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Science News Archive August 2026 - Page 22


Page 22 of 50

When home is no longer safe for older women

Older women in Australia are facing growing risk of hidden homelessness due to climate change, unpaid care work, and financial inequality. The problem is compounded by a lack of affordable housing and inadequate social protections, leaving them exposed to housing insecurity and poverty.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalAlternative Law Journal·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 18, 2026

AI framework predicts network latency trends for safer telesurgery

Researchers developed a deep reinforcement learning approach to predict network latency trends, enabling telesurgical systems to anticipate and adapt to changing communication conditions. The model achieved high accuracy in predicting direction and value of future latency changes, providing valuable information for latency mitigation.

SourceJournal Center of Harbin Institute of Technology·JournalSmartBot·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2026

Unlocking the mystery of bacterial persisters

Researchers examine bacterial persistence from multiple dimensions, highlighting its complex mechanisms and deep interactions with host-pathogen dynamics. Emerging strategies to eliminate persisters, such as phage-derived therapies and metabolic interventions, are also discussed.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 18, 2026

Kyoto's gardens provide habitats for local amphibians

Research at Kyoto University's gardens revealed seven species of frog and one species of newt, highlighting the importance of culturally managed water features as habitats for urban amphibians. The study's findings emphasize the need to consider these sites as biodiversity hotspots, promoting coexistence with nature.

SourceKyoto University·JournalUrban Ecosystems·TypeObservational study·DateAug 18, 2026

How the “unicorn of the seas” got its helix

Researchers used tensor tomography to visualize the nanometre-scale building blocks of narwhal tusks, finding two opposing helices that form an extremely stable structure. The findings challenge previous understanding of composite materials and provide new insights into the function and structure of narwhal tusks.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2026

“A single radar to handle both communication and detection”: DGIST develops receiver technology that lightens the computational load on autonomous vehicles

A research team at DGIST developed a low-complexity receiver technology that can perform data communication and detect surrounding objects using a single automotive radar. The technology achieved stable communication performance and improved target range measurement and detection performance.

SourceDGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalIEEE Wireless Communications Letters·DateAug 18, 2026

KAIST turns once-troublesome protons into an energy storage resource for batteries

A KAIST research team has developed a new electrode material that sequentially stores zinc ions and protons, enabling high storage capacity and fast charging/discharging performance. The material achieved 368.7 mAh g⁻¹ storage capacity and retained 46.9% of its capacity even at 16-fold increased charging/discharging rates.

Turning brain neurons on and off with light: DGIST develops a “biological switch” that works like magic

The research team has developed a novel optical control platform, LATeNT, that uses light to block signal transmission between neurons and restore normal signaling. This technology has the potential to be widely applicable to various life science and medical research fields, including brain disorders and regulating insulin secretion.

Healthy sleep patterns in mid life linked to longer working life expectancy

A large study found that very disturbed or long sleep (9+ hours) at age 50 was associated with a 9-month reduction in workforce participation. Reporting no sleep disturbances was linked to a 13-year 5-month working life expectancy, while severe sleep disturbances were associated with a 12-year 10-month expectancy.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalOccupational and Environmental Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateAug 18, 2026

Childhood epilepsy linked to significantly lower long term educational attainment

A large Danish study found that children with childhood epilepsy tend to have poorer exam grades and lower educational attainment, with those with early onset or complicated epilepsy being especially disadvantaged. The study highlights the need for assessment and targeted intervention to optimize educational potential.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateAug 18, 2026

Women make up nearly 70% of the global health workforce, even as the world faces a shortage of 34 million health workers

The global health workforce nearly tripled between 1990 and 2023, with women driving most of the growth, yet remaining concentrated in lower-paying professions. An additional 34.4 million health workers are needed to achieve moderate universal health coverage, with shortages greatest in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

SourceInstitute for Health Metrics and Evaluation·JournalThe Lancet Public Health·DateAug 18, 2026

Introduction of London’s ultra low emission zone linked to improved lung growth in children

A landmark study of over 3,400 children found that London's Ultra Low Emission Zone improved lung growth and health, with lung capacity increasing by 10ml per year. The study suggests that clean air zones can benefit child development and should be considered a priority for cities globally.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalThe Lancet Public Health·TypeObservational study·DateAug 18, 2026

Inexpensive reflective tiles pave the way for cost effective millimeter wave wireless communications

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have developed an inexpensive solution to the path-obstruction problem in millimeter wave wireless communications. Their passive reflective tiles, called FlowForm, can nearly double average data rates indoors and double wireless coverage area in challenging environments, matching ...

Burying crop residues deeper could help protect maize from ear rot and mycotoxins

A three-year field study found that deeper straw incorporation reduced maize ear rot and mycotoxin contamination while improving soil health and microbial communities. The study suggests that optimizing straw management strategies could turn a familiar practice into a more effective tool for soil health and food safety.

