A team of engineers has unveiled ScaFi, a robot that swims like a fish, with a flexible tail made of fiberglass rods and a rigid front section. The robot's design allows it to scale up or down, making it suitable for studying shallow creeks to open water, while preserving fish-like gait and motion.
A new study reveals the importance of land use in maintaining soil health, with high levels of organic matter found in private gardens and low levels in lawns. The research uses buried cotton underwear to measure soil activity and provides insights into how to promote healthy soil ecosystems.
A study found that high blood levels of xylitol were associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Researchers analyzed data from 17,710 participants and found a dose-dependent relationship between xylitol levels and cardiovascular event rates.
Researchers developed a novel divide-and-conquer approach for model checking linear temporal properties, called DCA2MC, to address state-space explosion and long verification times. The approach divides the original model checking problem into smaller, independent tasks, reducing memory consumption and verification time.
A research team at KIMS developed a flexible near-infrared photodetector with improved sensitivity and durability through p-type doping and electric-field optimization. The device achieved a 5.1-fold increase in photoresponsivity and demonstrated stable light detection across a broad wavelength range.
A new study finds that illness rates increase with proximity to the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, a site contaminated with radioactive and chemical waste. Wealthier residents, who were expected to take more action to protect themselves, were actually driven by fear to take precautions.
A study found that the FKBP5 gene, regulating stress hormones, is 'stuck on' in schizophrenia brains, leading to increased stress response and vulnerability to psychiatric conditions. The research suggests new treatment targets, targeting the gene, may develop to address this altered stress response.
A mother's obesity during pregnancy may program her son's liver metabolism and lead to glucose intolerance and reduced insulin sensitivity in adulthood. Transplacental extracellular vesicle RNA signaling is thought to play a key role in this effect.
A new study from the University of Surrey finds that traffic noise disrupts the benefits of bird song and other nature sounds, with negative impacts on stress reduction and positive mood changes. Reducing speed limits near parks and increasing vegetation could help mitigate this effect.
The NRG-LU005 trial found that patients receiving twice-daily radiation experienced a more favorable quality-of-life trajectory than those receiving once-daily radiation. This association remained after adjusting for patient characteristics, although the radiation schedule was not randomized.
Researchers at Hefei Institutes of Physical Science achieved record pulse energies with a laser diode-pumped Er,Pr:GYAP laser operating at 2.7 μm. The crystal helps improve laser performance, expanding the emission range and reducing energy losses. The laser produced high-energy pulses with Q-switched operation.
A study led by the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute identified inherited genetic variants as a key factor in therapy-related myeloid neoplasms, a type of blood cancer. Patients with inherited cancer-predisposition variants had poorer outcomes and were more likely to develop extensive chromosome abnormalities.
A new study suggests that HLA-II peptide-binding diversity influences antibody responses and susceptibility to infections. Individuals with broader peptide-binding repertoires were more likely to show antibody responses and had a lower risk of severe infections requiring hospital care.
A study of 446 young adults from Australia and China found that frequent exposure to eating videos can lead to body image concerns, strong food cravings, and symptoms linked to disordered eating. The study suggests that these videos may contribute to unhealthy thoughts about food, eating, and appearance.
Researchers at Tohoku University found that stimulating the vagus nerve after training improves long-term learning in mice, suggesting a previously underappreciated mechanism behind vagus nerve stimulation. The study reveals that rhythmic changes in brain blood vessels play a key role in supporting long-term learning.
Researchers recorded a bycatch event of harbour porpoises entangled in a fishing net, gaining unprecedented insight into their behaviour. The incident showed the animals could avoid nets but made a rare mistake, leading to entanglement.
A research team created an ultrathin artificial lung that reproduces the movement of alveoli, air sacs inside the lung, and demonstrates the response to influenza virus. The lung operated stably through 240,000 breaths and showed promise for studying lung disease and drug responses.
A 20% sugar tax could prevent millions of cases of tooth decay and gum disease in Australia, saving the country from 3.7 million tooth decay cases and 115,000 complete tooth losses. The research also found that a sugar tax could generate approximately half a million health-adjusted life years for the 2019 Australian population.
A new Cochrane review finds that nicotine e-cigarettes are more effective in helping people quit smoking than conventional methods like nicotine gums and patches. The review of 80 randomized controlled trials involving 29,861 participants showed that e-cigarettes led to higher quit rates, resulting in about 4 more quitters per 100 people.
The publication of the alpha-synuclein seed amplification assay (αSyn-SAA) biomarker highlights a decade of collaborative progress in biomarker development. This milestone enables earlier testing of new treatments for Parkinson's disease, which could delay or prevent disease onset and progression.
