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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 299


Page 299 of 516

UMass Chan scientists develop gene editing technology capable of rewriting entire chapters of the genome

Researchers have developed a new gene editing technology called 'prime assembly' that allows efficient insertion of large DNA segments into the human genome. This innovation enables treatment of genetic diseases by replacing entire genes, promising substantial progress in treating conditions with multiple mutations.

SourceUMass Chan Medical School·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 13, 2026

Alzheimer's therapeutic breakthroughs may be financially inaccessible, warns Trinity College Dublin

A new study estimates the value-based prices of lecanemab and donanemab across 174 countries, finding that current market prices exceed cost-effective prices by significant margins. The research highlights a global equity issue, where patients in low- and middle-income countries may face delayed or no access to these treatments.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 13, 2026

Wearable polygraph detects hidden stress

A small, wireless polygraph system can track multiple physiological signals to capture a real-time view of stress in the body. The device can help clinicians detect stress and potential discomfort in patients, including infants or the elderly who may be unable to communicate.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 13, 2026

Illinois study: Can designer biochar pellets help manage phosphorus in agricultural fields?

A new study examined the capacity of specially designed biochar pellets to absorb and release phosphorus under real-world conditions. The researchers found that while the pellets absorbed phosphorus as expected in laboratory settings, they performed poorly when exposed to agricultural wastewater, which contained competing ions and micr...

More selective breeding might help flat-faced dogs to breathe easier

Researchers used data from over 4,000 Pugs, Bulldogs, and French Bulldogs to identify heritable traits that contribute to breathing disorders. The study suggests that improving respiratory health through selective breeding may help reduce the prevalence of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) in these breeds.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·TypeObservational study·DateMay 13, 2026

Comparing AI anatomy segmentation models when ground truth is missing

A recent study introduces a practical framework for comparing AI-based anatomy segmentation models in the absence of expert reference annotations. The work focuses on chest CT scans from the National Lung Screening Trial dataset and evaluates how consistently different open-source models label anatomical structures. Key findings includ...

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Medical Imaging·DateMay 13, 2026

The first domesticated horses: 6,000 years of a complex story

New research reveals that humans used horses in organized ways as early as the 4th millennium BCE, challenging the accepted timeline of full domestication. The study's findings suggest a more complex and nuanced history of human-horse relationships, highlighting the significant impact of horses on major historical developments.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalScience Advance·TypeSystematic review·DateMay 13, 2026

Peruvian hairless dogs discovered at ancient site

A new study published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology provides physical evidence of Peruvian hairless dogs from the Wari Empire site of Castillo de Huarmey. The site, located on the Pacific coast of northern Peru, yielded dog skeletal remains that were analyzed using standard zooarchaeological methods and isotopic analysis.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalJournal of Anthropological Archaeology·DateMay 13, 2026

FAU study maps first brain blueprint of a fly’s split-second great escape

A new study at Florida Atlantic University maps the neural wiring system linked to a fly's split-second escape behaviors, revealing a decentralized communication strategy. The findings provide insight into how brains process information at extraordinary speed and may represent a conserved blueprint shared across species.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournaliScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 13, 2026

UW researchers decipher beluga calls to bolster conservation efforts

Researchers at the University of Washington decoded over 1,700 beluga whale calls in Cook Inlet, revealing insights into their social behavior, communication patterns, and vulnerability to human noise. The study suggests that shipping noise may be disrupting critical calf-mother communication, threatening the population's recovery.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·TypeObservational study·DateMay 13, 2026

Water-assisted alignment plus secondary cold lsostatic pressing: achieving high-performance pure h-BN ceramics by pressureless sintering

Researchers developed a new process for pressureless sintering of high-density h-BN ceramics, achieving properties comparable to hot-pressed counterparts. The 'water lubrication and secondary cold isostatic pressing-assisted pressureless sintering process' yielded outstanding in-plane thermal conductivity and dielectric constant.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalJournal of Advanced Ceramics·DateMay 13, 2026

Rice researchers develop realistic ‘mock’ samples to speed cervical cancer test development

A team of Rice University bioengineers has developed a new way to create highly realistic mock patient samples that could help accelerate the development of faster and more accessible cervical cancer screening tests. The approach combines multiple factors, including viral DNA levels and cell counts, to mimic real clinical specimens.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of Medical Virology·DateMay 13, 2026

Visual measure of illness perception paints a picture of quality of life

A new study suggests that a visual measure of illness perception can effectively convey symptom-related quality of life for patients with chronic lung illnesses. The study found that patients' visual perceptions of their lung disease were equally effective as standard questionnaires and test results in predicting quality of life.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention·DateMay 13, 2026

How songbirds learn to sing, one brain connection at a time

Researchers pinpoint a specific connection in the brain where song learning first occurs, finding that it hinges on a highly organized process involving a single type of synapse. The study sheds light on how songbirds learn to vocalize by imitating a tutor and shares similarities with human language development.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 13, 2026

CODA supports international collaboration between Stellenbosch University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology to advance microvascular research in complex chronic disorders

The Complex Disorders Alliance (CODA) is funding research on microvascular dysfunction and immune-mediated clotting processes in complex chronic disorders. Professor Resia Pretorius of Stellenbosch University and Dr. Mikki Tal of MIT are collaborating to expand understanding of these conditions.

Scientists design "hydrophobic-zincophilic" interface to unlock ultra-stable zinc-ion batteries

Researchers developed a dual-functional coating composed of palladium nanoparticles on a graphitic carbon nitride matrix, which blocks water-induced corrosion and regulates zinc deposition at the atomic level. This 'hydrophobic-zincophilic' design provides a generalizable strategy for high-performance, long-lasting zinc-ion batteries.

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalENGINEERING Energy·TypeNews article·DateMay 13, 2026

Synergistically enhances piezoelectricity and resistivity of high temperature 0.3Na0.5Bi2.5Nb2O9-0.7Bi3TiNbO9 ceramics by (W,Cr) co-doping

Researchers successfully fabricated W,Cr co-doped 0.3Na0.5Bi2.5Nb2O9-0.7Bi3TiNbO9 ceramics, elevating piezoelectric constant to 20.3 pC/N and resistivity to 7.3×10^7 Ω·cm. This is attributed to the incorporation of W/Cr ions disrupting the crystal lattice and generating stable domain structures.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalJournal of Advanced Ceramics·DateMay 13, 2026

Crystalline Ni3S2 nanorods tuned by low‑crystalline NiCoSx with built‑in electric field for efficient overall water splitting

Researchers develop high-performance, bifunctional electrocatalyst using crystalline Ni3S2 nanorods and low-crystalline NiCoSx, enabling efficient overall water splitting. The catalyst's built-in electric field promotes faster electron transfer and optimizes adsorption energies.

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalNano-Micro Letters·DateMay 13, 2026