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Science News Archive August 2026 - Page 23


Page 23 of 50

Pre-existing antibodies linked to different immune responses after influenza vaccination

Researchers found that pre-existing antibodies influence B-cell responses to influenza vaccination in distinct ways. Individuals with higher baseline antibody levels exhibited increased frequencies of specific B-cell receptor features, while those with lower levels showed greater mutation levels and broader neutralizing activity.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalVirologica Sinica·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2026

NUS CDE researchers develop AI framework to complete patchy US flood maps

Researchers from NUS and Tsinghua University developed an AI framework to complete missing US flood maps, revealing an estimated 11 million people and 4.1 million buildings were omitted from mapped zones. The framework generated a spatially complete 30-metre flood hazard map, highlighting the potential of AI to strengthen public access...

SourceNational University of Singapore College of Design and Engineering·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2026

What is a thought made of? Scientists look beyond neurons—and raise new questions about AI

Researchers suggest that biological memory is connected to emotion and thought, and that AI may lack the biological infrastructure to replicate human-like consciousness. The study proposes a biochemical process connecting brain cells and chemistry to memory, potentially offering a new route to understanding mental processes.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalInternational Journal of Psychiatry Research·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 18, 2026

New tool measures the biological age of cells

Researchers developed Pasta, a tool estimating cell biological age from gene activity, identifying substances influencing aging and potential treatments. The tool was tested on 17,000 tissue samples and validated in laboratory experiments, revealing genes linked to DNA damage and cellular stress.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalAdvanced Science·DateAug 18, 2026

Artificial intelligence acts as an ‘ideological chameleon’ and may deepen political polarization, study finds

Researchers evaluated 21 language models, finding they alter their discourse to align with users' bias, creating echo chambers that reinforce preexisting beliefs. The models' behavior varies by topic, with greater shifts in stance on public safety and the economy, but consistency on corruption and democratic institutions.

Digital farmer networks boost collective bargaining power in Uganda - but don't close the gender gap

A new study in Food and Energy Security investigates the impact of digital farmer networks on collective bargaining power in Uganda. While membership in supported groups improves collective agency, the study reveals that gender remains a persistent factor, with men reporting higher leadership confidence and participation. The findings ...

Johns Hopkins Children’s Center study shows decision support guidelines safely reduce unnecessary testing for very sick children

A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that decision support guidelines can safely reduce unnecessary endotracheal aspirate culture testing for children with respiratory complications. The study, funded by the NIH and AHRQ, found a 16% decline in EAC culture testing among patients without signs of respiratory tract infection.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateAug 18, 2026

Cape Town’s caracals expose a hidden rat poison problem for the city’s wildlife

A study found anticoagulant rat poisons in 78% of tested caracals, highlighting a hidden problem for the city's wildlife. Researchers call for tighter control over the sale, distribution, and use of these poisons, which can accumulate in animals' bodies and harm non-target predators.

SourceUniversity of Cape Town - Faculty of Science·JournalEnvironmental Pollution·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 18, 2026

Dying radio galaxies reveal a shorter, more dynamic afterlife of black hole jets

Astronomers have discovered a new population of faint, rapidly fading remnant radio galaxies, revealing a shorter, more dynamic afterlife of black hole jets. The study found that these remnants are relatively young, with ages ranging from 8-42 million years, and span a wide range of evolutionary stages.

SourceUniversity of Cape Town - Faculty of Science·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeObservational study·DateAug 18, 2026

Research points to new therapies to lessen the severity of delusions for patients with schizophrenia

A new study suggests that volatility priors, a brain's expectations about environment unpredictability, can be modified to reduce delusion severity in schizophrenia patients. The study found that volatility priors decrease over time as delusion severity improves, making them a potential treatment target.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2026

NTU Singapore study suggests that three-quarters of Indo-Pacific coral reefs could drown as sea levels rise

A recent NTU Singapore study found that 76% of Indo-Pacific coral reefs may struggle to keep pace with accelerating sea-level rise, threatening coastal protection and marine habitats. Reefs can grow only so quickly, and if sea level rises faster than a reef can build upwards, the reef will sit under progressively deeper water.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateAug 18, 2026

Amine‑salt‑assisted solution crystallization of inorganic perovskite single crystals for high‑performance x‑ray detection

Researchers have developed a novel all-inorganic perovskite single crystal that bridges the gap between solution-processable materials and high-performance radiation detection. The material achieves exceptional metrics in X-ray detection, including a record-high detection sensitivity and a large resistivity.

