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Science News Archive August 2026 - Page 42


Page 42 of 50

Quartz particles reveal how reactor design can boost coal tar yield and quality

Researchers developed a simple visual method for tracking vapor movement inside a fixed-bed reactor, finding that internal structures can redirect vapors and improve tar production and gas quality. The design increased total tar yield and raised the light tar fraction to as much as 74.42 percent.

SourceShenyang Agricultural University Collaborative Journals·JournalSustainable Carbon Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 5, 2026

Widely used early warning score may help guide the urgency of antibiotic treatment for suspected sepsis

A large cohort study found that the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) can identify patients most likely to benefit from immediate antibiotics, allowing clinicians greater confidence in treating lower-risk patients. The study analyzed nearly 100,000 adults treated for suspected infection and suggests NEWS2 may provide a more comprehe...

SourceHarvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute·JournalThe Lancet Respiratory Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateAug 5, 2026

UCLA researchers receive NIH grant to boost the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy

Researchers at UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center are developing drug-based strategies to enhance cancer immunotherapy for melanoma and potentially other cancers. They identified two promising compounds that could strengthen T cell interaction with cancer cells or make tumor cells more susceptible to destruction by T cells.

ALARA+ Coalition launches toolkits to speed adoption of enhanced radiation protection in cath labs

The ALARA+ Coalition has released a suite of resources to help hospital leadership and decisionmakers implement enhanced radiation and occupational safety guidelines for clinicians and staff working in fluoroscopy laboratories. The new toolkits provide practical steps to protect cath lab team members from both occupational radiation ex...

Pumas make roads safer for drivers

A study found that pumas change deer behavior, reducing the likelihood of deer-vehicle collisions by 67%. Deer alter their use of space and time where pumas are present, overlapping less with roads.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateAug 5, 2026

Engineered human neurons rebuild damaged spinal cord circuits

Scientists at Gladstone Institutes have developed a regenerative treatment using stem cell-derived spinal interneurons to repair damaged neural networks in rats. The new cells not only survived and formed connections with the animals' own neural circuits but also improved breathing-related motor function after transplantation.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateAug 5, 2026

American black bears sleep twice as much during hibernation periods as during summer months, spending just 1/3 of this time awake, per machine-learning analysis of data from captive bears recorded over a period of 5 years

A recent study published in PLOS One found that American black bears sleep twice as much during hibernation periods compared to summer months, with only 1/3 of the time spent awake. The researchers used machine-learning analysis of data from captive bears recorded over a period of five years.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·DateAug 5, 2026

Twisting graphene into correlation and topology

Researchers have discovered novel quantum phenomena in twisted graphene, including orbital magnetism, quantum anomalous Hall effect, and unconventional superconductivity. The review highlights the flatband electronic structure of magic-angle bilayer graphene, driving complex behaviors like correlated insulators and topological states.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateAug 5, 2026

Electron redistribution by fluorine‑induced dual defects in cu3p accelerated charge transfer toward high‑performance electrochemical chloride ion removal

Researchers have unveiled a transformative intrinsic enhancement strategy that redefines the performance ceiling of electrochemical deionization. The F-Cu3Pv-2 electrode leverages heteroatom doping to trigger self-adaptive dual defect formation, enhancing electron transfer, ion adsorption, and diffusion kinetics.

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalNano-Micro Letters·TypeNews article·DateAug 5, 2026

Make it make sense: How humans process the extraordinary

Researchers investigated how individuals interpret nonordinary experiences, finding that most people view them as neutral or positive. The study's findings suggest that how a person interprets an unusual experience matters more than the experience itself in determining its impact on wellbeing.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·TypeObservational study·DateAug 5, 2026

New insights into the mechanisms of liquid–liquid phase separation involved in gene regulation

Research at AIST, Institute of Science Tokyo, and Ritsumeikan University uncovers the impact of histone acetylation site location on liquid–liquid phase separation in gene regulation. This study provides new perspectives for therapeutic development targeting aberrant gene expression.

SourceNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 5, 2026

World’s first semiconductor maser

A research team has created a silicon-carbide-based maser that operates continuously above room temperature, enabling new applications in communication and sensing. The maser amplifies microwave radiation and has high frequency stability, making it suitable for precise magnetic field measurements.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 5, 2026

Does eczema increase the risk of developing shingles?

People with eczema face a higher risk of developing shingles due to an altered skin immune response. Researchers analyzed UK database data and found that eczema severity was directly linked to increased shingles risk.

SourceWiley·JournalJDDG Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft·DateAug 5, 2026

Mindfulness-based therapy for opioid misuse offers massive return on investment

A new study reveals that Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) is highly effective in reducing opioid misuse and costs. The therapy, which combines mindfulness skills to regulate craving and pain, has been shown to provide $12 in cost savings for every dollar spent, with potential economic benefits of over $324,000 per patient.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalValue in Health·DateAug 5, 2026

Multifunctional conductive and elastic matrices‑engineered Si nanocomposite anodes for liquid and solid‑state lithium batteries

Researchers have developed a transformative silicon nanocomposite anode that overcomes longstanding barriers to practical deployment, achieving simultaneous optimization of electronic conduction, mechanical robustness, and elastic stress recovery. The anode delivers exceptional high-rate performance and outstanding cycling stability, m...

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalNano-Micro Letters·TypeNews article·DateAug 5, 2026

When we misread autistic people, it may not be a lack of empathy—it may be a mismatch

A new study challenges long-held assumptions about autism by showing that autistic people can understand others' emotions just as well as non-autistic people. Researchers found that autistic participants were similarly accurate at tracking emotional experiences and may have been slightly more accurate when understanding other autistic ...

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalMolecular Autism·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 5, 2026

The scale of butterfly range shifts is far greater than previously known — affecting every continent

A global analysis of butterfly range shifts found that 80% had expanded their range and 79% linked to climate change and extreme weather events. However, severe data gaps persisted in critical biodiversity hotspots like Central Africa and the Amazon Basin.

SourceGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig – iDiv e. V.·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·TypeMeta-analysis·DateAug 5, 2026

German cockroaches appear to be more social animals than previously thought

Researchers discovered that newborn German cockroaches use pheromones in feces to recognize their own colony and form a kind of social bond. This behavior was found to be mediated by both innate attraction to conspecific fecal odor and learned preferences for specific odorants encountered during coprophagy soon after they hatch.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 5, 2026

How do vaccine conspiracy beliefs develop?

A five-year panel study in Japan found that vaccine-related conspiracy beliefs are associated with media skepticism and distrust of institutions. Common forms of conspiracy thinking involve persistent distrust of social institutions and mainstream media.

SourceRissho University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 5, 2026

ZnO/MXene bilayer electron transport layer enables ultra-low dark current AgBiS2 quantum dot near-infrared photodetector for high-performance imaging

The study introduces a high-performance NIR photodetector that optimizes interfacial energy alignment and suppresses leakage current. The optimized device achieves an ultra-low dark current density of 6.1×10−8 A cm−2, the lowest value reported for AgBiS2 CQD photodetectors so far.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalNano Research·DateAug 5, 2026

Meningococcal B vaccine linked to lower gonorrhoea risk

A new study found that the meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine was associated with a 38% lower risk of gonorrhoea notifications in young people aged 14 to 22 years in the Northern Territory. The researchers believe the vaccine triggers an immune response to help prevent both infections.

SourceAdelaide University·JournalOpen Forum Infectious Diseases·TypeObservational study·DateAug 5, 2026

Systemic gap in drug subsidies leaves low-income pregnant women with fewer treatment options

A nationwide study in Australia found that financial status impacts access to modern anti-nausea medications, driving off-label prescribing and structural health inequities. The study suggests updating medication funding structures to expand pregnancy-relevant medication approvals and subsidies.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalActa Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 5, 2026