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Science News Archive August 2026 - Page 13


Page 13 of 50

Lunar soil reads as a cosmic time capsule for exploding stars

A new study reveals that the Moon's soil can be decoded to reveal history of supernova explosions. Researchers developed a mathematical model to unscramble the lunar surface, providing guidance for future core samples. The model reveals insights into the history of our Solar System's journey through the galaxy.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 24, 2026

Scientists uncover environmental cues behind bear hibernation

A new study from Virginia Tech scientists reveals the complex relationship between temperature, photoperiod, and bear hibernation behavior. The research found that temperature and day length interact to shape hibernation behavior, potentially disrupting climate-driven changes in hibernation timing.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateAug 24, 2026

Governor Hochul announces milestone in expansion in New York State's quantum communications network

The partnership between SUNY Stony Brook and Brookhaven National Laboratory extends New York State's quantum communications network, enabling new discoveries across various industrial sectors, bolstering research and cybersecurity. The expansion aims to improve computer operations and unlock new opportunities to improve New Yorkers' li...

New study reveals how space rocks become meteorites

Researchers identified seven distinct phases in the journey from space rock to meteorite, with melting and fragmentation controlling mass loss and slowing down. The study used 75 meteorite falls and found that melting causes most of the rock's mass loss, with rocks breaking apart at specific altitudes.

SourceSETI Institute·JournalMeteoritics and Planetary Science·DateAug 24, 2026

Bird bulking: Exercise in youth decreases energy used for moving as an adult

A study in birds found that physical activity in youth decreases energy used for moving as an adult, with significant implications for human health. The research, led by Penn State researchers, suggests that children who are physically active may become more efficient movers, making exercise more accessible and beneficial for adults.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 24, 2026

Natural gas drilling could raise salt levels, in turn boosting radium in water

Researchers found that natural gas drilling can lead to elevated radium content in local drinking water due to increased salt levels. This can pose serious health risks, including an increased risk of cancer. The study used private water wells and springs to collect samples and found a connection between drilling operations and radium ...

SourcePenn State·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeObservational study·DateAug 24, 2026

Dartmouth Health researchers identify additional risk for patients with tick-borne alpha-gal syndrome apart from meat allergy

Researchers at Dartmouth Health identified a higher risk of severe reactions in patients with alpha-gal syndrome when receiving blood plasma or platelet transfusions, particularly from type O donors. The study suggests that pre-existing antibodies to alpha-gal from tick bites may be a contributing factor.

SourceDartmouth Health·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 24, 2026

Songwriting survivorship: a music therapy study examines the needs and challenges of cancer survivors

A Drexel University study analyzing 26 songs written by cancer survivors during music therapy sessions found that music therapy helped reduce anxiety and identified themes such as prioritizing self-care and redefining identity. The study also highlighted the importance of music-based strategies for managing mental health and well-being.

SourceDrexel University·JournalJournal of Cancer Survivorship·DateAug 24, 2026

UC Davis-led initiative drives dramatic improvements in adolescent behavioral health screening nationwide

A nationwide quality improvement initiative led by UC Davis Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics increased screening and follow-up care for adolescent substance use and mental health concerns. Clinics implemented evidence-based strategies, including validated screening instruments, and reported significant improvements in pati...

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Medical Quality·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 24, 2026

Biological changes in firefighters’ urine and blood seen 24 hours after fighting a fire

A new study by UTHealth Houston found measurable biological changes in firefighters' blood and urine 24 hours after fighting a fire, which may help identify early cancer risk. The study identified 75 significantly altered proteins in urine and 10 in blood serum, with several linked to cancer-related pathways.

Large mammals alter soil chemistry and increase fertility in the Atlantic Forest

A study published in Ecological Monographs reveals that large mammals like tapirs, peccaries, and deer alter soil chemistry and increase fertility in the Atlantic Forest. By trampling and rooting around, these animals reduce soil acidity and increase nutrient availability, leading to increased forest soil fertility.

Mapping the ‘hidden highways’ of Mexico’s illegal wildlife trade

Researchers have developed an interactive platform to identify future trafficking hotspots, revealing where criminal networks are most likely to strike next. The tool combines landscape ecology with criminology to identify high-risk corridors, particularly across southeastern Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula.

SourceArizona State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 24, 2026

Georgia State Researchers uncover brain-network dynamics in schizophrenia

A new study reveals that schizophrenia affects not only how strongly brain networks engage relative to one another, but also how effectively they return to balance after disruption. People with schizophrenia experience more frequent imbalances in signal strength, recover more slowly, and have altered recovery processes related to sympt...

