Diffuse interfilament gas is likely a key fuel source for massive star formation

Inter-filamentary diffuse gas: Key fuel source for massive star formation
Illustration of the Monoceros R2 hub–filament system showing how the gas flows along the filaments (green arrows) and in the inter-filament regions (blue arrows) towards the central hub. The analysis showed that gas within dense filaments flows toward the hub much faster than gas in the surrounding inter-filament regions. At the same time, a fraction of the gas in the inter-filament regions moves sideways into nearby filaments, replenishing them with fresh material before continuing toward the hub, supporting star formation. Credit: Kyushu University

Researchers from Kyushu University have discovered that diffuse gas surrounding dense filaments in a nearby stellar nursery plays a much larger role in star formation than previously recognized...

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Noninvasive AI-based system translates brain signals into written text

An AI-based system translates brain signals into written text
Recordings from 35 healthy participants were obtained using EEG and MEG. Sentences were displayed word-by-word on a screen. Following the final word, a visual cue prompted them to begin typing this sentence, without visual feedback. Credit: Nature Neuroscience (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-026-02303-2, illustration adapted from the MEGIN TRIUX neo system

Some physical injuries and neurological conditions can temporarily or permanently impair movement, leaving some people unable to speak, type on keyboards or use electronic devices. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), systems that can decode brain activity patterns and convert them into computer commands or written text, could be of great value for paralyzed patients.

Despite their potential, most of the best-performing BCIs developed ...

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Spaceflight could change how astronauts swallow, eat and drink in subtle ways

Keeping your food from floating away in space is only half the battle. NASA via Getty Images

Imagine trying to swallow a sip of water while your face feels stuffed with congestion, your sense of taste is dulled and your body is floating 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth.

That scenario is part of everyday life for astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

Spaceflight changes the human body in dramatic ways. Muscles shrink, bones lose density and bodily fluids shift toward the head. Astronauts often return with puffy faces, stuffy noses and a feeling similar to a lingering cold. When you’re congested, you might have more difficulty swallowing—but does microgravity also affect this important body function?

As a speech-language pathologist and researcher who studi...

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Soy lysolecithin counters high-salt diet-induced hypertension and cognitive impairment

Soy lysolecithin counters high-salt diet-induced hypertension and cognitive impairment
The study explores how a soy-derived lysolecithin, LPC70, mitigates HSD-induced hypertension and cognitive impairment, by regulating prostaglandin production and signaling mechanisms. Credit: Professor Akihiro Mouri, Fujita Health University, Japan

High-salt (HS) intake is a major global health concern, closely linked to hypertension and growing evidence of cognitive and emotional decline. Although salt is a routine part of daily diets, long-term overconsumption can negatively affect both the cardiovascular system and the central nervous system, underscoring the need for practical dietary strategies to mitigate these adverse health effects.

Prostaglandins (PGs) are lipid compounds derived from arachidonic acid (AA) that act as potent local hormones...

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