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: 26-Jun-2026 03:16 ET (26-Jun-2026 07:16 GMT/UTC)
1-Jun-2026
The macroeconomics of automation
Osaka Metropolitan University
An Osaka Metropolitan University-led research team developed a transparent framework that connects task-level technological change to macroeconomic outcomes, revealing that automation is best understood as an equilibrium, economy-wide phenomenon rather than a collection of technology-specific indicators.
- Journal
- Journal of Economic Growth
1-Jun-2026
“Breaking the ultra-thin dilemma”: Contact resistance drops 50×, on-state current increases 17×
Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)Peer-Reviewed Publication
POSTECH Research Team Led by Prof. Byoung Hun Lee Overcomes Performance Limits of Ultra-Thin Semiconductors with a Novel Localized Thick-Contact Desig.
- Journal
- ACS Nano
1-Jun-2026
Deep brain stimulation remodels brain wiring and alters functional changes to brain-wide networks, landmark depression study reveals
The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of MedicinePeer-Reviewed Publication
Findings provide first direct evidence that DBS rewires white matter pathways, opening new directions for psychiatric treatment
- Journal
- Nature Neuroscience
- Funder
- Hope for Depression Research Foundation, National Institute of Mental Health, BRAIN Initiative, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, Takeda Science Foundation
1-Jun-2026
The LEGO Foundation launches new global research fellowship
Social Science Research CouncilGrant and Award Announcement
The LEGO Foundation, in partnership with the Social Science Research Council, is opening applications for a new global research fellowship offering up to USD 300,000 over three years to as many as 10 early- and mid-career researchers studying how children thrive.
- Funder
- LEGO Foundation
1-Jun-2026
SNMMI Image of the Year: novel pet tracer detects deep vein thrombosis clots in legs and lungs
Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular ImagingPeer-Reviewed Publication
A novel PET radiotracer can accurately detect deep vein thrombosis in the legs and reveal whether clots have migrated to the lungs. By enabling whole‑body imaging of blood clots in a single scan, the approach may support faster and more efficient diagnosis -- particularly for patients who also require evaluation for potentially life‑threatening pulmonary embolism. This research was presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2026 Annual Meeting, and the collection of images showcasing the visualization of blood clots in the legs and in the lungs, has been selected as the 2026 SNMMI Henry N. Wagner, Jr., Image of the Year.
- Journal
- Journal of Nuclear Medicine
- Meeting
- Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2026 Annual Meeting
1-Jun-2026
AI chatbot use and disclosure for mental health among US adolescents and young adults
JAMA NetworkPeer-Reviewed Publication
About The Study: In this nationally representative survey study of U.S. adolescents and young adults, a fifth reported using AI chatbots for mental health advice. AI chatbots are already embedded in many youths’ mental health information ecosystem, underscoring the need for parents and clinicians to proactively discuss chatbot use to promote safety, appropriate expectations, and linkages to evidence-based care.
- Journal
- JAMA Pediatrics