose have more influence on declining sexual health than age or testosterone levels alone. The findings, based on a 6-year study of otherwise healthy men, show that even below-diabetes-level sugar changes can impair sperm mobility and erectile function. But there’s good news: lifestyle choices and medical support could help men maintain reproductive vitality well into older age.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

Aging doesn’t doom men’s sexual health, but creeping blood sugar might. Subtle metabolic changes were found to affect sexual function more than testosterone or age itself. Credit: Shutterstock

Metabolic health factors, including small increases in blood sugar, are the main drivers of change in the reproductive systems and sexual functioning of aging men, according to a study presented at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

"Although age and testosterone levels have long been considered an impetus for men's declining sexual health, our research indicates that these changes more closely correlate with modest increases in blood sugar and other metabolic changes," said Michael Zitzmann, M.D., Ph.D., professor and doctor of medicine at University Hospital in Muenster, Germany. "This means that men can take steps to preserve or revive their reproductive health with lifestyle choices and appropriate medical interventions."

These conclusions follow a long-term study of healthy men (without diabetes mellitus, heart disease and/or cancer) aged 18-85 that began in 2014 with 200 participants and concluded in 2020 with 117 participants. Researchers studied progressive changes in participants' semen and hormonal profiles, erectile functioning and metabolic health (BMI and blood sugar levels marked by the HbA1c test).

Findings indicated that over time hormone levels and semen parameters stayed largely within normal ranges. However, sperm movement and erectile function declined in men with minimally elevated blood sugar levels that were below the 6.5% HbA1c diabetes threshold. The study also found that while testosterone levels did not have a direct impact on erectile function, they did correlate with participants' libido assessment.

"We're hopeful that the information gleaned from this study will help doctors and their patients formulate effective male sexual health maintenance plans," Zitzmann added. "We now know that it's in our power to retain sexual and reproductive well-being in men, even as they age."

This research was conducted as part of the FAME 2.0 study.

Story Source:

Materials provided by The Endocrine Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Cite This Page:

The Endocrine Society. (2025, July 13). Not just diabetes: How slightly high blood sugar wrecks men’s sexual health. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 13, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250713031439.htm

Matter and Energy

- New Nanotech Boosts Solar Cell Efficiency Over 10%

- One tiny trick just broke light’s oldest rule — and changed optics forever

- This Algorithm Just Solved One of Physics’ Most Infamous Problems

New Nanotech Boosts Solar Cell Efficiency Over 10%

Date: July 14, 2025

Source: Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Summary: Scientists in China have developed a precise method to grow titanium dioxide nanorod arrays with controllable spacing, independent of rod size. This innovation boosts solar cell efficiency by allowing light capture and charge movement to be fine-tuned.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

A new technique enables titanium dioxide nanorods to grow with adjustable spacing, unlocking better light trapping and power conversion in solar cells. Credit: Canva

A research team led by Prof. Mingtai Wang at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a finely tuned method for growing titanium dioxide nanorod arrays (TiO2-NA) with controllable spacing without changing individual rod size and demonstrated its application in high-performance solar cells.

Their findings, published in Small Methods, offer a new toolkit for crafting nanostructures across clean energy and optoelectronics.

Single-crystalline TiO2 nanorods excel at harvesting light and conducting charge, making them ideal for solar cells, photocatalysts, and sensors. However, traditional fabrication methods link rod density, diameter, and length -- if one parameter is adjusted, the others shift accordingly, often affecting device efficiency.

In this study, by carefully extending the hydrolysis stage of a precursor film, the team showed that longer "gel chains" assemble into smaller anatase nanoparticles. When the anatase film is subjected to hydrothermal treatment, those anatase nanoparticles convert in situ into rutile ones, serving as seeds for nanorod growth. The hydrolysis stage provides an effective way to control the rod density without altering the nanorod dimensions.

Using this strategy, they produced TiO2-NA films with constant rod diameter and height, even as the number of rods per area varied. When incorporated into low-temperature-processed CuInS2 solar cells, these films achieved power conversion efficiencies above ten percent, peaking at 10.44 percent. To explain why spacing matters so profoundly, the team introduced a Volume-Surface-Density model, clarifying how rod density influences light trapping, charge separation, and carrier collection.

This research overcomes the limitations of traditional methods for regulating nanostructures by establishing a complete system linking "macro-process regulation-microstructure evolution-device performance optimization."

Story Source:

Materials provided by Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

1. Wenbo Cao, Chao Dong, Chaofan Zheng, Jiajin Kuang, Yang Wang, Faisal Naveed, Mengqi Jin, Yingying Dong, Chong Chen, Mingtai Wang. Unveiling Growth and Photovoltaic Principles in Density&amp;#8208;Controllable TiO2 Nanorod Arrays for Efficient Solar Cells. Small Methods, 2025; DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202500264

Cite This Page:

Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2025, July 14). New Nanotech Boosts Solar Cell Efficiency Over 10%. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 14, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250713031454.htm

One tiny trick just broke light’s oldest rule — and changed optics forever

Date: July 14, 2025

Source: Light Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS

Summary: Researchers have cracked a fundamental optical challenge: how to control both angle and wavelength of light independently—a problem that’s limited imaging and display technologies for years. By harnessing the power of radiation directionality and engineering bilayer metagratings with unique symmetry properties, they’ve decoupled these two variables for the first time. Their precise nanofabrication techniques allow for ultra-flat, highly aligned structures that selectively reflect light only at specific angles and wavelengths. This breakthrough could revolutionize AR/VR displays, spectral imaging, and even optical computing, giving unprecedented control over light in compact devices.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

Schematic of tailoring the resonant reflection via radiation directionality in misaligned metagratings. The novel bilayer metagratings selects only a single angle and a single wavelength under incidence with broadband spectrum and wide angles. This is achieved through a “directional eraser”, that precisely suppresses light's spectral signature along a dispersion curve. Credit: Ze-Peng Zhuang, Xin Zhou et al.

