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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 31


Page 31 of 493

Study finds dementia influences decisions about life-sustaining treatment, even when advance directives request it

A study by CU Anschutz researcher found that dementia influences decisions on life-sustaining treatment, even when advance directives request it. Participants were 19 percentage points less likely to recommend life-sustaining treatment for patients with dementia than for those without, even with documented wishes calling for it.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateOct 7, 2026

New device targets nerve signals to treat cancer-related wasting, moving to first human trial

A new device has been approved for a first human trial to treat cancer-related wasting, a severe and progressive syndrome affecting many patients with advanced cancer. The device, OnVagus, delivers noninvasive electrical stimulation to modulate the vagus nerve, aiming to preserve strength and quality of life during treatment.

SourceTerasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 7, 2026

Global genome atlas reveals hidden life in lakes

A global genomic atlas of freshwater microeukaryotes reveals a wealth of previously unknown biodiversity, with many species remaining undiscovered. The atlas, which analyzed 3,400 DNA datasets from 362 lakes and reservoirs, identified over 20,000 mitochondrial genomes from around 3,660 species.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateOct 7, 2026

AI chatbots hesitant to recommend change

A new study found that large language models prefer existing conditions over change, which could hinder climate progress. Researchers assessed 11 LLMs and found that they recommended decisions already made by users more than 70% of the time.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalEnvironmental Research Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 7, 2026

Heart disease gaps persist despite overall declines

Despite overall declines in US cardiovascular disease mortality, racial, ethnic, and place-based disparities persist, with significant gaps in mortality rates across counties and states. The analysis highlights the need for targeted clinical and public health practices to address these disparities and promote heart health equity.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateOct 7, 2026

Extreme drought and heat from the last El Niño signal a “new normal” for tropical forests

A recent study reveals that extreme drought and heat from the last El Niño event may become a recurring phenomenon in tropical forests unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. The Amazon is the most vulnerable region, with the likelihood of severe droughts increasing ninefold by the end of the century.

Mount Sinai appoints Livia Agnes Veress, MD, as Vice Chair for Research in Pediatrics and System Chief of Pediatric Pulmonology

Dr. Veress leads research strategy and infrastructure in the Department of Pediatrics, aiming to bring innovative ideas from lab and clinical settings to treatments. She will also oversee pediatric pulmonology across the Mount Sinai Health System, expanding care for children with complex respiratory conditions.

For tropical forests, record 2024 heat and drought could become annual norm within 20 years

A new study indicates that extreme heat and drought conditions, like those experienced during the 2023-24 El Niño, may become annual norms for tropical forests within 20 years. This would have severe consequences for the forests' ability to recover between extreme weather events and for the communities that rely on them for food and li...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalEarth's Future·DateOct 7, 2026

Stretching a quantum material uncovers competing superconducting states

A team of researchers from Okayama University used in situ uniaxial strain to separate and tune competing superconducting states in the quantum material CsV3Sb5. This allowed them to study each state independently, finding that strain enhances superconductivity without changing the underlying charge density wave order. The study provid...

SourceOkayama University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 7, 2026

How combining science and community knowledge could shape coral reef conservation in Indonesia

Researchers found that combining scientific monitoring with local knowledge can help inform conservation strategies in Indonesia's coral reef ecosystems. The study suggests that integrating local ecological knowledge with scientific monitoring can enhance community participation and development of conservation strategies tailored to th...

SourceHasanuddin University·JournalAnthropocene Coasts·TypeObservational study·DateOct 7, 2026

A spiking neural network learns to predict what will happen, when, and how likely

A spiking neural network learns to predict events, timing, and likelihood, and can rapidly update these predictions in response to changing conditions. The model successfully combines the three dimensions of prediction and demonstrates improved performance over alternative approaches.

SourceInternational Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), The University of Tokyo·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 7, 2026

The Signature of Alzheimer’s-Related Synaptic Changes Appears in Blood Decades Before Symptoms in People With Down Syndrome

Researchers have found that levels of beta-synuclein, a protein related to synaptic function, begin to rise in people with Down syndrome from the third decade of life, decades before symptoms appear. This finding positions beta-synuclein as a promising marker of the earliest synaptic changes associated with Alzheimer's disease.

SourceInstitut de Recerca Sant Pau (Sant Pau Research Institute)·JournalAlzheimer’s & Dementia·TypeObservational study·DateOct 7, 2026

Biodegradable nanoparticle–technology may improve agricultural production

Researchers have developed a biodegradable nanoparticle technology that enhances grape yield and quality by 104% and 67%, respectively, making it a promising approach for sustainable agricultural production. The technology improves fruit quality, yield, and pedicel strength in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.).