SourceShenyang Agricultural University Collaborative Journals·JournalAgricultural Ecology and Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2026

Zebrafish toxicology needs a clearer path from the lab to real-world environmental risk

Zebrafish models can help scientists understand contaminant toxicity, but translating these findings to wild species is a major challenge. A new framework, Z-PATH, proposes a four-tiered approach to connect molecular effects with whole-organism performance and population-level consequences.

SourceShenyang Agricultural University Collaborative Journals·JournalNew Contaminants·TypeNews article·DateAug 18, 2026

Teen girls facing the most adversity showed the biggest gains in social connection after breathwork course

A new UCLA study found that teenage girls who experienced the highest levels of childhood trauma showed the largest gains in social connectedness after participating in a breathwork course combined with social-emotional learning. The program, developed by the International Association for Human Values, increased social connectedness by...

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJournal of Research on Adolescence·DateAug 18, 2026

Charles W.M. Roberts, MD, PhD, an internationally recognized physician-scientist, named president and CEO of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Charles W.M. Roberts, a renowned physician-scientist, will lead St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in accelerating progress against childhood cancer and catastrophic diseases. With his expertise in cancer epigenetics and clinical research, Roberts aims to transform outcomes for children worldwide.

Higher fluoride levels in public drinking water during pregnancy may be linked to differences in children's cognition scores, NIH-funded study finds

A new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that higher fluoride levels in public drinking water during pregnancy may be associated with lower fluid cognition scores in children. The study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, looked at the relationship between prenatal water fluoride exposure and chi...

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Epidemiology·DateAug 18, 2026

Circadian rhythms and sarcopenia: Unlocking the biological clock in muscle aging

Researchers reviewed the impact of circadian disruptions on muscle health, finding that imbalances in protein synthesis, mitochondrial function, and inflammation accelerate muscle deterioration. Circadian-aligned lifestyle interventions and pharmacological therapies, such as REV-ERBα agonists, hold promise for mitigating the effects of...

SourceChinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd.·JournalChinese Medical Journal·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 18, 2026

Study of behavior-related digital dieting apps finds different effects of persuasion-related features

A study of behavior-related digital dieting apps found that photo-informed expert feedback increased app use and improved meal recording, while photo-based peer observation reduced engagement and did not affect food choices. The findings provide practical guidance for designing effective digital health apps.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalInternational Journal of Information Management·DateAug 18, 2026

University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Fund Six Research Teams through the 2026 Collaborative Science Pilot Awards

The program supports junior investigators and established researchers, fostering mentorship, scientific innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The funded projects focus on various areas, including neurorestorative cell therapy, eliminating therapy-induced senescent cells, and microbiome-immune-radiation interactome in prostat...

Study on impact of changes to information reporting on gig workers’ behavior uncovers unreported income

A recent study by Carnegie Mellon University and the Internal Revenue Service found that gig workers who no longer received 1099 reporting for their work reported 17 cents less in self-employment net earnings on their tax returns. The researchers estimated that 770,000 gig workers went unreported, resulting in $560 million in unreporte...

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalJournal of Public Economics·DateAug 18, 2026

Genetic ‘switches’ could program 3D-printed bone tissue for blood vessel growth

Researchers at Penn State have developed genetic 'switches' that can program 3D-printed bone tissue to grow blood vessels, enabling the regeneration of bone tissue in severe trauma or infections. The technique uses microRNA molecules to push cells down a differentiation pathway optimized for either tissue growth or vascularization.

SourcePenn State·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2026

Volatile weekly work hours have adverse effects on health, employment

Researchers found that men experiencing volatile work hours are more likely to report worsening health but remain employed, while women tend to reduce hours, suspend work, or leave jobs entirely. The study's findings add to the understanding of the health effects of unstable work time and schedules, particularly for precarious employment.

Caregivers are active agents in their infants’ learning and socialization, but how they do this differs across cultures

A new study shows that caregivers from Indigenous Wichi and European descent cultures have different approaches to supporting infants' developing agency, with Wichi interactions being more communal and non-verbal. The research provides empirical evidence for alternative pathways to infants' acquisition of agency.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalInfancy·TypeObservational study·DateAug 18, 2026

Genome-scale model-guided microbial engineering converts agricultural waste into biodegradable bioplastics

Researchers develop a genome-scale model-guided microbial engineering strategy to convert agricultural waste into biodegradable bioplastics. The approach enables efficient production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) from radish hydrolysate, a promising feedstock for sustainable biomanufacturing.

SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalBioresource Technology·DateAug 18, 2026

Rethinking how we name and classify our human ancestors following recent evolutionary discoveries

Recent advances in human evolution challenge the current classification system, proposing a reclassification of Homo and its closely related species. The research aims to provide a more accurate and stable way to represent the complex evolutionary relationships revealed by the growing fossil record.

SourceMonash University·JournalAmerican Journal of Biological Anthropology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateAug 18, 2026