Wavelength and propagation direction (angle) are two fundamental properties of light. The ability to selectively control both a specific wavelength and a specific angle forms the physical foundation for many advanced optical applications. However, due to the intrinsic dispersion in periodic systems, there exists an intrinsic locking relationship between angle and wavelength in the resonant spectrum. As a result, it has been widely accepted that changing the angle of incidence inevitably shifts the filtering wavelength of optical devices. This relationship between angle and wavelength in resonant spectra makes their independent control challenging and imposes fundamental limitations on optical applications. Examples include rainbow artifacts in AR waveguides caused by dispersion, image quality degradation due to lateral chromatic dispersion in wide-field imaging, angular crosstalk in photodetectors reducing spectral reconstruction accuracy, and limitations in designing high-efficiency directional light sources.

In a new paper published in eLight, a team of scientists, jointly led by Professor Jian-Wen Dong from Sun Yat-sen University, and Lei Zhou from Fudan University, have discovered that the radiation directionality of optical modes is key to overcoming this fundamental challenge. Through theoretical analysis, they established a complete phase diagram for engineering resonant spectra via radiation directionality, revealing that spatial inversion symmetry and highly directional radiation of optical modes are the essential physical conditions for breaking angle-wavelength locking.

Based on this, they introduced a degree of lateral displacement in bilayer metagratings. This design preserves spatial inversion symmetry while breaking vertical mirror symmetry, enabling precise angular control of radiation directionality. Theoretically, they predicted that resonant reflection occurs only at normal incidence and near the central wavelength. They also proposed general designs for achieving spatio-spectral selectivity at arbitrary angles and wavelengths.

"Radiation directionality acts like a 'magical eraser', allowing us to precisely suppress light's spectral signature along a dispersion curve. This capability allows for independent selectivity of angle and wavelength, overcoming the limitation imposed by intrinsic dispersion" they summarized.

"Experimental fabrication of the bilayer metagratings is another challenge, since achieving both the flatness of ultra-thin spacer layers and the precise lateral misalignment between layers requires sophisticated nanofabrication techniques" they added.

To address this, they have developed a novel fabrication approach involving multiple etching steps, indirect thickness measurements, and iterative deposition processes. This was combined with a high-precision bilayer alignment technique to successfully fabricate high-quality, near-infrared working bilayer metagratings. This method offers excellent spacer flatness and thickness tunability, ~10 nm alignment accuracy, and compatibility with various spacer materials, establishing a flexible experimental platform for studying bilayer photonic systems.

Using this platform, they experimentally demonstrated high reflectance happening only at a single angle and a single wavelength. To confirm that the novel reflectance roots in the radiation directionality, they also performed angle-resolved optical microscopy measurements to characterize the radiation directionality of the sample. By combining temporal coupled-mode theory with cross-polarization measurement techniques, they quantitatively measured the unidirectional radiation of the resonant modes.

Furthermore, the research team have pioneered the development of millimeter-scale, high-precision bilayer metagratings and successfully achieved high-contrast imaging with concurrent spatial- and spectral-frequency selectivity at 0° and 1342 nm. This opens new opportunities for compact optical imaging and optical computing technologies.

"This research not only offers an innovative solution to address the fundamental challenge of independently controlling angle and wavelength, but also provides new insights for technological applications such as AR/VR displays, spectral imaging, coherent thermal radiation, and advanced semiconductor manufacturing" the scientists forecast.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Light Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

1. Ze-Peng Zhuang, Xin Zhou, Hao-Long Zeng, Meng-Yu Li, Ze-Ming Chen, Xin-Tao He, Xiao-Dong Chen, Lei Zhou, Jian-Wen Dong. Overcoming intrinsic dispersion locking for achieving spatio-spectral selectivity with misaligned bilayer metagratings. eLight, 2025; 5 (1) DOI: 10.1186/s43593-025-00092-y

Cite This Page:

Light Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS. (2025, July 14). One tiny trick just broke light’s oldest rule — and changed optics forever. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 14, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250713031452.htm

This Algorithm Just Solved One of Physics’ Most Infamous Problems

Date: July 14, 2025

Source: California Institute of Technology

Summary: Using an advanced Monte Carlo method, Caltech researchers found a way to tame the infinite complexity of Feynman diagrams and solve the long-standing polaron problem, unlocking deeper understanding of electron flow in tricky materials.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

Illustration of a polaron in a crystal: the central bright sphere is the charge carrier, distorting the surrounding lattice. The wavy lines represent high-order Feynman diagrams for the electron–phonon interaction, summed with quantitative accuracy with the new Caltech method. Credit: Ella Maru Studio

Caltech scientists have found a fast and efficient way to add up large numbers of Feynman diagrams, the simple drawings physicists use to represent particle interactions. The new method has already enabled the researchers to solve a longstanding problem in the materials science and physics worlds known as the polaron problem, giving scientists and engineers a way to predict how electrons will flow in certain materials, both conventional and quantum.

In the 1940s, physicist Richard Feynman first proposed a way to represent the various interactions that take place between electrons, photons, and other fundamental particles using 2D drawings that involve straight and wavy lines intersecting at vertices. Though they look simple, these Feynman diagrams allow scientists to calculate the probability that a particular collision, or scattering, will take place between particles.

Since particles can interact in many ways, many different diagrams are needed to depict every possible interaction. And each diagram represents a mathematical expression. Therefore, by summing all the possible diagrams, scientists can arrive at quantitative values related to particular interactions and scattering probabilities.

"Summing all Feynman diagrams with quantitative accuracy is a holy grail in theoretical physics," says Marco Bernardi, professor of applied physics, physics, and materials science at Caltech. "We have attacked the polaron problem by adding up all the diagrams for the so-called electron-phonon interaction, essentially up to an infinite order."

In a paper published in Nature Physics, the Caltech team uses its new method to precisely compute the strength of electron-phonon interactions and to predict associated effects quantitatively. The lead author of the paper is graduate student Yao Luo, a member of Bernardi's group.

For some materials, such as simple metals, the electrons moving inside the crystal structure will interact only weakly with its atomic vibrations. For such materials, scientists can use a method called perturbation theory to describe the interactions that occur between electrons and phonons, which can be thought of as "units" of atomic vibration. Perturbation theory is a good approximation in these systems because each successive order or interaction becomes decreasingly important. That means that computing only one or a few Feynman diagrams - a calculation that can be done routinely - is sufficient to obtain accurate electron-phonon interactions in these materials.

