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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 354


Page 354 of 516

Loneliness affects memory in older adults but does not accelerate brain decline, major international longitudinal study suggests

A major European study found that loneliness affects the memory of older adults, but does not speed up mental decline over time. Participants who reported high levels of loneliness performed worse on initial memory tests, but their ability to recall information declined at a similar rate as those with lower loneliness levels.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalAging & Mental Health·TypeObservational study·DateApr 14, 2026

Study shows mechanisms of aortic aneurysm progression and potential drug therapies

Researchers found that clonal hematopoiesis accelerates aortic aneurysm progression and that commonly used osteoporosis drugs can slow or halt this process. The study identified a key mechanism by which macrophages contribute to extracellular matrix degradation, providing a potential non-surgical approach for treating aortic aneurysms.

SourceNagoya University·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateApr 14, 2026

The weight of wheat

A study by Osaka Metropolitan University found that mice preferred carbohydrates over standard chow, leading to increased body weight and fat mass. The researchers also discovered a decrease in energy expenditure and an accumulation of fat in the liver, which improved when wheat flour intake was discontinued.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalMolecular Nutrition & Food Research·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 14, 2026

Making eco-friendly disinfectants from discarded wood! KIST develops high-efficiency carbon catalyst

Researchers create a carbon-based catalyst that produces hydrogen peroxide with high selectivity and efficiency, comparable to precious metal-based catalysts. This breakthrough enables the conversion of waste biomass into functional materials for energy-efficient chemical production.

SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalApplied Catalysis B Environment and Energy·DateApr 14, 2026

New uncertainty-aware AI framework could improve fuel cell degradation forecasting

Researchers developed an uncertainty-aware AI framework for predicting proton exchange membrane fuel cell degradation trends. The framework provides both point estimates and interval estimates with probability density information, improving the reliability of fuel-cell prognosis under realistic operating conditions.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalGreen Energy and Intelligent Transportation·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

New protection method could help free piston Stirling generators avoid damaging overshoot faults

Researchers have developed a fast prediction and suppression method for transient piston displacement overshoot in free piston Stirling generators. The new approach detects dangerous overshoot without relying on displacement sensors and suppresses the fault response early enough to maintain safe operation and continuous power delivery.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalGreen Energy and Intelligent Transportation·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

New AI image-enhancement method could help transportation systems see more clearly in tunnels

Researchers developed a dynamic range compression dual-domain attention network to tackle extreme exposure conditions in tunnels. The DRC-DFANet model optimizes global illumination coordination and local detail restoration, preserving fine details while adjusting brightness intelligently.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalGreen Energy and Intelligent Transportation·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Image-based machine learning framework sharpens battery health estimation across varying conditions

The integrated framework combines incremental capacity analysis with image feature transformation and a hybrid machine-learning pipeline to improve SOH estimation accuracy. It achieves an RMSE of 1.76% on the NASA dataset and shows robustness when operating conditions shift, suggesting better generalization across different datasets.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalGreen Energy and Intelligent Transportation·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Predictive energy management could improve fuel savings and emissions in hybrid-electric regional aircraft

Researchers developed a predictive energy management framework for megawatt-class parallel hybrid-electric regional aircraft, showing improved environmental and operational performance. Simulation results show reduced fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, NOx emissions, and energy-specific air range.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalGreen Energy and Intelligent Transportation·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Physics-informed AI framework could improve early prediction of battery knee point and lifespan

Researchers have developed a multi-fidelity framework combining coupled degradation mechanisms with machine learning to predict battery lifespan. The framework addresses the challenge of making reliable forecasts before long-term aging data are available, enabling safer operation and better-informed decision-making.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalGreen Energy and Intelligent Transportation·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Tiny AI model could strengthen real-time fault diagnosis for high-speed train bogies

Researchers developed a lightweight fault-diagnosis framework for high-speed train bogies using selective knowledge distillation-based domain adaptation. The approach improves cross-domain diagnostic accuracy by at least 2.1% while keeping the final model size to 28.5 kB.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalGreen Energy and Intelligent Transportation·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

New two-step method improves early diagnosis of micro short circuits in lithium-ion batteries

Researchers developed a two-step diagnostic strategy to detect subtle abnormal behavior in lithium-ion batteries. The method combines Hellinger distance with an Inverse Markov Method to identify micro short circuits that can lead to serious safety failures and thermal runaway.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalGreen Energy and Intelligent Transportation·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Chemicals found in tap water could harm embryos

A study by Adelaide University found that even low levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in tap water can disrupt female fertility, leading to cellular damage, DNA damage, and impairing embryo viability. The study also showed that exposure to PFAS chemicals can be passed on to future generations.

