Rare medicinal shrub, healthy fats in rice, portable radiation detector & Women's Month 2026

Kelli canines, Healthy fats in rice, Mercury and Earth in chorus, AI lights up materials discovery, Radiation detection with phones and Down to one. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice. Plus Women's Month 2026.

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Rare medicinal shrub, healthy fats in rice, portable radiation detector & Women's Month 2026

Kelli canines

Ateneo de Manila University

A shrub used by indigenous people in the Philippines to treat ailing dogs is now officially identified as a new species with scientific name Clerodendrum kelli. However, it is now critically endangered due to habitat loss.

Native to modern science

Mercury and Earth in chorus

Kanazawa University

Natural electromagnetic waves, called chorus emissions, long studied in Earth’s magnetosphere, have also been detected in Mercury. This is the first reliable evidence of intense electron activity in Mercury.

Universal chirping

Healthy fats in rice

Hokkaido University

For the first time, a type of beneficial fat has been identified in rice. A study found lipids linked to anti-inflammatory effects in colored Japanese rice varieties, particularly black and green rice.

FAHMFAs

AI lights up materials discovery

National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)

Researchers use large language models to uncover experimental data from open-access materials science papers, helping build a large database for new materials development.

Starrydata

Radiation detection with phones

Hiroshima University

A low-cost, portable system uses a smartphone and radiochromic film to provide quick on-site radiation readings, especially for personal preparedness during emergencies like nuclear accidents.

Cyan

Down to one

Duke-NUS Medical School

Scientists have identified how a small number of overactive genes may drive widespread changes in brain function in Down syndrome, helping explain how an extra chromosome affects learning and memory.

Molecular map

Women’s Month 2026

We're sharing our updated list of women experts for media and other resources that highlight the contributions of Asian women to science.

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