Next Week in Science, October 2, 2025
So we’re changing up the schedule a bit and are going to have this recap posts on Thursday. Don’t worry, we’ll still have content throughout the week, but it’s just easier for us to do this a day earlier.
And what’s in the news
Metal-organic polyhedra maintain the self-renewal of embryonic stem cells
Researchers have introduced a more effective and economical method for culturing embryonic stem cells (ESC) using metal-organic polyhedra (MOPs) rather than the traditional leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The amino-modified vanadium-based MOPs not only maintain the self-renewal and pluripotency of ESCs with high stability and biocompatibility but also offer a substantial cost advantage and operational simplicity over existing methods. This advancement can significantly impact regenerative medicine and disease therapy by providing a stable, cost-effective platform for ESC culturing, potentially advancing the study of cell-based therapies for conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
Will Pentagon procurement reforms really stick this time?
The U.S. Space Force is undertaking significant reforms to revolutionize its procurement system by engaging more directly with the private sector and venture capital, aiming to buy technology faster, cheaper, and more efficiently. This shift is supported by executive orders, new legislation, and a strategic pivot to utilize commercial technology, as demonstrated by ongoing programs like the RG-XX and PTS-G, which emphasize rapid production and redundancy through multiple suppliers. This increased collaboration with industry stakeholders is essential for national security, addressing past bureaucratic inefficiencies, and accelerating innovation to maintain a competitive edge in the face of global threats.
Science, disaster costs at odds with WV leaders’ fight to ax key EPA climate finding
In a controversial move, West Virginia’s Attorney General JB McCuskey has co-led a coalition of 26 Republican-led states backing the EPA’s proposed reversal of its 2009 greenhouse gas “Endangerment Finding,” contradicting decades of scientific consensus on the dangers of climate change. This proposal aligns with President Donald Trump’s climate change denial stance and has provoked widespread opposition from health and environmental groups, as well as concerns about its potential negative impact on climate protection efforts and public health in states like West Virginia, which experiences frequent climate-related disasters.
