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Science News Archive 2026 - Page 493


Page 493 of 519

To show LGBTQ+ support, look beyond Pride Month

A study by Cornell University researchers found that LGBTQ+ employees and customers perceive allyship gestures more authentically when displayed outside Pride Month. The study suggests a one-size-fits-all approach to allyship is not effective, highlighting the importance of timing in shaping perceptions.

SourceCornell University·JournalOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·TypeSurvey·DateJan 20, 2026

Bring a friend: Financial and peer support increase women’s reproductive agency in India

A new study from the University of Illinois explores a program providing financial and peer support to women in Uttar Pradesh, India. The study found that women who brought a female peer to a family planning clinic were more likely to use modern contraception and experience stronger reproductive agency.

AI tool helps you learn how autistic communication works

A new AI-based learning tool, NeuroBridge, aims to bridge the communication gap between neurotypical and autistic individuals. The interactive LLM tool evaluates user responses to match autistic communication preferences, teaching users about cross-neurotype communication styles and their interdependent nature.

SourceTufts University·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 20, 2026

Seawater microbes offer new, non-invasive way to detect coral disease, WHOI-led study finds

A new study demonstrates that changes in seawater microbiome adjacent to corals reveal disease presence more clearly than microbes living within coral tissue itself. This approach could form the basis of an early warning system, allowing managers to respond before disease causes irreversible damage.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalCell Reports Sustainability·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 20, 2026

How cities are changing social behavior in urban animals

A comprehensive review by Bielefeld University researchers reveals that urbanisation significantly impacts animal social behaviour, including changes in communication, aggression and group stability. The study found that 92% of reviewed papers report a significant effect of urbanization on social behavior.

SourceBielefeld University·JournalBiological Reviews·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 20, 2026

Registrations open for São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Immigration, Environmental Violence and Colonialism

The São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Immigration, Environmental Violence and Colonialism is an interdisciplinary laboratory fostering critical training and collective knowledge production. Up to 100 students will be selected for the course, which will feature internationally renowned researchers as speakers.

University of Toronto Engineering researchers create first-ever tool to generate emissions budgets for 1,000 cities worldwide

The University of Toronto Engineering researchers have created the first-ever tool to provide construction-related greenhouse gas emissions budgets for 1,000 cities globally. The open-source model helps cities navigate between the need for new housing and infrastructure and the need to keep global warming below two degrees. The model c...

NRG Oncology adds new leadership members to Brain Tumor, Breast Cancer, Genitourinary Cancer, Lung Cancer, Medical Oncology, Medical Physics, Protocol Operations Monitoring, Publications, and Translational Science committees

NRG Oncology has added several new leadership members to its Brain Tumor, Breast Cancer, Genitourinary Cancer, Lung Cancer, Medical Oncology, and Translational Science committees. Deborah K. Armstrong will lead the NRG Medical Oncology Committee, while Daniel P. Cahill will serve as Surgical Oncology Vice Chair of the NRG Brain Tumor C...

World enters “era of global water bankruptcy”; UN scientists formally define new post-crisis reality for billions

The United Nations University reports that many regions are living beyond their hydrological means, with critical water systems already bankrupt. The study defines 'water bankruptcy' as persistent over-withdrawal from surface and groundwater relative to renewable inflows and safe levels of depletion. This has resulted in a growing list...

SourceUnited Nations University·TypeObservational study·DateJan 20, 2026

Game-changer for rare sugars: alkaline media unlocks high yield of rare sugars from bacteria

Scientists discovered two bacterial strains producing rare sugars, which were characterized as heteropolysaccharides with notable antioxidant activity. Alkaline media significantly enhanced EPS yields by up to 238.92%, while optimizing environmental factors may further enhance bioactivity.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalSystems Microbiology and Biomanufacturing·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 20, 2026

AI-driven ultrafast spectrometer-on-a-chip: A revolution in real-time sensing

A newly developed silicon spectrometer-on-a-chip achieves accurate, noise-resilient hyperspectral sensing by using a reconstructive method and artificial intelligence. The device is sensitive across a broad spectral range, including the crucial near-infrared spectrum, and can capture fleeting light–matter interactions.

HonorHealth Research Institute stroke patient is the first in Arizona to receive a new treatment to clear blocked blood vessels in the brain

A stroke patient at HonorHealth Research Institute is the first in Arizona to receive a new investigational treatment targeting platelets. BB-031 extends the treatment window and increases patients' safety. This represents a completely new approach to treating ischemic stroke.

SourceHonorHealth Research Institute·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 20, 2026

New expert consensus statement affirms lifestyle interventions for the treatment and prevention of major depressive disorder

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine has published a new expert consensus statement affirming the importance of lifestyle interventions in treating and preventing major depressive disorder. The statement highlights the benefits of physical activity, optimal nutrition, and stress management as integral components of MDD care.

SourceAmerican College of Lifestyle Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Lifestyle Medicine·DateJan 20, 2026

Study reveals potential therapeutic target for treating glaucoma

Researchers have identified a metabolically sensitive cell subtype in the eye's drainage system that shows early signs of dysfunction in a genetic mouse model of glaucoma. The study provides what the editors say are fundamental findings highlighting a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing or slowing the development of glaucoma.

SourceeLife·JournaleLife·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 20, 2026

Cleaner ship fuel is reducing lightning in key shipping lanes, research finds

Research from the University of Kansas finds that cuts in sulfur emissions from oceangoing vessels have led to a reduction in lightning stroke density along heavily trafficked shipping routes in the Bay of Bengal and South China Sea. The drop in sulfates from ships can cause fewer cloud condensation nuclei, resulting in weaker convecti...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·Journalnpj Climate and Atmospheric Science·DateJan 20, 2026

Novel therapy using engineered immune cells to kill prostate cancer earns $1.8 million Department of Defense grant

Researchers at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine are developing a novel therapy using engineered immune cells to target advanced prostate cancer. The therapy, which uses genetically modified natural killer cells producing the IL-24S 'Superkine', has shown promise in early-stage studies.

Limiting urban sprawl requires establishing clear targets and limits to expansion, new Concordia study proposes

Cities need clear limits on urban sprawl to achieve sustainability. A new Concordia study proposes combining greenbelts with densification policies to limit sprawl and promote sustainable development. The study found that without additional policies, greenbelts alone are insufficient to halt urban sprawl.

SourceConcordia University·JournalEnvironmental Management·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 20, 2026

Enabling electronic skin to “read” more accurately and reliably — low-crosstalk tactile arrays empower highly reliable braille recognition

A new low-crosstalk iontronic e-skin design suppresses mechanical strain propagation while maintaining sensitivity, enabling stable and reliable multi-point spatial perception. This system achieves efficient Braille recognition with auditory feedback, providing a promising technological pathway for assistive tactile sensing applications.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 20, 2026

Surprisingly in sync: Sunlight and sediments

A new study using sediment drill cores reveals a link between solar cycles and the stability of fast ice in Antarctica. The research team found that changes in solar activity disrupt zonal winds over the Southern Ocean, leading to the retreat of sea ice along the coast.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 20, 2026