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From the archive

Tuesday, 10 November 2026

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Top storyPhysics & AstronomyPeer reviewed3 min read

How factory silicon photonics learned to guide a rainbow of light

Engineers have built and measured standardised parts on 300-millimetre silicon wafers that steer light from deep violet to the near-infrared.

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More from this day

Chemistry & Material SciencePeer reviewed2 min

Why stripping away atomic detail helps us design better materials

Tracking every atom often hides big-picture physics. Simplified models strip away unnecessary details to reveal the core rules that shape new materials.

Medicine & HealthPeer reviewed2 min

How dual-stream AI predicts surgical risk by reading between the charts

A hybrid AI system combining traditional machine learning with a large language model reached 98 percent near-agreement with doctors when grading surgical risk. By reading messy doctor notes alongside raw lab data, the model avoided missing the sickest patients.

Environmental SciencePeer reviewed1 min

How tiny ocean creatures drive the marine sulfur cycle

A major review synthesises how marine life creates and destroys DMSP, an abundant sulfur compound that feeds ocean food webs and shapes climate-cooling gases.

Genetics & Molecular BiologyPeer reviewed3 min

How tiny ocean drifters sense blue light across the globe

A pole-to-pole ocean survey reveals that microscopic plankton carry an unexpected variety of blue-light sensors, with roots tracing back to ancestors that never performed photosynthesis.

Computer Science & AIPeer reviewed2 min

How glowing fibres and heat cameras spot workplace stress

By combining wearable optical fibres with a thermal camera, an algorithm tracked stress levels across 20 participants with up to 94.75% accuracy.

Chemistry & Material SciencePeer reviewed2 min

How artificial enzymes could help stubborn diabetic wounds heal

A review explains how microscopic artificial enzymes can adapt to the harsh surroundings of diabetic injuries. By balancing infection fighting with tissue repair, these materials act as dynamic healing networks rather than passive drug delivery tools.

Environmental SciencePeer reviewed2 min

How gut health tools could guide better care for farm soils

Scientists suggest that methods used to balance human gut health could guide better soil microbiome management. By pairing live microbes with custom food and virus treatments, growers might build more resilient land.

Medicine & HealthPeer reviewed2 min

Why blood tests for brain growth proteins cannot track depression recovery

A systematic review reveals that blood levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor do not reliably reflect whether brain stimulation treatments relieve severe depression.