Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.
This month, we’re focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), a topic that continues to capture attention everywhere. Here, you’ll find the latest research news, insights, and discoveries shaping how AI is being developed and used across the world.
Latest News Releases
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 1-Jan-2026 07:11 ET (1-Jan-2026 12:11 GMT/UTC)
Synthetic cells could be a new way to deliver drugs in the body
University College LondonPeer-Reviewed Publication
A synthetic cell that can be activated by a magnetic field to release a medicine whilst deep in the body has been created by chemists at UCL (University College London) and the University of Oxford.
- Journal
- Nature Chemistry
- Funder
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Royal Society
ITU report details US$2.6-2.8 trillion cost to connect everyone meaningfully by 2030
International Telecommunication UnionReports and Proceedings
Achieving universal, meaningful Internet connectivity by 2030 could require an investment of USD 2.6 trillion to USD 2.8 trillion at current prices, according to the Connecting Humanity Action Blueprint.
Altmetric adds Sentiment Analysis to social media tracking
Digital ScienceBusiness Announcement
Penn engineers unveil generative AI model that designs new antibiotics
University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied SciencePeer-Reviewed Publication
- Journal
- Cell Biomaterials
- Funder
- Hartwell Foundation, NIH/National Institutes of Health, Procter and Gamble, United Therapeutics Corporation, Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, American Institute of Chemical Engineers
FAU Engineering awarded USDA grant for smart farming breakthrough
Florida Atlantic UniversityGrant and Award Announcement
This groundbreaking, multi-institutional research project is aimed at revolutionizing the future of precision agriculture through the development of an advanced edge/fog computing-based framework.
AI effective at detecting advanced breast cancer, but misses some cases
Korea University College of MedicinePeer-Reviewed Publication
- Journal
- Radiology