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Science News Archive April 2026 - Page 36


Page 36 of 55

AI spots hidden behavior patterns in self-organizing bacteria

A custom-built AI system helped uncover how bacterial communities organize themselves, showing that early moments of a biological transition carry more information than previously considered. The findings bring new insight into the relationship between genotype and phenotype in Myxococcus xanthus.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Why extended postpartum Medicaid coverage during pandemic led to gains in enrollment

A study analyzing postpartum Medicaid claims in 15 states found that extended coverage led to modest changes in healthcare use, with notable increases in emergency department visits and mental health diagnoses. The share of individuals maintaining coverage through 12 months postpartum increased to 77%, but gaps in care persist.

SourceRutgers University·JournalThe Milbank Quarterly·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 13, 2026

Internalization of homophobia and transphobia may undermine mental health benefits of religiosity or spirituality for LGBTQIA+ people, study finds

A McGill University study found that internalized homophobia and transphobia among LGBTQIA+ people of faith can undermine the positive mental health outcomes associated with religiosity and spirituality. Mindfulness may offer a supportive spiritual pathway outside non-affirming religious contexts.

SourceMcGill University·JournalJournal of Homosexuality·TypeLiterature review·DateApr 13, 2026

Gender matters in the brain/bone axis. APOE4, the Alzheimer’s risk gene, silently undermines bone quality in women

Researchers discovered that APOE4 causes bone quality deficits specifically in female mice, through a mechanism invisible to standard imaging. The study reveals an unexpected biological link between Alzheimer's risk and skeletal health, pointing to osteocytes as potential early warning signals for both conditions.

SourceBuck Institute for Research on Aging·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Widespread AI use narrows society’s creative space

New research from Duke University finds that commercial large language models (LLMs) are less creative and generate more similar responses than humans. The study challenges these models with three standard tests assessing creativity and finds that their outputs are more alike, highlighting the need for human diversity in brainstorming

SourceDuke University·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Shorter antibiotic courses show similar outcomes to longer use for some pneumonia patients

For eligible patients with community-acquired pneumonia, shorter treatment durations may be as safe and effective as traditional longer regimens. The study found no meaningful differences in mortality, readmissions, or C. difficile infections among patients who received three to four days of antibiotics.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateApr 13, 2026

Researchers identify new genetic disease that interferes with brain development

Scientists have discovered a new rare genetic disease caused by a mutation in the RPN1 gene, which affects glycosylation and leads to protein instability. The disease, now termed RPN1-CDG, is characterized by neurodevelopmental issues and has expanded the number of genes associated with OST complex diseases.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalHuman Genetics and Genomics Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Rice study resolves decades-old mystery in organic light-emitting crystals

Researchers at Rice University have solved a long-standing puzzle in organic semiconductors by finding that tiny structural imperfections can improve light conversion efficiency. The study reveals how defects act as energy localization sites that behave differently from the rest of the material, enhancing processes like triplet-triplet...

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Global urban methane emissions are growing more than estimated

A new study by University of Michigan found that global urban methane emissions have risen 6% since 2019, with C40 cities facing a 30% increase in their emission reduction targets. The discrepancy between satellite measurements and accounting estimates highlights the need for more accurate monitoring and mitigation strategies.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 13, 2026

U of A research finds improved weather forecasts could reduce heat deaths as climate warms

Researchers found that more accurate weather forecasts can significantly reduce heat-related deaths. The study suggests that technological advancements in forecasting can offset projected increases in heat-related fatalities due to climate change. In fact, the economic value of saving lives through improved forecasting is substantial a...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 13, 2026

First “protein map” of neurons that initiate pain

Researchers have created a high-resolution molecular map of specific sensory neurons that trigger pain, revealing two subtypes of nociceptors with distinct functional components. The study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of chronic inflammatory pain and identifies potential new drug targets using Deep Visual Proteomics.

SourceMax Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Pivotal study of minimally invasive stent therapy shows improved quality of life for patients with blood clots

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that patients with post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) who received stent treatment showed significant improvement in their condition and quality of life. The study, C-TRACT, enrolled 225 patients and compared two treatment strategies.

SourceSociety of Interventional Radiology·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 13, 2026

Parents’ screen habits shape teen gaming

This study found that parental screen-time modeling, mealtime screen use, and bedroom screen use were associated with higher odds of adolescents playing mature-rated video games later. In contrast, parental monitoring and screen-time limits were linked to lower odds of mature-rated gaming and less total gaming time.

SourceZhejiang University·JournalWorld Journal of Pediatrics·DateApr 13, 2026

Between 2.4 and 4.1 million people estimated to be living with chronic hepatitis B infection in Europe

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control estimates that between 2.4 and 4.1 million people in the EU/EEA are living with chronic hepatitis B infection. The prevalence varies significantly across countries, with the highest rates found in southern and eastern Europe.

SourceEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)·JournalEurosurveillance·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 13, 2026

AI with locality awareness

The University of Bonn's new Emmy Noether Group is developing AI methods to fuse different types of geodata for a uniform representation. This allows AI to better understand places, leading to precise urban quality-of-life analysis and environmental assessments.

When the land "speaks": How surface conditions shape precipitation in humid Asian monsoon regions

A new review paper reveals that land surfaces in humid monsoon regions shape precipitation characteristics through complex interactions. High-resolution satellite observations and convection-permitting climate models reveal a nuanced understanding of surface moisture, energy balance, and atmospheric dynamics. This challenges the tradit...

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateApr 13, 2026

Reversible words can lower consumer disbelief in ads

A new study reveals that using reversible words in marketing messages can significantly impact how confident consumers feel about believing a claim. Researchers found that when words differ in their reversibility, it can trigger different mental processes when consumers evaluate marketing language.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalJournal of the Association for Consumer Research·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

New study hints at the cause of a painful skin condition—and at a long-awaited potential treatment

A new University of Michigan-led research has identified a connection between keratin 16 and type 1 interferon in the molecular pathways of pachyonychia congenita. The study found that losing or altering K16 causes amplification of the inflammatory response, but also helps pump the brakes on that response.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2026

Research finds efforts to end child marriage in Malawi leave out local knowledge, culture

Research in Malawi finds that attempts to combat child marriage often neglect local perspectives and cultural norms, leading to challenges in implementing effective solutions. The study proposes an African feminist lens to address the issue, considering relationality, community, and cultural embeddedness to understand the problem.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalJournal of Human Rights and Social Work·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 13, 2026

Competitive interactions are key to explaining the dynamics of the human brain

Researchers analyzed brain interactions to explain attention, decision-making, and memory. Models with competitive interactions outperform cooperative ones, enabling flexible activation of regions and intelligent behavior. This breakthrough brings us closer to creating realistic digital twins of the human brain for personalized medicine.

SourceUniversitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 13, 2026

AI pricing could mean everyone pays a different price

New research suggests that AI-powered price discrimination could lead to hidden, personalised pricing that consumers cannot see or understand, potentially reducing trust and affecting behavior. Regulators are now facing pressure to decide whether such practices cross the line under EU competition law.

SourceUniversity of East London·JournalJournal of Competition Law & Economics·TypeContent analysis·DateApr 13, 2026