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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 232


Page 232 of 507

S-M-A-R-T! These researchers used math to crack Wordle

A team of researchers at Binghamton University developed a method to solve Wordle with a 99% success rate by applying information theory. By prioritizing guesses that provide the most information, they reduced the pool of possible words and solved puzzles in fewer guesses.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalNortheast Journal of Complex Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 17, 2026

Integrating robotic precision with therapist expertise: First-of-its-kind exoskeleton therapy could redefine how stroke survivors relearn to walk

A new study integrates robotic exoskeletons with therapist-patient interaction to create a more personalized and effective approach to stroke rehabilitation. The therapy, called TEPI, has been shown to improve joint range of motion, step length, and muscle activation compared to conventional therapy.

SourceShirley Ryan AbilityLab·JournalScience Robotics·DateJun 17, 2026

FAP-targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy shows broad effectiveness across multiple cancers

A novel FAP-targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy approach has shown safety and effectiveness in treating various types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, gastric, and ovarian cancers. The treatment achieved objective responses in approximately two-thirds of patients and disease control in over 80%.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateJun 17, 2026

Redesigned high-NA lithography optical system aims to revolutionize semiconductor chipmaking

A redesigned high-NA EUV lithography optical system has been proposed, which could enable the manufacture of smaller computer chips at lower cost than current methods. The new design eliminates troublesome optical effects, enhances resolution, and should be much cheaper to produce.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalJournal of Micro/Nanopatterning Materials and Metrology·DateJun 17, 2026

Mass public school closings in Chicago linked to more gun violence in surrounding neighborhoods

A new study from researchers at the University of Chicago and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows that mass public school closures in Chicago led to increases in gun violence in surrounding neighborhoods. Neighborhoods near closed schools saw a 9.9% increase in shootings, compared to similar areas without school c...

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·DateJun 17, 2026

LiON: A fluorescent molecule for tracking iron and oxygen levels in individual cells

Researchers developed LiON, a fluorescent reporter that visualizes biologically active iron and oxygen inside living cells. The tool revealed striking differences in iron and oxygen distribution across organs and cells, offering new opportunities to study diseases like cancer, liver disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalCell Reports Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2026

Physicists identify upper limit to resistivity in a pure metal

Researchers discovered a maximum amount of electrical resistance that can occur due to electron collisions, offering insights into what causes resistivity at the microscopic level. The study found that when interactions between atoms become too strong, the resistivity caused by collisions eventually stops rising and saturates.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2026

On-chip targeted cell killing via unprecedented high-efficiency singlet oxygen generation

Scientists create metasurface to generate singlet oxygen at molar-level concentrations, achieving six-orders-of-magnitude enhancement over conventional methods. This approach enables position- and pixel-selective cytotoxicity without additional molecular sensitizers.

Radionuclides trapped in a deep-sea sample point to an ancient cosmic event

Researchers have discovered rare radioactive isotopes in a deep-sea manganese crust, pointing to an ancient cosmic event that occurred at least 100 million years ago. The discovery provides new insights into the formation of heavy elements in the universe and helps refine our understanding of past astrophysical events.

SourceAustralian National University·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeObservational study·DateJun 16, 2026

A heat sensor for living cells

Researchers at Harvard's SEAS have developed a highly sensitive calorimeter that can detect metabolic heat signals on the order of 100 picowatts in living cells. The device tracks the growth of small populations of bacteria in real-time, including monitoring how bacterial growth changes in response to different antibiotics.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2026

Why hotel crisis plans collapse when panic sets in, according to hospitality leaders

Researchers found that successful crisis leadership depends on preparation before a crisis, decisive action during disruption, and reflective learning afterwards to improve future resilience. The study identified eight key leadership skills, including emotional regulation, ethical decision-making, collaboration, and strategic thinking.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalInternational Journal of Hospitality Management·TypeObservational study·DateJun 16, 2026

Recognition for senior centers grows under National Center to Reframe Aging, Pennsylvania Department of Aging partnership

A partnership between the National Center and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging is bridging the gap for senior community centers by creating evidence-based communication strategies. The research was informed by input from a representative sample of Pennsylvania residents, highlighting the importance of senior community centers as vi...

