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Science
Queen Bee Development Relies on Specialized Wax
Queen bee development depends on unique wax in royal chambers, not just royal jelly. The wax is softer, less dense, and chemically distinct, improving survival and development.
Latest in Science
NASA Ends Maven Mission After Signal Loss
NASA declared the Maven spacecraft dead in June 2026 after it lost signal during a Mars occultation in December 2025. The probe’s fast rotation drained its batteries, making recovery impossible.
Oetzi Hosts Living Ancient Yeasts
Researchers find metabolically active, cold-adapted yeasts in Oetzi the Iceman's body. Mohamed Sarhan and colleagues say the microbes may have been present since his death 5,300 years ago.
Rosenthal and Lu Develop Single-Cell Spatial Pharmacobiology Platform
Eben Rosenthal and Guolan Lu created a new platform called single-cell spatial pharmacobiology to visualize drug-tumor interactions in human solid tumors. The tool reveals how stromal barriers block therapeutic antibodies and helps distinguish between poor drug delivery and low biological activity.
Common Bean Plants Use Receptor to Detect Caterpillars
Researchers identified a cell-surface receptor in common bean plants that detects caterpillar feeding and triggers anti-herbivore defenses. Adam Steinbrenner’s team confirmed the receptor enables plants to attract predatory wasps during attacks.
Allen Institute Launches $400M Brain Health Accelerator
The Allen Institute launched a $400 million initiative to develop genetic therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. The effort will use human brain tissue and share data globally to enable precision treatments.
New PET Imaging Quantifies Synaptic Loss in MS
Researchers developed a PET imaging method to measure synaptic loss in multiple sclerosis patients' spinal cords. The approach uses SV2A PET to detect reduced synaptic density in both mice and humans with the disease.
New PET Platform Targets Osteosarcoma
Researchers unveiled a B7-H3-targeted PET imaging platform for osteosarcoma. The dual-modality system enables precise tumor detection and real-time surgical guidance.
Living Yeasts Found on Ötzi the Iceman
Researchers identified cold-adapted yeasts on Ötzi’s remains that may have colonized him during glacial preservation. Frank Maixner said Ötzi is not a static relic but a dynamic biological interface.
GLP-1 Drugs Linked to Lower Knee Replacement Risk
GLP-1 receptor agonists were tied to reduced long-term knee replacement risk in osteoarthritis patients. Researchers estimate thousands fewer surgeries yearly if eligible U.S. and U.K. patients used these medications for three years.
NSF Begins Descoping Ocean Observatories Initiative
The National Science Foundation has begun removing in-water infrastructure from the Ocean Observatories Initiative. Researchers warn the loss will hinder climate and ocean science for years to come.
Measles Vaccine T Cells Cross-React With Nipah Virus
T cells from measles-vaccinated individuals recognize shared epitopes in Nipah virus. Scientists say this cross-reactivity may offer some defense during outbreaks.
Novel RET-Targeted Theranostic Approach for Prostate Cancer
Researchers at Xiangya Hospital developed a RET-targeted theranostic approach for neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Preclinical results show effective imaging and treatment with no observed toxicity.
Beard Challenges Idealized Views of Antiquity
Mary Beard argues against idealizing the ancient world in her 2023 lectures. She urges critical engagement with classics to combat modern misinformation.
GLP-1 Medications Linked to Lower Breast Cancer Odds
A study of over 111,000 women found those prescribed GLP-1 medications had significantly lower odds of developing breast cancer. Elizabeth McDonald noted the findings support further research into these drugs for cancer prevention.
Female Dolphins Avoid Coercive Males Using Signature Whistles
Female dolphins in Shark Bay avoid aggressive males during mating season by recognizing their signature whistles. Reproductively available females show stronger avoidance of males with higher coercion rates.
NASA and NOAA Launch Houston Research Flights
NASA and NOAA will conduct research flights near Houston from June 3 to 13, 2026. The mission supports student training and studies of coastal atmospheric processes.
Pirate-Era Wrecks Found in Nassau Harbour
An international team discovered six shipwrecks in Nassau harbour, three from the golden age of piracy. Sean Kingsley and Michael Pateman say one charred hull may be linked to pirate captain Henry Avery.
Minto Finds Roman Gold Ring in Somerset
Kevin Minto discovered a gold Roman ring near Ilminster in 2018. The artifact, now part of a museum collection, helped secure £78,000 for him and the landowner.
AI Bots Often Ignore Contradictory Evidence
AI agents failed to update predictions when faced with contradictory evidence in 68% of scientific reasoning tasks. Researchers found the systems rarely revised conclusions and often made unsupported claims.
Climate Change May Increase Grapefruit-Sized Hail
A study projects grapefruit-sized hail will become more frequent due to climate change. Researchers say stronger updrafts in warmer storms may boost hail damage in higher-latitude regions.
Lin Finds Most Reef Damage by Divers Unintentional
Bing Lin's study shows most physical damage to coral reefs by scuba divers is unintentional. Over 80 percent of harmful contacts occur without divers' awareness, despite their self-assessed skill.
Study Finds Early Signs of X-Class Solar Flare
A study reveals plasma changes began three hours before an X-class solar flare on October 3, 2024. Louis Seyfritz and colleagues observed consistent oscillations in temperature, turbulence, and plasma movement using NASA telescope data.
4D-Printed Expanders Advance Tissue Reconstruction
Researchers at Mass General Brigham developed 4D-printed hydrogel tissue expanders that grow autonomously after implantation. The devices eliminated repeated injections and follow-up surgery in animal tests.