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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 349


Page 349 of 516

Why gay men can feel more attractive on holiday

A new study by the University of East London reveals that gay men's desirability shifts depending on their location and digital platforms. Queer men of colour may receive more attention abroad, but this boost is often short-lived and tied to novelty rather than lasting confidence.

SourceUniversity of East London·JournalAnnals of Tourism Research·TypeObservational study·DateApr 15, 2026

Images and risk communication boost motivation for better heart health

A study from Umeå University found that visualizing ultrasound images of atherosclerosis, combined with a motivational dialogue, increases motivation to improve lifestyle habits and take preventive medication. This results in lower estimated risk of cardiovascular disease and better development of risk factors over time.

SourceUmea University·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 15, 2026

A 24-hour ovarian follicle platform speeds anti-angiogenic drug discovery

Researchers developed an ovarian follicle-based angiogenesis microphysiological system that forms complex 3D vascular networks without exogenous VEGF. The platform enables direct visualization and quantitative analysis of vascular remodeling, allowing for the rapid identification of anti-angiogenic compounds with meaningful in vivo act...

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 15, 2026

Materials – but not as we know them

Scientists have developed a new class of materials that can respond to external forces using their own internal energy, allowing for the creation of autonomous robots. The research demonstrates a new route to realizing active materials with multiple functions, including flexible and soft robots.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 15, 2026

The importance of data for crowd safety in public spaces

Researchers propose new method to capture complex human movement in public spaces, addressing limitations of traditional approaches. By standardizing data measurement, they aim to improve crowd safety predictions and design safer spaces.

SourceSissa Medialab·JournalJournal of Statistical Mechanics Theory and Experiment·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 15, 2026

Strain reshapes the electronic landscape: Controlling one-dimensional quantum channels in nearly untwisted bilayer graphene

Tiny mechanical strain can reshape graphene's electronic landscape, opening a new route for controlling quantum states in two-dimensional materials. Researchers visualize electronic states of strained regions and identify domain walls as robust one-dimensional quantum channels.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 15, 2026

Effective cholesterol absorption from the intestine may increase the risk of serious cardiac events

Researchers found that high cholesterol absorption from the intestine increases the risk of myocardial infarctions and cardiac mortality in patients with a history of acute coronary artery events. Individuals with exceptional cholesterol absorption efficiency, which is present in about one-third of the population, are at a higher risk.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalJournal of Internal Medicine·DateApr 15, 2026

Quality versus quantity of fat in the diet

A new study highlights the significant role of quality of dietary fat, rather than total amount consumed. Research reveals that palmitic acid can promote toxic bioactive lipids and low-grade inflammation, while oleic acid may have a protective effect against metabolic disorders.

SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalTrends in Endocrinology & Metabolism·TypeSystematic review·DateApr 15, 2026

Ben-Gurion University researchers propose new way to secure optical communication using light itself

Researchers propose a new approach to secure optical communication by hiding information in the physical structure of light, making it difficult for unauthorized parties to intercept or decode. Computer simulations showed that the method can transmit information reliably without revealing it through changes in beam size or intensity.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalOptical and Quantum Electronics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 15, 2026

Don't build the engine, grow it: biohybrid miniature robots using living organisms

Researchers create living biohybrid miniature robots that solve traditional engineering trade-offs between structural rigidity and environmental adaptability. These biological engines utilize embodied intelligence to navigate complex terrains and achieve performance metrics rivaling state-of-the-art synthetics.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateApr 15, 2026

Electrons can do it all

Using three-dimensional electron diffraction, researchers demonstrate that electrons can provide averaged structural information previously accessible only with X-rays. They also optimize the electron dose and develop tailored acquisition strategies to probe highly sensitive nanocrystalline structures while preserving the material.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 15, 2026

Do faces behind us appear more emotionally intense?

Researchers found that faces presented behind observers are perceived as more emotionally intense than those in front. This 'behind-enhancement bias' is observed even when participants view the face via a virtual mirror without turning around. The study suggests a spatially modulated perceptual bias related to processing of emotionally...

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalCognition·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 15, 2026

Point-of-care hepatitis C testing in a tribal setting

A community-based point-of-care HCV RNA testing program was feasible and led to a high percentage of same-day treatment for American Indian and Alaska Native participants. The study supports expanding point-of-care HCV RNA testing and integrated treatment to advance HCV elimination.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateApr 15, 2026

Online searches for gun-related harm

A notable minority of US youth and young adults, particularly those facing structural disadvantages and mental health distress, engage in intentional online searches for gun-related harm. Public health strategies combining digital interventions with structural reforms offer promise to reduce gun-related harm among vulnerable populations.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateApr 15, 2026

How can autonomous vehicles learn new traffic scenarios without forgetting old ones?

Researchers proposed a dynamically expandable learning framework for interactive trajectory prediction to enable models to adapt to evolving traffic environments. The approach effectively mitigates catastrophic forgetting and maintains stable predictions for critical interaction scenarios across multiple learning stages.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalCommunications in Transportation Research·DateApr 15, 2026

Any color you like: NIST scientists create ‘any wavelength’ lasers in tiny circuits for light

Scientists have pioneered a way to make integrated circuits for light by depositing complex patterns of specialized materials onto silicon wafers. This advance could provide a big boost for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computers, and optical atomic clocks.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 15, 2026

Researchers capture images of interface-controlled bulk oxygen spillover for the first time

Scientists have tracked oxygen spillover in catalysts using environmental transmission electron microscopy and observed bulk oxygen spillover for the first time in Ru/rutile-TiO2 catalysts. The research provides new approaches for utilizing catalyst bulk, enabling it to contribute to mass transfer during catalytic reactions.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalNature·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateApr 15, 2026

Introducing JAMA+ Trials

The JAMA+ Trials platform provides a comprehensive online space for clinical trial research, featuring multimedia content and tailored resources. Recent trials published across multiple JAMA Network journals are highlighted on the platform.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateApr 15, 2026

How to quantify the impact of daily driving behavior on electric vehicle battery health?

A new study developed a multi-scale dynamic driving environment to assess the impact of daily driving behavior on electric vehicle battery health. The framework uses deep reinforcement learning to optimize battery health and energy efficiency, and its results show that stable driving behavior can extend battery lifetime by approximatel...

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalCommunications in Transportation Research·DateApr 15, 2026

Academic expert: Is social media addictive?

Social media use has been linked to psychological distress and impaired functioning in some people, but the impact varies widely depending on how and why it's used. Researchers are debating how to measure social media addiction and need more rigorous studies to determine whether it should be classified as a clinical disorder.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalNature·DateApr 15, 2026