Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive April 2026 - Page 18


Page 18 of 55

Telling people they might lose motivates more than telling them they might win, research shows

Research by Virginia Tech researcher Phil Thompson and his colleagues found that when managers frame work problems as potential losses, employees are more likely to take action. Framing something as a loss yields employees to voice a work suggestion more than framing them as gains. This approach can influence employees' motivation to s...

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·DateApr 22, 2026

Yolo County basic income program provided reprieve from poverty but not financial independence

The Yolo County basic income program provided a monthly stipend of $1,289 per month to 76 mostly single-parent families, helping them gain housing, food, and general wellbeing. Participants reported reduced stress levels and improved parenting skills, but faced challenges in achieving long-term financial stability.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·TypeCase study·DateApr 22, 2026

QR codes can influence whether older customers return, USF study shows

A USF study found that easy-to-use QR codes significantly reduce frustration and cognitive load among older adults, leading to higher satisfaction and customer loyalty. The research emphasizes the importance of businesses incorporating user-friendly technologies to cater to seniors' needs.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalJournal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 22, 2026

Mapping microplastic movement in rivers and streams across Pennsylvania

A recent study investigated microplastic movement in freshwater ecosystems across Pennsylvania, finding that watersheds with higher population densities and adjacent wastewater treatment plants had higher concentrations of microplastics. The research also revealed local features, such as forests and rural areas, play a critical role in...

SourcePenn State·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

Wayne State University and Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute researchers establish new digital engagement and cancer outcomes center with ACS grant

Researchers will build connections with Detroit's digital equity ecosystem and promote digital inclusion to link cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers with resources. The Digital Engagement and Cancer Outcomes (DECO) Center aims to advance interventions that improve outcomes at the individual level.

Climate change is already reshaping health, work, and food security in Europe

Climate change is already reshaping health, work, and food security in Europe, with rising temperatures reducing working hours and economic output. Climate extremes are increasing food insecurity primarily through higher prices and diet quality, according to Shouro Dasgupta, a leading expert on the economic impacts of climate change.

Why does life prefer one “hand” over the other? New study points to electron spin

Researchers found that electron spin interacts differently with mirror-image molecules, causing small but meaningful differences in behavior during dynamic processes. This asymmetry could lead to the dominance of a single 'hand' in biology, offering a possible route toward understanding how one molecular form came to dominate.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

Field tests: Clearing aisle islands boosts sales

A study by University of Innsbruck researchers found that removing secondary product displays in crowded supermarket aisles increases sales by 11.5% due to increased browsing and interactions. Shopping carts amplify the negative effects, making narrow aisles feel tighter and reducing perceived control.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPLOS One·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

Should we be switching to silicone toothbrushes?

A new scoping review reveals silicone toothbrushes as a promising tool in global oral health, yet their effectiveness and environmental impact remain understudied. The study suggests that switching to silicone toothbrushes could be a viable alternative to traditional toothbrushes.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·DateApr 22, 2026

Shriners Children’s names world-renowned pediatric surgeon Scott H. Kozin M.D. as Chief Medical Officer

Internationally recognized pediatric hand surgeon Dr. Scott H. Kozin takes the helm as Shriners Children's Chief Medical Officer, bringing decades of clinical expertise to expand access to high-quality pediatric care nationwide. The appointment comes at a pivotal moment, with the upcoming opening of the new Shriners Children's Research...

SourceShriners Hospitals for Children·TypeNews article·DateApr 22, 2026

98% of all recent environmental claims and commitments from the world’s largest meat and dairy companies can be categorized as “greenwashing”, or intentionally misleading

A recent study found that 98% of environmental claims made by the world's largest meat and dairy companies can be classified as greenwashing. The analysis of over 1,200 claims from 33 major companies revealed a lack of evidence supporting many promises.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Climate·TypeObservational study·DateApr 22, 2026

Yoga practice could reduce blood pressure in people with obesity

A recent study published in PLOS Global Public Health found that practicing yoga can significantly decrease blood pressure in individuals with overweight or obesity. The meta-analysis of 30 studies showed that systolic and diastolic blood pressure were lowered by an average of 4.35 mmHg and 2.06 mmHg, respectively.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 22, 2026

