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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 191


Page 191 of 504

Fasting primes gut microbiome to improve intestinal recovery after radiation treatment

A new preclinical study has identified a gut bacterium, Akkermansia muciniphila, that helps prime intestinal stem cells for faster recovery after radiation treatment. Fasting increases the population of this bacterium, which produces a small molecule that changes histone tags to allow gene expression in intestinal cells.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 9, 2026

Researchers confirm cause of Earth’s biggest mass extinction

A new Stanford-led study confirms the primary cause of the Permian–Triassic extinction event, which wiped out 96% of marine species and 70% of land animals. The research reveals that organisms with slower metabolisms and more vulnerable conditions were disproportionately affected by warming oceans and decreased oxygen availability.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 9, 2026

Plants get wearables to track their health

Researchers at Tufts University developed tiny tattoo-like sensors that track temperature, humidity, and stem growth in plants. These sensors provide an early warning system for farmers, allowing them to respond before visible signs of plant stress appear.

SourceTufts University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 9, 2026

Waste cotton stalks and eggshells transformed into reusable biochar for antibiotic removal from wastewater

Researchers have developed a biochar adsorbent that combines physical and chemical interactions to capture tetracycline molecules. The material showed high tetracycline adsorption capacity and good resistance to coexisting ions, suggesting potential for repeated operation.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 9, 2026

Quantum material opens new path for studying unusual electronic behavior

Researchers have developed a novel quantum material that can naturally enable the study of non-Hermitian dynamics, a phenomenon where systems exhibit unusual behaviors. The material, a magnetic topological insulator, allows for the creation of electronic networks with direction-dependent connections, enabling the accumulation of states...

SourcePenn State·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 9, 2026

AI system developed by UC Irvine physicists helps explain why neutrinos have mass

Physicists at UC Irvine have developed an AI system called Autonomous Model Builder that can autonomously design theoretical physics models, helping identify promising new explanations for the behavior of neutrinos. The system uses reinforcement learning and is designed to assist human physicists in narrowing down vast theory spaces.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalCommunications Physics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 9, 2026

Scrubbing bubbles: Microparticles clean wounds, surgical instruments with tiny bubbles

Researchers developed microparticles that infiltrate stubborn bacterial matrices and release tiny oxygen bubbles to clean surfaces and wounds efficiently. The particles were shown to effectively clean surgical instruments and infected wounds, accelerating healing and reducing inflammation.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 9, 2026

National Coalition of Pharmaceutical Industry, Academic, and Nonprofit Partners launches fifth Winn CIPP Cohort

The Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Award Program is training a new generation of physicians to solve healthcare's representation challenge through immersive education and mentorship. The program has grown rapidly, drawing hundreds of applicants annually from medical schools across the country.

Pre-cooked seafood-based meals can absorb chemical contaminants during packaging and processing

A study by Universitat Rovira i Virgili analysed 29 substances in commercial products sold in Tarragona, finding that phthalates were the most prevalent contaminants, especially in hake dishes. The risk assessment concluded that levels detected do not pose a significant health risk.

SourceUniversitat Rovira i Virgili·JournalAnalytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 9, 2026

From mosquito flight range to impact of temperatures: understanding dengue transmission in Europe

A large dengue outbreak in Italy was analyzed to identify transmission patterns. The data show that more than half of linked transmission events involved people within 100m apart. Temperature played a role in reducing transmission, with a drop in autumn temperatures contributing to the decline.

SourceEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)·JournalEurosurveillance·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 9, 2026

Newly discovered target for genital herpes vaccine

Genital herpes is a viral infection that establishes a lifelong infection by entering nerve cells and can be relieved with medication. Researchers have identified glycoprotein G as a promising target for a future vaccine, which could provide protection against HSV-2 spread to the nervous system.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalPLOS Pathogens·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 9, 2026

Can children be partisan?

A team of psychology researchers found that children aged five to nine frequently endorsed their group's claims even when evidence suggested otherwise. However, incentivizing them to tell the truth under private conditions reduced partisanship. The study suggests that group affiliation influences children's responses and offers insight...

SourceNew York University·JournalCognition·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 9, 2026

The color of penguin poo: Satellites reveal the chilling truth of global warming’s impact on an iconic polar species

Researchers used satellite images to study Adélie penguin colonies across Antarctica over a 30-year span, finding that those with more sea ice ate more fish, while those with less sea ice relied on krill. This trend linked to long-term changes in penguin populations, with colonies relying on krill-based diets facing decline.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateJul 9, 2026

Prioritizing pollinators over climate change?

Researchers at the University of Michigan found that pollinators are driving plant adaptation in morning glories, leading to a steep decline in their ability to adapt to changing climate conditions. The study suggests that human activities such as pesticide use and habitat destruction have contributed to this decline.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalEvolution Letters·DateJul 9, 2026

San Andreas Fault: Hidden movements revealed by artificial intelligence

Researchers uncovered previously undetected slow slip events in Parkfield, California, and found that these silent fault movements systematically follow increased low-frequency earthquake activity. The discovery suggests that slow slip may play an important role in how stress evolves along active faults.

SourceGFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 9, 2026

Aerial-aquatic “flapping-wing” robot sheds light on how birds move between air and water

Researchers developed a flapping-wing robot that can fly through the air and swim underwater, studying how birds adapt to life in two radically different environments. The study found that smaller wings increase underwater speed but do not improve swimming efficiency, suggesting reduced wing size enhances maneuverability.

Nano-insights into bone stability

The study found that collagen fibers and mineral platelets are arranged differently on the upper side of the femoral neck, making them less flexible and more prone to fractures. The researchers hope their work will contribute to a deeper understanding of bone structure and analysis methods.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeObservational study·DateJul 9, 2026

To defend your software, first teach AI to break it

A team of researchers, led by Ying Zhang, has developed artificial intelligence-driven tools to identify and attack software vulnerabilities. By teaching AI to generate proof-of-concept exploits, developers can see exactly how attackers could exploit known flaws, motivating them to fix issues before malicious actors do.

Untangling the risk factors for developing multiple chronic conditions among UK South Asian populations

A study published in PLOS Medicine found that British Bangladeshi and British Pakistani individuals are more likely to develop multimorbidity, a condition where people experience multiple chronic illnesses simultaneously. The research identified sociodemographic and genetic factors that increase the risk of developing these conditions,...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJul 9, 2026

What social media creators can’t say about their job

New Cornell University research reveals that social media content creation is often depicted as a 'dream job,' but highlights the less auspicious elements of work in this space, including endemic burnout. The researchers found that creators have few mechanisms for protection from work-related harms due to their status as independent co...

SourceCornell University·JournalNew Media & Society·DateJul 9, 2026