Introducing Polarons

But for many other materials, electrons interact much more strongly with the atomic lattice, forming entangled electron-phonon states known as polarons. Polarons are electrons accompanied by the lattice distortion they induce. They form in a wide range of materials including insulators, semiconductors, materials used in electronics or energy devices, as well as many quantum materials. For example, an electron placed in a material with ionic bonds will distort the surrounding lattice and form a localized polaron state, resulting in decreased mobility due to the strong electron-phonon interaction. Scientists can study these polaron states by measuring how conductive the electrons are or how they distort the atomic lattice around them.

Perturbation theory does not work for these materials because each successive order is more important than the last. "It's basically a nightmare in terms of scaling," says Bernardi. "If you can calculate the lowest order, it's very likely that you cannot do the second order, and the third order will just be impossible. The computational cost typically scales prohibitively with interaction order. There are too many diagrams to compute, and the higher-order diagrams are too computationally expensive."

Summing Feynman Diagrams

Scientists have searched for a way to add up all the Feynman diagrams that describe the many, many ways that the electrons in such a material can interact with atomic vibrations. Thus far such calculations have been dominated by methods where scientists can tune certain parameters to match an experiment. "But when you do that, you don't know whether you've actually understood the mechanism or not," says Bernardi. Instead, his group focuses on solving problems from "first principles," meaning beginning with nothing more than the positions of atoms within a material and using the equations of quantum mechanics.

When thinking about the scope of this problem, Luo says to imagine trying to predict how the stock market might behave tomorrow. To attempt this, one would need to consider every interaction between every trader over some period to get precise predictions of the market's dynamics. Luo wants to understand all the interactions between electrons and phonons in a material where the phonons interact strongly with the atoms in the material. But as with predicting the stock market, the number of possible interactions is prohibitively large. "It is actually impossible to calculate directly," he says. "The only thing we can do is use a smart way of sampling all these scattering processes."

Betting on Monte Carlo

Caltech researchers are addressing this problem by applying a technique called diagrammatic Monte Carlo (DMC), in which an algorithm randomly samples spots within the space of all Feynman diagrams for a system, but with some guidance in terms of the most important places to sample. "We set up some rules to move effectively, with high agility, within the space of Feynman diagrams," explains Bernardi.

The Caltech team overcame the enormous amount of computing that would have normally been required to use DMC to study real materials with first principle methods by relying on a technique they reported last year that compresses the matrices that represent electron-phonon interactions. Another major advance is nearly removing the so-called "sign problem" in electron-phonon DMC using a clever technique that views diagrams as products of tensors, mathematical objects expressed as multi-dimensional matrices.

"The clever diagram sampling, sign-problem removal, and electron-phonon matrix compression are the three key pieces of the puzzle that have enabled this paradigm shift in the polaron problem," says Bernardi.

In the new paper, the researchers have applied DMC calculations in diverse systems that contain polarons, including lithium fluoride, titanium dioxide, and strontium titanate. The scientists say their work opens up a wide range of predictions that are relevant to experiments that people are conducting on both conventional and quantum materials -- including electrical transport, spectroscopy, superconductivity, and other properties in materials that have strong electron-phonon coupling.

"We have successfully described polarons in materials using DMC, but the method we developed could also help study strong interactions between light and matter, or even provide the blueprint to efficiently add up Feynman diagrams in entirely different physical theories," says Bernardi.

The paper is titled, "First principles diagrammatic Monte Carlo for electron-phonon interactions and polaron." Along with Bernardi and Luo, Jinsoo Park (MS '20, PhD '22), now a visiting associate in applied physics and materials science at Caltech and a postdoctoral research scholar at the University of Chicago, is also an author. The work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Scientific Discovery through Advanced Computing program, the National Science Foundation, and the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science User Facility. Luo was partially funded by an Eddleman Graduate Fellowship. Calculations of transport and polarons in oxides were supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and Clarkson Aerospace Corp.

Story Source:

Materials provided by California Institute of Technology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

1. Yao Luo, Jinsoo Park, Marco Bernardi. First-principles diagrammatic Monte Carlo for electron&amp;#8211;phonon interactions and polaron. Nature Physics, 2025; DOI: 10.1038/s41567-025-02954-1

Cite This Page:

California Institute of Technology. (2025, July 14). This Algorithm Just Solved One of Physics’ Most Infamous Problems. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 14, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250713031451.htm

Space and Time

- Big-Bang echoes unmask a billion-light-year hole around Earth—and it’s stretching space faster

- Gravitational shockwave: LIGO catches a 225-solar-mass black-hole smash-up

- Hubble Cracks Open a Glittering Cosmic Time Capsule, Revealing Multi-Generational Stars 160,000 Light-Years Away

- It looked like nothing—then scientists found a world 10x the size of Jupiter

- 2.35-billion-year-old Moon rock found in Africa rewrites lunar history

- These mysterious stars could glow forever using dark matter

- 100 ghost galaxies may be orbiting the Milky Way—and we’re just now uncovering them

Big-Bang echoes unmask a billion-light-year hole around Earth—and it’s stretching space faster

Date: July 15, 2025

Source: Royal Astronomical Society

Summary: Our galaxy may reside in a billion-light-year-wide cosmic bubble that accelerates local expansion, potentially settling the long-running Hubble tension. Galaxy counts reveal a sparsely populated neighborhood, and “fossil” sound waves from the Big Bang bolster the void scenario, hinting that gravity has hollowed out this region. Confirming the bubble could refine the universe’s age and reshape our grasp of cosmic growth.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

If we are located in a region with below-average density such as the green dot, then matter would flow away from us due to stronger gravity from the surrounding denser regions, as shown by the red arrows. Credit: Moritz Haslbauer and Zarija Lukic

Earth and our entire Milky Way galaxy may sit inside a mysterious giant hole which makes the cosmos expand faster here than in neighboring regions of the universe, astronomers say.

Their theory is a potential solution to the 'Hubble tension' and could help confirm the true age of our universe, which is estimated to be around 13.8 billion years old.

The latest research - shared at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting (NAM) in Durham - shows that sound waves from the early universe, "essentially the sound of the Big Bang," support this idea.

The Hubble constant was first proposed by Edwin Hubble in 1929 to express the rate of the universe's expansion. It can be measured by observing the distance of celestial objects and how fast they are moving away from us.

