Chemicals brought in to help protect our ozone layer have had the unintended consequences of spreading vast quantities of a potentially toxic ‘forever chemical’ around the globe, a new study shows.

An international research team led by scientists from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology has achieved the first direct measurement of cosmic rays deep inside a star-forming nebula. Using observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the researchers detected the unique infrared signature produced when cosmic rays interact with molecular hydrogen at the core of Barnard 68, a cold, dense nebula located about 400 light-years from Earth. The study provides unprecedented insight into the behavior of cosmic rays far from the Solar System and their role in the earliest stages of star formation.

Cosmic rays—high-energy particles such as protons and atomic nuclei—play a critical role in regulating star birth by heating interstellar gas and driving chemical reactions that form key molecules, including water and ammonia. Until now, their properties inside star-forming clouds remained largely unknown. The new measurements confirm long-standing theoretical predictions and demonstrate that JWST can detect extremely faint infrared emissions generated by cosmic-ray–excited hydrogen, opening a new observational window on cosmic-ray astrophysics.

The findings, published in Nature Astronomy with complementary analysis in The Astrophysical Journal, pave the way for systematic mapping of cosmic rays across different galactic environments. With additional JWST observing time already approved, researchers aim to use nebulae as vast natural particle detectors to better understand how cosmic rays propagate through galaxies and influence the formation of stars like our Sun.

Researchers at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, in collaboration with MIT, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Massachusetts, have developed a self-regulating, implantable “living” technology that could one day eliminate the need for daily insulin injections in people with diabetes.

Led by Assistant Professor Shady Farah of the Technion’s Faculty of Chemical Engineering, the study presents a cell-based implant that functions as an autonomous artificial pancreas. Once implanted, the system continuously senses blood-glucose levels, produces insulin within the implant, and releases precisely the amount needed—without external pumps, injections, or patient intervention.

A key innovation is a novel “crystalline shield” that protects the implant from immune rejection, allowing it to function reliably for years. The technology has demonstrated effective glucose regulation in mice and long-term cell viability in non-human primates.

Beyond diabetes, the platform may be adapted for treating other chronic conditions requiring continuous delivery of biological therapeutics, potentially transforming long-term disease management.