Science Advances

Physicist Jia Leo Li has been selected as a 2026 Experimental Physics Investigator by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, a program that supports leading experimental researchers with substantial, flexible funding. Announced by the College of Natural Sciences, the honor recognizes Li's contributions to experimental physics and will help advance his research program.

Students in McDonald County High School's advanced biology class in Missouri are analyzing algae found in sediment samples taken from the Gulf, according to the McDonald County Press. The project gives the class hands-on field science experience, connecting their rural classroom to marine ecosystems far from their community. The local paper highlighted the coursework as an example of advanced science education in the district.

Researchers at Northwestern University report a breakthrough in controlling the structure of supramolecular materials, achieving a new level of precision in how their molecular components assemble. The advance could matter for fields ranging from medicine to materials science, and is being picked up across science news coverage.

A physicist at the University of California, Riverside has received five years of funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to advance quantum research. The award is being described as a significant boost for quantum science at the university, providing long-term support for the physicist's work in the field.

Researchers report the development of a new qubit that could be up to 100 times less error-prone, based on a superfluid approach to quantum computing. Error rates remain the biggest obstacle to building practical quantum computers, so a design that dramatically reduces errors would mark a significant step toward machines capable of running complex, reliable calculations. The announcement is drawing attention across the science and technology press.

Life science real estate markets are showing signs of improvement as landlords convert excess laboratory and office space to advanced technology tenants. Industry analysts say the shift is absorbing vacancy left by a slowdown in biotech demand, easing pressure on markets such as Boston and San Francisco while supporting growth in data center and AI-related facilities.

A new study published in Science Advances examines the mechanics and physics behind the extraordinary flexibility and dexterity of octopus arms. Commenters are sharing the paper while praising octopuses for their intelligence and skill, with some taking the opportunity to criticise Prevagen, the memory supplement marketed with jellyfish ingredients that regulators have challenged. The research is drawing attention for its insights into soft-body movement and potential robotics applications.