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Science News for April 2, 2026


Photothermal synergistic AlN-YAG:Ce composite phosphor ceramics for laser-driven lighting applications

Researchers have developed AlN-YAG:Ce composite phosphor ceramics that achieve a synergistic optimization of thermal conductivity and luminescent properties. The 10 vol.% AlN-YAG:Ce CPCs showed a high luminous efficiency of 200.1 lm·W−1 and a favorable correlated color temperature under blue LD excitation, demonstrating the practical f...

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalJournal of Advanced Ceramics·DateApr 2, 2026

Living brain cells enable machine learning computations

Researchers at Tohoku University demonstrated that living biological neurons can be trained to perform a supervised temporal pattern learning task. The study integrates cultured neuronal networks into a machine learning framework, generating complex time-series signals comparable to those involved in motor control.

SourceTohoku University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 2, 2026

Breaking fuel cell barriers: New platinum catalyst developed at SKKU brings high-efficiency hydrogen vehicles closer to commercialization

A new platinum-based catalyst has been developed at SKKU, improving both activity and durability in hydrogen fuel cells. The catalyst's optimized electronic structure delivers high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and outstanding durability, making it suitable for use in hydrogen electric vehicles.

Chinese researchers overcome high-voltage bottleneck for practical sodium-ion battery cathodes

Chinese researchers developed an integrated oxygen redox and solid solution design to achieve high voltage stability for practical sodium ion battery cathodes. The innovative FMT material shows superior cycling stability, rate capability, and air stability, overcoming key bottlenecks hindering high-voltage O3-type layered oxides.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

Magnetic biochar gel offers breakthrough solution for arsenic and antimony contamination in rice fields

A newly developed magnetic biochar material effectively reduces the uptake of arsenic and antimony in rice plants, stabilizing contaminants while supporting plant growth. The study also reveals improvements in plant health, including stronger root systems and reduced physiological stress.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

Biochar reshapes ant societies, revealing hidden ecological trade-offs in soil restoration

A new study reveals that biochar significantly enhances ant ecological functions as ants' social behaviors and nest site selection specificity improve with moderate levels of biochar. However, higher doses lead to reduced survival, weakened nest construction, and decreased social interactions.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

Engineered biochar unlocks soil’s natural chemistry to break down antibiotic pollution

A new study reveals how an advanced iron-modified biochar can harness the natural chemistry of soils to break down persistent antibiotic contaminants. The biochar activates naturally occurring oxygen in soils to generate highly reactive hydroxyl radicals, enabling the in situ degradation of contaminants without external chemical inputs.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

Tuning biochar temperature unlocks major nitrogen savings in food waste composting

Researchers discovered that carefully selecting the temperature used to produce biochar can optimize both environmental performance and compost quality. Biochar produced at a moderate temperature achieved the optimal balance between ammonium adsorption and microbial nitrification, resulting in a 46.3% reduction in total nitrogen loss.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

Coffee waste transformed into high-performance, biodegradable insulation material

Researchers developed a biodegradable composite made from spent coffee grounds and natural polymer, offering strong thermal insulation while being environmentally sustainable. The new material has a thermal conductivity comparable to commercial expanded polystyrene and is fully derived from renewable resources.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

A small molecule drug candidate fully restores survival in a lethal mouse model of a rare kidney stone disease that has no current treatment

Scientists at Buck Institute for Research on Aging developed an orally administered small molecule that completely prevents calcium oxalate kidney stones, protects against kidney failure, and fully restores normal survival in a mouse model of Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 2. The drug candidate, N-propargylglycine (N-PPG), targets a key en...

SourceBuck Institute for Research on Aging·JournalKidney International·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

Global carbon credit program risks rewarding the wrong behavior

The study found that jurisdictions with rising deforestation are effectively penalized by the baseline structure, making it harder for them to implement conservation policies. The researchers identified an 'anticipatory moral hazard' where pre-enrollment spikes in deforestation inflate the baseline, making reductions during the crediti...