SourceAdelaide University·JournalEnvironmental Research·TypeObservational study·DateApr 13, 2026

New multiphysics model helps reveal how battery swelling force builds during charging

Researchers developed a three-dimensional electro-thermo-mechanical model to quantify the swelling force generated by lithium-ion batteries during charging. The model accurately identifies and quantifies swelling force, offering a new tool for improving battery safety.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalGreen Energy and Intelligent Transportation·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Are public sector workers motivated to do the job?

A new study found that public sector workers' motivation is closely tied to their work environment. The research identified four profiles of public servants with varying levels of motivation, which are shaped by both individual psychology and environmental constraints.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalReview of Public Personnel Administration·TypeSurvey·DateApr 13, 2026

SNU Engineering–medical research team identifies, for the first time, a new mechanism to enhance osteoporosis treatment efficiency

A laser-based cell isolation system enabled researchers to isolate and analyze osteoblasts, revealing a new mechanism regulating bone formation. A combination therapy strategy targeting both WNT and TGF-β signaling pathways is proposed to enhance treatment efficiency.

SourceSeoul National University College of Engineering·JournalBone Research·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

How neighborhood amenities and infrastructure may slow cognitive decline among older immigrants

A Rutgers Health study reveals that neighborhoods with greater access to community amenities, services, and infrastructure can reduce the risk of dementia in older Chinese immigrants. The researchers found that individuals living in more cognitively supportive neighborhoods declined more slowly with age.

SourceRutgers University·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 13, 2026

AI spots hidden behavior patterns in self-organizing bacteria

A custom-built AI system helped uncover how bacterial communities organize themselves, showing that early moments of a biological transition carry more information than previously considered. The findings bring new insight into the relationship between genotype and phenotype in Myxococcus xanthus.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Why extended postpartum Medicaid coverage during pandemic led to gains in enrollment

A study analyzing postpartum Medicaid claims in 15 states found that extended coverage led to modest changes in healthcare use, with notable increases in emergency department visits and mental health diagnoses. The share of individuals maintaining coverage through 12 months postpartum increased to 77%, but gaps in care persist.

SourceRutgers University·JournalThe Milbank Quarterly·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 13, 2026

Internalization of homophobia and transphobia may undermine mental health benefits of religiosity or spirituality for LGBTQIA+ people, study finds

A McGill University study found that internalized homophobia and transphobia among LGBTQIA+ people of faith can undermine the positive mental health outcomes associated with religiosity and spirituality. Mindfulness may offer a supportive spiritual pathway outside non-affirming religious contexts.

SourceMcGill University·JournalJournal of Homosexuality·TypeLiterature review·DateApr 13, 2026

Gender matters in the brain/bone axis. APOE4, the Alzheimer’s risk gene, silently undermines bone quality in women

Researchers discovered that APOE4 causes bone quality deficits specifically in female mice, through a mechanism invisible to standard imaging. The study reveals an unexpected biological link between Alzheimer's risk and skeletal health, pointing to osteocytes as potential early warning signals for both conditions.

SourceBuck Institute for Research on Aging·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Widespread AI use narrows society’s creative space

New research from Duke University finds that commercial large language models (LLMs) are less creative and generate more similar responses than humans. The study challenges these models with three standard tests assessing creativity and finds that their outputs are more alike, highlighting the need for human diversity in brainstorming

SourceDuke University·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Shorter antibiotic courses show similar outcomes to longer use for some pneumonia patients

For eligible patients with community-acquired pneumonia, shorter treatment durations may be as safe and effective as traditional longer regimens. The study found no meaningful differences in mortality, readmissions, or C. difficile infections among patients who received three to four days of antibiotics.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateApr 13, 2026

Researchers identify new genetic disease that interferes with brain development

Scientists have discovered a new rare genetic disease caused by a mutation in the RPN1 gene, which affects glycosylation and leads to protein instability. The disease, now termed RPN1-CDG, is characterized by neurodevelopmental issues and has expanded the number of genes associated with OST complex diseases.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalHuman Genetics and Genomics Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Rice study resolves decades-old mystery in organic light-emitting crystals

Researchers at Rice University have solved a long-standing puzzle in organic semiconductors by finding that tiny structural imperfections can improve light conversion efficiency. The study reveals how defects act as energy localization sites that behave differently from the rest of the material, enhancing processes like triplet-triplet...

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Global urban methane emissions are growing more than estimated

A new study by University of Michigan found that global urban methane emissions have risen 6% since 2019, with C40 cities facing a 30% increase in their emission reduction targets. The discrepancy between satellite measurements and accounting estimates highlights the need for more accurate monitoring and mitigation strategies.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 13, 2026