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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 480


Page 480 of 519

COVID-19 viral fragments shown to target and kill specific immune cells in UCLA-led study

A recent study by a UCLA-led team reveals that leftover COVID-19 viral fragments can selectively accumulate on and penetrate star-shaped surfaces of dendritic cells and T cells, killing these immune cells. In contrast, the omicron variant's smaller fragments have little effect on these cells.

SourceCalifornia NanoSystems Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 27, 2026

Badged up for success

Graduate students at MUSC are earning digital badges in science communications, highlighting their ability to explain complex scientific concepts to the public. This program is part of a larger shift towards providing graduate students with valuable skills that apply to multiple career paths in science.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalJournal of Clinical and Translational Science·TypeSurvey·DateJan 27, 2026

Speeding, hard braking reduced in insurance plans that base rates on driving behavior, offer rewards

Drivers who participated in a program based on their driving habits showed reduced speeding, hard braking, and rapid acceleration by up to 25%. They continued these safe habits even after the program ended. The programs were equally effective in improving safety scores.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalAccident Analysis & Prevention·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 27, 2026

UH psychologist explores reducing anxiety among survivors of sexual assault

A UH psychologist's study finds that anxiety sensitivity and pain-related anxiety are linked to mental health problems and clinically significant alcohol use among survivors of traumatic sexual assault. The investigation highlights the importance of addressing both types of anxiety in reducing the risk of lifelong challenges.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalThe Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease·DateJan 27, 2026

Claiming your business page on review platforms can have unintended effects on customer reviews, study shows

A study from Florida International University finds that claiming a business page on review platforms like Yelp can lead to a significant drop in average ratings, with a 10% decrease in five-star reviews and a 9.5% rise in one-star reviews. The study also reveals that these lowest-rated reviews become substantially longer and more crit...

SourceFlorida International University·JournalInformation Systems Research·TypeObservational study·DateJan 27, 2026

Inflammation and autoimmune-like dysfunction may play a role in heart failure

A recent study from Penn State College of Medicine researchers found that helper T cells, typically involved in fighting infections, become overly activated in failing human hearts, causing damage. The activation of these T cells highlights the impact of inflammation and immune dysfunction in heart failure.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 27, 2026

Mount Sinai study finds antibody-producing immune cells can help shape cancer immunotherapy

A Mount Sinai study found that antibody-producing immune cells called IgG1 plasma cells help patients respond to PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors, which have transformed cancer care. The researchers identified IgG1 plasma cells as a critical factor in determining clinical outcomes.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 27, 2026

How do nature and nurture shape our immune cells?

Researchers at Salk Institute debut an epigenetic catalog that shows genetic inheritance and life experiences have distinct effects on various types of immune cells, shedding light on individual differences in immune responses and potential new personalized therapeutics.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNature Genetics·DateJan 27, 2026

Purdue team announces new therapeutic target for breast cancer

A Purdue University team led by Kyle Cottrell has discovered a new therapeutic target for triple-negative breast cancer, a deadly form of breast cancer lacking targeted therapies. The researchers identified dsRNA-binding proteins, specifically PACT, which suppress another protein called RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR).

SourcePurdue University·JournalRNA·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 27, 2026

Researchers grow specialized nerve cells that degenerate in ALS/motor neuron disease and are damaged in spinal cord injury

A research team has developed a way to produce corticospinal-like neurons that centrally degenerate in motor neuron disease and are damaged in spinal cord injury. The study uses a multi-component gene-expression system called NVOF to precisely fine tune regulatory signals, resulting in mature neurons with distinct characteristics.

SourceeLife·JournaleLife·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 27, 2026

New international study shows access to patient-reported outcome data improves the consistency of the evaluation of cancer treatment adverse events

A large multinational clinical trial found that giving healthcare providers access to patient-reported outcome (PRO) data significantly improves the consistency of how treatment-related side effects are assessed in patients with cancer. This study highlights the importance of integrating the patient's voice into routine clinical evalua...

SourceEuropean Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 27, 2026

Researchers advance understanding of female sexual anatomy to improve pelvic cancer radiotherapy

Researchers provide radiation oncologists with practical guidance to identify and protect female sexual organs during pelvic cancer treatment. The study establishes a shared, standardized approach to identifying the bulboclitoris, enabling clinicians to measure radiation dose to these tissues.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalPractical Radiation Oncology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 27, 2026

Hospital programs for violence victims can prevent future harm, Boston University study finds

A hospital-based program supporting gun and knife violence victims can halve the likelihood of future harm, according to a Boston University study. Regular engagement with the Violence Intervention Advocacy Program reduced the risk of being revictimized or committing violence by 50 percent two to three years after discharge.

SourceBoston University·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJan 27, 2026

Insights from brain’s waste-flushing system may improve diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Researchers used MRI analysis to measure glymphatic system activity, finding changes related to IIH stage and pressure levels. The findings suggest a noninvasive test could diagnose IIH more reliably, improving treatment options for patients with symptoms including headaches and vision loss.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJournal of Neuro-Ophthalmology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 27, 2026

Deciphering Chaos: A new "Fuzzy" Artificial Intelligence to predict the battle between the immune system and cancer

A new computational modeling framework uses Type-3 Fuzzy Logic and neural networks to simulate tumor-immune dynamics under uncertainty and chaos. The model generates 'bands of uncertainty' and provides interpretable results, enabling physicians to understand the 'why' behind predictions.

SourceEscuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral·JournalInformation Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 27, 2026