Researchers create unique 'artificial fingerprints' using nanoparticles that can be authenticated with smartphone flashlight and laser pointer. The technology has potential applications in anti-counterfeiting and electronic device authentication.
A recent study found that Black parents who experienced higher levels of appropriated racial oppression were less likely to transmit positive, culturally protective messages to their adolescent children. The effects of racial oppression were more pronounced among lighter-skinned parents and teens, according to the study.
Analysis of UK baby food pouches found they often contain high sugar and low nutrient levels, failing to meet guidelines for complementary foods. Only a small percentage met the desired criteria, raising concerns about the suitability of these products for young children.
New research from Mass General Brigham suggests that protecting the thymus during cancer therapy may improve outcomes. The study found that patients with unimpaired thymic health before radiotherapy had the most favorable outcomes, while those with higher radiation doses to the thymus had significantly worse overall survival.
Researchers found that radiation to the thymus during NSCLC treatment increased cancer spread and mortality risk in patients with relatively healthy thymus. Thymic health scores were associated with T-cell diversity, longevity, and cancer outcomes.
A randomised trial of 510 parents in wartime Ukraine found that support groups halved violence against children and decreased depression and anxiety symptoms. The programme, called 'Hope Groups', was designed to provide safety, trust, and hope to families during the war.
Researchers have identified a potential target to prevent the spread of Chagas disease by using antimalarial compounds to interfere with the parasite's growth and development. This approach could lead to successful health interventions and save thousands of lives each year.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience found that social isolation increases alcohol consumption in male mice by activating a specific brain circuit, while decreasing it in female mice. The researchers identified a neural pathway connecting the basolateral amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex, which may hold key to understanding alc...
Jeffery Kelly, a Scripps Research professor, has been elected to the European Academy of Engineering for his groundbreaking research on protein folding and its link to diseases. His work led to the development of FDA-approved therapeutics for amyloid polyneuropathy and cardiomyopathy.
The 2026 ARDD Meeting in Boston will feature a dedicated government and regulatory panel led by senior FDA officials and ARPA-H representatives. The panel will explore how clinical trials of emerging therapeutics can be aligned with regulatory mandates and the evidence required to advance new interventions responsibly.
Researchers studied 72 young Sun-like stars and their protoplanetary disks, finding that different types of winds are more important at different stages in a planetary system's early life. The study shows that gas giants like Jupiter must assemble their massive atmospheres quickly before winds carry that raw material away.
The article introduces a field guide for environmental data scientists, providing 10 simple rules for effective use of generative AI. The rules address preparation, coding, and verification phases, aiming to fill a gap in existing advice. The guide acknowledges the environmental costs and social implications of GenAI, highlighting the ...
Researchers developed a model explaining how lava-covered worlds can maintain thick atmospheres due to molten rock sloshing over surfaces. This new theory expands the cosmic shoreline framework, suggesting a 'cosmic sandbar' region where outgassing balances escape, enabling planets to retain atmospheres.
New research proposes a revision to classical nucleation theory, revealing a gradient of crystallinity in crystal nuclei. The study uses 3D atomic imaging to examine over 8,000 nuclei in high- and medium-entropy alloys, shedding light on the energy needed for nuclei to form and merge.
The 2026 Childhood Obesity Conference, 'Be the Reason Kids Greaux Healthy,' will explore strategies for preventing and treating childhood obesity, bringing together healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, and community leaders. The conference will feature keynotes, sessions, and poster presentations on emerging topics in pedi...
Researchers develop a hybrid path-finding model for drones, finding that 2-3 rounds of adaptive planning are sufficient for optimal results. This approach balances speed and efficiency, making it practical for various applications, including search-and-rescue operations and commercial agriculture.
UCSF's new center aims to train 1,000 health care providers annually and develop screening tools to identify eating disorders. The center will also serve as a national hub for eating disorders research, connecting investigators across institutions and disciplines.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have developed a novel scaffold system that recreates the natural transition from tendon to cartilage-like tissue to bone, promoting more organized formations of tendons, cartilage-like tissue, and bone at the repair site. This innovation aims to improve the quality and d...
Researchers at the University of Tartu developed a single genetic test that can uncover causes of previously unexplained premature ovarian insufficiency in 12% of cases. This breakthrough diagnosis provides valuable information for women with infertility and associated health risks, enabling personalized counseling and treatment options.
A $3.3 million NIH grant will support a five-year study on opioid treatment during breastfeeding, aiming to improve drug safety for lactating mothers. The researchers will develop a cell-based assay and use physiologically based pharmacokinetic models to predict drug levels in mothers and infants.
