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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 173


Page 173 of 504

Imaging shows increased brain aging across different brain disorders

A study published in PLOS Medicine found that people with dementia, mild cognitive impairment, alcohol addiction, or psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia show increased brain aging patterns. The researchers analyzed MRI data from over 45,900 controls and compared them to 2,698 patients with different brain conditions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJul 21, 2026

Study: Semaglutide sustains lower calorie intake for more than a year

Researchers found that semaglutide treatment continued to reduce calorie intake even as participants felt hunger sensations return, contributing to sustained weight loss. Participants who took semaglutide lost an average of 15.1% of their initial body weight after 60 weeks, compared to 3.4% for placebo recipients.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateJul 21, 2026

A cleaner route to purifying rare earth elements

Scientists have developed a new approach to purify rare earth elements using atomic channels, separating them from each other without the need for toxic chemicals. The method has been shown to be competitive with existing separation methods and can differentiate similar pairs of rare earth elements.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalNature Chemical Engineering·DateJul 21, 2026

Nostalgia and family traditions are major barriers to adoption of plant-based diets, Stirling study finds

A new study found that nostalgia and family traditions are major barriers to adopting plant-based diets, with personal experiences and cultural identities playing a significant role. Researchers suggest recreating nostalgic or culturally significant dishes using vegan ingredients can make dietary change feel more accessible.

SourceUniversity of Stirling·JournalPsychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 21, 2026

Brain stimulation offers hope for brain disorders: researchers take key step to accelerate progress

Researchers have developed a new assessment tool to standardize reporting of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies. The Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Reporting Assessment Tool (TMS-RAT) helps compare results, build on each other's findings, and support progress in brain stimulation research. This tool addresses the need f...

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalBrain Stimulation·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 21, 2026

Satellite data comparison reveals critical impacts of spatial & spectral resolution on sandy grassland plant biodiversity monitoring

The study highlights a core trade-off between spatial resolution, spectral bandwidth and plot-pixel matching in arid ecosystems. Multi-source, multi-scale remote sensing fusion is advocated for future dryland biodiversity conservation and management.

SourceSouth China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalBiological Diversity·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 21, 2026

Digital media may reshape people’s willingness to invest cognitive effort

Research suggests that digital platforms can alter how valuable our brain perceives cognitive effort, leading to a preference for immediate gratification. This 'effort recalibration' framework proposes that digital media do not necessarily reduce cognitive capacity but rather reshape internal evaluations of task difficulty.

SourceEstonian Research Council·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 21, 2026

As Supreme Court decisions grow sharper, study examines justices’ calculated concessions

A new study reveals that Supreme Court justices employ 'appeasement' strategies, including conciliatory language, to persuade their peers and preserve influence within the court. This measured approach helps justices work together despite deep ideological divisions, offering insights into the court's functioning.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalAmerican Politics Research·DateJul 21, 2026

Green hydrogen with PEC electrolysers: New insights into transport processes

A team at HZB Institute for Solar Fuels has observed the movement of ions and dissolved gases within electrolytes during electrolysis using 2D fluorescence imaging and particle velocimetry. The study found that pH gradients form within the volume, not just near surfaces, and increasing buffer ion concentration can mitigate this issue.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalEES Solar·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 21, 2026

New study highlights enforcement gap in UK contracts for difference scheme: Research shows that offshore wind CfD termination payments may be large in theory, but difficult to recover if project companies face financial distress.

A new study highlights a potential enforcement gap in the UK Contracts for Difference scheme, which supports low-carbon electricity generation. The study shows that termination payments under the CfD scheme may be large in contractual terms but difficult to recover in practice due to financial distress or insolvency.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalEnergy and Climate Management·DateJul 21, 2026

Breastfeeding rather than bottle-feeding is seen as the ideal of a good mother in Instagram comments

A study by Universitat Pompeu Fabra found that Instagram comments associate breastfeeding with the ideal of good motherhood, fostering guilt among women who cannot breastfeed. The research highlights the tension between idealized representation and everyday reality, revealing a need for critical awareness and empowerment.

SourceUniversitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona·JournalMedia & Jornalismo·TypeContent analysis·DateJul 21, 2026

Nicotinamide riboside chloride: A potent neuroprotector and therapeutic candidate for alcohol-induced cognitive impairment

A new study finds nicotinamide riboside chloride protects neurons from alcohol-induced injury by restoring mitochondrial quality control through coordinated activation of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) and mitophagy. NRC supplementation successfully reverses aggravated pathology, mitigating cognitive impairments an...

