A new method could enable physicists to spot signs of dark matter in gravitational waves that are detected on Earth. This could occur if two colliding black holes spiral through a dense region of dark matter and merge, leaving an imprint in gravitational waves that are rippling across space and time.

Aston University and the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) Hartree Centre are joining forces to accelerate the development, deployment, and industrial adoption of neuromorphic computing across the UK. They have signed an agreement to set up the Aston-Hartree Neuromorphic Centre of Competence at Aston University which will bring together academia, industry, and public sector stakeholders. It will act as a focal point for joint activities, shared expertise, and coordinated engagement across the UK and internationally.

The kingfisher’s brilliant blue feathers were once used like paint to create works of art. The technique, known as tian-tsui, was popular during China’s Qing Dynasty. And because tian-tsui uses delicate feathers, previous scientists struggled to study them using traditional analytical techniques. So, researchers reporting in ACS Omega developed new methods of investigating these featherworks without harming them. The team found that multiple bird species and layered pigments provided a one-of-a-kind palette. 

Simulating the nonlinear optical processes that shape ultrafast laser pulses is essential for modern laser and accelerator facilities, but conventional physics-based models are too slow for real-time use. Researchers from Stanford University, UCLA, and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory report a deep learning surrogate that accelerates simulations of second‑order (χ²) nonlinear frequency conversion by orders of magnitude while maintaining high accuracy across complex pulse shapes. Focusing on noncollinear sum‑frequency generation relevant to SLAC’s LCLS‑II X‑ray free‑electron laser, the team developed a long short‑term memory (LSTM) neural network that replaces the most computationally expensive step of standard simulations. Operating entirely in a compressed frequency-domain representation, the model accurately reproduces temporal and spectral pulse features—including strong phase modulation and spectral holes—while reducing simulation times to milliseconds on GPUs. The work points toward machine‑learning‑enabled digital twins that could enable adaptive control and tighter integration between simulation and experiment in laser‑driven facilities.

MIT researchers made 3D devices with nanoscale features that can perform optical computing tasks using visible light. They developed a technique that creates vacancies throughout a hydrogel, then shrinks the specimen to about 1/2000 of its original volume.

For decades, scientists have known that estrogen protects cardiovascular health, but exactly how that protection works—and what happens when it disappears—has remained unclear. New research from University of Texas at Arlington points to the liver and the immune system as critical players.

In October 2025, Integral Consulting conducted a study to determine the effect of an annual firework show in Capitola, California, on the surrounding animal population, observing how the fireworks impacted the feeding patterns of brown bats. The bats were searching for and catching food steadily before the show, but during the fireworks, they were unsuccessful in catching any prey, despite searching. After the show ended, the bats returned quickly to resume hunting but searching and catching were greatly reduced from their pre-show efforts.