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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 206


Page 206 of 505

Dana-Farber investigators report promising results from phase 2 study of targeted therapy for rare bile duct cancer

Results of a phase 2 clinical trial show manageable side effects and clinically meaningful efficacy in patients with advanced NRG1-positive cholangiocarcinoma, doubling progression-free survival compared to standard chemotherapy. Zenocutuzumab was well-tolerated and significantly improved quality of life.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateJul 1, 2026

Programmable metasurfaces steer light generated by fast electrons

Scientists propose a generalized Smith-Purcell effect based on programmable metasurfaces to redirect electron-induced light into chosen angles. The approach enables active tunability and broadens the range of applications for free-electron radiation, including nanoscale spectroscopy tools and compact light sources.

Wearable devices shed insight into college students’ sleep habits

A study analyzed daily sleep records from Fitbit devices worn by 76 undergraduates to examine longitudinal sleep patterns. The researchers found that average sleep duration increased by 8 minutes from freshman to senior year, and students with higher grades slept longer on average.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·TypeObservational study·DateJul 1, 2026

NUS researchers develop probabilistic spintronic processors for faster and greener optimization

Researchers have developed novel spintronics-based probabilistic processors that accelerate complex optimisation tasks while consuming less energy. The systems achieved significant speedups and energy savings compared to conventional computers, highlighting a promising route towards faster and more energy-efficient optimisation.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 1, 2026

Turning electrochemistry toward lithium extraction

Scientists from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have made significant strides in extracting lithium using an unconventional method. By applying electrochemical intercalation to a solution containing lithium and sodium ions, they were able to isolate 99% pure lithium with a high level of selectivity. T...

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 1, 2026

A final discovery from the lab of Dr. Kathryn Anderson: How signals in the embryo tells cells what to become

The research reveals how WNT signals guide embryonic cells toward specialized identities, with implications for cancer biology. Cells receive a push from WNT to start down the path toward becoming muscles, bones, organs, and connective tissue, but then receive a second layer of instruction that defines their final outcome.

SourceMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateJul 1, 2026

Wavelength‑dependent catalysis overcomes thermodynamic limits in ammonia synthesis

Researchers have discovered a wavelength-dependent photo-driven pathway for ammonia synthesis over lithium hydride, which decouples two conflicting reaction steps. The study provides fresh insight into mild, solar-driven nitrogen fixation and other energy-intensive catalytic processes.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJul 1, 2026

Texas tech researcher part of team that finds planet in new way

A team of researchers, including Michael Fausnaugh from Texas Tech University, have identified a new planet using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission. The planet, Gaia23bra b, is a super Jupiter orbiting far from its host star and offers insight into the detection methods used in astronomy.

SourceTexas Tech University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateJul 1, 2026

Long Covid rehab program helps with return to work and focus

A new clinical trial led by University College London researchers found that ten weeks of cognitive rehabilitation can help people with long Covid symptoms such as brain fog achieve their goals in returning to work and hobbies. The treatment yielded benefits that lasted for at least six months for most participants.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 1, 2026

The mystery is missing: UNC-Chapel Hill study finds AI struggles to create complex characters

Researchers analyzed eight aspects of character portrayal in AI-generated stories, finding that AI models tend to 'play it safe' with their characters, leaving them mysterious or fully understood by the end. Human writers, on the other hand, are more willing to leave questions unanswered and let characters remain open to interpretation.

Pollution linked to fish hybrids in Mexican river

A Stanford-led study found that pollution is causing fish hybrids to form in a Mexican river, threatening species diversity. The researchers analyzed water and fish samples from four rivers and found that those with higher levels of chemicals and heavy metals had more hybridized swordtail fish.

SourceStanford University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 1, 2026

Study finds little to no cortical lewy pathology in living Parkinson’s disease patients undergoing deep brain stimulation

Researchers found that patients with Parkinson's disease showing little to no Lewy bodies despite long-standing, clinically advanced disease. The study provides new insight into the relationship between clinical symptoms and neuropathological progression.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·Journalnpj Parkinson s Disease·TypeObservational study·DateJul 1, 2026

Before the memory fades: Scientists discover a potential early warning sign of Alzheimer’s

Researchers found that animal models with Alzheimer’s-related brain changes developed problems with cognitive flexibility months before showing signs of memory impairment. The study suggests that Alzheimer’s disease may affect neural circuits involved in executive function and adaptability before causing noticeable memory problems.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 1, 2026

University of Alicante participates in the United Nations’ largest scientific assessment on the state of the oceans

The University of Alicante is part of the international team producing the World Ocean Assessment, the most ambitious report on the current state of seas and oceans. The assessment highlights the urgent need to protect marine ecosystems, which are essential for human well-being and face unprecedented challenges from climate change, pol...

Climate change strategies that rely less on removing carbon from the atmosphere lead to better, more equitable public health outcomes, new study finds

A new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers suggests that reaching net-zero emissions by mid-century will substantially improve public health in the US. The study found that climate strategies relying less on carbon dioxide removal lead to better air quality and lower premature deaths.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 1, 2026

DSR: Optimization of performance lower bound for hierarchical policy with dynamical skill refinement

A new skill-based reinforcement learning approach refines hierarchical policy through dynamical skill refinement, achieving higher asymptotic performance and stable improvement compared to SOTA methods. The unified optimization objective guarantees performance improvement in TA-MDP and optimizes the original MDP's performance lower bound.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Computer Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 1, 2026

Dye-sensitized cascaded energy transfer for amplified 1525 nm luminescence in highly doped lanthanide nanoparticles

Researchers developed a dye-sensitized core-shell structure using Yb3+ as an 'energy relay' to achieve synergistic cascade energy transfer between ICG and the Er3+ core under 808 nm excitation. The system enhances luminescence intensity by nearly 2000-fold, providing superior performance for high-resolution imaging in deep tissues.

Study co-led at Aston University finds no evidence linking prenatal paracetamol use to autism or ADHD

A new study co-led by Aston University researchers has found no association between prenatal paracetamol exposure and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The research analyzed electronic medical records from over 708,000 mother-child pairs in Hong Kong spanning two decades.

SourceAston University·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 1, 2026

ADHD and autism diagnoses have increased. New study points to broader diagnoses as an explanation

A new study from the University of Copenhagen found that people diagnosed with ADHD or autism in recent years have a lower genetic predisposition than those diagnosed earlier. The study suggests that today's diagnoses encompass a broader group of individuals and milder symptom profiles. This shift is attributed to changes in diagnostic...

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateJul 1, 2026