Addressing a sticking point in sustainable adhesives
Petroleum-based adhesives currently prevent containers with glued labels from being recycled, contaminating recyclable materials streams. Researchers are developing sustainable alternatives to replace these oil-based glues used in construction, furniture, and labeling applications.
Amping up T cells to target cancer
Cancer vaccines combined with immune-stimulating molecules called cytokines are being tested to boost T cell responses in patients whose tumors initially resist single-vaccine treatment. Researchers are exploring cytokine delivery alongside vaccines to strengthen immune activation against tumors.
Taking your temperature from the inside
MIT engineers developed an ingestible temperature sensor measuring six by four millimeters that sends continuous temperature updates from inside the body. The device addresses limitations of oral and forehead thermometers while avoiding obstruction risks associated with larger existing ingestible sensors.
Your brain on AI
Participants using AI chatbots to evaluate paired news headlines and images initially showed 21% greater accuracy at identifying misinformation than control groups. However, their performance declined over four weeks of repeated exposure, suggesting diminishing effectiveness in distinguishing false from accurate information over time.
NASA Ames’ Contributions to Roman’s Mission
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launches August 30 to explore dark energy, dark matter, exoplanets, and galaxy formation across vast cosmic regions. NASA Ames is contributing technology and expertise to support Roman's astronomical observations and research capabilities.
NASA’s Pandora Mission Begins Study of Exoplanets, Host Stars
NASA's Pandora mission has begun observing exoplanets and their host stars to determine atmospheric composition of at least 20 exoplanets, including detection of hazes, clouds, and water. The satellite launched through NASA's Astrophysics Pioneers program and will analyze worlds beyond our solar system.
Forces deep inside Earth helped Antarctica freeze before the Arctic
Deep Earth waves gradually lifted East Antarctica, creating mountains and high plateaus that allowed snow and ice to survive in warmer conditions millions of years before Arctic freezing. Once glaciers formed, their reflective surfaces amplified cooling in the region.
Galactic Gems Glisten in New Gallery From NASA’s Chandra
NASA released a new gallery of galactic images from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes showcasing diverse galaxies. Astronomers categorize galaxies into three main types: spirals like the Milky Way with emanating arms, ellipticals, and irregulars.
Supercharged “natural killer” cells could be a powerful new cancer weapon
Researchers engineered natural killer cells to penetrate solid tumors and sustain attacks against cancer cells inside them. In mice, these modified tissue-resident cells slowed melanoma and head and neck cancer growth, with enhanced results when combined with the antibody drug cetuximab.
Atomic catalyst unlocks the hidden value of plant waste
Scientists developed an atomic catalyst that efficiently breaks down lignin from plant waste into useful chemicals at mild conditions. Understanding the catalyst's atomic-level mechanism could enable converting forestry and agricultural waste into renewable building blocks for fuels and plastics.
Scientists find hidden “highways” guiding animal evolution
Chromosomes follow limited irreversible "evolutionary highways" rather than evolving randomly, according to analysis of thousands of animal genomes. These one-way genetic changes preserve clues spanning over 600 million years of animal history.
NASA starshade would enable astronomers to directly image rocky exoworlds
A hybrid telescope combining an orbital starshade with next-generation ground-based optical telescopes would enable direct imaging of rocky exoplanets. The system pairs a NASA-developed starshade in space with extremely large Earth-based telescopes to block starlight and detect Earth-like worlds.
NASA Sets Coverage for Roman Space Telescope Launch from Florida
NASA will launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on August 30, 2026, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket at 7:26 a.m. EDT from Florida. The observatory is designed to investigate dark energy and other major cosmic mysteries.
Starstruck: NASA Research Shows How Sun’s Ancient History Shaped Earth
The Sun's ancient history shaped Earth's climate through previously unexplained mechanisms, according to two NASA-funded studies examining solar influences on planetary conditions. Scientists at NASA's SHIELD center discovered connections between ancient solar events and Earth's unique climate development and historical climatic shifts.