New insights into how bacteria manage DNA

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine developed new methods to study DNA management in bacteria, revealing that DNA shape and flexibility play critical roles in gyrase activity. The study identifies specific DNA sequences that guide gyrase binding and interaction with the enzyme.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 22, 2026

Temperature extremes and variability might be worst for the most vulnerable baby birds - the youngest, smallest, and most neglected nestlings - per study of 113 baby barn swallows in Colorado

A study of 113 baby barn swallows in Colorado found that temperature extremes and variability negatively impact the youngest, smallest, and most neglected nestlings. The research suggests that developmental constraints play a crucial role in determining the effects of temperature on nestling growth.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·DateApr 22, 2026

Lack of robust regulation and information about contaminated industrial sites in India poses public health risk demanding urgent reform, study claims

A new study highlights the gap between India's hazardous waste production and registered contaminated sites, emphasizing the need for coordinated monitoring and robust remediation processes. The researchers propose a Contaminated Site Monitoring, Assessment, and Remediation (CS-MAR) framework to improve governance of contaminated sites.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalEnvironmental Development·DateApr 22, 2026

Wildfire-driven deforestation rates in California among highest in world

A study by University of California, Davis found that California's conifer forests have lost between 6% and 11% of their area over the past three decades due to wildfires. Reforestation efforts are not keeping pace with the losses, with only about 1% of deforested Forest Service lands being replanted between 2016 and 2023.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalFrontiers in Forests and Global Change·DateApr 22, 2026

Research on tick-transmitted disease reveals potential weakness, opening paths to new treatments

Scientists at Arizona State University have isolated and studied proteins essential for tularemia's infection process, revealing a potential vulnerability that could lead to new treatments. The research advances understanding of the bacterium's biology and paves the way for developing targeted therapeutic strategies.

SourceArizona State University·JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

BU researchers develop new tool to see how different brain cell types work together

PhysMAP is a machine learning algorithm that separates individual cell type signals within electrical noise, enabling the study of how cell types shape healthy computations and pathological states. The tool has been trained on seven open datasets and can be applied to new datasets without requiring additional experiments.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

Foldable origami-inspired antennas for CubeSat satellites

Researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo developed a 5.8 GHz foldable antenna designed to provide high antenna gain while remaining compact enough for small satellites. The system aims to improve communication capabilities of small satellites used in applications such as space-based internet services and disaster monitoring.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalIEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

New understanding of heart regeneration

Researchers have made a groundbreaking finding on the underlying biological mechanisms of an innovative surgical approach to deliberately 'train' the heart. By applying pressure overload in the early neonatal heart, scientists triggered regenerative mechanisms that increase the number of heart muscle and vascular cells.

SourceUniversitatsklinikum Bonn·JournalCirculation·TypeObservational study·DateApr 22, 2026

Researchers uncover hormonal chain reaction that may shed light on the causes of reproductive disorders

A new role for reproductive hormone secretoneurin has been discovered, showing it stimulates the growth and activity of neurons controlling reproduction through a previously unknown delivery mechanism: exosomes. This finding may shed light on the causes of reproductive disorders such as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and Kallmann syndrome.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

New clues to hepatitis B species restriction could help build a novel model for studying infection and testing therapies

Researchers have overturned decades-long assumptions about why HBV fails to infect mouse liver cells, pointing towards a new disease model. The study suggests that the problem lies in a late step during the viral entry process, which could be disrupted by certain mechanisms.

SourceRockefeller University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 22, 2026

Robots learn to feel what vision misses

Researchers have developed a complementary perception strategy combining visual localization with tactile mapping for robots to locate and read object surface features. The system uses a single RGB-Depth camera and soft pressure sensor array to identify object position, size, and geometry through vision and tactile scanning, respectively.

Equipping COF with a platinum "engine" boosts photocatalytic water splitting hydrogen production efficiency by 109-fold

Scientists have developed a new material that dramatically improves the efficiency of producing clean hydrogen fuel from water using sunlight. The innovative system, which anchors platinum clusters onto a specially designed organic framework, accelerates the chemical reaction 109 times faster than before.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026