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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 337


Page 337 of 516

98% of all recent environmental claims and commitments from the world’s largest meat and dairy companies can be categorized as “greenwashing”, or intentionally misleading

A recent study found that 98% of environmental claims made by the world's largest meat and dairy companies can be classified as greenwashing. The analysis of over 1,200 claims from 33 major companies revealed a lack of evidence supporting many promises.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Climate·TypeObservational study·DateApr 22, 2026

Yoga practice could reduce blood pressure in people with obesity

A recent study published in PLOS Global Public Health found that practicing yoga can significantly decrease blood pressure in individuals with overweight or obesity. The meta-analysis of 30 studies showed that systolic and diastolic blood pressure were lowered by an average of 4.35 mmHg and 2.06 mmHg, respectively.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 22, 2026

New insights into how bacteria manage DNA

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine developed new methods to study DNA management in bacteria, revealing that DNA shape and flexibility play critical roles in gyrase activity. The study identifies specific DNA sequences that guide gyrase binding and interaction with the enzyme.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 22, 2026

Temperature extremes and variability might be worst for the most vulnerable baby birds - the youngest, smallest, and most neglected nestlings - per study of 113 baby barn swallows in Colorado

A study of 113 baby barn swallows in Colorado found that temperature extremes and variability negatively impact the youngest, smallest, and most neglected nestlings. The research suggests that developmental constraints play a crucial role in determining the effects of temperature on nestling growth.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·DateApr 22, 2026

Lack of robust regulation and information about contaminated industrial sites in India poses public health risk demanding urgent reform, study claims

A new study highlights the gap between India's hazardous waste production and registered contaminated sites, emphasizing the need for coordinated monitoring and robust remediation processes. The researchers propose a Contaminated Site Monitoring, Assessment, and Remediation (CS-MAR) framework to improve governance of contaminated sites.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalEnvironmental Development·DateApr 22, 2026

Wildfire-driven deforestation rates in California among highest in world

A study by University of California, Davis found that California's conifer forests have lost between 6% and 11% of their area over the past three decades due to wildfires. Reforestation efforts are not keeping pace with the losses, with only about 1% of deforested Forest Service lands being replanted between 2016 and 2023.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalFrontiers in Forests and Global Change·DateApr 22, 2026

Research on tick-transmitted disease reveals potential weakness, opening paths to new treatments

Scientists at Arizona State University have isolated and studied proteins essential for tularemia's infection process, revealing a potential vulnerability that could lead to new treatments. The research advances understanding of the bacterium's biology and paves the way for developing targeted therapeutic strategies.

SourceArizona State University·JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

BU researchers develop new tool to see how different brain cell types work together

PhysMAP is a machine learning algorithm that separates individual cell type signals within electrical noise, enabling the study of how cell types shape healthy computations and pathological states. The tool has been trained on seven open datasets and can be applied to new datasets without requiring additional experiments.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

Foldable origami-inspired antennas for CubeSat satellites

Researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo developed a 5.8 GHz foldable antenna designed to provide high antenna gain while remaining compact enough for small satellites. The system aims to improve communication capabilities of small satellites used in applications such as space-based internet services and disaster monitoring.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalIEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

New understanding of heart regeneration

Researchers have made a groundbreaking finding on the underlying biological mechanisms of an innovative surgical approach to deliberately 'train' the heart. By applying pressure overload in the early neonatal heart, scientists triggered regenerative mechanisms that increase the number of heart muscle and vascular cells.

SourceUniversitatsklinikum Bonn·JournalCirculation·TypeObservational study·DateApr 22, 2026

Researchers uncover hormonal chain reaction that may shed light on the causes of reproductive disorders

A new role for reproductive hormone secretoneurin has been discovered, showing it stimulates the growth and activity of neurons controlling reproduction through a previously unknown delivery mechanism: exosomes. This finding may shed light on the causes of reproductive disorders such as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and Kallmann syndrome.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

New clues to hepatitis B species restriction could help build a novel model for studying infection and testing therapies

Researchers have overturned decades-long assumptions about why HBV fails to infect mouse liver cells, pointing towards a new disease model. The study suggests that the problem lies in a late step during the viral entry process, which could be disrupted by certain mechanisms.

