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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 198


Page 198 of 504

Scientists discover a way to use the quantum vacuum to break molecules with less energy

Researchers have identified a quantum phenomenon that enables molecular dissociation with significantly less energy than normal. The discovery, published in Physical Review Letters, reveals that electromagnetic vacuum fluctuations can promote molecular vibrations and break chemical bonds when molecules are confined in nanocavities.

SourceMillennium Institute for Research in Optics·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 7, 2026

The University of Colorado Anschutz, along with UCHealth and Children’s Hospital Colorado, form strategic alliance with Bayer to advance drug development and clinical trials

The University of Colorado Anschutz, along with UCHealth and Children’s Hospital Colorado, have formed a strategic alliance with Bayer to accelerate medical discovery and expand patient access to investigational therapies. Initial focus areas include oncology, cardiovascular disease, and cell and gene therapy.

Cleaning up clean energy

University of Delaware researchers have developed a spray-jet method that recovers precious metals and other materials from used hydrogen-energy devices. The new recycling approach uses no harsh chemicals or burning, preserving the membrane itself while extracting platinum and iridium separately.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy·DateJul 7, 2026

One plant, three kingdoms, five trips

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have successfully engineered a model plant to produce five psychedelic substances, including DMT and psilocybin, by identifying key genes and enzymes responsible for their production. The plant's ability to simultaneously produce multiple psychedelics has implications for treating mental...

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 7, 2026

Birds may fly far, but their parasites do not

A new study found striking differences in parasite communities among North-Atlantic island systems, with limited exchange of parasites across the region. The researchers suggest that factors such as a short transmission season and specific migration routes may limit successful parasite colonization.

SourceEstonian Research Council·JournalJournal of Helminthology·TypeObservational study·DateJul 7, 2026

They’re here: Biologists identify first established colonies of invasive clam in Northeastern US

A team of biologists led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst has discovered reproducing populations of the invasive Manila clam in Cape Cod and Boston Harbor. The finding marks a significant moment in the establishment of this non-native species, which is now spreading along the northwestern Atlantic coastline.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalBiological Invasions·DateJul 7, 2026

Garrity serving as research fellow

Meghan Garrity, Assistant Professor of International Security & Law at George Mason University, is serving as a Genocide and Atrocity Prevention Research Fellow. The fellowship aims to support research on mass atrocities and prevention through two written products: a full-length paper manuscript and a policy memo.

Climate oscillations shape nature’s coral refuges in a warming ocean

A study reveals that natural cooling of coral reefs varies with large-scale climate oscillations, including ENSO and IOD. Coral skeletons provide a record of past subsurface temperatures and biological responses to heat stress, highlighting the dynamic relationship between climate refuges and their effectiveness in protecting corals fr...

New ultrathin lens focuses light into an optical needle

Researchers have created a special flat lens that shapes light into an optical needle, allowing for deeper imaging while maintaining high resolution. This innovation combines with optical coherence tomography (OCT) to extend imaging depth by a factor of nine without requiring a complicated redesign.

SourceOptica·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 7, 2026

Hair patterns are organized before birth

A UNIGE study reveals that hair follicles organize their positions on the skin of mammals through a self-organizing principle. Researchers found that a chemotactic mechanism, which directs cells to respond to chemical gradients, reproduces the formation of complex biological structures.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeNews article·DateJul 7, 2026

Researchers mimic life’s own engines

A team of researchers has successfully created an artificial protein motor that can perform tasks such as cell division and muscle movement with high efficiency and precision. The breakthrough, published in Nature Nanotechnology, demonstrates the feasibility of designing dynamic proteins capable of performing movements.

SourceLund University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJul 7, 2026

Perceived risk of fentanyl use among US adolescents

Adolescents in the US are unaware of the dangers of fentanyl misuse, emphasizing the importance of public education programs and clinical communication. The study reveals a significant portion of younger adolescents are not aware of the risks associated with fentanyl use.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJul 7, 2026

Rising human-elephant conflict in Southern Africa

A study predicts increasing human-elephant conflicts in Southern Africa due to crop raids by elephants, which can be financially devastating for farmers. The analysis identifies human population growth, cropland expansion, and climate-driven aridity as major drivers of the conflict.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateJul 7, 2026

Drug candidate treats severe fatty liver disease by protecting the gut in animal models

Researchers discovered a potential drug developed at Michigan Medicine reverses metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in animal models by disrupting the disease-driving pathway that links the gut and liver. DT-109 improved gut health, reducing inflammation in livers of nonhuman primates.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 7, 2026

New spatial transcriptomics study reveals how bone and muscle talk

A new study has mapped cellular signaling networks between bone and skeletal muscle, identifying key ligand-receptor pairs that facilitate communication between cells. The research revealed a complex network of molecular pathways that coordinate tissue maintenance and remodeling, with implications for understanding musculoskeletal diso...

SourceEditorial Office of West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University·JournalBone Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 7, 2026

Many ways to become a monster and one map to tell

A Kobe University research reveals that insect snatching forelimbs have evolved in a similar direction but did not settle on a single solution. The study's framework allowed researchers to quantify the process across lineages and found that different shapes can capture the same ecological function.

SourceKobe University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateJul 7, 2026

First bulk ferromagnetic icosahedral quasicrystals synthesized without rapid quenching

Researchers develop annealable ferromagnetic icosahedral quasicrystals with unprecedented structural quality, revealing intrinsic magnetic properties and magnetic criticality. The discovery enables the first systematic investigations of quasiperiodic magnetism and magnetic criticality in QCs.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 7, 2026

Ancient rocks reveal how water shaped Earth 3.1 billion years ago

Researchers have found evidence that water played a major role in shaping the Earth's interior and driving volcanic activity over 3.1 billion years ago. The study suggests that another process called 'dripduction' may have been transporting water into the mantle, influencing the formation of volcanic rocks.

SourceAdelaide University·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 7, 2026