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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 180


Page 180 of 504

New spinning drone hides in plain sight

Northwestern University engineers created a drone called Phantom Twist that harnesses motion blur to blend into its surroundings. The drone spins up to 25 times per second, making it difficult for humans to see clearly, and can potentially monitor wildlife or inspect infrastructure with less disruption.

Surfactant-free hydrothermal synthesis of size-tunable monodisperse spherical CeO₂ abrasives for ultra-smooth silicon wafer CMP planarization

Scientists have developed a simple, surfactant-free hydrothermal synthesis strategy to create spherical CeO₂ abrasives with controllable particle sizes. The resulting abrasives achieved superior surface finishes and material removal rates in chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) tests, outperforming commercial products.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalENGINEERING Chemical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 16, 2026

So you thought antiferroelectric materials were always non-polar? Think again!

New study reveals that antiferroelectric materials can exhibit unique properties beyond simple up-down arrangement of electric dipoles. Researchers identified a compound with hybrid ferroelectric-antiferroelectric domain walls, opening new opportunities for energy storage and electronic technologies.

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 16, 2026

Full-chip EUV curvilinear mask optimization

The study introduces an integrated full-chip EUV curvilinear MO framework that merges deep-learning-enabled forward modeling and gradient-based inverse optimization. It reduces model complexity and memory usage through tunable U-Net surrogate models and slice-based approximated gradient calculation schemes.

Data-driven optimization framework slashes distillation process optimization time

Researchers propose a multi-objective optimization framework that identifies and corrects promising infeasible solutions, significantly improving optimization efficiency for complex distillation processes. The framework achieved optimization time reductions of 35.3% and 20.8% compared to conventional methods.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalENGINEERING Chemical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 16, 2026

New approaches against fungal infections discovered

Researchers at University of Münster and National and Kapodistrian University of Athens used cryo-electron microscopy to elucidate the structure of UapA transporter, a key fungal transporter. The study reveals a specialized 'elevator-type' transport mechanism that could lead to new antifungal drug strategies.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 16, 2026

Study: Golf generates nearly €630 million in societal benefits in Finland

A study by the University of Eastern Finland found that golf players spend approximately €330 million on golf annually, generating an estimated benefit to society almost twice as high. Golf promotes physical activity and generates €80 million in savings for society, with a Social Return on Investment (SROI) ratio of 1.9.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalFrontiers in Sports and Active Living·DateJul 16, 2026

Association for Molecular Pathology recognizes UW physician–scientist for exceptional service to the field

Daniel E. Sabath, a professor at UW Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, has won the Association for Molecular Pathology's 2026 Meritorious Service Award for his dedication and effort over three decades. He is being honored for his leadership roles, scientific expertise, and collaborative spirit in advancing education and s...

A multidisciplinary study of the Guadalquivir River assesses water quality along its entire course

A multidisciplinary study assesses the Guadalquivir River's water quality along its entire course, combining physicochemical and biological parameters. The results show a gradual decline in quality, with specific sections identified as deteriorated, highlighting the importance of integrated analysis for risk assessment.

SourceUniversity of Córdoba·JournalJournal of Contaminant Hydrology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 16, 2026

What animals do before going to war

Social animals exhibit a range of pre-war preparations, including environmental cues and memories of past events. These behaviors can impact socio-cognitive evolution, population dynamics, and community structures. Preemptive behavior is widespread in social species, depending on the current threat level.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Ecology & Evolution·TypeSystematic review·DateJul 16, 2026

Beyond conventional coatings: a spider-web-like mechanically adaptive interphase enables second-level ultrafast zinc metal batteries

Researchers developed a spider-web-like NBR nanofiber interphase to stabilize zinc metal anodes under extreme current densities. This interphase regulates ion transport, interfacial chemistry, and mechanical deformation, achieving long-life zinc metal batteries with stable cycling and high-power capability.

SourceMaterials Futures·JournalMaterials Futures·DateJul 16, 2026

Attitude control of multirotor with image-aided terminal guidance for precision target strike

The researchers developed an image-aided terminal guidance attitude control scheme to tackle airframe disturbances and EFP trajectory dispersion in multirotor strikes. The system realizes finite-time convergence of attitude errors and real-time compensation of wind gusts and model uncertainties, greatly improving aiming stability.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalDefence Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 16, 2026

Multiscale AIMD-RMD study of vacancy and void-controlled hotspot formation in RDX

A recent study investigates vacancy- and void-controlled hotspot formation in RDX, demonstrating how coupled defect structures regulate chemical activation and thermal localization across multiple length scales. Vacancies significantly shorten reaction initiation times and reduce decomposition barriers, accelerating the initial decompo...

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalEnergetic Materials Frontiers·DateJul 16, 2026

Mount Sinai study links early-life exposure to PFAS ("forever chemicals") with childhood intestinal inflammation

Researchers found that prenatal and early-life exposure to PFAS is associated with increased intestinal inflammation in childhood, as measured by elevated fecal calprotectin levels. This study suggests that environmental exposures during critical stages of development may influence long-term intestinal health and future inflammatory bo...

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalClinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology·DateJul 16, 2026

Progress & accountability in modern life sciences in SLAS Technology Vol. 38

This volume of SLAS Technology highlights novel laboratory technologies, open-source software, and disease-specific tools for advancing life sciences research and development. The journal emphasizes the importance of education, knowledge exchange, and global community building to drive innovation in biomedical research.

Study reveals why some colorectal cancers respond better to immunotherapy

A subset of cancers, known as microsatellite instability (MSI) and deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) cancers, are more visible to the immune system than others. Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC identified a biological feedback loop that helps activate the immune response against these types of cancer.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalGastroenterology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 16, 2026

A tiny gene edit makes rice safer without reducing harvests

Researchers identified a precise gene edit that lowers cadmium in rice grains while maintaining yield and essential mineral nutrients. The OsNramp5 I441T mutation selectively limits cadmium translocation, reducing grain cadmium by 48% without compromising zinc or manganese uptake.

SourceOkayama University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 16, 2026

Bacterial cellulose offers a sustainable path for high-performance energy storage, highlights Hasanuddin University study

Researchers analyzed 49 journal articles on bacterial cellulose-derived carbon electrodes for supercapacitors, finding that preservation of the nanofiber network and mechanical properties are crucial for performance. The study highlights BCC's potential to outperform commercial activated carbon under comparable conditions.

SourceHasanuddin University·JournalJournal of Energy Storage·TypeSystematic review·DateJul 16, 2026