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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 166


Page 166 of 504

Increased social media use linked to anxiety, suicidal ideation among young adults, UTHealth Houston researchers find

Researchers at UTHealth Houston found that teenagers spending six or more hours a day on social media were twice as likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and three times as likely to report suicidal ideation. The study, published in Pediatrics Open Science, suggests that excessive social media use can contribute to poor mental health.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalPediatrics Open Science·DateJul 24, 2026

Eco-friendly ionic liquid halves energy use in industrial chemical separation

A Chinese research team has proposed a novel approach to separate dimethyl carbonate from methanol using a tailor-made ionic liquid and heat pump-assisted distillation. The method significantly reduces energy consumption and costs compared to traditional methods, making it an attractive solution for the chemical industry.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalGreen Chemical Engineering·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 24, 2026

From folds and cuts to linkages

Researchers create collapsible scissored surfaces based on networks of interconnected scissor mechanisms that can transform into curved surfaces. The new approach completes a trilogy of metamaterial design principles: origami (folds), kirigami (cuts), and pantograph lattices (linkages).

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 24, 2026

Reciprocal learning across borders: Education as a bridge in turbulent times

The Canada-China Reciprocal Learning Partnership in Teacher Education and School Education created a durable collaborative space for cross-cultural contact and shared educational practice. The partnership generated substantial evidence of sustained activity, including six collaborative research teams, annual international conferences, ...

SourceECNU Review of Education·JournalECNU Review of Education·TypeObservational study·DateJul 24, 2026

Recent advances of atomic/molecular layer deposition engineering silicon interface for lithium‑ion batteries

Researchers developed atomic/molecular layer deposition (ALD) engineering of silicon interfaces to overcome traditional silicon anode limitations. The approach enables stable and functionalized interfaces with unique self-limiting surface chemistry, achieving ultra-high capacity, fast charging, and extended cycle life.

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalNano-Micro Letters·TypeNews article·DateJul 24, 2026

When quantum computers freeze

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf demonstrate that increasing qubits in adiabatic quantum computers makes them increasingly sensitive to disturbances, leading to a 'quantum Zeno effect' that can freeze computational processes. Mitigating measures like shielding and active protection methods can help overcome this issue.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNew Journal of Physics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 24, 2026

New geological archive discovered: Fossilised wood reveals 300 million years of Earth’s history

Researchers found five stages of silicic acid formation in fossilised wood, spanning 200 million years and documenting temperature, pressure, and composition conditions. The study uses quartz cathodoluminescence, fluid inclusions, and other techniques to reconstruct the geological history of the Saale Basin in central Germany.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 24, 2026

From heat dissipation bottlenecks to designable thermal functional units: interfacial heat transport in two-dimensional materials

Research on interfacial thermal transport in 2D heterostructures reviews recent advances and outlines future research directions. The authors argue that interfaces should be regarded as tunable thermal functional units, enabling active thermal management through device design.

SourceScience Exploration Press·JournalThermo-X·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJul 24, 2026

Scientists turn modern biobanks into a new window on human evolution

Researchers analyzed genomic data from over 72,000 Han Taiwanese participants to identify genomic signatures of ongoing natural selection and uncover disease-associated genetic variants. The study reveals that large biobanks can function not only as tools for precision medicine but also as platforms for examining modern human evolution.

SourceNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung University·JournalThe American Journal of Human Genetics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 24, 2026

Endocytosis-independent delivery: Bypassing cellular barriers for direct biomolecule translocation into living cells

Emerging non-endocytic delivery strategies enable direct cytosolic delivery of proteins, nucleic acids, and gene-editing tools, providing new opportunities for biomedical therapies. The review discusses their application prospects in gene therapy, macromolecular drug delivery, and cellular engineering.

SourceBiomedical Analysis·JournalBiomedical Analysis·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 24, 2026

Pusan National study explores the hedging capability of cryptocurrencies in turbulent markets

A new study reveals that green cryptocurrencies are better at transmitting volatility compared to traditional green assets, offering limited hedging effectiveness. Portfolio analysis shows that Cardano and Stellar are key drivers of volatility, while green bonds and ESG investments absorb disturbances.

SourcePusan National University·JournalFinancial Innovation·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 24, 2026

Venus: Dead? Far from it

Recent research suggests Venus is geologically active, with evidence of recent rifting and volcanic activity. Computer models indicate that rift flanks can form along the edges of rift valleys, widening rapidly over time.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJul 24, 2026

HKUST develops new biocompatible chemical reaction to advance next-generation anticancer prodrugs

Researchers at HKUST develop a biocompatible chemical reaction to create targeted anticancer prodrugs, enabling precise drug activation in cancer cells. The breakthrough uses the EBB group and gold catalysts, offering a promising strategy for reducing collateral toxicity.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 23, 2026

Silkworm silk's hidden conductor: How sericin orchestrates fibroin into ordered nanofibrils

A new study reveals sericin is an active conductor that directs the self-assembly of silk fibroin into ordered nanofibrils through liquid-liquid phase separation. This discovery fundamentally revises the textbook view of sericin and its role in natural fibers, opening doors to engineering materials with similar architectures.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 23, 2026

Helping cells find their perfect match

By coating extracellular vesicles with metal ions, cells can recognize and capture their own vesicles more strongly, improving liquid biopsies and aiding in drug delivery, rejuvenation, and more. This technique amplifies signals indicating cancer cells by a factor of 10,000, making single cells detectable even in large samples.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 23, 2026

New treatment approach improves survival and reduces recurrence risk for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Researchers have found that a combination of enfortumab vedotin and pembrolizumab helps patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer live longer while reducing the risk of recurrence after surgery. Nearly 80% of patients who received this treatment remained free of disease progression, recurrence, or death two years after treatment began.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeCase study·DateJul 23, 2026

Fat stores power the body’s virus defence

Scientists at La Trobe University discovered lipid droplets play a critical role in the body's early detection and defence against viruses. The study found these fatty structures can stop viruses from spreading by changing their structure and signalling to the immune system.

SourceLa Trobe University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 23, 2026

Striped or checkered? Magnetic field influences competing electronic patterns in a graphene-like quantum material

Researchers discovered that a small magnetic field switches CeTe₃ between striped and checkerboard electronic patterns. The material's unique properties allow it to adopt multiple competing patterns, which can be manipulated with magnetism.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalNature Communications·TypeImaging analysis·DateJul 23, 2026

Crnic Institute landmark research paves the way for personalized medicine in Down syndrome

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Linda Crnic Institute discovered unique biological processes altered among individuals with Down syndrome who have different sets of co-occurring conditions. The findings mark an important step toward personalized treatment, enabling future targeted therapies and improved health outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 23, 2026

From urinary tract infection to brain abscess: How bacterial subpopulations can spread to distant body sites

A clinical case study demonstrates that heterovirulence, a simultaneous presence of subpopulations with different levels of virulence, can lead to the emergence of increasingly virulent subpopulations. This process can occur in seemingly harmless reservoirs, such as urinary tract infections, and contribute to the spread of infection wi...

SourceGerman Center for Infection Research·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeCase study·DateJul 23, 2026

Coupling between carotid hemodynamics and cerebral blood flow during early simulated microgravity

During early simulated microgravity, cerebral blood flow changes are closely associated with upstream macrovascular hemodynamics in internal carotid and vertebral arteries. The study found that regional cerebral blood flow alterations are independently predicted by vertebral artery hemodynamic parameters.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalSpace: Science & Technology·DateJul 23, 2026