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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 113


Page 113 of 498

McGill researchers develop a more efficient way to identify when AI responses may need human review

McGill researchers have developed a more energy-efficient method for building AI systems that can measure and indicate their own uncertainty. This approach cuts memory and training costs while maintaining strong predictive performance. The researchers aim to make reliable, uncertainty-aware AI practical for large and complex systems.

SourceMcGill University·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 20, 2026

Can Earthly microbes survive on the moon? Scientists say yes (in the shade)

A new study published in Science Advances found that bacteria and fungi from Earth can survive for at least a week in shaded nooks and crannies around the lunar south pole. The study's findings highlight the need to better understand microbial persistence in extreme lunar environments, which is crucial for future space missions.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 20, 2026

App-based support improves dementia caregivers’ wellbeing

A new app, WeCareAdvisor, has shown promise in improving the quality of life for dementia caregivers by providing a systematic approach to manage behavioral symptoms. Caregivers who used the app reported significant reductions in distress and behavioral symptoms, as well as improved well-being.

SourceDrexel University·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateAug 20, 2026

The clean energy transition’s missing metric: human health

A new correspondence published in The Lancet highlights the importance of human health in the clean energy transition, citing a quintuple win of healthier populations, energy security, and climate mitigation. The authors recommend framing the transition around shared prosperity and wellbeing, and using metrics grounded in community har...

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalThe Lancet·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 20, 2026

Mount Sinai study finds chemotherapy-free treatment shows promise for some patients with metastatic breast cancer

A chemotherapy-free combination of targeted therapies showed encouraging results in patients with HR-positive, HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, offering a potential first-line treatment option. The regimen produced durable responses while maintaining a manageable safety profile for many patients.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 20, 2026

Innovative metasurfaces offer a new way to block radiant heat

Researchers at CUNY ASRC and Honeywell Aerospace developed pairs of ultrathin, nonmetallic coatings that work together to reduce heat transfer. The novel metasurface reduced thermal radiation emission by over 80% compared to nonstructured surfaces, maintaining performance across a wide range of operating temperatures.

SourceAdvanced Science Research Center, GC/CUNY·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 20, 2026

Monell researchers use machine learning to begin mapping complex scents

Monell researchers have developed a machine learning model to predict the similarity between scent mixtures, achieving a median RMSE of 0.08 and a Pearson correlation of 0.57. The model uses semantic language to describe scent mixtures, suggesting a significant leap forward in predicting scent similarities.

SourceMonell Chemical Senses Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 20, 2026

Tropical mountain forests: Canopy and understory show sharply different biodiversity patterns across elevation

Researchers found that tree-layer α-diversity peaks at mid-elevation zones, while understory α-diversity shows a bimodal trend with two diversity peaks at 400-600m and 1000-1200m. Community composition differs among low-, mid- and high-elevation zones, driven by species turnover across elevational zones.

SourceSouth China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalBiological Diversity·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 20, 2026

The framing of nature changes how kids respond to environmental education

A randomized trial in 21 Japanese elementary schools found that students respond more strongly to environmental education when nature is framed around its human benefits rather than its intrinsic value. This approach increased students' short-term interest in the environment. In contrast, students who received an ecocentric framing sho...

SourceKyushu University·JournalEcological Economics·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 20, 2026

The spin behind fading black hole flares

Researchers at Syracuse University found that stellar spin can explain the fading of black hole flares in repeating partial tidal disruption events. The study suggests that stars with rapid initial spin may produce flares that decline in brightness over time. This new understanding provides insight into the complex interactions between...

SourceSyracuse University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateAug 20, 2026

World Mosquito Day 2026: European Union scientists highlight essential role of mosquito control to tackle increase in mosquito-borne diseases in Europe

EU scientists highlight the essential role of mosquito control in tackling the increase in mosquito-borne diseases in Europe. The research emphasizes the need for continued investment in research to develop sustainable, evidence-based, and integrated mosquito control strategies. A One Health approach is also recommended to improve the ...

SourceEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)·JournalEurosurveillance·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 20, 2026

Paleontologists spent 20 years carbon-dating thousands of marine fossils, then used them to decode a process fundamental to Earth’s history

Paleontologists used carbon-dating to analyze over 7,500 fossils, revealing how sediment accumulation rates affect the preservation of fossils. By understanding these rates, researchers can determine the age of a fossil assemblage and extract valuable data from it.

SourceFlorida Museum of Natural History·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 20, 2026

When people of different generations create together, brain activity changes

A study published in PLOS Biology found that brain synchrony between people of different generations increases when they create art together, predicting feelings of loneliness or social connection. Brain synchrony decreases between same-generation pairs, suggesting a dynamic relationship between social connections and brain activity.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 20, 2026

New AI model combines physics and observations to reconstruct the history of the earth's mantle

Researchers developed an AI model combining physics and observations to reconstruct the Earth's mantle history. The model accurately recreated past temperatures and deep-mantle flow with high accuracy, indicating that combining complementary geophysical information is essential for recovering realistic mantle convection histories.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Machine Learning and Computation·DateAug 20, 2026

Digital wellness program eases anxiety and depression in adults with chronic health conditions

A digital wellness program combining guided movement, breathing, and meditation exercises reduced anxiety and depression symptoms in adults with chronic medical conditions. The program also improved quality of life and fatigue, with no significant difference found between the self-directed and telephone-supported versions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 20, 2026

The heart’s backup blood vessels grow from capillaries, not arteries

Researchers found that capillary endothelial cells are major building blocks of new coronary collaterals, which are essential for cardiac repair. A VEGF-driven molecular pathway promotes the conversion of capillaries into collateral arteries, offering a potential strategy for enhancing de novo collateral formation and cardiac repair.

How can EU battery regulations help improve global sustainability governance in other sectors?

The EU battery regulations have the potential to improve global sustainability governance by establishing standardized data and calculation methods for environmental performance. This could lead to more comparable and transparent data across the market, but also raises challenges around representativeness and rigor.

New guide could help scientists see deeper into the human body using light and sound

Researchers at the University of Birmingham and UCL published a comprehensive analysis of ultrasound detectors used in photoacoustic tomography, a medical imaging technology. They established a standardized 'noise-equivalent pressure' landscape, revealing the performance capabilities of 82 detectors across four main types.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature Reviews Methods Primers·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 20, 2026

INSEAD-led research team refutes criticism of landmark finding on decline of disruptive science

A recent study by INSEAD researchers found a significant decline in disruptive science, with papers and patents increasingly following established paths. However, a peer-reviewed analysis by the researchers has refuted criticism that the decline is due to dataset artefacts, and the finding holds true across multiple databases and metrics.

SourceINSEAD Asia Campus·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 20, 2026