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De Britse politieke strateeg kreeg snel kritiek in een staat waar taco's praktisch het officiële gerecht zijn.

• Astronomen hebben een zeldzame röntgenbron ontdekt die cruciale inzichten biedt in de aard van 'kleine rode stippen', compacte sterrenstelsels uit het vroege universum die zijn gedetecteerd door de James Webb Space Telescope. • De ontdekking, gemeld op 11 mei 2026, onthult dat deze stippen supermassive black holes bevatten die actief materie accreteren, wat hun intense rode gloei en kleine omvang verklaart. • Deze doorbraak is van belang omdat het een belangrijke puzzel in de kosmologie oplost, de groeimechanismen van zwarte gaten in de eerste miljard jaar van het universum bevestigt en helpt bij de interpretatie van JWST-gegevens.

Data tool could help NHS prioritise who gets access to limited weight-loss medication, say scientistsA new tool that can shed light on who is most at risk of obesity-related diseases could help identify people who would benefit most from weight-loss medications, researchers have said.Recent data suggests about two-thirds of adults in England are overweight or obese – a situation that has caused concern among health experts. Continue reading...

• Stanford University neuroscientists discovered a blood-based biomarker (phosphorylated tau-217) that reliably predicts Alzheimer's disease development one to two decades before cognitive decline appears, according to research published April 20. • The biomarker was identified through analysis of blood samples from 2,500 cognitively healthy individuals followed for 15 years, with positive predictive value exceeding 92% in early-stage detection. • The finding could enable preventative therapies targeting amyloid and tau proteins before neurodegeneration becomes irreversible, potentially transforming Alzheimer's treatment approaches.

Gunman, identified as Shamar Elkins, fatally shot the children – including seven of his own – at two separate housesMass shooting rampage in Louisiana leaves eight children dead and others woundedSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailLouisiana authorities have identified eight children – aged three to 11 – who were killed Sunday during what police described as a “violent domestic incident” in Shreveport that marked the deadliest US mass shooting in more than two years.The Caddo parish coroner’s office identified the children as Jayla Elkins, 3; Shayla Elkins, 5; Kayla Pugh, 6; Layla Pugh, 7; Markaydon Pugh, 10; Sariahh Snow, 11; Khedarrion Snow, 6; and Braylon Snow, 5. Continue reading...

Analysis of more than 500 brain scans finds LSD, psilocybin and other psychedelics increase cross-talk between brain systemsScientists have identified a hallmark signature produced by psychedelic drugs in the human brain when users experience their mind-altering effects.The “neural fingerprint” of the psychedelic trip was spotted among hundreds of brain scans of people on LSD, psilocybin, DMT, mescaline and ayahuasca, pointing to a shared impact on the brain’s behaviour. Continue reading...

• Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York, along with colleagues at the University of Virginia, published a study in Science Advances mapping innovation landscapes to identify disruptive studies and patents that challenge existing scientific paradigms. • The method, developed by Sadamori Kojaku and colleagues, helps pinpoint discoveries that reshape the course of science, such as the theory of evolution, atomic splitting, and antibiotic development. • The robust measure of disruptiveness provides a systematic way to identify simultaneous breakthroughs across scientific fields and could accelerate recognition of transformative research.

• Scientists have discovered a molecular mechanism that explains the effectiveness of exercise in reversing age-related muscle deterioration. • The finding provides new insight into the cellular processes through which physical activity combats muscle aging at the molecular level. • This breakthrough could lead to targeted therapies mimicking exercise benefits for individuals unable to maintain regular physical activity.

• UC Davis researchers created a new blood test to quickly detect the active, infectious form of tuberculosis, aiming to accelerate diagnosis and curb spread. • TB killed 1.23 million globally in 2024, with over 10,000 U.S. cases including 2,000 in California; the test targets high-burden areas like India. • Professor Imran H. Khan submitted trial data to India's ICMR for approval and co-founded AppGenex Diagnostics to commercialize it.

Researchers from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), Hebrew University, and Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University published a study in Science identifying over 2.3 million conserved non-coding sequences (CNSs) across 314 plant genomes from 284 species, some originating more than 400 million years ago before flowering plants diverged from non-flowering ancestors. The team developed a new computational tool called Conservatory to locate these ancient DNA 'switches' essential for plant development, with co-first author Anat Hendelman confirming their function through genetic editing. This comprehensive atlas includes dozens of crop species and wild ancestors, offering plant biologists and breeders tools to address drought and food shortages by fine-tuning traits. CSHL's Zachary Lippman described it as 'a new window into the evolution of life across eons.'