Science

Astronomers have uncovered an extraordinary celestial phenomenon: a deep-space object that emits powerful pulses of both radio waves and X-rays for two minutes, then falls silent for 42 minutes, before repeating the cycle. Dubbed ASKAP J1832-0911, this mysterious “long-period radio transient” (LPT) challenges existing theories about the nature of dead stars and the extremes of stellar magnetism.

A landmark study from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing has demonstrated that combining two cancer drugs—trametinib and rapamycin—can increase the lifespan of mice by around 30%. Whereas trametinib alone extended lifespan by 5–10% and rapamycin by 15–20%, the two agents used in concert produced a synergistic effect far greater than their individual contributions. Beyond longevity, treated animals showed reduced chronic inflammation in multiple tissues and delayed onset of cancer, suggesting benefits that could translate into improved healthspan as well as lifespan.

Great swathes of the world’s oceans have become significantly darker over the past two decades, shrinking the critical photic zone where the majority of marine life thrives, a new study warns. Researchers used satellite data and advanced modelling to reveal that between 2003 and 2022 more than one-fifth of the global ocean has lost enough light penetration to push its photic zone shallower by at least 50 metres in some regions.

In an astonishing turn of events, construction work on a new artificial island off the coast of Java, Indonesia, has dredged up a treasure trove of ancient fossils—more than 6,700 specimens in total—from a sunken landscape once known as Sundaland. Among the abundant fish, reptile, and mammal remains, two hominin skull fragments have emerged as the first evidence of Homo erectus beyond Java, reshaping our understanding of early human dispersal in Southeast Asia.

The spiny echidna—one of Australia’s most unique mammals—has long intrigued biologists with its peculiar reproductive strategy. Unlike marsupials such as kangaroos that bear live young into permanent pouches, echidnas lay a single leathery egg and then form a temporary “pseudo-pouch” to carry and nourish the hatching juvenile, known as a puggle. Now, researchers from the University of Adelaide have delved into this pseudo-pouch environment for the first time, revealing how its microbial community shifts dramatically during lactation to protect the vulnerable newborn.

Researchers have long understood that ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can trigger complex responses in human skin, both protective and harmful. Now, a new study out of the University of Lyon suggests that the bacteria dwelling on our skin do more than just coexist—they actively help neutralize a UV-generated molecule linked to immune suppression and DNA damage. By breaking down cis-urocanic acid, a byproduct of UV exposure, certain skin microbes may provide an added line of defense against sun-induced harm.

In a landmark moment for the scientific community, leading chemists, educators, and industrial partners from around the world have united today to announce the Stockholm Declaration—an urgent appeal to integrate sustainability principles into every facet of chemistry education, research, and industrial practice. Unveiled during the 198th Nobel Symposium on “Chemistry for Sustainability: Fundamental Advances,” the Declaration demands collaborative action to ensure that chemical innovation serves both human well-being and the health of our planet.

In a landmark study published in the journal Cell, researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have unveiled soft contact lenses that allow wearers to perceive near-infrared light—an invisible band of the electromagnetic spectrum that comprises more than half of the Sun’s energy reaching Earth. Unlike bulky, battery-powered night-vision goggles, these lenses are transparent, require no external power source, and enable simultaneous vision of both normal visible colours and infrared wavelengths. The breakthrough promises not only to extend human perception but also to pave the way for wearables that could assist those with colour-vision deficiencies and open new frontiers in communication, navigation, and beyond.