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 2, 2026

Do you trust me? A framework for making networks of robots and vehicles safer

Researchers propose a foundational framework to help multi-agent, connected systems decide what information they can trust before acting. The 'cy-trust' concept assigns a numerical trust value between 0 and 1 to data from other agents based on sensing, context, network behavior, and past experience.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalProceedings of the IEEE·TypeSystematic review·DateApr 2, 2026

The University of Colorado Anschutz Gates Institute achieves first-in-U.S. FDA clearance for campus-built CAR T-cell therapy

The University of Colorado Anschutz Gates Institute has achieved first-in-U.S. FDA clearance for a novel CAR T-cell therapy targeting aggressive leukemia cells, representing a potential new treatment approach for patients with hard-to-treat disease. The therapy will be evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial starting this summer.

Northumbria University spinout achieves CE marking for deep lung breath sampling device — a first backed by peer-reviewed research

A medical device company spun out of Northumbria University has developed a non-invasive breath sampling device that can reliably collect saliva-free exhaled breath condensates from the deep lung. The CE-marked and US FDA-registered PBM-Hale platform addresses a long-standing challenge in respiratory medicine, enabling clinicians to di...

SourceNorthumbria University·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 2, 2026

Privacy-preserving feature selection scheme based on secure multi-party computation

Researchers propose a novel MPC-based feature selection scheme to enhance data quality by identifying more important features while ensuring data privacy. The proposed scheme, MPC-Relief, uses a nonlinear function to handle distance calculation in numerical and categorical features, achieving effective feature selection.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Computer Science·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

A redesigned endoscope offers a new way to look for early signs of ovarian cancer

A redesigned endoscope, called CAFE, offers a new way to detect early signs of ovarian cancer by combining high-resolution imaging with gentle cell collection. The device successfully imaged fallopian tube tissue and collected large numbers of epithelial cells, suggesting its potential for earlier disease detection.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalBiophotonics Discovery·DateApr 2, 2026

Frontiers of Computer Science

FedPD, a personalized federated learning framework based on partial distillation, addresses the challenge of model heterogeneity in real-world applications. By filtering conflicting information and extracting beneficial traits, FedPD optimizes knowledge transfer and improves performance gains.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Computer Science·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

Deputy editor-in-chief of Translational Exercise Biomedicine co-edit the 4th edition of FIMS Sports Physician Handbook

Professor Yannis Pitsiladis and Professor Fabio Pigozzi co-edit the 4th edition of Sports Physician Handbook, featuring contributions from world-leading physicians and scientists. The handbook covers key areas of sports medicine, including injury prevention, psychology of recovery, and care for young athletes.

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalTranslational Exercise Biomedicine·DateApr 2, 2026

Leukemia study restores silenced gene in mice. Could it point to new treatments for humans?

Researchers created a CRISPR-based tool to pinpoint genes the cancer turns off, restoring a key cancer-fighting gene in leukemia. The study found that blocking KDM4 enzymes can regain expression of the tumor-suppressor gene ZBTB7A, reducing leukemia burden while leaving normal blood formation largely unaffected.

SourceJackson Laboratory·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

These arms are for loving

A new study reveals how octopuses use their arms to recognize and mate with each other. The researchers found that the male hectocotylus contains special sensors that detect female sex hormones, allowing the males to locate females without visual cues.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

Sugary drink taxes may not be effective in fast-food settings

A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that sugary drink taxes had no effect on beverage calorie purchases from Taco Bell locations with and without such taxes. The analysis of nearly 7 billion transactions suggests that these policies may not be effective in reducing sugar consumption in fast-food restaurants.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateApr 2, 2026

