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: 30-Dec-2025 02:11 ET (30-Dec-2025 07:11 GMT/UTC)

1-Dec-2025

'Periodic table' for AI methods aims to drive innovation

Emory University

Physicists develop a new framework for deriving algorithms for AI systems.

Journal

Journal of Machine Learning

1-Dec-2025

Roadmap for reducing, reusing, and recycling in space

Cell Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Every time a rocket is launched, tons of valuable materials are lost, and huge amounts of greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting chemicals are released into the atmosphere. Publishing December 1 in the Cell Press journal Chem Circularity, sustainability and space scientists discuss how the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling could be applied to satellites and spacecraft—from design and manufacturing to in-orbit repair and end-of-life repurposing.

Journal

Chem Circularity

Funder

UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Leverhulme Trust, Surrey-Adelaide Partnership Fund

1-Dec-2025

Artificial tendons give muscle-powered robots a boost

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

MIT engineers developed artificial tendons that could connect robotic skeletons and biological muscle tissue. Made from tough and flexible hydrogel, the tendons could be used in various bio-hybrid robots.

Journal

Advanced Science

Funder

U.S. Department of Defense Army Research Office, MIT Research Support Committee, U.S. National Science Foundation

1-Dec-2025

Singing mice speak volumes

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Assistant Professor Arkarup Banerjee and colleagues find that Alston’s singing mice use the same brain region to produce songs and ordinary communications. The lab's research offers new insight into the evolutionary origins of complex behaviors. In time, it could have implications for artificial intelligence as well as people with profound autism or stroke-induced aphasia.

Journal

Current Biology

Funder

BRAIN Initiative, Searle Scholars Program, Pershing Square Foundation, Esther A. and Joseph Klingenstein Fund, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, International Society for Neuroethology Konishi Research Award, George A. and Marjorie H. Anderson Fellowship

1-Dec-2025

Machine learning identifies senescence-inducing compound for p16-positive cancer cells

Impact Journals LLC
Peer-Reviewed Publication

BUFFALO, NY — December 1, 2025 — A new research paper featured on the cover of Volume 17, Issue 11 of Aging-US was published on October 30, 2025, titled “SAMP-Score: a morphology-based machine learning classification method for screening pro-senescence compounds in p16 positive cancer cells.”

Journal

Aging-US

1-Dec-2025

Leveraging Chemistry42, Insilico nominates ISM3830 as preclinical candidate targeting CBLB for advanced tumors immunotherapy

InSilico Medicine
Business Announcement

Insilico Medicine (“Insilico”), a clinical-stage, generative AI-driven drug discovery company, today announced the nomination of ISM3830, a potential best-in-class, oral available, highly selective CBLB inhibitor with AI-empowered novel scaffold, as a preclinical candidate against multiple advanced tumors.