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- 1
NASA has cancelled the Mars Sample Return mission, the long-planned effort to bring rocks collected by the Perseverance rover back to Earth. The programme had suffered years of cost overruns and schedule delays, with independent reviews estimating costs well above initial projections. The move leaves the future of returning Martian material to laboratories on Earth in serious doubt, and scientists are weighing what the cancellation means for Mars exploration.
- 2Polymer-tuned perovskite enables high-efficiency underwater solar cells▼Polymer-tuned perovskite creates high-efficiency underwater solar cells
Researchers have developed a polymer-tuned perovskite material that delivers high-efficiency solar cells capable of operating underwater, according to Physics World. The advance could open the way for solar power in aquatic environments such as underwater sensors and marine monitoring equipment, areas where conventional silicon cells perform poorly due to how seawater absorbs and scatters light.
- 3James Webb telescope releases giant image hiding record-breaking stars▼James Webb telescope shares one of its biggest images ever, with record-breaking stars hiding in the dust — Space photo of the week
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has released one of its largest images to date, revealing record-breaking stars concealed within clouds of dust. The observation, highlighted by Live Science as its space photo of the week, showcases the telescope's ability to peer through obscuring material and capture distant stellar objects in unprecedented detail.
- 4UCF Researcher Finds Evidence of New Type of Magnetism▼University of Central Florida researcher discovers experimental evidence of new type of magnetism
A researcher at the University of Central Florida reports experimental evidence of a new type of magnetism, according to a news release. The discovery could expand scientific understanding of magnetic materials beyond known categories such as ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism. Details of the underlying mechanism and potential technological applications have not been widely reported yet.
- 5Trump administration moves to block restoration of climate content at historical sites▼Trump admin seeks to block restoration of climate change, diversity info at historical sites
The Trump administration is seeking to prevent the restoration of climate change and diversity-related information at US historical sites. The move suggests an effort to keep such material removed from exhibits or signage at federally maintained locations. The news has drawn attention amid broader debates over how climate science and diversity topics are handled across government institutions.
- 6Chinese paint cuts wall temperature by 25 degrees in summer test▼Chinese paint cuts wall temperature by 25 degrees Celsius in summer test: report
Researchers in China have developed a paint that reportedly lowered wall temperatures by 25 degrees Celsius during a summer test, pointing to its potential for passive cooling of buildings in hot weather. The report has drawn attention among science and technology readers interested in energy-saving materials and ways to reduce air-conditioning demand in cities.
- 7UC Santa Barbara Joins Three NSF Quantum Research Institutes▼UC Santa Barbara Researchers to Collaborate in Three of NSF's Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara will take part in three of the National Science Foundation's Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes, large-scale collaborations aimed at advancing quantum science and technology. The university is expected to contribute expertise in quantum computing, sensing and materials. The news comes as NSF invests heavily in building national quantum research networks across US universities.
- 8Dark Side of the Moon Takes On New Meaning in Physics News▼Dark Side of the Moon just took on a whole new meaning ... https://www. sciencedaily.com/releases/2026 /09/260921081054.
A new science story is drawing attention under the headline 'Dark Side of the Moon just took on a whole new meaning,' linking the far side of the Moon to quantum physics and astrophysics research. Posts about it are tagged with quantum mechanics and physics hashtags, suggesting the finding offers a fresh angle on lunar science. Specific study details are not included in the available material.
- 9AI is transforming materials discovery and disease diagnosis●AI is changing how scientists discover materials and diagnose diseases
Scientists are increasingly using artificial intelligence to speed up the discovery of new materials and to improve medical diagnosis. The approach is reshaping research in physics, chemistry and medicine, with AI tools helping researchers identify promising compounds and detect diseases earlier and more accurately than traditional methods.
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Rice University researchers have unveiled new catalogs that map the quantum properties and possibilities of atomically thin materials. The work organizes how two-dimensional materials behave at the quantum level, offering researchers a reference tool for identifying candidates for next-generation electronics and quantum technologies. The release is drawing attention within the physics and materials science community.
- 11Tohoku University Develops Physics-Grounded AI for Materials Discovery▼Research News - Physics-Grounded Materials AI for Reliable Materials Discovery
Tohoku University announced research on an AI model for materials discovery that is grounded in physics rather than relying purely on data patterns. The approach aims to make predictions of new materials more reliable and reproducible, addressing a common weakness of purely statistical machine learning in chemistry and materials science. The university released the work through its research news service.
- 12Scientists unveil metal-free fluorescent molecule for MRI imaging▼A new metal-free and water-soluble molecule that can produce florescence and used as MRI contrast material
Researchers have developed a new molecule that is metal-free and water-soluble, capable of producing fluorescence while also functioning as an MRI contrast material. The dual-function design could offer an alternative to gadolinium-based contrast agents, which carry safety concerns for some patients. Details of the study are being circulated via science news outlets.