A new study finds that rain falling through wildfire smoke can deliver unusually large bursts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to ecosystems in the United States. The nutrient pulses could become an increasingly important ecological consequence of fire as wildfires become more frequent.
A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign examines how a firstborn son impacts childbearing women's and mothers-in-law's mental health. The research found mother-in-laws experience a 15% lower risk of depression or anxiety when their daughter-in-law has a firstborn son, while daughters-in-law face increased stress as...
Researchers at the University of Maine discovered that planktonic baby lobsters preferentially feed on Calanus finmarchicus, a tiny, calorie-rich zooplankton species, during one of the most vulnerable stages of their lives. This finding is crucial to understanding fluctuations in the abundance of lobster larvae and future adult lobsters.
Liu and Xu are studying conformality-guided learning, a framework that uses conformal prediction signals during model training. They will develop theory and algorithms for three thrusts, including methods for subgroup and time-localized reliability.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital identified a new target responsible for bone marrow scarring in myelofibrosis, a type of blood cancer. Combining traditional therapy with drugs blocking scar formation may improve treatment outcomes. The study found that inhibiting freecycling activity with drugs like hydroxychloroquine can red...
The Rice360 project, led by Rebecca Richards-Kortum, aims to develop a low-cost, AI-enabled system to accelerate breast cancer diagnosis in rural Texas. The system, Access BreastDX, uses an AI-enabled digital microscope to quickly scan breast cell and tissue samples, providing automated assessments and remote review by pathologists.
Researchers at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that BRAF plays a key role in developing and maintaining chronic nerve pain caused by nerve damage. Using BRAF inhibitors reduced pain sensitivity in preclinical models, suggesting therapeutic potential for treating chronic nerve pain.
Researchers discovered the world's highest late Middle Pleistocene marine deposits on the southern margin of the Central Anatolian Plateau, with deposits reaching 1177m above sea level. The findings provide a rare high-resolution temporal benchmark linking marine deposition to deep-seated geodynamic processes.
Researchers found the brain continuously blends and adjusts multiple goal-directed strategies at the same time, like a GPS system recalculating a route. The hippocampus plays an active role in tracking possible future strategies and planning upcoming actions, supporting a three-part framework for compositional control.
A tiny optical imaging probe designed for optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging inside blood vessels in the brain has been developed. The probe can acquire full 360-degree images by using a tiny piezoelectric actuator to rotate an optical lens, eliminating rotational distortion.
A historic drought in northern Kenya led to a shift in livelihoods, with fishing becoming a crucial source of food and income among the Daasanach community. The study found that drought can alter not only physical health and food access but also cultural norms and settlement patterns, with women experiencing greater hardship than men.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have developed a new method for studying complex quantum systems using quantum computational spectroscopy. This approach allows for the investigation of a wider range of quantum systems, including those affected by their environment or changing over time.
Researchers from Boston Children's Hospital have developed a new gene therapy approach that collects enough stem cells in a single hospital admission, improving turnaround time for genetically altering and infusing cells. The approach has shown long-term stability and safety, with patients not experiencing any adverse effects.
Researchers at George Mason University are conducting a project to develop defense-in-depth cyber-physical security for AI data centers. The project, funded by the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority, aims to enhance the security of AI data centers and protect against cyber-physical threats.
The University of Tennessee has been awarded a $25 million grant by the US Department of Energy to advance nuclear science and security research. The grant will support the development of new scintillators and collaboration with leading experts in nuclear non-proliferation.
A study published in PLOS Medicine suggests that global snakebite envenoming incidence is much higher than previously estimated, with 2.1-7 million cases per year and 274,000-513,000 annual deaths. Low-income countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, exhibit the highest incidence and mortality rates.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that women with type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop mental health conditions, while men experience more cardiovascular and renal complications. The researchers analyzed data from 28,720 men and women in the UK, revealing significant sex differences in disease trajectories.
A large population-based study found that emergency diagnoses are common across multiple conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and coronary heart disease, and are consistently associated with worse outcomes. The study suggests that emergency diagnosis is a common phenomenon across diverse diseases and is linked to higher mortality ...
Researchers revived 160-million-year-old proteins with natural antimicrobial properties, inspiring new treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections. The revived molecules outperformed some present-day counterparts in laboratory tests, offering a promising solution to the global health issue.
Researchers developed a recyclable system using baker's yeast to store H₂ in organic molecules and iron ions to release it when needed. The method uses polyhydric alcohols and polyketones, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional H₂ production and storage methods.