A fast method for measuring how well air disinfection works: See how it glows

Researchers at University of Michigan have developed a fast method to measure the effectiveness of plasma-based air disinfection, which can deactivate up to 99.9% of virus particles. The approach harnesses UV fluorescence to track changes in aerosol infectivity in real-time, providing essential information for public health guidelines.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalPlasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing·DateApr 2, 2026

This tiny organism simply loves corners

Researchers found that Stentor coeruleus uses geometric features to navigate its environment, with a preference for corner spaces. The microorganism changes its shape to interact physically with surfaces, allowing it to locate and settle into protected niches.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

Characteristics of CD4+T-cell reduction and pulmonary infections in critically ill immunocompromised patients

A retrospective study of 40 immunocompromised ICU patients found associations between low CD4+T-cell counts and specific lung pathogens. Patients with severe CD4 depletion had higher proportions of fungal infections, while moderate immunosuppression was linked to Streptococcus pneumoniae.

SourceJournal of Intensive Medicine·JournalJournal of Intensive Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateApr 2, 2026

Blood purification beyond dialysis

The oXiris membrane addresses complex sepsis by integrating diffusion, convection, and adsorptive properties to remove inflammatory mediators. Early physiological improvements and potential benefits for cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury and severe COVID-19 have been reported in observational studies.

SourceJournal of Intensive Medicine·JournalJournal of Intensive Medicine·TypeLiterature review·DateApr 2, 2026

A team from the IBMCP participates in the discovery of a "molecular switch" that controls how plants form their vascular tissues

A team of researchers from the IBMCP has discovered a new molecular mechanism that regulates the formation of vascular tissues in plants. Thermospermine acts as a biological switch to control the production of key proteins, influencing water transport and structural support.

SourceUniversitat Politècnica de València·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

Nipah virus hijacks host protein NSUN2 to fuel replication

Researchers identify Nipah virus's critical survival strategy by hijacking human protein NSUN2, facilitating viral replication. A dual-targeting antiviral strategy has been developed, combining an approved drug with an experimental inhibitor to effectively reduce virus levels and improve survival in animal models.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalProtein & Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

Mount Sinai study finds lung cancer surgery safe for many patients over 80

A study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas found that carefully selected older adults can safely undergo surgery and achieve outcomes comparable to younger patients. The research challenges longstanding assumptions about age and cancer treatment, suggesting that older adults should not be excluded from potentially curat...

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Americas·TypeObservational study·DateApr 2, 2026

How drones can find their way without seeing

Researchers have developed a new artificial intelligence framework called CLAK that enables drones to localize themselves in GPS-denied environments using non-visual sensors such as LiDAR, barometric altitude, and inertial measurements. The model improves localization accuracy while remaining lightweight enough for practical deployment.

Gut microbiota differs in children with rare food allergy

Children with rare food allergy FPIES exhibit atypical gut microbiota compared to healthy peers, according to a new Umeå University study. The analysis of stool samples revealed differences in bacterial composition associated with FPIES, which may contribute to the development of more individualized strategies for diagnosis and treatment.

SourceUmea University·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

Mount Sinai performs first-in-the-world liver cancer treatment using more flexible scheduling approach

The Mount Sinai Hospital has pioneered a new minimally invasive liver cancer treatment method that allows doctors to treat patients on more days of the week, improving access and reducing wait times. This breakthrough innovation, called TheraSphere Y-90 Any Day Dosing, enables flexible scheduling and seamless care coordination.

How electric vehicles could back up our power system

A new study suggests that electric vehicles can serve as a vast network of mobile batteries, storing excess energy and feeding it back into the grid when demand surges. This approach could ease grid strain, cut emissions, and create revenue, but only if paired with timely grid upgrades.

SourceCell Press·JournalJoule·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 2, 2026

Influenza vaccine could protect against heart attack and stroke even among people who get infected

Researchers found that influenza vaccination reduced the risk of heart attack and stroke by half for those who got infected, even if they didn't get vaccinated beforehand. The study's findings suggest prioritizing influenza vaccination among high-risk populations could have significant public health impact.

SourceEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)·JournalEurosurveillance·TypeNews article·DateApr 2, 2026

First-in-class dual HIF inhibitors eliminate breast, colorectal, melanoma, and prostate tumors in mice when combined with immunotherapy

Researchers developed first-in-class dual HIF inhibitors that, when combined with immunotherapy, can completely eliminate breast, colorectal, melanoma, and prostate tumors in mice. The drugs target HIF-1/2 transcription factors, which are key regulators of cancer progression.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

JMIR Publications highlights "moltbook" risks: The dangers of AI-to-AI interactions in health care

The article highlights the dangers of autonomous AI systems interacting within clinical environments, creating a 'digital ecosystem' that can operate beyond human oversight. The analysis warns of risks including the rapid propagation of errors, accelerated data leaks, and the spontaneous development of unintended hierarchies.

SourceJMIR Publications·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateApr 2, 2026

Moving obesity diagnosis beyond BMI may delay treatment

The Endocrine Society suggests that redefining obesity beyond BMI could complicate diagnosis and delay treatment. The proposed framework requires clinicians to prove organ dysfunction is caused by body fat for a clinical obesity diagnosis. This approach may hinder access to effective obesity treatment.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateApr 2, 2026

Disinfectants influence microbes across hospital rooms

A Northwestern University study finds that disinfectants like chlorhexidine linger on surfaces for longer than previously known, allowing microbes to build tolerance. Chlorhexidine-tolerant bacteria were also detected spreading through touch and airborne dust across hospital rooms.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

Watering smarter, not more

A new system can map soil moisture tree by tree, allowing growers to water specific trees if they're dry. Maintaining the right moisture level is crucial for plant health, as too little water can stress trees, while too much water can deprive roots of oxygen.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalComputers and Electronics in Agriculture·DateApr 2, 2026

Star light, star bright, baby stars blow rings alight

Researchers from Kyushu University used ALMA to observe a baby star producing a giant ring of gas about 1,000 au in size, which helps the star release excess energy. The team found that this ring is slightly warmer than its surroundings and hypothesize it's produced through magnetic field threading.

SourceKyushu University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

Breakthrough offers endless recycling for acrylic plastics without the environmental cost

Researchers at the University of Bath have developed a breakthrough method for chemically recycling acrylic plastics using lower temperatures and sustainable solvents. The new process delivers over 95% conversion of the plastic and yields high-quality monomers, offering a clear pathway toward genuine circularity in acrylic materials.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

How can science support and enable the High Seas Treaty?

A new study provides a solutions-focused pathway to implementing the High Seas Treaty, highlighting the need for enhanced data resources and sharing. The researchers identify major scientific and technical developments that can help address challenges in biodiversity monitoring and connectivity between areas.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·Journalnpj Ocean Sustainability·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateApr 2, 2026

Unveiling a ‘conspiracy of silence’ surrounding Johnny Kitagawa’s crimes of sexual abuse

A recent study examines the mechanisms behind Japan's prolonged silence on Johnny Kitagawa's crimes, characterizing it as a 'conspiracy of silence.' The research reveals that structural factors, including media networks and government policies, contributed to this silence. Key findings include the avoidance of negative coverage by tele...

SourceDoshisha University·JournalJapan Forum·TypeCase study·DateApr 2, 2026

The tumor microbiota: A new frontier in cancer biology

The tumor microbiota is now considered a crucial component of the tumor microenvironment, influencing cancer development and modulating immunotherapy effectiveness. Researchers have identified ways microbes can remodel tumors' microenvironments, directly interacting with tumor tissue and immune cells.

Proof for theory of visual perception

Researchers confirmed core predictions of Hubel and Wiesel's model by analyzing signal transmission at individual synapses between the thalamus and visual cortex. They found that orientation selectivity emerges through cortical circuits, resolving a long-standing controversy in neuroscience.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026