- 13Superconductor shows different behaviour when time is reversed▼This superconductor behaves differently when time is reversed
Researchers report a superconductor that behaves differently when time is reversed, a signature of broken time-reversal symmetry. The finding, highlighted by science outlets, could point to unusual electronic states and exotic physics in superconducting materials, drawing interest from physicists studying chiral or topological superconductivity and their potential uses in quantum technologies.
- 14Sheeppox DNA found hidden in medieval gospel parchments●Ancient virus hunters: how we discovered sheeppox DNA hidden in medieval gospels by Kevin Daly DNA can survive in parchm
Researchers report discovering sheeppox viral DNA preserved in the parchment of medieval gospel manuscripts, showing that DNA can survive in animal-skin writing material for well over a thousand years. The finding highlights how ancient manuscripts can serve as archives of long-lost pathogens, offering virologists and historians a new window into the diseases circulating among medieval livestock and the people who handled them.
- 15Inside Sandia's Z machine: nuclear science meets clean energy▼Inside Sandia’s Z machine, where nuclear war meets clean energy
The Albuquerque Journal takes readers inside Sandia National Laboratories' Z machine in New Mexico, the world's most powerful pulsed-power facility. Originally built to study materials under nuclear weapons conditions, the device is now central to research on fusion energy, exploring how the same physics that powers warheads could one day deliver clean, abundant power.
- 16AI-Designed Alloys Usher in a New Era of Metallurgy▼Metallurgy Enters a New Era as AI-Designed Alloys Redefine the Science of Metals
Reports say artificial intelligence is now being used to design new metal alloys, accelerating the discovery of materials with tailored properties and reshaping metallurgy as a discipline. Commenters and science outlets are framing the development as a turning point for how metals are engineered, with AI replacing much of the traditional trial-and-error experimentation.
- 17Ultrafast Lasers Track Material Light Response at Electron Level▼Optica Ultrafast Lasers Reveal Material Light Response Down To The Electron
Researchers working under Optica's ultrafast laser research report that new laser techniques can reveal how materials respond to light down to the level of individual electrons. The advance gives scientists a more direct view of the electron dynamics that underpin light-matter interactions, with potential relevance for photonics, electronics and materials science, though detailed findings remain limited in available coverage.
- 18Scientists measure a remarkable material no container can hold●We finally measured a remarkable material no container can hold
Researchers report the first successful measurement of an unusual material that cannot be contained in any vessel, a long-standing experimental challenge. The achievement, covered by technology and science outlets, is being discussed for what it could reveal about the substance's exotic properties and for the ingenuity of the measurement techniques required. Details about which material was measured and by which team remain sparse in early reports.
- 19NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 Mission to Carry ISS Research Payloads▼Astronauts Launching on NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 Will Support Variety of ISS National Lab-Sponsored Research
NASA says the astronauts launching on the SpaceX Crew-13 mission will support a range of research projects sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory during their stay aboard the International Space Station. The announcement, issued via PR Newswire, highlights the ongoing partnership between NASA, SpaceX and the ISS National Lab in using crewed missions to advance science in microgravity, from materials studies to life sciences experiments.
- 20X-ray microscopy reveals flow behaviour in nanoparticle suspensions▼Multiscale transitional flow in anisotropic nanoparticle suspensions revealed by time-resolved X-ray scatter microscopy
Researchers report the use of time-resolved X-ray scatter microscopy to observe multiscale transitional flow in anisotropic nanoparticle suspensions. The technique makes it possible to track how these particle-laden fluids behave across different length and time scales as they shift between flow regimes. The study, published in Nature, offers new experimental insight into the dynamics of complex suspensions, a topic of interest in soft matter physics and materials science.
- 21Mat3ra and University of Tsukuba Sign Cloud Materials Modeling Agreement▼Mat3ra and the University of Tsukuba’s Center for Computational Sciences Sign MoU to Expand Access to Cloud-Based Materials Modeling in Japan
Materials design platform Mat3ra and the University of Tsukuba's Center for Computational Sciences have signed a memorandum of understanding to broaden access to cloud-based materials modeling tools in Japan. The partnership aims to give Japanese researchers easier, scalable access to computational materials science resources, supporting simulation-driven research in physics, chemistry and materials development without reliance on local high-performance computing infrastructure.
