Latest Science News
Brightsurf delivers daily science news discoveries, articles, and the latest scientific breakthroughs. Your trusted source for science news today, covering nature news, science & technology, and scientific discoveries from leading research institutions worldwide.
05.09.26
05.08.26
New study finds higher dementia risk in insulin-requiring diabetes
AI-driven wearable patches help identify undetected hormone disruption in unexplained infertility
Tiny sensor harnesses light to feel touch
Ground-breaking study finds immigrants face a host of hurdles in the workforce
Lonely Jupiter-like planet tells us more about gas giants
Employment of people with disabilities declines but remains near all-time high
Iron minerals help decide whether dissolved organic matter becomes microbial food or long-term carbon
A biochar-based material offers a promising route for uranium recovery from seawater
Discovery of brain-body connection offers clues for Parkinson’s and alcohol use disorder
Drones match farm planning effectiveness of more expensive tech, study finds
Rewiring the urge to smoke
Old plant populations offer new clues to climate resilience
Hertz Foundation announces 19 recipients of the 2026 Hertz Fellowship
Study finds cancer location determines how testosterone regulates tumor growth
ORNL names Kate Evans associate lab director for biological, environmental systems science
Ethics & Human Research, May-June 2026
Smartwatches and GPS show promise for tracking environmental impacts on health in real time
Gentoo penguin is actually four distinct species, one new to science. Three are threatened.
Children with rare, debilitating brain diseases suffer from mutations in a little-known protein complex
Researchers have mapped the structure and mechanics of a critical cellular machine that malfunctions in people with rare genetic disorders. The discovery could lead to new treatments and faster diagnoses for children with conditions like infantile encephalopathy, corpus callosum hypoplasia, and Kenny-Caffey syndrome.
Antarctica sea ice collapse driven by triple whammy of climate chaos, scientists find
A new study reveals Antarctica's sea ice collapse is driven by a triple whammy of climate chaos, resulting in record-breaking lows. The Southern Ocean's transformation led to the loss of vast areas of ice equivalent to Greenland, destabilizing global ocean currents and accelerating global warming.
Plant stress and unique cAMP signaling
Researchers have discovered that plants utilize two forms of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) to regulate normal cellular functions and respond to stress, while maintaining cross-talk between the pathways. This redundancy enables plants to adapt more robustly to a wider range of environmental factors.
UPF awards the title of Doctor Honoris Causa to Helga Nowotny and Maria Leptin, key figures in the consolidation of a European research model
Pompeu Fabra University has awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa to Helga Nowotny and Maria Leptin for their contributions to consolidating a European research model. The award highlights the importance of fundamental research, interdisciplinarity, and scientific independence in achieving European values.
New book ‘AI TO EYE’ brings together 40+ voices from science, art, and media to ask: how do we really want to live with AI?
The book captures the AI moment through a chorus of perspectives from science, business, art, journalism, and media, challenging and complementing each other to reveal tensions and contradictions. It paints a vivid picture of how AI is reshaping our self-understanding and what it discloses about us.
Study finds multiple PFAS, the man-made ‘forever chemicals’, in 98.5% of people tested in US study
A new study found that nearly every person in the US has multiple man-made chemicals, known as PFAS, in their system. The study examined over 10,500 samples and found that 98.8% contained at least one PFAS, with many carrying multiple types.
Good vibrations for quantum communications
Scientists have successfully demonstrated atomic spin qubit interaction with a single-quantum sound wave, opening up new possibilities for quantum information storage and sensing applications. The experiment uses phonons to interact with atomic defects in diamond, enabling precise measurement of forces and temperatures.
Deep learning helps engineer stronger continuous fiber composites
Researchers developed a deep learning method that optimizes both material layout and fiber direction for continuous fiber composite structures, reducing design time by up to 99.7% while maintaining strong accuracy. The ResUNet-GAN framework produces high-performance structural layouts directly from design parameters.
SNU professor Sangwoo Seo’s research team develops next-generation CRISPR biocontainment technology for controlling microbial survival without DNA cleavage
Researchers develop irreversible CRISPR base editing system to permanently block microbial survival, reducing environmental risk and genetic instability. The technology has broad applications in industrial biotechnology and biopharmaceutical fields.
Printed oxygen "highways" shatter the 2D transistor speed limit
A research team has successfully removed the primary obstacle to post-silicon computing by creating a record-breaking electronic connection for atomic-thin materials. The new GaOx layer enables 'hybrid tunnelling' mechanism, reducing contact resistance and allowing transistors to operate at much lower voltages without sacrificing speed.
Could patchouli oil save your skin from mosquito bites?
