Einstein's frame-dragging confirmed with record precision; new quantum matter phase discovered

Einstein's frame-dragging measured with record precision, confirming general relativity Using the LARES-2 satellite, researchers improved the measurement of Earth's frame-dragging effect by a factor of more than 10, providing the best confirmation yet of this prediction of general relativity. The study, published in Nature, also places new constraints on alternative theories of gravity. 1

Physicists create a new 'fractional Fermi sea' phase of matter By cycling ultracold cesium atoms between strong repulsion and attraction, researchers at the University of Innsbruck engineered a never-before-seen quantum state called a fractional Fermi sea. This new phase of matter, described in Physical Review Letters, goes beyond the well-established Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid theory. 2

Experimental molecule restores brain's immune defenses against Alzheimer's The molecule OLE, derived from the PM20D1 gene, helped microglia cells encapsulate and reduce toxic beta-amyloid plaques in animal models, improving memory. Published in Cell Death and Disease, this approach offers a new strategy for treating Alzheimer's by restoring the brain's natural protective mechanisms. 3

Webb telescope reveals hidden heart of Centaurus A galaxy Celebrating four years of science, the James Webb Space Telescope pierced the thick dust of the giant galaxy Centaurus A to reveal its active supermassive black hole, intricate dust lanes, and millions of stars. The images show the aftermath of an ancient galactic collision in unprecedented detail. 4

Euclid telescope discovers 31 ancient quasars, including the two oldest ever ESA's Euclid space telescope has found 31 quasars from when the universe was just 670–800 million years old, more than doubling the known number of such ancient objects. Two of them, EUCL J172902.75+641018.1 and EUCL J125308.55+705432.3, set new records for the most distant quasars ever reported. 5

New plasma chemistry breakthrough could enable more powerful computer chips Researchers at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory developed a new plasma-based method to precisely remove a single atomic layer from molybdenum disulfide without damaging the underlying material. This advance could help integrate atomically thin materials into next-generation, smaller and faster computer chips. 6

Neuroscience breakthrough uses AI to map cellular building blocks of human speech By recording electrical activity from individual brain cells during natural conversation, researchers identified specialized neurons that encode different parts of speech, sentence structure, and meaning. Published in Nature, the findings provide a detailed cellular map of language production and could aid in developing communication-restoring technologies. 7

Hayabusa-2 captures stunning close-up images of asteroid Torifune during flyby JAXA's Hayabusa-2 spacecraft completed its first extended-mission asteroid encounter on July 5, 2026, flying past the two-lobed near-Earth asteroid Torifune and returning detailed visible and thermal images. The spacecraft is en route to its next target, asteroid 1998 KY26, in 2031. 8

New European exercise device tested on ISS with first rope-pulling workout in space ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot began testing the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device (E4D) on the ISS, performing the first rope-pulling exercise ever done in space. The compact device combines resistive training, cycling, rowing, and rope pulling to help astronauts counteract physical deconditioning during long missions. 9

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches for record-breaking 36th time A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket set a new reusability record by launching for the 36th time, demonstrating the increasing reliability and cost-efficiency of reusable rocket technology for space access. 10

Mars' lost ocean revealed by giant 'bathtub ring' geological signature Scientists identified an Earth-like ocean signature on Mars by analyzing a broad geological fingerprint left behind by ancient seas. The findings suggest a long-vanished ocean once stretched across much of the planet's northern hemisphere, resolving a decades-long debate about Mars' watery past. 11

NASA's New Horizons probe wakes up from hibernation 6 billion miles away NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has awakened from hibernation at a distance of 6 billion miles from Earth, beyond Pluto, to continue its extended mission exploring the Kuiper Belt. The probe will study distant objects and the environment at the edge of the solar system. 12

ispace to send larger payloads to the moon on SpaceX's Starship Japanese lunar exploration company ispace announced it is developing a Mobile Cargo System rover to fly on a SpaceX Starship lunar lander as soon as 2030. The company has purchased 500 kilograms of payload space to deliver customer payloads up to several kilometers from the landing site. 13

Former Merck and NASA leaders join SpaceMD for in-space pharmaceutical development Redwire's SpaceMD venture appointed Paul Reichert, former Merck principal investigator for Keytruda, and Niki Werkheiser, former NASA director, as strategic advisors. They will help accelerate space-based pharmaceutical research and development on the ISS and emerging commercial platforms. 14

Scientists solve decades-old mystery of water behavior in nanoscale spaces A study in Science Advances revealed that pressure, not confinement alone, determines water's chemical reactivity at the nanoscale. When comparing systems under equivalent thermodynamic conditions, the effect of confinement largely disappeared, resolving a long-standing debate about water's behavior in tiny spaces. 15