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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 265


Page 265 of 516

Half-ton early Bovines roamed 4-million-year-old grasslands in Europe

A study published in PLOS One reveals that early bovines, such as Parabos tigneresi, inhabited a humid environment and weighed up to half a ton 4 million years ago. The discovery of well-preserved fossils at the Camp de Ninots site has shed new light on the evolution of large-bodied buffalo and cattle.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·TypeObservational study·DateJun 3, 2026

How our biological clock starts and keeps ticking

A team of researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has identified a unique biological clock mechanism in the worm C. elegans, comprising two previously known proteins MYRF-1 and LIN-42. This feedback circuit governs the timing of gene expression pulses, crucial for proper developmental progression.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 3, 2026

The hidden roughness of sapphire surface

Researchers at TU Wien found that the sapphire surface is irregular and rough at the atomic scale, with tiny regions of ordered aluminum atoms being surrounded by inhomogeneous surfaces. This atomic-scale disorder dramatically affects the surface's chemical properties, contradicting previous theories.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2026

Printed manga may give the brain a storytelling advantage

A new study by researchers at the University of Tokyo found that readers of paper manga took longer to answer complex questions than those who read on tablets, indicating a potential advantage of printed materials for comprehension. Brain scans revealed reduced activation in frontal language-related brain regions when reading on paper.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPLOS One·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 3, 2026

Fat hack protects against cell death

Researchers at German Cancer Research Center discovered a previously unknown mechanism by which senescent cells protect themselves from oxidative stress and ferroptosis. Senescent cells produce large amounts of triglycerides, which store sensitive polyunsaturated fatty acids in cell membranes, making them resistant to ferroptosis.

How fear and social pressure are 'overarming' the US

A Dartmouth study maps the interplay of personal choice and social networks contributing to the US being one of the world's most heavily armed countries. The researchers describe how individual incentives can lead to overarming, a phenomenon where collective costs outweigh individual benefits of firearm ownership.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 3, 2026

A molecular switch in ferroptosis

A study by Zhejiang University researchers reveals that TATA box-binding protein-associated factor 1 (TAF1) acts as a context-dependent molecular switch regulating ferroptosis in cancer cells. In <em>TP53</em>-mutant tumors, TAF1 promotes nGPX4 degradation, increasing ferroptosis susceptibility. Conversely, in <em>TP53</em>-wild-type t...

Politics plays a role in finding a partner

A new study by University of Cologne researchers found that political orientation significantly impacts romantic interests, with young Americans showing reluctance towards dating across party lines. The study suggests that people use politics as a filter to determine compatibility and social circle approval.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalEuropean Sociological Review·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2026

The UJI Altadia Chair in Ceramic Knowledge enhances scientific knowledge and knowledge transfer with the publication of the first volume of the "Encyclopaedia of Ceramic Technology"

The UJI Altadia Chair has published the first volume of the Encyclopaedia of Ceramic Technology, which synthesizes scientific foundations underpinning the manufacture of white ceramic products. The publication provides an in-depth analysis of processes and materials used in floor and wall tiles, earthenware, and porcelain.

Breaching the blood–brain barrier to target mitochondrial dysfunction: a novel nanomedicine strategy to quell the “inflammatory fire” in CNS diseases

Mitochondrial damage fuels neuroinflammation in CNS diseases, but targeted nanomedicines can restore function and reduce inflammation. Intelligent nanomaterials designed to cross the blood-brain barrier have shown striking efficacy in preclinical models.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeLiterature review·DateJun 3, 2026

Facile one-step aqueous synthetic strategy for fused azole–pyrimidine heat-resistant energetic materials

Researchers developed a facile one-step aqueous synthetic strategy for fused azole–pyrimidine energetic materials, achieving high thermal stability and strong detonation performance. The method produced compounds with balanced energetic and thermal properties, comparable to conventional heat-resistant explosives like HNS.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalEnergetic Materials Frontiers·DateJun 3, 2026

Toward “vibe medicine”: a self-evolving multi-agent framework for clinical decision support

A new framework, VIBEMed, uses multi-agent collaboration to break complex clinical decisions into specialist roles and employs a three-level self-evolution mechanism to improve performance over time. This approach demonstrates superior performance in complex medical reasoning and treatment planning tasks.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalMeta-Radiology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2026

NTU Singapore scientists develop cleaner way to recycle mixed plastic packaging

Researchers from NTU Singapore's School of Materials Science and Engineering and Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute have developed a process called depolymerisation-induced polymer separation, or DIPS. This method selectively breaks down one type of plastic in mixed plastic packaging while leaving the other plastics intact.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalIndustrial & Engineering Chemistry Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2026

Study offers new evidence on role of health crises in driving housing instability and homelessness

A new study at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that major health events increase the risk of housing instability and homelessness among Medicaid enrollees, with 21-35% rise in residential moves and 6-10% increase in homelessness risk. The study suggests that improving healthcare access and quality can also s...

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalJournal of Health Economics·DateJun 3, 2026

UMass Amherst researchers combine bacteria and viruses to demonstrate a new way to fight cancer

Researchers at UMass Amherst have designed a new therapy that combines engineered Salmonella bacteria with oncolytic viruses to target liver and pancreatic cancer. The treatment showed promising results in animal models, leading to significant tumor reduction and improved survival rates.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalCell Reports Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 3, 2026

University of Pittsburgh researchers discover unexpected chromosome interaction that fuels aggressive cancers

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine discovered an unexpected chromosome interaction between telomeres and centromeres in some aggressive cancers. This interaction creates a genetic signature that could help identify ALT-positive tumors, which are often challenging to treat due to genomic instability.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNature·DateJun 3, 2026

Beyond AI’s surging energy use: UN details escalating water, land, and CO2 emission consequences

A new UN report details the environmental costs of artificial intelligence, including its burgeoning electricity use, carbon emissions, water footprint, and land occupation. The investigation finds that AI's expansion involves significant energy consumption, leading to substantial CO2, water, and land footprints.

Time for a re-think of long-term antidepressant use

A new summary of evidence reveals that antidepressants have limited benefits beyond 12 months and may cause severe withdrawal symptoms. Researchers are calling for treatment reviews every six months and recommending gradual weaning strategies when discontinuing medication.

SourceAdelaide University·JournalAustralian Journal of General Practice·TypeSystematic review·DateJun 3, 2026