Self-Driving Cars Could Someday Take Requests
Researchers developed a system using a large language model to translate natural-language requests like "I am running late, go fast" into adjustments for autonomous vehicle motion planning systems. The system allows passengers to modify driving style parameters including speed, acceleration, and turn smoothness without giving direct vehicle control to users.
A ghostly ribbon of stars reveals hidden dark matter
A faint stellar stream around a distant galaxy was identified as the first globular cluster stream beyond the Milky Way. Researchers used the stream to estimate the invisible dark matter surrounding the galaxy and map its distribution.
A tiny “rainbow on a chip” could help supercharge 6G networks
A chip produces a stable rainbow of light capable of generating multiple high-frequency signals simultaneously for potential 6G network applications. The device's extreme precision also enables use in quantum timing, navigation, radar, and space-based technologies.
Too much or too little sleep may make your body age faster
People sleeping between 6.4 and 7.8 hours daily showed the slowest biological aging according to analysis of 23 aging clocks. Both shorter and longer sleep durations correlated with faster aging and health conditions affecting multiple body systems including the brain and heart.
Kids outlearn AI—and we still don’t know why
AI language models can now learn human languages to perfect fluency, joining human children as the only entities capable of achieving this milestone. This development occurred just four years after ChatGPT's release, though the underlying reasons for how this learning happens remain scientifically unexplained.
NASA is about to launch a powerful new eye on the universe
NASA's Roman Space Telescope received clearance for final launch preparations and is scheduled to lift off on August 30 aboard SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket. The observatory will investigate cosmic expansion, the universe's history, and distant exoplanets.
Oldest human brain cells grown in lab 'recorded passage of time'
Human brain cells grown in laboratory conditions for seven years showed aging patterns similar to those in living brains. The peppercorn-sized cell clusters demonstrated they could track the passage of time.
JWST peeks at Callisto's ancient scars
The James Webb Space Telescope detected activity on Callisto, Jupiter's moon with an ancient crater-covered surface previously thought to be geologically inactive. JWST observations revealed that Callisto undergoes more geological processes than scientists previously believed possible.
Hot temperatures can dull blue morpho butterflies' iridescent scales
High temperatures during development reduce the brightness of blue morpho butterfly iridescence by altering the scales' light-reflecting structures. Birds and other butterflies would perceive a noticeable color change in butterflies exposed to warming conditions.
The dental crown of the future could be 3D-printed while you wait
Researchers reduced 3D-printing time for zirconia dental crowns from 100 hours to under 30 minutes. This advancement could enable dentists to produce customized permanent crowns during a single patient appointment.
Physicists create a tiny “Big Bang” with surprisingly small atomic nuclei
Colliding small atomic nuclei at nearly the speed of light produced quark-gluon plasma, the ultra-hot matter from the early Universe. The collision particles revealed the shape of the nuclei that created them, providing new insights into both nuclear physics and the cosmos's earliest moments.
Quantum computer microscope is set to significantly improve electron microscopy
A quantum computer microscope will utilize quantum information carried by electrons to improve electron microscopy imaging. The new approach captures data that conventional microscopes discard when they merely count electrons.
Experimental compound helps burn fat without muscle loss
TOFA increased energy use by up to 18% in mice while reducing body fat without significant muscle loss. The compound also improved blood sugar, triglycerides, and fatty liver disease, with stronger results when combined with GLP-1 drugs.
Scientists turn tiny “defects” into a 5.5x heat transfer boost
Researchers created an ultrathin polymer coating that increases heat transfer during condensation by 5.5 times on copper tubes compared to conventional copper. The coating uses tiny structures to form water droplets that detach quickly, continuously exposing fresh surface area for condensation.
This common vitamin was linked to 13% better cognitive scores
Older adults with mild cognitive impairment and sleep problems who took at least 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily scored over 13% higher on cognitive tests than those taking none. The findings suggest vitamin D deserves further study as a potentially modifiable factor during early cognitive decline.