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalTranslational Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateAug 24, 2026

Study finds sustainable farming program helps refugees, immigrants boost health while launching agribusinesses

A four-year training program helps resettled refugees and immigrants develop sustainable agriculture-based businesses, improving mental and physical well-being. Participants report benefits including flexibility, sense of value, and financial independence, while also building connections with customers and the broader community.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalJournal of Community Practice·TypeSurvey·DateAug 24, 2026

Turbine tactics: biologists successfully alert golden eagles to wind turbines using new deterrent system

A new study successfully uses audio deterrents to alert golden eagles to wind turbines, reducing collisions and deaths by over 50% at two wind farms in the Western USA. The system, called DTBird, emits warning sounds to attract the birds' attention and discourages closer approaches.

SourceRaptor Research Foundation·JournalJournal of Raptor Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 24, 2026

Engineering enters the operating room

A new T32 training program connects bioengineers and neurosurgeons to work on research projects improving neurosurgical practice. The program brings together postdoctoral associates and residents to collaborate on team-based research projects, closing the gap between neurosurgery and bioengineering.

Your reputation depends on how others treat you

Researchers at Kobe University found that allowing observers to update the recipient's reputation helps people's evaluations become more aligned, making cooperation easier to sustain. They also discovered that a social norm called 'recipient image scoring' was particularly effective in supporting cooperation.

SourceKobe University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 24, 2026

High-speed and high-sensitivity multi-gas detection based on parallel heterodyne LITES sensor

The PH-LITES sensor uses parallel heterodyne LITES to detect multiple gases simultaneously, achieving record-high OPL/V and significantly enhancing gas absorption signals. It enables high-speed detection capability through parallel heterodyne modulation and accurate mapping of gas concentrations from a single QTF output.

Evolutionary arm race in Cenozoic seas shaped modern diversity of marine snails

A large-scale study of nearly 700 species of Neogastropoda provides strong evidence for their single evolutionary origin, identifying four new families and a previously undetected burst of diversification in the early Cenozoic. This finding challenges existing knowledge of marine snail diversity and evolutionary history.

SourceSwedish Museum of Natural History·JournalZoological Journal of the Linnean Society·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 24, 2026

Europe's buildings are designed for a climate that no longer exists – new open dataset offers a fix

A new open dataset provides reliable future climate projections for European building design, allowing for more accurate simulations and better adaptation to climate change. The dataset covers over 5,000 locations and spans multiple emissions scenarios, enabling designers to make informed decisions about building energy performance.

SourceNorwegian University of Life Sciences·JournalJournal of Building Performance Simulation·DateAug 24, 2026

A ray of hope in the fight against cancer

CDK inhibitors show great potential for cancer treatment, particularly for aggressive tumor types like leukemias, breast, lung, and ovarian cancer. Innovative technologies like PROTACs and molecular glues may further enhance efficacy when combined with existing therapies.

SourceUniversitatsklinikum Bonn·JournalNature Reviews Drug Discovery·DateAug 24, 2026

UT Health San Antonio names NIH expert inaugural director of stem cell transplant and cellular therapy program

Dr. Georg Aue, a nationally recognized blood cancer expert, has been named the inaugural director of the Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program at UT Health San Antonio. The program aims to increase access to new therapeutic approaches for patients across South Texas, with a focus on clinical excellence, research innovation,...

Online marketplaces are putting biodiversity at risk

A new study highlights the urgent need for concerted strategies to combat online illegal wildlife trade, which is magnified by the anonymity of online platforms. The review identifies critical gaps in data and emphasizes the need for cooperation across sectors and comprehensive policy frameworks to address this growing threat.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalNature Reviews Biodiversity·DateAug 24, 2026

Identification and characterization of anti-chikungunya virus compounds using a biosafe toolkit

A study published in Virologica Sinica identifies three candidate antiviral compounds that interfere with different stages of the chikungunya virus life cycle. The compounds, MDL-12330A, bazedoxifene acetate, and anidulafungin, show distinct antiviral profiles, suggesting that CHIKV infection can be inhibited through different mechanisms.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalVirologica Sinica·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 24, 2026

Doctors studying healthcare from the inside can use professional identity as a research tool

Physician David Wenzel's ethnographic fieldwork in acute hospital settings reveals how his clinical identity shapes interactions with staff. He found that introducing himself as a PhD student led to more open discussions about emotions and relational work, while wearing a student lanyard made him less visible to medical staff.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalQualitative Research in Medicine & Healthcare·TypeObservational study·DateAug 24, 2026

A UCO study reveals that access to bilingual education lags behind in Andalusia’s rural areas

A study by the University of Córdoba reveals that access to bilingual education is unevenly distributed across Andalusia, with rural areas lacking a significant presence. The study suggests that urban areas, with their larger populations, have a higher concentration of schools offering bilingual instruction.

SourceUniversity of Córdoba·JournalJournal of Education Policy·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 24, 2026