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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 264


Page 264 of 516

Warning labels on restaurant menus steer diners from sweets, UC Davis research suggests

A University of California, Davis study found that adding 'high sugar' warning labels to restaurant menus can significantly reduce added sugar consumption among diners. The study tested two types of labels and found that diners ordered an average of 10 grams less added sugar when the labels were present. This amount is substantial, con...

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalThe Lancet·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 3, 2026

Why doesn’t coffee taste like caffeine?

A team of researchers discovered that coffee molecules, such as melanoidins, significantly reduce the bitterness of caffeine. When combined with chlorogenic acid, these compounds halve the bitter taste of caffeine, suggesting a complex formation prevents interaction with bitter taste receptors.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateJun 3, 2026

Axial sulfur-coordination engineering boosting Fe–N–C catalysts for high-performance proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Researchers have successfully incorporated sulfur into Fe–N–C catalysts to enhance oxygen reduction reaction kinetics and mitigate 'site blocking' effects. This results in a 3.2-fold increase in turnover frequency compared to traditional FeNC catalysts, leading to improved fuel cell performance.

SourceHEP Data Cooperation Journals·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2026

Social networks outsmart cognitive biases

A new study reveals that social networks can correct anchoring bias, a pervasive cognitive error. Participants in network groups showed significant improvement in their estimates after exchanging opinions with peers, while those working alone did not. The key to this effect lies in the confidence participants have in one another.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalJournal of Social Computing·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2026

Study reveals core values that drive Black and Hispanic parents’ decisions on vaccinating their kids against COVID-19

A new study identifies five core values shaping COVID-19 vaccination decisions among Black and Hispanic parents, including safety, knowledge, trust, humanity, and autonomy. Understanding these values can inform targeted public health campaigns to reduce racial disparities in childhood vaccination rates.

Updated standards aim to improve wound repair

The updated consensus provides scenario-based recommendations for negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) use, focusing on wound type, infection status, and patient-specific risks. By matching NPWT to the wound and patient, clinicians can improve healing, reduce postoperative infections, and minimize complications.

SourceMaximum Academic Press·JournalRegenesis Repair Rehabilitation·DateJun 3, 2026

Evaluating the efficacy of a multifaceted prompt for use with LLMs to evaluate course project reports

This paper introduces PEG-Prompt, a novel prompting framework that integrates the Paul-Elder critical thinking model to assess course project reports from six dimensions. Experiments on four mainstream LLMs demonstrate significant performance improvements in reducing scoring errors and enhancing alignment with human evaluations.

SourceHigher Education Press·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2026

Scientists create water tweezers to move small “surfers”

Researchers at New York University have created a method to manipulate particles and structures using water waves, allowing for the transverse transport and trapping of submerged objects. By controlling the shape of the wave field, objects can be moved perpendicularly to the direction of wave propagation.

SourceNew York University·JournalPhysical Review Fluids·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2026

Threatened plant species could be conserved by planting them "inter situ" - in wild environments outside their current geographic range - per Amazon rainforest case study

Researchers propose using inter situ collections to conserve exceptional plant species from the Amazon rainforest, offering a promising strategy for conservation. By transplanting plants to new environments, scientists aim to increase genetic diversity and promote resilience in threatened species.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·DateJun 3, 2026

When entrepreneurship lessons stay inside school walls

A study of Indonesian upper secondary special schools found that entrepreneurship education often remains within protected school settings, with limited opportunities for students with disabilities to develop pricing, marketing, and customer engagement skills. The authors suggest that inclusive entrepreneurship education should move be...

SourceZhejiang University·JournalEntrepreneurship Education·DateJun 3, 2026

Air pollution may be harming your brain’s ‘encyclopedia’

A new study by researchers at UC Davis Health and Kaiser Permanente found that long-term exposure to fine air pollution particles (PM2.5) is associated with lower semantic memory, a type of brain's encyclopedia. The study analyzed data from 740 adults aged 53-94 and found no impact on executive function or verbal episodic memory.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging·TypeSurvey·DateJun 3, 2026

NHS England's "Healthy Living" online program for people with type 2 diabetes may lead to moderate improvements in participants' blood sugar, blood pressure and BMI

The study found that participants in the 'Healthy Living' online program experienced moderate improvements in their blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI). The program was designed to support self-management of type 2 diabetes and showed promising results in England.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·DateJun 3, 2026