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the Science of Food and Agriculture·DateOct 7, 2026

Do ridesharing services affect crime rates?

A recent study published in Economic Inquiry reveals that ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft reduce violent and property crimes in some areas, with a 4.6% and 5.6% decrease, respectively. The study suggests that improved employment opportunities generated by ridesharing platforms contribute to these crime reductions.

SourceWiley·JournalEconomic Inquiry·DateOct 7, 2026

Does mitochondrial DNA affect cancer progression?

New research suggests that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number affects cancer severity and therapy response. High mtDNA copy number is linked to the expression of genes that support tumor growth and survival. The study's findings could pave the way for new cancer management strategies.

SourceWiley·JournalFEBS Journal·DateOct 7, 2026

The world’s oyster reefs could add $12 trillion to planetary health each year – if they were better managed

A new study estimates that fully restored oyster reefs in hotspot countries could yield a gross ecosystem product (GEP) of $12 trillion. Oyster reefs could deliver ecosystem services worth trillions to human wellbeing and the global economy, including water filtration, shoreline protection, and carbon sequestration.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 7, 2026

SKKU research team recreates viral transmission and herd immunity on a chip

A SKKU research team has developed a microfluidic chip that recreates key features of viral transmission in human societies. The chip, known as Herd-Immunity-on-a-Chip, allows researchers to observe real-time how infection spreads through a structured population, revealing how population structure shapes viral spread.

Cricket's day-night pink ball not so pretty for some

A new study suggests that players with color vision deficiency struggle to see the pink ball around dusk, making batting and fielding more difficult. The research found that different types of color vision deficiency create different challenges for seeing the ball, depending on the ball's color, condition, background, and time of day.

SourceLa Trobe University·JournalSports Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 6, 2026

Against the odds: why some ecosystems thrive

A University of Sydney study has identified three common factors tied to conservation success in fragile ecosystems, including local knowledge, community involvement, and adaptive management. These factors were found to be crucial in supporting ecosystems despite climate change and habitat loss, providing a framework for conservation e...

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateOct 6, 2026

CDC undergraduate pathway program offers a model of success at Columbia Mailman and beyond

The CDC's John R. Lewis Undergraduate Public Health Scholars Program cultivates diverse future leaders in public health, addressing workforce shortages. The program has accepted over 2,000 students, with more than half enrolling in advanced degree programs and 45% working in public health roles.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalJournal of Public Health Management and Practice·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 6, 2026

Three scientists honored with $250,000 Blavatnik Awards for breakthroughs in organic chemistry, gene editing and bioelectronics

Three scientists received $250,000 Blavatnik Awards for their work in organic chemistry, genome engineering, and bioelectronics. The winners developed methods to create key medicinal building blocks, engineered programmable biological systems, and designed soft, flexible electronic materials that work with living cells and tissue.

“Image quality remains intact even when stretched like a rubber band”: DGIST develops world’s brightest “stretchable quantum dot display”

Researchers developed a new fabrication process for ultra-high-resolution stretchable QLEDs with precise pattern formation and excellent light-emitting performance. The device achieved a maximum brightness of 53,300 nits and operated stably without image quality degradation when stretched up to 65% beyond its original length.

Overcoming MXene’s water stability challenge: DGIST develops photocatalyst that boosts CO₂-to-methane production performance 200-fold

A research team developed a photocatalytic technology to improve MXene's stability and convert carbon dioxide into methane. The technology boosts CO₂-to-methane production performance 200-fold, making it a significant step towards carbon capture and utilization technologies.

New crocodile species discovered in rocks used to build the Great Sphinx

A new species of extinct crocodile, Herugavialis cairensis, has been discovered in rocks used to build the Great Sphinx, sharing its home with the iconic monument. The fossil crocodile is characterized by its long, thin snout, similar to other gavials, and provides new insights into gavialoid diversity in the Mediterranean region.

SourceSwedish Museum of Natural History·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 6, 2026

Statins may protect people from developing glaucoma

Research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology suggests that statins may lower the risk of developing open-angle glaucoma and reduce the need for treatment. Statin use was associated with a 15% lower risk of glaucoma development and a 36% lower risk of incisional glaucoma surgery.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBritish Journal of Ophthalmology·TypeObservational study·DateOct 6, 2026

Pregnancy complications linked to higher risk of cardiac and renal health conditions

A UK study found that women with pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, face an elevated risk of developing cardiometabolic-renal conditions in subsequent years. The study, which followed over 1.4 million women, identified associations between postnatal depression and an increased risk of four ...

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateOct 6, 2026