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Science News Archive April 2026 - Page 20


Page 20 of 55

Monkeys learn to self-medicate with soil to help them digest tourists’ junk food

In a unique behavior, monkeys on Gibraltar have learned to eat dirt to help them digest the junk food consumed by tourists, which disrupts their gut microbiome. The researchers found that geophagy is socially learned and has become part of the macaques' culture, with different troops having preferences for certain types of soil.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateApr 22, 2026

Under embargo: Families and friends speak out on electroconvulsive therapy’s silenced risks

A new study reveals that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can lead to significant negative impacts on standard of living, personal relationships, and even brain damage. Relatives and friends of ECT patients report long-term effects including memory loss, emotional blunting, and loss of independence.

SourceUniversity of East London·JournalPsychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice·DateApr 22, 2026

Trapping light magic: MOF-derived nanoconfined hollow polyhedral photocatalyst

A novel MOF-derived nanoconfined hollow polyhedral bimetallic sulfide heterojunction exhibits enhanced light harvesting efficiency and promotes rapid tetracycline degradation, with a kinetic rate constant five times higher than pristine Ag2S. The material maintained over 90% efficiency in real water matrices.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalGreen Energy & Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 21, 2026

Pacific annular warming elevates the 2026/27 El Niño prediction

Researchers have forecasted a super El Niño event toward the end of 2026, driven by a rare and extreme surface annular warming pattern in the tropical Pacific. The current heat content buildup alone would generate a moderate El Niño, but adding the influence of annular warming intensifies it into the super category.

SourceOcean-Land-Atmosphere Research (OLAR)·JournalOcean-Land-Atmosphere Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 21, 2026

Why do some people act on climate change while others stay silent?

The study found three distinct types of climate supporters: activists, anxious individuals who want to help but struggle with motivation, and hierarchy enhancers who use radical tactics for competitive reasons. Understanding these differences can inform effective communication strategies for climate movements.

SourceMurdoch University·JournalCurrent Research in Ecological and Social Psychology·TypeSurvey·DateApr 21, 2026

Cardiac CT scans see the future: Visualizing "invisible" heart risks

Researchers at Kumamoto University discovered that combining cardiac Computed Tomography (CT) scan markers can identify patients at highest risk for future heart failure and death. The 'delayed phase' scan detects localized scarring and subtle damage throughout the heart muscle, providing a synergistic view of heart health.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalEuropean Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging·TypeObservational study·DateApr 21, 2026

Playing with your dog creates a stronger bond

A Linköping University study shows that playing with dogs for just a few minutes a day can significantly improve the emotional bond between owners and their pets. Dog training did not have the same effect, suggesting that playtime is crucial for building strong relationships.

SourceLinköping University·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateApr 21, 2026

Federal housing assistance may lead to improved two-year survival among older people with prostate cancer

New research suggests that federal housing assistance may lead to better two-year survival chances among older men with prostate cancer. The study found a 12% lower risk of death in men who received housing assistance compared to those without it.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 21, 2026

Asphalt is everywhere; but is it bad for our health?

Researchers have found that asphalt releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, which can cause respiratory problems and even lung cancer. As pavement ages, these VOCs become more toxic and can lead to neurological damage. Scientists are working on developing less-toxic asphalt formulations using algae.

SourceArizona State University·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 21, 2026

Early warning signs: UVM scientists offer new clues in fight against disease devastating sea star populations

Researchers detect early signs of immune and neurological disruption in sunflower sea stars before physical symptoms appear, shedding light on the mysterious disease. The study identifies Vibrio pectenicida as a driver of the disease, but notes that its direct link to genomic changes remains unclear.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 21, 2026

Fat cells’ ‘memory’ of prediabetes could make maintaining weight loss after bariatric surgery more difficult

Researchers found that women with prediabetes had persistent changes in gene expression in fat tissue after bariatric surgery, leading to impaired lipid metabolism and greater weight regain. Despite clinical improvement, these molecular alterations may reduce the ability of adipose tissue to adapt after weight loss.

New guideline provides recommendations on combining treatments for chronic insomnia

The new clinical practice guideline from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine provides evidence-based recommendations on combining behavioral-psychological and pharmacological therapies to treat chronic insomnia disorder in adults. The guideline suggests that CBT-I by itself is the most efficacious first-line treatment for insomnia, ...

SourceAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Sleep Medicine·TypeSystematic review·DateApr 21, 2026

Biochar and smart water management offer a new pathway to cut peatland emissions

A new study shows that combining biochar application with moderate water table management can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural peat soils. Biochar consistently lowers carbon dioxide emissions and suppresses methane production, making it a promising strategy for climate mitigation.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 21, 2026

Cellular neighborhoods inside tumors may predict which patients with melanoma benefit from combination immunotherapy

Researchers found that tumor genetics alone did not explain which patients responded to combination therapy, but rather the tumor's immune environment. Patients with active networks of cancer-killing T cells were more likely to benefit from treatment, while those with dense clusters of plasma cells were less likely.

Anxiety regulated by key signal in brain immune cells

Researchers identify calcium as a key chemical signal that triggers immune cells during obsessive-compulsive and anxiety-related behaviors. This discovery establishes a new framework to study how anxiety arises and persists through calcium signals in microglia, potentially leading to targeted therapies.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 21, 2026

Mapping the hidden signals of breast cancer risk

Scientists at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center mapped the architecture of healthy breast tissue to uncover early biological changes linked to cancer risk. The study found that body weight and breast density shape the underlying structure of breast tissue, offering new clues about how cancer risk may develop long before tumors form.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalJournal of Proteome Research·TypeObservational study·DateApr 21, 2026

NYU Abu Dhabi researchers reveal how apples evolved through ongoing exchange with wild trees, offering insights for more resilient crops

Researchers have found that apples evolved through ongoing interactions with wild species, shaping key characteristics such as flavor and disease resistance. Wild apple trees remain a critical resource for developing new varieties better suited to withstand disease and climate change.

SourceNew York University·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 21, 2026

HKUST develops novel ai pathology system for accurate multi-cancer diagnosis without additional model training

The research team developed a novel AI pathology analysis system named PRET that can accurately recognize multiple types of cancer using only a minimal number of samples. PRET outperformed existing methods in 20 tasks, achieving high diagnostic accuracy rates and stable generalizability across different populations and regions.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalNature Cancer·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 21, 2026