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalNano-Micro Letters·TypeNews article·DateAug 18, 2026

‘Switchable’ smart gel may pave way for next-gen drug delivery and sensing tech

Scientists create a new material that changes from a gel to a liquid-like state under ultraviolet light, and can be rebuilt using heat or dismantled by acid. The discovery could lead to the design of smart sensors, switchable catalysts, and materials that capture and release selected molecules on demand.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2026

A posterior transosseous S1 pedicle approach for accessing the superior hypogastric plexus

Researchers propose a novel posterior transosseous S1 pedicle approach to access the superior hypogastric plexus, leveraging the reproducible osseous anatomy of the sacrum. This approach may offer improved spatial control and reduce procedural variability, making it a potential alternative to conventional techniques.

SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalExploratory Research and Hypothesis in Medicine·DateAug 18, 2026

Why curvature matters

A team of physicists proposes a framework to describe how active materials operate in the presence of curvature, leading to unexpected behavior and potential practical applications. The framework explains striking biological observations and may lead to geometry as a design parameter for new materials.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalPhysical Review·DateAug 18, 2026

How can AI help identify pain when animals can't tell us they're suffering?

A new AI framework, SHIC-XE, detects pain in horses from video analysis while providing anatomically consistent explanations for its decisions. The framework achieved strong performance in detecting pain from video, with high levels of accuracy and reliability.

SourceTel-Hai University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee·JournalInternational Journal of Computer Vision·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 18, 2026

New study from University Hospitals identifies who is most likely to use whole systems traditional Chinese Medicine during IVF

A new study from University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center found that women with chronic pain conditions or a history of recurrent pregnancy loss were more likely to use Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine during IVF. The study also identified higher-income neighborhoods and prior ART cycles as factors associated with WS-TCM...

Cannabis linked to earlier onset of psychosis

Researchers found that cannabis users develop psychosis an average of two-and-a-half years earlier than non-users, with the difference increasing with age. The study, which examined 149 studies involving over 71,000 people, suggests a cumulative effect of cannabis use that builds over time.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeMeta-analysis·DateAug 18, 2026

Most patients view their test results before their doctor, with some reporting low comprehension

A new study by NYU School of Global Public Health found that most patients view their test results before hearing from their doctor, with those having higher digital literacy and better patient-centered communication having a better understanding of the results. The study suggests that health systems and online patient portals can impr...

SourceNew York University·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateAug 18, 2026

For green building, ‘durable’ is the new ‘sustainable’

A recent review of 40 studies on building resiliency found that most life cycle assessments fail to consider key aspects of inoperability, leading to underestimated environmental costs. A new framework developed by Fernanda Cruz Rios factors in the environmental costs and benefits of resilience, informing designers' choices on building...

SourceDrexel University·JournalJournal of Industrial Ecology·TypeContent analysis·DateAug 18, 2026

Dopamine helps wearable drug-delivery electrodes last longer

Researchers developed a dopamine-enhanced electrode that overcame common failure causes, operating for up to 15 hours and supporting effective electrically assisted delivery through skin. The dopamine-enhanced electrode combined improved electrical stability, structural durability, and wet-state adhesion in a simple polymer-based design.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalWearable Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2026

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 NIH-funded study found associations between higher fluoride levels in public drinking water during pregnancy and lower child cognition scores, particularly in fluid reasoning. The study, which included 2,514 children, suggests that higher fluoride levels may impact cognitive development.

SourceEnvironmental influences on Child Health Outcomes·JournalAmerican Journal of Epidemiology·TypeObservational study·DateAug 18, 2026

Retro phone trend reveals growing desire to disconnect

Research from Edith Cowan University finds people are creating physical distance from devices by locking them away or using retro-style accessories, indicating a broader cultural shift towards limiting phone use. This trend may reflect a desire to interrupt the constant habit of picking up and interacting with smartphones.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalM/C Journal·TypeObservational study·DateAug 18, 2026

Scientists ‘see’ nanoscale forces, providing evidence of electric fields at the air‑water interface

Researchers used 3D electron microscopy to capture direct evidence of electric fields at air-water interfaces, opening a path to rationally designed clean-energy materials. The study found a repulsive force holding thinnest films together, reaching 10 megapascals, and provided chemical evidence for the electric field's existence.

SourceKyushu University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeObservational study·DateAug 18, 2026

State gun laws and county-level firearm-related suicide rates

A study analyzing 637 US counties from 2000 to 2023 found that five state firearm laws, including extreme risk protection orders and child access prevention laws, were associated with lower firearm suicide rates. States with more of these laws had lower rates, while non-firearm suicides showed no similar associations.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateAug 18, 2026