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalGenes & Diseases·DateJul 21, 2026

High-speed 3D imaging reveals how seizures move through the brain

Researchers have developed a high-resolution light-sheet imaging system that can capture seizure propagation in the brain of larval zebrafish in 3D. The system allows for rapid volumetric imaging with real-time correction of aberrations, providing new insights into seizure mechanisms and brain function.

SourceOptica·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 21, 2026

Fructooligosaccharide alleviate hyperuricemia: Gut microbial interactions drive uric acid degradation via a novel mechanism

Researchers discovered that fructooligosaccharide induces the selective enrichment of Anaerotruncus colihominis, a UA-degrading bacterium, via modulation of the gut microbiota. This interaction alleviates oxidative damage to the kidney and offers a new therapeutic rationale for prebiotic-based management of hyperuricemia

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 21, 2026

Why do we have traveling brain waves?

A new review article synthesizes information on neural traveling waves, concluding they are a computational engine in the visual cortex. These waves allow the brain to build internal representations of the external world, enabling prediction and perception.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNeuron·DateJul 21, 2026

A provincial-level modeling framework for integrated building stock-energy-material-carbon assessment in China

The MESSAGEix-China-Building-R31 model integrates provincial-level analysis of building stock, energy demand, material demand, and carbon emissions. The study validates the model using regional data and sensitivity analyses, highlighting its reliability for multi-scenario and cross-regional analysis.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalEnergy and Climate Management·DateJul 21, 2026

Starving bacteria to death

Scientists have created a novel antibiotic that targets starved bacteria by blocking energy-coupling factor transporters. The breakthrough offers hope for tackling drug-resistant infections, with promising results in mouse models and no resistant bacterial variants emerging.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Infection Research·JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 21, 2026

Uncovering multidimensional effects of generative ai on learning… "high dependency lowers actual test scores"

A recent study by Sungkyunkwan University analyzed the effects of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) on learning outcomes. The research found that students who used GAI to solve problems showed higher test scores than those who only used it for concept understanding, as it reduced brain stress and increased efficiency.

SourceSungkyunkwan University External Affairs Division (PR team)·JournalInteractive Learning Environments·DateJul 21, 2026

Temperature-field assisted vat photopolymerization (TF-VPP) fabrication of high-strength, low-shrinkage silica-based ceramic cores: Critical modulation effects of spherical powders and vacuum debinding

Researchers developed a uniform TF-VPP system to fabricate high-strength, low-shrinkage silica-based ceramic cores using spherical powders and vacuum debinding. The approach offers a viable solution to traditional VPP printing challenges, including significant shrinkage and mechanical strength limitations.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalJournal of Advanced Ceramics·DateJul 21, 2026

Phase evolution and broadband electromagnetic wave absorption mechanisms of electrospun polymer-derived SiC-based fibrous ceramic membranes

Researchers developed a novel polymer-derived ceramic strategy to create SiC-based fibrous ceramic membranes featuring a balanced multiphase architecture. The optimized ceramic membrane achieved outstanding broadband microwave absorption with a minimum reflection loss of −27.12 dB.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalJournal of Advanced Ceramics·DateJul 21, 2026

Wistar scientists develop DNA-delivered immunotherapy that targets ovarian cancer more effectively

Researchers developed a novel DNA delivery platform to deliver bispecific T cell engagers (BTEs), improving how T cells recognize and attack cancer. The approach uses an antibody 'knob' that accurately fits with an 'hole', delivering BTEs directly within the body, reducing manufacturing costs and treatment burden.

SourceThe Wistar Institute·JournalMolecular Therapy·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 21, 2026

Breakthrough in ferroelectric ceramics: Texturing and calcium doping enable high in-plane polarization with low leakage current in SrBi2Ta2O9

Researchers have developed textured SrBi2Ta2O9 ceramics with high in-plane remnant polarization of 15.83 μC×cm², a 197% increase compared to randomly oriented ceramics. Calcium doping effectively cuts leakage by enlarging the band gap, offering a pathway for designing reliable ferroelectric devices.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalJournal of Advanced Ceramics·DateJul 21, 2026