SourceRockefeller University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 22, 2026

Robots learn to feel what vision misses

Researchers have developed a complementary perception strategy combining visual localization with tactile mapping for robots to locate and read object surface features. The system uses a single RGB-Depth camera and soft pressure sensor array to identify object position, size, and geometry through vision and tactile scanning, respectively.

Equipping COF with a platinum "engine" boosts photocatalytic water splitting hydrogen production efficiency by 109-fold

Scientists have developed a new material that dramatically improves the efficiency of producing clean hydrogen fuel from water using sunlight. The innovative system, which anchors platinum clusters onto a specially designed organic framework, accelerates the chemical reaction 109 times faster than before.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

New MIT study bridges the worlds of classical and quantum physics

Researchers at MIT have discovered a mathematical connection between quantum mechanics and classical physics, enabling the description of quantum behavior using everyday classical ideas. The team's findings shed light on phenomena such as the double-slit experiment, which has long been challenging to explain using classical tools.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences·DateApr 22, 2026

HKUST team unveils innovative technology for precise reading and control of brain circuits to advance brain disease research

A HKUST team has developed an innovative laser control technique called Active Pixel Power Control (APPC) to reduce crosstalk in all-optical neural interrogation. APPC successfully preserved signal quality of neuronal signals while suppressing optogenetic artifacts and reducing the issue of crosstalk in larval zebrafish brain studies.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

Quaise Energy on track to build world’s first power plant using superhot geothermal energy

Quaise Energy is building the world's first power plant using superhot geothermal energy, with the goal of producing at least 50 megawatts of clean electricity. The project aims to harness temperatures greater than 300 degrees C and validate its long-held hypothesis that higher subsurface temperatures can improve power production.

SourceScience Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 22, 2026

Why diagnosing endometriosis often takes many years

Two new studies from Aarhus University reveal that endometriosis is often difficult to recognize in its early stages, requiring a systematic approach even when symptoms are diffuse. The studies highlight the need for improved knowledge, collaboration with specialists, and referral pathways to reduce diagnostic delays.

SourceAarhus University·JournalBritish Journal of General Practice·DateApr 22, 2026

Battery technology takes off as markets adjust

Researchers analyzed battery development in electric vehicles over 15 years, finding that market innovation can quickly address material shortages and price increases. The study suggests individual materials may not be as critical to the energy transition as previously thought.

SourceLund University·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·DateApr 22, 2026

Lithium intercalation deciphers phase transition of 2D materials, enabling mass production and high-performance flexible thermoelectric materials

Researchers map the full phase evolution of IV-VI TMDs, achieving scalable fabrication of atomically thin sheets for flexible thermoelectric devices. Novel phase transition modes are discovered, providing a precise basis for phase regulation and enabling mass production of high-performance materials.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

Catching a fungal enzyme open for business

A new study in Nature has filled in the gaps of how a widely used antifungal drug works, revealing its surprising mechanism and providing critical insights for designing next-generation therapies. The research found that caspofungin binds to a growing chain of cell-wall material produced by an enzyme, effectively stalling its activity.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

Hearing restoration from gene therapy for inherited deafness lasts years, new trial results show

A new international study shows that gene therapy targeting the OTOF gene successfully restored hearing in most participants, with significant improvements in speech perception and language skills. The treatment remained safe and effective for up to 2.5 years, offering new hope for individuals with inherited deafness.

SourceMass Eye and Ear·JournalNature·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 22, 2026

Risk factors and biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitor-mediated hepatotoxicity: emerging insights and future perspectives

Immune checkpoint inhibitors can cause immune-related hepatotoxicity, which is associated with female sex, younger age, Asian ethnicity, chronic liver disease, specific cancers, dual ICI therapy, and concurrent hepatotoxic drugs. Promising biomarkers include blood cell counts, CRP, autoantibodies, cytokines, SNPs, HLA types, and gut mi...

SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalJournal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology·DateApr 22, 2026