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Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed an astonishing new material: a printable gel that’s alive. Infused with ancient cyanobacteria, this “photosynthetic living material” not only grows but also removes CO₂ from the air, twice over. The bacteria use sunlight to produce biomass and simultaneously trigger mineral formation, which locks carbon away in a stable form. Engineered hydrogels provide an ideal habitat for these microbes, allowing them to thrive for over a year. Even more captivating, this material has already made its way into architecture, with living installations showcased in Venice and Milan that merge design, sustainability, and living science.

USC researchers have uncovered a hidden driver behind the early and severe onset of Alzheimer’s in people with Down syndrome: iron overload in the brain. Their study revealed that individuals with both conditions had twice the iron levels and far more oxidative damage than others. The culprit appears to be ferroptosis, an iron-triggered cell death mechanism, which is especially damaging in sensitive brain regions.

Beneath the forest floor lies an overlooked secret: many plants grow a second set of roots far deeper than expected sometimes over three feet down tapping into hidden nutrient stores and potentially locking away carbon. A new study using deep-soil data from NEON reveals that these “bimodal” rooting systems are more common than previously believed and may play a powerful role in stabilizing ecosystems and fighting climate change.

In a twist on conventional wisdom, researchers have discovered that in ocean-like fluids with changing density, tiny porous particles can sink faster than larger ones, thanks to how they absorb salt. Using clever lab experiments with 3D-printed agar shapes in a stratified water column, scientists demonstrated that porosity and particle shape are major factors in determining sinking speed. This finding could revolutionize how we understand carbon cycling, microplastic behavior, and even strategies for ocean-based carbon capture.

Researchers at Colorado State University have developed a new photoredox catalysis system that uses visible light mimicking photosynthesis to drive energy-intensive chemical reactions at room temperature. This groundbreaking process could significantly reduce the energy required in chemical manufacturing, especially in industries reliant on fossil fuels.

Even after 20 million years of evolutionary separation, two tiny worm species show astonishingly similar patterns in how they turn genes on and off. Scientists mapped every cell s activity during development and found that genes essential to basic functions like muscles and digestion remained largely unchanged. Meanwhile, genes linked to sensing the environment or brain-like functions showed more variation. This high-resolution comparison of every cell between species may help unlock mysteries of how life evolves and adapts without always changing how it looks.

The beloved ‘oldies and aliens’ blockbuster is a movie out of sync with Hollywood norms.

Miami-based multimedia superstar Natasha Tsakos discusses this historic fall flight aboard Zero-G’s ‘G-Force One’ aircraft.

On Episode 166 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik broadcast live from the National Space Society’s International Space Development Conference in Orlando.

Researchers used an AI model to create a new image of the black hole at the center of the Milky Way, with some concern from experts.