- 22Moisture-absorbing wallpaper generates small electric current from indoor air●A novel wallpaper technology that absorbs moisture from indoor air and converts it into small amounts of electric curren
Researchers have developed a wallpaper-like material that draws moisture from indoor air and converts it into small amounts of electric current, offering a passive way to harvest energy from humidity in everyday environments. The advance sits at the intersection of electrical engineering, materials science and physics, and is being discussed as an intriguing example of how ambient moisture could one day supplement low-power energy needs.
- 23Medieval Anatomy Scroll by John of Arderne Published Online●Anatomy Unzipped: John of Arderne's Sweden Scroll (ca. 1425-35) https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/arderne-scroll
A newly digitised medieval anatomical scroll, attributed to English surgeon John of Arderne and dated to around 1425-35, has been made available through the Public Domain Review's collection. Known as the Sweden Scroll, it features detailed diagrams of the human body typical of late medieval medical illustration. The open-access release lets historians, artists and the general public examine a rare example of early surgical teaching material.
- 24
Scientists have compiled a two-dimensional atlas of topological materials, cataloguing how these exotic substances behave in 2D forms. The atlas is expected to help researchers identify promising candidates for next-generation electronics and quantum technologies. Coverage focuses on how the classification could speed up the study of materials whose unusual properties are protected against defects, a key goal in condensed matter physics.
- 25KAIST Unveils Venus Flytrap-Inspired Robot Hand Material●KAIST Develops a Venus Flytrap-Inspired ‘Robot Hand’ Material That Senses Objects and Grasps Them Under Light | Newswise
Researchers at KAIST in South Korea have developed a new material for robotic hands inspired by the Venus flytrap, which can sense objects and grasp them when stimulated by light. The biomimetic design is being reported by science news outlets, drawing attention for combining sensing and actuation in a single soft material that responds without complex electronics.
- 26UK under-16 social media ban raises science access concerns▼Looming social media ban for under-16s in UK sparks debate on accessing science online
The UK's planned ban on social media for under-16s is prompting debate about how young people would still be able to access science content online. Commentators, including science communicators, are questioning whether restrictions aimed at protecting children could also cut them off from educational material, and what alternatives might be needed.
- 27KERI develops direct carbon coating technology for substrates●[Science Bulletin] KERI develops direct carbon coating technology for substrates
The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) has developed a technology for directly coating carbon onto substrates, according to a report by DongA Science. The technique could simplify manufacturing processes that currently rely on more complex carbon deposition methods, with potential applications in electronics and energy materials.
- 28Whole genome duplication shaped salmon family evolution, study finds●Whole genome duplication shaped the evolution of the salmon family
New research indicates that an ancient whole genome duplication event played a central role in the evolution of the salmon family, including salmon and trout. The duplicated genetic material is said to have provided raw material for adaptation, helping explain traits such as migration and life-history diversity in these fish.
- 29This Virus Stole a Human Gene and Won't Let Go of It●This Virus Stole a Human Gene and Won’t Let Go of It
New York Times reporting describes a virus that incorporated a human gene into its own genome and has retained it over time. The finding is drawing attention among science readers because it illustrates how viruses and their hosts can exchange genetic material, blurring the line between viral and human DNA.
- 30What Problems Has AI Actually Solved?●What Has AI Actually Solved? The Biggest Problems Where Machines Found Real Answers Exploring the biggest problems where
A new visualization highlights the concrete breakthroughs where artificial intelligence has delivered real answers, focusing on protein folding, antibiotic discovery, and materials science. The piece is prompting discussion about which scientific problems machines have genuinely cracked, rather than the usual hype, and where AI's practical impact on research has so far been limited.
- 31
Researchers report that nanoparticles made from a single material can perform multiple biomedical functions at once: heating cells, protecting them and delivering stimulation. The finding could simplify the design of nanoparticles for medicine, where combining several materials is usually required to achieve heat therapy, cellular protection and stimulation in a single platform.
- 32Green Science Alliance unveils washable silica-based coloring powder●Green Science Alliance Invented a New Colored Powder and Coloring Material Combined With Glass Components (Silica) That Can Be Easily Removed From Hands
Japanese materials company Green Science Alliance says it has developed a new colored powder and coloring material that combines pigment with glass components (silica) and can be easily washed off hands. The invention is being promoted via a press release distributed through financial news outlets, though no independent testing results have been reported yet.
- 33Yale Library digitization helps solve medieval manuscript mystery●🔬 The best bytes of # science & # tech across the # fediverse “Yale Library: Yale Library’s digitized Takamiya Collectio
Yale Library's digitized Takamiya Collection has helped solve a long-standing puzzle about missing medieval manuscript fragments. The location of the missing leaves had remained a mystery for nearly a century, and researchers relied on clues from the newly digitized materials to track them down. Science and technology commentators are highlighting the project as an example of how digitizing historical collections can advance humanities research.