Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive 2026 - Page 512


Page 512 of 524

Mechanisms by which smoking worsens periodontitis discovered

Researchers identified altered gene expression in smokers with periodontitis, leading to weakened gum epithelial integrity and excessive inflammation. A new target molecule, CXCL12, was found to drive immune-cell recruitment and inflammation, making it a potential therapeutic approach.

SourceEditorial Office of West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University·JournalInternational Journal of Oral Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Childhood exposure to air pollution linked to poorer cognitive performance in later life

A new study reveals that childhood exposure to indoor air pollution from solid fuels may impair brain health and cognitive abilities throughout life. The research analysed data from over 7,000 Chinese adults aged 45 and above, showing a significant association between early-life exposure and poorer cognitive performance in adulthood.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 12, 2026

Extreme heat waves disrupt honey bee thermoregulation and threaten colony survival

Research found that extreme summer heat can overwhelm honey bees' cooling systems, causing significant colony population declines. Larger colonies with more stable internal temperatures were less affected, highlighting the need for effective management strategies to mitigate impacts of high temperatures and maintain colony stability.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalEcological and Evolutionary Physiology·DateJan 12, 2026

One in four older Americans with dementia prescribed risky brain-altering drugs despite safety warnings

Research finds that nearly one in four Medicare beneficiaries with dementia are prescribed potentially harmful medications linked to falls, confusion, and hospitalization. Despite declines in prescribing rates, high levels of inappropriate prescribing persist among older adults with cognitive impairment.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJAMA·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 12, 2026

How wheat protects itself from fungi

Researchers discovered a previously unknown interplay between wheat's resistance genes and fungal disease factors. The study found that powdery mildew fungus overcomes resistance by modifying recognized effectors, but a new approach could slow down its development by combining targeted resistance genes.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Plants·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Nature Communications study from the Lundquist Institute identifies molecular mechanism underlying peripartum cardiomyopathy

Researchers at The Lundquist Institute have identified PTRH2 as a critical gene that protects the maternal heart during pregnancy, shedding light on the causes of peripartum cardiomyopathy. Loss of this gene leads to severe postpartum heart failure, highlighting the urgent need for better treatments.

SourceThe Lundquist Institute·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 12, 2026

Why did Earth experience drastic climate swings without ice sheets? Scientists reveal slow orbital wobbles as the hidden driver

Scientists reveal that slow orbital wobbles, known as precession cycles, generate abrupt millennial-scale climate fluctuations even under ice-free conditions. The study provides a new clue for understanding rapid climate swings and offers insights for future warming scenarios.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Researchers uncover how tumors become resistant to promising p53-targeted therapy

A Mass General Brigham study identifies new mutations that emerge in tumor cells following treatment, driving resistance in patients with different types of cancer. The researchers found two main categories of mutations: those impairing p53 function and others disrupting drug binding, highlighting a path forward for overcoming resistance.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalCancer Discovery·TypeObservational study·DateJan 12, 2026

New technique puts rendered fabric in the best light

Researchers at Cornell University have developed a new technique to create digital images of cloth that more accurately captures the texture of textiles. The method models how light interacts with yarns, both as it passes through and reflects off the fabric, enabling more realistic renderings for the gaming and animation industry.

SourceCornell University·JournalACM Transactions on Graphics·DateJan 12, 2026

Study offers evidence that racial bias is at play in overrepresentation of Black youth in Canadian child welfare systems

Researchers analyzed national data and found Black children were more likely to be investigated and placed out-of-home than white children, even when economic profiles were similar. The study suggests racial bias, specifically anti-Black racism, is a key factor driving these outcomes.

SourceMcGill University·JournalChild Abuse & Neglect·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 12, 2026

Uncovering how occludin protein maintains blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers

Researchers have uncovered the critical function of occludin in regulating cell barriers, particularly in diabetic retinopathy. The study revealed that occludin's alternative splicing produces a form of occludin that controls leaky blood vessels and excessive vessel growth.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

The secret route of prostate infections

Researchers developed a lab-grown model of the prostate gland to study bacterial infections. They found that E. coli targets specific cells and uses a 'lock and key' principle to invade. A sugar molecule called D-mannose blocks this interaction, offering a potential new strategy to prevent and treat prostate infections.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Microbiology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Aligning games and sets in determining tennis matches

Game theorists propose revising Grand Slam rules to give greater weight to games won, resolving rare but striking fairness problems. In a study of over 50,000 matches, researchers found that game-set discrepancies occur between 3-5% of the time, affecting high-level competition.

SourceNew York University·JournalJournal of Sports Analytics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 12, 2026

X-raying auditory ossicles – a new technique reveals structures in record time

Scientists have developed a refined X-ray diffraction technique that allows for the simultaneous analysis of materials on scales from nanometres to millimetres, enabling detailed studies of complex tissue and bone diseases. This method has been successfully applied to reveal the alignment of collagen fibres in a human ossicle, providin...

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalSmall Methods·TypeImaging analysis·DateJan 12, 2026

NTU Singapore-led study reveals El Niño could reduce life expectancy gains by 2.8 years by 2100, cause trillions in economic losses

A new study led by NTU Singapore reveals that El Niño events can persistently slow long-term improvements in mortality rates, leading to enduring reductions in life expectancy. The research estimates that El Niño could reduce life expectancy gains by 2.8 years and cause economic losses of up to US$35 trillion by 2100.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateJan 12, 2026

HKUST co-develops robotic nanoprobe for precise mitochondria extraction charting new directions in research on therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer

A team led by Prof. Richard Gu has developed an automated robotic nanoprobe that can navigate within living cells, sense metabolic whispers in real time, and pluck individual mitochondria without causing damage or fluorescent labeling. The breakthrough holds great promise for advancing treatment strategies for chronic diseases and cancer.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

KAIST develops OLED technology with double the screen brightness​

Researchers at KAIST have developed a new OLED technology that more than doubles screen brightness while maintaining the flat structure of OLED displays. The new technology uses a thin, near-planar light outcoupling structure and an OLED design method to significantly reduce light loss inside OLED devices.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalNature Communications·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 12, 2026

Gamma rays quickly toughen nitrogen‑fixing bacteria

Researchers at QST discovered that controlled gamma-ray mutagenesis can create heat-tolerant nitrogen-fixing bacteria in weeks, shortening development timelines. The method produces robust, climate-ready microbial products for agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and biofuel production.

SourceThe National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology·JournalMutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Plant-based hydrogel tames zinc dendrites, pushes aqueous batteries past 1 000 stable cycles

A new plant-based hydrogel has been developed to tackle the problem of metallic zinc growing needle-like dendrites that short-circuit cells within a few hundred cycles. The cellulose-nanofiber dual network boosts ion flow and mechanical strength, delivering a cheap and biodegradable electrolyte.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Korea University Institute for Environmental Health completed an invited training to strengthen environmental health capacity for Karakalpakstan Medical Institute

Korea University's Institute for Environmental Health trained faculty members from Karakalpakstan Medical Institute to improve environmental health in the region. The training aimed to enhance water quality and waste disposal management, fostering collaboration and joint research.