Study suggests shingles vaccine may lower dementia risk

A study led by Brown University researchers found that older adults who received the shingles vaccine had a 24% lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia within four years. The study analyzed health records and Medicare data from over 500,000 adults age 66 and older who were admitted to skilled nursing facilities.

SourceBrown University·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJun 16, 2026

The Tungsten-Silicone contact lens curing underwater drone blindness

Researchers have developed a soft, custom-molded acoustic contact lens that actively corrects outgoing sound waves before they pass through an autonomous drone's protective shell. The lens boosts sonar signal strength by up to 10 decibels while cutting background reverberation without draining extra battery power.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateJun 16, 2026

Study finds landback returns of Indigenous lands happening across country, can lead public planning

A study by University of Kansas researchers found that landback returns of Indigenous lands are occurring rapidly across the country. The findings show that over 75 distinct tribal nations have received lands, with private landowners, nonprofits, and corporations being among the most frequent returners.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalFrontiers in Sustainable Resource Management·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 16, 2026

Flipping engineering design on its head

Nikhil Bajaj's $649K NSF CAREER Award aims to develop a unified computational framework for designing nonlinear systems. The approach targets bifurcation behavior in devices such as ultrasensitive gas-leak detectors and energy harvesters. By starting from explicit behavior specification, researchers can engineer systems backwards.

One of the Earth’s most important plate boundaries is older than previously thought

Researchers found evidence that the Aleutian Islands' subduction beneath the North American Plate occurred at least 56 million years ago, significantly earlier than previously thought. This discovery has implications for understanding tectonic and climatic processes that shaped the Earth's history.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateJun 16, 2026

Developing clinical-grade intestinal organoids for regenerative medicine applications

Researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo have developed a novel culture system to produce stable, scalable, and low-cost clinical-grade intestinal organoids from patient biopsy samples. The innovative approach uses clinical-grade collagen and synthetic peptides to enhance growth and improve scalability.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalStem Cell Research & Therapy·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2026

Loneliness drives cognitive impairment, can lead to shorter life, study suggests

A recent study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that loneliness plays a stronger role in cognitive impairment and shorter life spans than social isolation. Loneliness was consistently associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline and a shorter life, even after taking social isolation into account.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateJun 16, 2026

Medical School researcher awarded $2.2 million NIH grant to study retinal disease causes, potential treatments

A University of Minnesota Medical School research team has been awarded a 4-year, $2.2 million grant to better understand the underlying causes of retinal diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and develop new treatments. The focus is on fibulin-3, an extracellular matrix protein that causes blinding eye diseases.

Cannabis branding may appeal to youth despite regulations, study finds

A Washington State University study found that cannabis packaging design features, particularly branding elements, can attract underage consumers, raising questions about existing regulations. Participants preferred colorful logos, bold typography, and images resembling familiar foods over warning labels and nutritional information.

SourceWashington State University·JournalInternational Journal of Drug Policy·DateJun 16, 2026

Adoption paradox of artificial intelligence in computational pathology: a three-stage maturity model from algorithms to clinical integration

The study proposes a three-stage maturity model for AI integration in pathology, highlighting key barriers to clinical translation: data fragility, workflow misalignment, and institutional trust deficits. Infrastructure-first AI, workflow-embedded intelligence, and adaptive governance are proposed pathways toward sustainable clinical i...

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalLabMed Discovery·TypeNews article·DateJun 16, 2026

A nasal spray reaches a woman's brain differently depending on the week, and it may explain why a promising brain drug looked like a failure

A new study found that intranasal davunetide reaches the brain in higher amounts in female mice when estrogen peaks, with similar results seen in healthy adults. The findings suggest earlier trials mixing males and females may have obscured the true effects of the drug.

SourceGenomic Press·JournalGenomic Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2026