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: 13-May-2026 09:15 ET (13-May-2026 13:15 GMT/UTC)
Rise in ADHD diagnoses can leave parents confused about ‘typical’ behavior for kids
Taylor & Francis GroupBook Announcement
Researchers use living fossils to uncover a wealth of genes for seed improvement
New York UniversityPeer-Reviewed Publication
A multidisciplinary team of researchers has combined deep botanical knowledge with powerful genomic technology to decode and mine the DNA of non-flowering seed plants and uncover genes that evolved to help plants build seeds. These findings, published in Nature Communications, may aid scientists in improving seed crop production in agriculture and in the conservation of these ancient endangered seed plants.
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Funder
- European Union’s Horizon 2020 RISE program, STARS@UNIPD ‘SeedDive’
Most Israelis choose not to check their pension status — and it could harm the financial future
Reichman UniversityPeer-Reviewed Publication
The majority of Israelis avoid learning about the state of their retirement savings, according to a recent article by Prof. Guy Hochman of Reichman University’s Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology. Published in the scientific journal Current Opinion in Psychology, the article explains that this avoidance is not driven solely by a lack of knowledge; emotional, cultural, and social factors also play a role. Many people prefer not to know how much money awaits them in old age — not because they are indifferent, but because the information can feel frightening, anxiety-inducing, or futile if they believe they cannot change the outcome anyway.
- Journal
- Current Opinion in Psychology
Refractory high-entropy alloys reimagined: from phase design to extreme-environment performance
Songshan Lake Materials LaboratoryPeer-Reviewed Publication
A new critical review published in Materials Futures traces the rapid evolution of Refractory High-Entropy Alloys (RHEAs), a revolutionary class of materials engineered for extreme environments. The review, led by researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, highlights a paradigm shift from traditional alloy design towards computational- and microstructurally-guided strategies. It details how advanced tools like machine learning, quantum mechanics simulations, and phase diagram calculations are accelerating the discovery of new compositions. A central focus is on innovative microstructural designs, including metastable engineering, heterogeneous structures, and atomic-scale chemical ordering, that are successfully overcoming the long-standing trade-off between strength and ductility. The authors conclude that the integration of multi-scale modeling, in-situ characterization, and closed-loop data analysis is poised to transition RHEAs from laboratory breakthroughs to critical components in aerospace, energy, and nuclear applications.
- Journal
- Materials Futures
Artificial intelligence, wellness apps alone cannot solve mental health crisis
American Psychological AssociationReports and Proceedings
KIST's Outdoor-Friendly Modular Robotic Furniture 'OnOBOT' wins grand prize at the International Robot Design Competition
National Research Council of Science & TechnologyThe Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced that a research team led by Dr. Sona Kwak and Dr. Yoonseop Lim at the Center for Intelligence and Interaction Research Center won the Grand Prize in the Demonstration category for its outdoor-friendly modular robotic furniture system, OnOBOT, at the Robot Design Competition held during the International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication 2025 (RO-MAN 2025) in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, from August 25 to 29, 2025.
- Funder
- Ministry of Science and ICT