EurekAlert! In the Spotlight

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 May brings a rare celestial treat, two full moons in one month! We’re exploring the science of space and how astronomy connects us through curiosity, discovery, and a shared wonder for what lies beyond.

Latest News Releases

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 9-May-2026 09:16 ET (9-May-2026 13:16 GMT/UTC)

3-Dec-2025

First discoveries from new Subaru Telescope program

National Institutes of Natural Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Astronomers using the Subaru Telescope in Hawaiʻi have discovered a massive planet and a brown dwarf orbiting distant stars. The discoveries are the first results from OASIS (Observing Accelerators with SCExAO Imaging Survey), which combines space-based measurements with the Subaru Telescope’s advanced imaging to find hidden worlds. These discoveries in turn enable NASA’s upcoming Roman Space Telescope to test critical technologies for imaging Earth-like planets.

Journal: The Astronomical Journal
Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

3-Dec-2025

Astronomers spot one of the largest spinning structures ever found in the Universe

University of Oxford
Peer-Reviewed Publication

An international team led by the University of Oxford has identified one of the largest rotating structures ever reported: a “razor-thin” string of galaxies embedded in a giant spinning cosmic filament, 140 million light-years away. The findings, published today (4 December) in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, could offer valuable new insights into how galaxies formed in the early Universe.

Journal: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

3-Dec-2025

15 ways UBC researchers broke new ground in 2025

University of British Columbia

From breakthroughs in organ transplantation to alerting us to the risks of space junk, UBC research made headlines in 2025, capturing global attention and sparking important conversations.

Beyond the most-read stories, other discoveries quietly pushed boundaries, from effective deer-management methods to innovative approaches to cancer care and recycling.

Here are 15 highlights showing how UBC researchers and key partners advanced knowledge, technology and real-world solutions in 2025, listed by date.