The stumbling block, however, is that extrapolating measurements of the distant, early universe to today using the standard cosmological model predicts a slower rate of expansion than measurements of the nearby, more recent universe. This is the Hubble tension.

"A potential solution to this inconsistency is that our galaxy is close to the center of a large, local void," explained Dr Indranil Banik, of the University of Portsmouth.

"It would cause matter to be pulled by gravity towards the higher density exterior of the void, leading to the void becoming emptier with time.

"As the void is emptying out, the velocity of objects away from us would be larger than if the void were not there. This therefore gives the appearance of a faster local expansion rate."

He added: "The Hubble tension is largely a local phenomenon, with little evidence that the expansion rate disagrees with expectations in the standard cosmology further back in time.

"So a local solution like a local void is a promising way to go about solving the problem."

For the idea to stand up, Earth and our solar system would need to be near the center of a void about a billion light-years in radius and with a density about 20 percent below the average for the universe as a whole.

Directly counting galaxies does support the theory, because the number density in our local universe is lower than in neighbouring regions.

However, the existence of such a large and deep void is controversial because it doesn't mesh particularly well with the standard model of cosmology, which suggests matter today should be more uniformly spread out on such large scales.

Despite this, new data presented by Dr Banik at NAM 2025 shows that baryon acoustic oscillations (BAOs) - the "sound of the Big Bang" - support the idea of a local void.

"These sound waves travelled for only a short while before becoming frozen in place once the universe cooled enough for neutral atoms to form," he explained.

"They act as a standard ruler, whose angular size we can use to chart the cosmic expansion history.

"A local void slightly distorts the relation between the BAO angular scale and the redshift, because the velocities induced by a local void and its gravitational effect slightly increase the redshift on top of that due to cosmic expansion.

"By considering all available BAO measurements over the last 20 years, we showed that a void model is about one hundred million times more likely than a void-free model with parameters designed to fit the CMB observations taken by the Planck satellite, the so-called homogeneous Planck cosmology."

The next step for researchers is to compare their local void model with other methods to estimate the history of the universe's expansion, such as cosmic chronometers.

This involves looking at galaxies that are no longer forming stars. By observing their spectra, or light, it is possible to find what kinds of stars they have and in what proportion. Since more massive stars have shorter lives, they are absent in older galaxies, providing a way to establish a galaxy's age.

Astronomers can then combine this age with the galaxy's redshift - how much the wavelength of its light has been stretched - which tells us how much the universe has expanded while light from the galaxy was travelling towards us. This sheds light on the universe's expansion history.

The Hubble constant was first proposed by Edwin Hubble in 1929 to express the rate of the universe's expansion. It can be measured by observing the distance of celestial objects and how fast they are moving away from us.

The Hubble tension refers to the discrepancy in the measured expansion rate of the universe, specifically between the value based on observations of the early universe and value related to observations of the local universe.

Baryon acoustic oscillations are a pattern of wrinkles in the density distribution of the clusters of galaxies spread across the universe. They provide an independent way to measure the expansion rate of the universe and how that rate has changed throughout cosmic history.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Royal Astronomical Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Cite This Page:

Royal Astronomical Society. (2025, July 15). Big-Bang echoes unmask a billion-light-year hole around Earth—and it’s stretching space faster. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 15, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250715043347.htm

Gravitational shockwave: LIGO catches a 225-solar-mass black-hole smash-up

Gravitational waves from massive black holes challenge current astrophysical models.

Date: July 15, 2025

Source: California Institute of Technology

Summary: Gravitational-wave detectors have captured their biggest spectacle yet: two gargantuan, rapidly spinning black holes likely forged by earlier smash-ups fused into a 225-solar-mass titan, GW231123. The record-setting blast strains both the sensitivity of LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA and the boundaries of stellar-evolution theory, forcing scientists to rethink how such cosmic heavyweights arise.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

A cosmic heavyweight bout birthed the most massive, fastest-spinning black-hole duo ever measured, stretching current models and technology to their limits. Credit: Shutterstock

The LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) Collaboration has detected the merger of the most massive black holes ever observed with gravitational waves using the US National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded LIGO observatories. The powerful merger produced a final black hole approximately 225 times the mass of our Sun. The signal, designated GW231123, was detected during the fourth observing run of the LVK network on November 23, 2023.

LIGO, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, made history in 2015 when it made the first-ever direct detection of gravitational waves, ripples in space-time. In that case, the waves emanated from a black hole merger that resulted in a final black hole 62 times the mass of our Sun. The signal was detected jointly by the twin detectors of LIGO, one located in Livingston, Louisiana, and the other in Hanford, Washington.

Since then, the LIGO team has teamed up with partners at the Virgo detector in Italy and KAGRA (Kamioka Gravitational Wave Detector) in Japan to form the LVK Collaboration. These detectors have collectively observed more than 200 black hole mergers in their fourth run, and about 300 in total since the start of the first run in 2015.

Before now, the most massive black hole merger -- produced by an event that took place in 2021 called GW190521 -- had a total mass of 140 times that of the Sun.

In the more recent GW231123 event, the 225-solar-mass black hole was created by the coalescence of black holes each approximately 100 and 140 times the mass of the Sun.

In addition to their high masses, the black holes are also rapidly spinning.

"This is the most massive black hole binary we've observed through gravitational waves, and it presents a real challenge to our understanding of black hole formation," says Mark Hannam of Cardiff University and a member of the LVK Collaboration. "Black holes this massive are forbidden through standard stellar evolution models. One possibility is that the two black holes in this binary formed through earlier mergers of smaller black holes."

Dave Reitze, the executive director of LIGO at Caltech, says, "This observation once again demonstrates how gravitational waves are uniquely revealing the fundamental and exotic nature of black holes throughout the universe."

A record-breaking system

The high mass and extremely rapid spinning of the black holes in GW231123 push the limits of both gravitational-wave detection technology and current theoretical models. Extracting accurate information from the signal required the use of models that account for the intricate dynamics of highly spinning black holes.

"The black holes appear to be spinning very rapidly -- near the limit allowed by Einstein's theory of general relativity," explains Charlie Hoy of the University of Portsmouth and a member of the LVK. "That makes the signal difficult to model and interpret. It's an excellent case study for pushing forward the development of our theoretical tools."

