From a black hole erupting like a cosmic volcano to a 300-million-year case of mistaken identity, this week’s science news spans the universe — and the microscope. We’ve got breakthroughs in weight loss, male contraception, whale conservation, and even the secrets hidden in your DNA.
1. Black Hole Erupts Like a “Cosmic Volcano” After 100 Million Years of Silence
A supermassive black hole at the heart of galaxy J1007+3540 has roared back to life after lying dormant for nearly 100 million years, blasting powerful jets across almost a million light-years of space. Astronomers used the LOFAR radio telescope in the Netherlands and India’s upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope to capture stunning images of both the fresh inner jets and the older, fading plasma from previous eruptions. What makes this discovery especially exciting is the clear evidence that this black hole has switched on and off multiple times throughout its history — something rarely seen so vividly. The research, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, helps scientists understand how black holes cycle between periods of activity and dormancy, reshaping entire galaxies in the process.
Think About It: If this black hole was dormant for 100 million years, what might have caused it to suddenly “wake up” and start feeding again?
Image credit: ScienceDaily — view source image
Originally reported by: ScienceDaily
2. The World’s “Oldest Octopus” Was Never an Octopus at All
A fossil that spent over two decades in the record books as the world’s oldest octopus has been dramatically reclassified. Using advanced synchrotron imaging, researchers from the University of Reading peered inside the 300-million-year-old specimen — named Pohlsepia mazonensis — and discovered tiny hidden teeth. The ribbon-like feeding structure, called a radula, contained at least 11 teeth per row, which ruled out an octopus entirely (they have seven or nine). Instead, the creature was a nautiloid, a relative of the modern nautilus, that had been decomposing for weeks before fossilisation, making it look deceptively octopus-like. This means the oldest confirmed octopus fossils now date to the much later Jurassic period, reshaping our understanding of when these remarkable creatures first appeared.
Think About It: How does the process of decomposition before fossilisation make it harder for palaeontologists to correctly identify ancient organisms?
Image credit: ScienceDaily — view source image
Originally reported by: ScienceDaily
3. Stanford Scientists Discover a “Natural Ozempic” Without the Side Effects
Researchers at Stanford Medicine have identified a naturally occurring peptide called BRP that mimics the appetite-suppressing effects of semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) — but without many of the drug’s unpleasant side effects. In animal studies, BRP acted directly on the brain’s appetite-control centre, helping subjects eat less and lose body fat without experiencing the nausea, constipation, or muscle loss commonly reported with current weight-loss medications. While still in early stages, this discovery could open the door to a new generation of treatments that work with the body’s own signalling pathways rather than overriding them with synthetic drugs. The findings were published in April 2026 and have attracted significant attention from both the medical and pharmaceutical communities.
Think About It: Why might a treatment based on a molecule the body already produces have fewer side effects than a fully synthetic drug?
Image credit: ScienceDaily — view source image
Originally reported by: ScienceDaily
4. Cornell Breakthrough Brings Reversible Male Contraception Closer to Reality
Scientists at Cornell University have taken a major step towards the long-sought “holy grail” of male contraception: a safe, reversible, and nonhormonal method that completely halts sperm production. In a six-year proof-of-principle study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team showed that interrupting a key stage of meiosis (the cell division process that produces sperm) can temporarily shut down sperm production in mice without causing lasting harm. After three weeks of treatment, sperm production stopped completely — and when the treatment ended, full fertility returned within six weeks, producing healthy offspring. The researchers plan to launch a company within two years to develop this approach further, potentially as a three-monthly injection or patch.
Think About It: What are the advantages of a nonhormonal contraceptive approach compared to hormonal methods, and why has male contraception been so difficult to develop?
Image credit: ScienceDaily — view source image
Originally reported by: Cornell Chronicle
5. San Francisco Bay Has Become a Death Trap for Gray Whales
Gray whales are breaking their long-established migration patterns and venturing into San Francisco Bay — and nearly one in five of those that enter are dying there. A new study published in Frontiers in Marine Science tracked 114 individual whales using over 100,000 photographs taken between 2018 and 2025, revealing that 18% of gray whales entering the bay perished, primarily from boat strikes and malnutrition. The root cause appears to be climate change disrupting their Arctic food supply, forcing hungry whales to make desperate detours into unfamiliar and dangerous waters. The gray whale population has dropped by more than 50% since 2016, according to NOAA, making this shift in behaviour a serious conservation concern.
Think About It: How might urban planning and shipping regulations in coastal cities be adapted to protect marine mammals as their migration routes change?
Image credit: ScienceDaily — view source image
Originally reported by: ScienceDaily
6. Your Genes Determine Far More of Your Lifespan Than Scientists Thought
For years, scientists believed genetics played only a minor role in how long we live, with estimates suggesting just 15–30% of lifespan variation was inherited. A landmark study from the Weizmann Institute of Science has upended that assumption, finding that genetics may account for roughly 50% of variation in human lifespan — about double previous estimates. The research team, led by Ben Shenhar in Prof. Uri Alon’s lab, analysed extensive twin databases from Sweden and Denmark, including — for the first time in this type of research — data from twins raised apart. This allowed them to separate genetic influences from shared environmental ones more cleanly than ever before. Published in the journal Science, the findings suggest a much stronger incentive to search for protective gene variants that could slow ageing or delay disease.
Think About It: If genetics account for about 50% of lifespan, what does that tell us about the remaining 50% and the importance of lifestyle choices?
Image credit: ScienceDaily — view source image
Originally reported by: ScienceDaily
That’s your science roundup for this week! From the depths of space to the secrets of our DNA, it’s been a fascinating seven days. Have a favourite story? Share it with your class, your colleagues, or anyone who loves a good science headline. See you next week!
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