Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.
In recognition of Heart Health Month, we’re spotlighting the importance of cardiovascular wellness. From risk factors and prevention to innovative treatments, we’re exploring the science and stories shaping heart health today.
Latest News Releases
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 10-Jun-2026 14:16 ET (10-Jun-2026 18:16 GMT/UTC)
Stadium fever measured—why live football raises the pulse
Bielefeld UniversityPeer-Reviewed Publication
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Catherine Prater awarded postdoctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association
Pennington Biomedical Research CenterGrant and Award Announcement
Research spotlight: Interplay of hormonal contraceptive use, stress and cardiovascular risk in women
Massachusetts General HospitalPeer-Reviewed Publication
- Journal
- JAMA Network Open
Understanding the hazard potential of the Seattle Fault zone: It’s “pretty close to home”
Geological Society of AmericaPeer-Reviewed Publication
FAU study links ultra-processed foods to greater heart attack, stroke risk
Florida Atlantic UniversityPeer-Reviewed Publication
An analysis of national U.S. health and diet data found a strong link between ultra-processed food consumption and cardiovascular disease. Adults whose diets were highest in ultra-processed foods—like sodas, packaged snacks, and processed meats—had a 47% higher risk of heart attack or stroke than those who ate the least, even after adjusting for other factors. The findings underscore ultra-processed foods as a major, preventable driver of heart disease and a pressing public health concern.
- Journal
- The American Journal of Medicine
Family Heart Foundation teams up with former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to launch “tackle cholesterol™: Get into the LDL Safe Zone®”
Family Heart FoundationBusiness Announcement
'Dark matter, not a black hole, could power Milky Way's heart'
Royal Astronomical SocietyPeer-Reviewed Publication
Our Milky Way galaxy may not have a supermassive black hole at its centre but rather an enormous clump of mysterious dark matter exerting the same gravitational influence, astronomers say. They believe this invisible substance – which makes up most of the universe's mass – can explain both the violent dance of stars just light-hours (often used to measure distances within our own solar system) away from the galactic centre and the gentle, large-scale rotation of the entire matter in the outskirts of the Milky Way. The new study has been published today in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS).
- Journal
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
HKUMed leads in synergising global clinical trials data: Reviewing cardiovascular drug safety and novel clinical applications
The University of Hong KongSpecial strength training with lighter weights effectively strengthens muscle health and metabolism in type 2 diabetes
Deutsches Zentrum fuer Diabetesforschung DZDPeer-Reviewed Publication
Like regular strength training, blood flow restriction training strengthens muscle power and heart health, but it also improves fat distribution and energy production—an important benefit for people with type 2 diabetes.
- Journal
- Cell Metabolism