Researchers are continuing to refine their analysis and improve the models used to interpret such extreme events. "It will take years for the community to fully unravel this intricate signal pattern and all its implications," says Gregorio Carullo of the University of Birmingham and a member of the LVK. "Despite the most likely explanation remaining a black hole merger, more complex scenarios could be the key to deciphering its unexpected features. Exciting times ahead!"

Probing the limits of gravitational-wave astronomy

Gravitational-wave detectors such as LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA are designed to measure minute distortions in space-time caused by violent cosmic events. The fourth observing run began in May 2023, and additional observations from the first half of the run (up to January 2024) will be published later in the summer.

"This event pushes our instrumentation and data-analysis capabilities to the edge of what's currently possible," says Sophie Bini, a postdoctoral researcher at Caltech and member of the LVK. "It's a powerful example of how much we can learn from gravitational-wave astronomy -- and how much more there is to uncover."

GW231123 will be presented at the 24th International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation (GR24) and the 16th Edoardo Amaldi Conference on Gravitational Waves held jointly at the GR-Amaldi meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, July 14-18, 2025. The calibrated data used to detect and study GW231123 will be made available for other researchers to analyze through the Gravitational Wave Open Science Center (GWOSC).

Story Source:

Materials provided by California Institute of Technology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Cite This Page:

California Institute of Technology. (2025, July 15). Gravitational shockwave: LIGO catches a 225-solar-mass black-hole smash-up. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 15, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250714052123.htm

Hubble Cracks Open a Glittering Cosmic Time Capsule, Revealing Multi-Generational Stars 160,000 Light-Years Away

Date: July 14, 2025

Source: ESA/Hubble

Summary: Hubble’s crystal-clear look at NGC 1786—an ancient globular cluster tucked inside the Large Magellanic Cloud—pulls us 160,000 light-years from Earth and straight into a cosmic time machine. Packed with stars of several different ages, this glittering sphere helps astronomers test whether layered “generations” of suns are common across galaxies. By comparing NGC 1786 and other dwarf-galaxy clusters with those orbiting the Milky Way, researchers hope to retrace how both the LMC and our own galaxy pieced themselves together in the early universe.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

NGC 1786, a sparkling star-ball first spotted in 1835, shows that globular clusters can host multiple waves of stellar birth—clues that refine scientists’ blueprints for how galaxies grow. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, M. Monelli, Acknowledgement: M. H. Özsaraç

For this ESA/Hubble Picture of the Week, we gaze upon the field of stars that is NGC 1786. This object is a globular cluster in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a small satellite galaxy of the Milky Way Galaxy that is approximately 160,000 light-years away from Earth. NGC 1786 itself is in the constellation Dorado. It was discovered in the year 1835 by John Herschel.

The data for this image comes from an observing program comparing old globular clusters in nearby dwarf galaxies -- the LMC, the Small Magellanic Cloud and the Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy -- to the globular clusters in the Milky Way galaxy. Our galaxy contains over 150 of these old, spherical collections of tightly-bound stars, which have been studied in depth -- especially with Hubble Space Telescope images like this one, which show them in previously-unattainable detail. Being very stable and long-lived, they act as galactic time capsules, preserving stars from the earliest stages of a galaxy's formation.

Astronomers once thought that the stars in a globular cluster all formed together at about the same time, but study of the old globular clusters in our galaxy has uncovered multiple populations of stars with different ages. In order to use globular clusters as historical markers, we must understand how they form and where these stars of varying ages come from. This observing programme examined old globular clusters like NGC 1786 in these external galaxies to see if they, too, contain multiple populations of stars. This research can tell us more not only about how the LMC was originally formed, but the Milky Way Galaxy, too.

Story Source:

Materials provided by ESA/Hubble. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Cite This Page:

ESA/Hubble. (2025, July 14). Hubble Cracks Open a Glittering Cosmic Time Capsule, Revealing Multi-Generational Stars 160,000 Light-Years Away. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 14, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250714052112.htm

It looked like nothing—then scientists found a world 10x the size of Jupiter

Date: July 14, 2025

Source: University of Cambridge

Summary: Astronomers have uncovered a massive, hidden exoplanet nestled in the dusty disc of a young star—MP Mus—by combining cutting-edge data from the ALMA observatory and ESA’s Gaia mission. Initially thought to be planet-free, the star’s surrounding disc appeared deceptively empty. But new observations and a telltale stellar “wobble” pointed to a Jupiter-sized gas giant forming within the disc’s obscured gaps. This marks the first time a planet in such a disc has been detected using these tools, opening the door to finding more young worlds that have so far evaded detection.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

When astronomers first observed it with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), they saw a smooth, planet-free disc, shown here in the right image. The team, led by Álvaro Ribas, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge, UK, gave this star another chance and re-observed it with ALMA at longer wavelengths that probe even deeper into the protoplanetary disc than before. These new observations, shown in the left image, revealed a gap and a ring that had been obscured in previous observations, suggesting that MP Mus might have company after all. Credit: ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/A. Ribas et al.

Astronomers have detected a giant exoplanet - between three and ten times the size of Jupiter - hiding in the swirling disc of gas and dust surrounding a young star.

Earlier observations of this star, called MP Mus, suggested that it was all alone without any planets in orbit around it, surrounded by a featureless cloud of gas and dust.

However, a second look at MP Mus, using a combination of results from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the European Space Agency's Gaia mission, suggest that the star is not alone after all.

The international team of astronomers, led by the University of Cambridge, detected a large gas giant in the star's protoplanetary disc: the pancake-like cloud of gases, dust and ice where the process of planet formation begins. This is the first time that Gaia has detected an exoplanet within a protoplanetary disc. The results, reported in the journal Nature Astronomy, suggest that similar methods could be useful in the hunt for young planets around other stars.

By studying how planets form in the protoplanetary discs around young stars, researchers can learn more about how our own Solar System evolved. Through a process known as core accretion, gravity causes particles in the disc to stick to each other, eventually forming larger solid bodies like asteroids or planets. As young planets form, they start to carve gaps in the disc, like grooves on a vinyl record.

However, observing these young planets is extremely challenging, due to the interference from the gas and dust in the disc. To date, only three robust detections of young planets in a protoplanetary disc have been made.