Novel CuBi₂S₄/Al₂WO₆/Ti₃C₂ MXene ternary photocatalyst achieves efficient visible-light driven reduction of nitrate, CO₂, and water
A new photocatalyst was developed that can efficiently reduce nitrate, CO₂, and water under visible light. The catalyst achieved high reductions in efficiency, with selectivities for nitrogen gas, methane, and hydrogen reaching 80%, 70%, and 60%, respectively.
From motion to memory: SNU researchers create soft machines that amplify movement and remember touch
Researchers at Seoul National University developed a new mechanical system that amplifies motion and remembers external triggers through magnetic attraction and elastic restoring force. The system, called Elasto-Magnetic Instability (EsMI), enables large-amplitude vibration and efficient energy conversion.
Numerical simulation study on the reaction mechanism of atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium CO₂–H₂O plasma discharge
Researchers present a comprehensive numerical simulation of atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium plasma discharge in CO₂–H₂O plasmas. The study reveals dominant reaction pathways, including electron-impact dissociation and ionization, which affect streamer dynamics and reaction pathways.
Multiscale modeling and operational challenges in autothermal CO₂-to-methanol reactors
Researchers identify three major bottlenecks: multiscale modeling complexity, operational multi-stability, and scale-up difficulties in autothermal reactors for CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol. This mismatch can produce multiple operating regimes, making temperature control challenging.
Expanded tuberculosis screening does not speed up treatment initiation or improve survival in hospitalized patients with HIV
A clinical trial found that adding molecular tests on urine and stool samples did not speed up treatment initiation or reduce mortality in hospitalized patients with HIV. The study showed no significant difference in treatment initiation within 72 hours between the expanded screening group and the standard group.
SNU researchers developed “intelligent artificial muscle” integrating sensing and actuation
The SNU research team created an LCE-based artificial muscle that integrates sensing and actuation functions, mimicking biological muscle-tendon complexes. This breakthrough technology enables robots to delicately manipulate objects and recognize their properties.
A tiny cell structure with a big role in brain development
Researchers at University of California - Riverside discovered that the primary cilium, a microscopic structure inside nearly every cell, plays a critical role in brain development. The study found that proteins associated with the cilium are directly linked to human developmental disorders and that protein production occurs directly w...
Machine learning and multi-objective optimization boost PEMFC cold-start performance with cathode catalytic heating
Researchers combined machine learning and multi-objective optimization to enhance PEMFC cold-start efficiency. The cathode catalytic approach used a non-electrochemical combustion reaction, providing high-power heating during initial startup while inhibiting ice accumulation.
How a strange fruit fly became a bloodthirsty underwater hunter
Researchers at Lund University mapped the genome of Drosophila enhydrobia, a carnivorous fruit fly that lives entirely underwater in African streams. The study shows clear genetic adaptations to its unusual lifestyle, highlighting the importance of natural history museums for understanding biodiversity and evolution.
Pregnant women’s mental images are directly linked to vaccine hesitancy and uptake
A study of over 400 pregnant women found that vivid mental images are directly linked to their opinion of vaccines and whether they get vaccinated. Positive mental images were associated with increased vaccination rates, while negative images predicted higher hesitancy towards certain vaccines.
USDOT awards $10 million to OU-led autonomous freight movement project
X-shaped sleepers improve load transfer under impact on railway tracks
Researchers found that X-shaped sleepers break down impact loads into a dense, uniform network of force chains, reducing stress concentrations and enhancing interlocking between ballast particles. This spatially diffused load transfer mechanism improves trackbed stability and impact resistance.
New study finds no significant joint damage in astronauts after short-duration spaceflight, highlighting promise of ultrasound monitoring
Researchers found no statistically significant changes in joint structures or evidence of inflammation following the 18-day mission. Ultrasound monitoring revealed stable cartilage thickness and tendon integrity.
Advances in adsorption processes driven by machine learning
This review highlights the integration of machine learning with adsorption science and engineering, achieving high precision and interpretability in adsorption processes. The reviewed studies demonstrate that machine learning enables accurate prediction of adsorption performance, accelerates material discovery and process optimization,...
On air travel and digital currencies
The Baker McKenzie Award has recognized Dr. Alexander Heger's dissertation on European Competition Law and Air Transport for its outstanding analysis of a complex field. The award also goes to Dr. Felix-Julius Konow for his research on regulating stablecoins, which explores regulatory mechanisms to address economic and financial risks.
The cost of metamorphosis in amphibians
Researchers found that amphibian metamorphosis entails a direct cost, including weight loss and reduced energy intake, which varies by sex. The study uses the palmate newt as a model to shed light on the evolutionary mechanisms governing the persistence or loss of metamorphosis, particularly in the context of climate change.
UCLA researchers help lead national effort to improve care for patients with glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive brain tumor that has seen modest improvements in survival rates over the past decade. Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center are part of a national effort to develop more personalized approaches to care, combining advanced imaging and analysis of tumor tissue samples and blood test...