Dr Álvaro Ribas from Cambridge's Institute of Astronomy, who led the research, specialises in studying protoplanetary discs. "We first observed this star at the time when we learned that most discs have rings and gaps, and I was hoping to find features around MP Mus that could hint at the presence of a planet or planets," he said.

Using ALMA, Ribas observed the protoplanetary disc around MP Mus (PDS 66) in 2023. The results showed a young star seemingly all alone in the universe. Its surrounding disc showed none of the gaps where planets might be forming, and was completely flat and featureless.

"Our earlier observations showed a boring, flat disc," said Ribas. "But this seemed odd to us, since the disc is between seven and ten million years old. In a disc of that age, we would expect to see some evidence of planet formation."

Now, Ribas and his colleagues from Germany, Chile, and France have given MP Mus another chance. Once again using ALMA, they observed the star at the 3mm range, a longer wavelength than the earlier observations, allowing them to probe deeper into the disc.

The new observations turned up a cavity close to the star and two gaps further out, which were obscured in the earlier observations, suggesting that MP Mus may not be alone after all.

At the same time, Miguel Vioque, a researcher at the European Southern Observatory, was uncovering another piece of the puzzle. Using data from Gaia, he found MP Mus was 'wobbling'.

"My first reaction was that I must have made a mistake in my calculations, because MP Mus was known to have a featureless disc," said Vioque. "I was revising my calculations when I saw Álvaro give a talk presenting preliminary results of a newly-discovered inner cavity in the disc, which meant the wobbling I was detecting was real and had a good chance of being caused by a forming planet."

Using a combination of the Gaia and ALMA observations, along with some computer modelling, the researchers say the wobbling is likely caused by a gas giant - less than ten times the mass of Jupiter - orbiting the star at a distance between one and three times the distance of the Earth to the Sun.

"Our modelling work showed that if you put a giant planet inside the new-found cavity, you can also explain the Gaia signal," said Ribas. "And using the longer ALMA wavelengths allowed us to see structures we couldn't see before."

This is the first time an exoplanet embedded in a protoplanetary disc has been indirectly discovered in this way - by combining precise star movement data from the Gaia with deep observations of the disc. It also means that many more hidden planets might exist in other discs, just waiting to be found.

"We think this might be one of the reasons why it's hard to detect young planets in protoplanetary discs, because in this case, we needed the ALMA and Gaia data together," said Ribas. "The longer ALMA wavelength is incredibly useful, but to observe at this wavelength requires more time on the telescope."

Ribas says that upcoming upgrades to ALMA, as well as future telescopes such as the next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA), may be used to look deeper into more discs and better understand the hidden population of young planets, which could in turn help us learn how our own planet may have formed.

The research was supported in part by the European Union's Horizon Programme, the European Research Council, and the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Cambridge. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

1. &Aacute;lvaro Ribas, Miguel Vioque, Francesco Zagaria, Cristiano Longarini, Enrique Mac&iacute;as, Cathie J. Clarke, Sebasti&aacute;n P&eacute;rez, John Carpenter, Nicol&aacute;s Cuello, Itziar de Gregorio-Monsalvo. A young gas giant and hidden substructures in a protoplanetary disk. Nature Astronomy, 2025; DOI: 10.1038/s41550-025-02576-w

Cite This Page:

University of Cambridge. (2025, July 14). It looked like nothing—then scientists found a world 10x the size of Jupiter. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 14, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250714052108.htm

2.35-billion-year-old Moon rock found in Africa rewrites lunar history

Date: July 13, 2025

Source: European Association of Geochemistry

Summary: A 2.35-billion-year-old Moon rock that fell to Earth in Africa is rewriting what we know about lunar volcanism. This rare meteorite, studied by UK scientists and unveiled at a major geochemistry conference, reveals that the Moon was volcanically active far longer than previously thought. With a unique chemical makeup and an age that bridges a billion-year gap in Moon rock samples, it suggests the Moon had internal heat sources that persisted for ages.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

Image of the Northest Africa 16286 sample obtained using a scanning electron microscope. These are what’s referred to as “backscattered electron images”, and the different shades of grey highlight different chemical compositions of the minerals making up the rock. Credit: Dr. Joshua Snape / University of Manchester

A 2.35-billion-year-old meteorite with a unique chemical signature, found in Africa in 2023, plugs a major gap in our understanding of the Moon's volcanic history.

Findings from analyses of the Northwest Africa 16286 meteorite, presented at the Goldschmidt Conference in Prague, offer fresh insights into how the Moon's interior evolved, highlighting the long-lived nature of its volcanic activity.

Analyses by researchers from the University of Manchester, UK, lend weight to a theory that the Moon retained internal heat-generating processes that powered lunar volcanic activity in several distinct phases.

Lead isotope analysis dates the rock's formation to around 2.35 billion years ago, during a period from which few lunar samples exist, making it the youngest basaltic lunar meteorite discovered on Earth. Its rare geochemical profile sets it apart from those returned by previous Moon missions, with chemical evidence indicating it likely formed from a lava flow that solidified after emerging from deep within the Moon.

Dr Joshua Snape, a Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, UK, is presenting the research at the Goldschmidt Conference. He said: "Lunar rocks from sample return missions are fantastic in the insights they provide us, but they are limited to the immediate areas surrounding those mission landing sites. By contrast, lunar meteorites can potentially be ejected by impact cratering occurring anywhere on the Moon's surface. As such, there's some serendipity surrounding this sample; it just happened to fall to Earth and reveals secrets about lunar geology without the massive expense of a space mission."

Containing relatively large crystals of mineral olivine, the rock is a type of lunar volcanic basalt called olivine-phyric basalt. It contains moderate levels of titanium, high levels of potassium. In addition to the unusual age of the sample, this study found that the Pb isotope composition of the rock - a geochemical fingerprint retained from when the rock formed - points to it originating from a source in the Moon's interior with an unusually high uranium-to-lead ratio. These chemical clues may help identify the mechanisms that have enabled periods of ongoing internal heat generation on the Moon.

"The age of the sample is especially interesting because it fills an almost billion-year gap in lunar volcanic history," said Dr Snape. "It's younger than the basalts collected by the Apollo, Luna and Chang'e 6 missions, but older than the much younger rocks brought back by China's Chang'e 5 mission. Its age and composition show that volcanic activity continued on the Moon throughout this timespan, and our analysis suggests an ongoing heat generation process within the Moon, potentially from radiogenic elements decaying and producing heat over a long period.

"Moon rocks are rare, so it's always interesting when we get something that stands out and looks different to everything else. This particular rock provides new constraints about when and how volcanic activity occurred on the Moon. There is much more yet to learn about the Moon's geological past, and with further analysis to pinpoint its origin on the surface, this rock will guide where to land future sample return missions."

The 311-gram meteorite is only one of 31 lunar basalts officially identified on Earth. Its distinct composition, with melted glassy pockets and veins, suggests it was likely shocked by an asteroid or meteorite impact on the Moon's surface before being ejected and eventually falling to Earth. This shock event makes it more challenging to interpret the date obtained for the rock, but the researchers estimate its age with a margin of plus or minus 80 million years.

The research was funded by the Royal Society, and the researchers plan to publish their findings in full in a peer-reviewed journal later this year.

Story Source:

Materials provided by European Association of Geochemistry. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Cite This Page:

European Association of Geochemistry. (2025, July 13). 2.35-billion-year-old Moon rock found in Africa rewrites lunar history. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 14, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250713031449.htm

These mysterious stars could glow forever using dark matter

Date: July 13, 2025

Source: Durham University

Summary: Imagine a star powered not by nuclear fusion, but by one of the universe’s greatest mysteries—dark matter. Scientists have proposed the existence of “dark dwarfs,” strange glowing objects potentially lurking at the center of our galaxy. These stars might form when brown dwarfs absorb enough dark matter to prevent cooling, transforming into long-lasting beacons of invisible energy. A specific form of lithium could give them away, and if detected, these eerie objects might reveal the true nature of dark matter itself.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

A new cosmic suspect may help crack the dark matter mystery: glowing “dark dwarfs.” Formed when failed stars capture dark matter near the galactic center, they could shine forever and betray their presence through traces of lithium. Credit: AI/ScienceDaily.com

A new kind of cosmic object could help solve one of the universe's greatest mysteries: dark matter.

Particle Astrophysicists have proposed the existence of a strange new type of star-like object, called a 'dark dwarf', which may be quietly glowing in the center of our galaxy.

Far from being dark in appearance, these unusual objects are powered by dark matter (the invisible substance thought to make up about a quarter of the universe).

The discovery comes from a UK-US research team and the full research findings has been published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics (JCAP).

Using theoretical models, the scientists suggest that dark matter can get trapped inside young stars, producing enough energy to stop them from cooling and turning them into stable, long-lasting objects they call dark dwarfs.

Dark dwarfs are thought to form from brown dwarfs, which are often described as failed stars.

Brown dwarfs are too small to sustain the nuclear fusion that powers most stars, so they cool and fade over time. But if they sit in a dense pocket of dark matter, like near the Milky Way's center, they could capture dark matter particles.

If those particles then collide and destroy each other, they release energy keeping the dark dwarf glowing indefinitely.

The existence of these objects depends on dark matter being made of specific kinds of particles, known as WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles).

These are heavy particles that barely interact with ordinary matter, but could annihilate with one another inside stars, providing the energy needed to keep a dark dwarf alive.

To tell dark dwarfs apart from other faint objects like brown dwarfs, the scientists point to a unique clue: lithium.

The researchers believe dark dwarfs would still contain a rare form of lithium called lithium-7.

In normal stars, lithium-7 gets burned up quickly. So, if they find an object that looks like a brown dwarf but still has lithium-7 that's a strong hint it's something different.

Study co-author Dr Djuna Croon of Durham University, said: "The discovery of dark dwarfs in the galactic center would give us a unique insight into the particle nature of dark matter."

The team believes that telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope could already be capable of spotting dark dwarfs, especially when focusing on the center of the galaxy.

Another approach might be to look at many similar objects and statistically determine whether some of them could be dark dwarfs.

Finding just one of these dark dwarfs, the researchers say, would be a major step towards uncovering the true nature of dark matter.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Durham University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

1. Djuna Croon, Jeremy Sakstein, Juri Smirnov, Jack Streeter. Dark dwarfs: dark matter-powered sub-stellar objects awaiting discovery at the galactic center. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, 2025; 2025 (07): 019 DOI: 10.1088/1475-7516/2025/07/019

Cite This Page:

Durham University. (2025, July 13). These mysterious stars could glow forever using dark matter. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 13, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250713031447.htm

100 ghost galaxies may be orbiting the Milky Way—and we’re just now uncovering them

Date: July 13, 2025

Source: Durham University

Summary: New supercomputer simulations suggest the Milky Way could be surrounded by dozens more faint, undetected satellite galaxies—up to 100 more than we currently know. These elusive "orphan" galaxies have likely been stripped of their dark matter by the Milky Way’s gravity and hidden from view. If spotted by next-gen telescopes like the Rubin Observatory’s LSST, they could solidify our understanding of the Universe’s structure and deliver a stunning validation of the Lambda Cold Dark Matter model.

Article: View on ScienceDaily

This is a new artist’s impression of our galaxy, the Milky Way, based on data from ESA’s Gaia space telescope. Credit: ESA/Gaia/DPAC, Stefan Payne-Wardenaar

The Milky Way could have many more satellite galaxies than scientists have previously been able to predict or observe, according to new research.

Cosmologists at Durham University, UK, used a new technique combining the highest-resolution supercomputer simulations that exist, alongside novel mathematical modelling, predicting the existence of missing "orphan" galaxies.

Their findings suggest that there should be 80 or perhaps up to 100 more satellite galaxies surrounding our home galaxy, orbiting at close distances.

If these galaxies are seen by telescopes then it could provide strong support for the Lambda Cold Dark Matter (LCDM) theory which explains the large-scale structure of the Universe and how galaxies form.

This ongoing research is being presented at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting being held at Durham University.

The Durham-led research is based on the LCDM model where ordinary matter in the form of atoms represents only 5% of the Universe's total content, 25% is cold dark matter (CDM), and the remaining 70% is dark energy.

In this model, galaxies form in the centre of gigantic clumps of dark matter called halos. Most galaxies in the Universe are low-mass dwarf galaxies, the majority of which are satellites orbiting around a more massive galaxy, such as our Milky Way.

The existence of these enigmatic objects has long posed challenges to LCDM - otherwise known as the standard model of cosmology. According to LCDM theory, many more Milky Way companion galaxies should exist than cosmological simulations have so far produced, or astronomers have been able to see.

The new research shows that the Milky Way's missing satellites are extremely faint galaxies stripped almost entirely of their parent dark matter halos by the gravity of the Milky Way's halo. These so-called "orphan" galaxies are lost in most simulations, but should have survived in the real Universe.

Using their new technique, the Durham researchers were able to track the abundance, distribution, and properties of these Milky Way orphan galaxies - showing that many more Milky Way satellites should exist and be observable today. It is hoped that new advances in telescopes and instruments like the Rubin Observatory LSST camera (which recently saw its first light), will give astronomers the ability to detect these very faint objects, bringing them into our view for the first time.

Lead researcher Dr Isabel Santos-Santos, in the Institute for Computational Cosmology, Department of Physics, Durham University, said: "We know the Milky Way has some 60 confirmed companion satellite galaxies, but we think there should be dozens more of these faint galaxies orbiting around the Milky Way at close distances.

"If our predictions are right, it adds more weight to the Lambda Cold Dark Matter theory of the formation and evolution of structure in the Universe.

"Observational astronomers are using our predictions as a benchmark with which to compare the new data they are obtaining.

"One day soon we may be able to see these 'missing' galaxies, which would be hugely exciting and could tell us more about how the Universe came to be as we see it today."

The concept of LCDM is the cornerstone of our understanding of the Universe. It has led to the Standard Model of Cosmology and is the most widely accepted model for describing the Universe's evolution and structure on large scales.

The model has passed multiple tests but has recently been challenged by puzzling observational data on dwarf galaxies.

The Durham researchers say that even the best existing cosmological simulations (which include gas and star formation, in addition to dark matter) do not have the resolution needed to study galaxies as faint as those astronomers are starting to discover close to the Milky Way.

These simulations also lack the precision required to follow the evolution of the small dark matter halos that host the dwarf galaxies as they orbit around the Milky Way over billions of years.

This leads to the artificial disruption of some halos, leaving galaxies "orphaned." Although the simulations lose the halos of "orphan" galaxies, such galaxies should survive in the real Universe.

The Durham researchers combined cosmological supercomputer simulations with analytical models to overcome these numerical issues.

This included the Aquarius simulation, produced by the Virgo Consortium. Aquarius is the highest resolution simulation of a Milky Way dark matter halo ever created and is used to understand the fine-scale structure predicted around the Milky Way.

It also included the GALFORM model, a cutting-edge code developed at Durham over the past two decades which follows the detailed physical processes that are responsible for the formation and evolution of galaxies.

Their results showed that halos of dark matter, which may host a satellite galaxy, have been orbiting around the central Milky Way halo for most of the age of the Universe, leading to the stripping of their dark matter and stellar mass, and rendering them extremely small and faint.

As a result, the research predicts that the total number of satellite galaxies - of any brightness - likely to exist around the Milky Way is around 80 or potentially up to 100 more than currently known.

The research puts particular emphasis on the approximately 30 newly discovered tiny Milky Way satellite candidates that are extremely faint and small.

Scientists are unclear if these are dwarf galaxies embedded in a dark matter halo, or globular clusters, collections of self-gravitating stars.

The Durham researchers argue that these objects could be a subset of the faint population of satellite galaxies they predict should exist.

Co-researcher Professor Carlos Frenk, of the Institute for Computational Cosmology, Department of Physics, Durham University said: "If the population of very faint satellites that we are predicting is discovered with new data, it would be a remarkable success of the LCDM theory of galaxy formation.

"It would also provide a clear illustration of the power of physics and mathematics. Using the laws of physics, solved using a large supercomputer, and mathematical modelling we can make precise predictions that astronomers, equipped with new, powerful telescopes, can test. It doesn't get much better than this."

The research is funded by the European Research Council through an Advanced Investigator grant to Professor Frenk, and by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). The calculations were performed on the Cosmology Machine (COSMA), a supercomputer supported by the STFC's Distributed Infrastructure for Research using Advanced Computing (DiRAC) project, and hosted by Durham University.

The Royal Astronomical Society's (RAS) National Astronomy Meeting 2025 (NAM 2025) is being held at Durham University from 7-11 July.

Almost a thousand of the world's top astronomers and space scientists will attend NAM which sees researchers present the latest cutting-edge space research alongside outreach events involving schools, artists, industry and the public.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Durham University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Cite This Page:

Durham University. (2025, July 13). 100 ghost galaxies may be orbiting the Milky Way—and we’re just now uncovering them. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 13, 2025 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250713031445.htm

Table of Contents

Science Daily: 2025 Jul 15

Computers and Math

This AI-powered lab runs itself—and discovers new materials 10x faster: 2025 Jul 14

Fossils and Ruins

Princeton study maps 200,000 years of Human–Neanderthal interbreeding

Gender Difference

One shot, seven days: Long-acting levodopa gel tackles Parkinson’s tremors: 2025 Jul 14

Not all exercise boosts mental health — it’s the why that matters most

Health and Medicine

Fasting twice a week could be a game-changer for type 2 diabetes: 2025 Jul 15

Sweet but risky: Common sweeteners may be accelerating puberty in kids

Can zebrafish help humans regrow hearing cells?

Deadly disguise: How candy-like nicotine pouches caused a 763% spike in child poisonings

Not just diabetes: How slightly high blood sugar wrecks men’s sexual health

Matter and Energy

New Nanotech Boosts Solar Cell Efficiency Over 10%

One tiny trick just broke light’s oldest rule — and changed optics forever

This Algorithm Just Solved One of Physics’ Most Infamous Problems

Space and Time

Big-Bang echoes unmask a billion-light-year hole around Earth—and it’s stretching space faster

Gravitational shockwave: LIGO catches a 225-solar-mass black-hole smash-up

Hubble Cracks Open a Glittering Cosmic Time Capsule, Revealing Multi-Generational Stars 160,000 Light-Years Away

It looked like nothing—then scientists found a world 10x the size of Jupiter

2.35-billion-year-old Moon rock found in Africa rewrites lunar history

These mysterious stars could glow forever using dark matter

100 ghost galaxies may be orbiting the Milky Way—and we’re just now uncovering them