Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive January 2026 - Page 18


Page 18 of 47

Drinking less could prevent cancer deaths: study

A new study published in British Journal of Cancer found that reducing annual alcohol consumption by one litre per person could lower mortality from several major cancers. The strongest impacts were seen in people aged 50 and older, with estimates suggesting a substantial reduction in cancer-related deaths without preventive action.

SourceLa Trobe University·JournalBritish Journal of Cancer·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 21, 2026

On-chip nonlocal metasurface for color router: Conquering efficiency-loss from spatial-multiplexing

Researchers have developed an on-chip nonlocal metasurface for color router, exploiting symmetry-broken quasi-bound states in the continuum to modulate light extraction intensity and spectral output. The approach achieves efficient, narrowband color routing while minimizing energy utilization efficiency loss from spatial multiplexing.

ŌURA and National University of Singapore open Joint Lab to advance research in personalized preventive health

The ŌURA–NUS Joint Lab combines wearable biometric data with sleep science expertise to study how sleep and physical activity shape long-term health outcomes. The lab aims to generate insights that help individuals, clinicians, and health systems shift from reactive care to proactive preventive health.

Stroke survivors miss critical treatment, face greater disability due to systemic transfer delays

A new study suggests that gaps in the nation's stroke transfer system reduce survivors' chances of receiving critical treatment and increase disability. Patients with longer delays in hospital transfer experienced worse disability after their stroke, highlighting missed opportunities for many stroke patients.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalThe Lancet Neurology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 21, 2026

Light powered catalyst breakthrough rapidly strips hidden carcinogenic precursors from drinking water sources

Researchers have developed a recyclable photocatalyst that harnesses visible light to efficiently remove fulvic acid and other organic pollutants from water. The BiOCl MXene composite achieved removal rates of up to 98.43% for fulvic acid in just 30 minutes, with high durability and versatility.

Biochar’s promise under pressure: Study urges realistic, systems based path forward

A new study urges a realistic and systems-based path forward for biochar deployment, highlighting technical variability, policy gaps, and sustainability constraints. The authors argue that biochar can be a powerful tool when designed with its limits in mind, but only if viewed as critical infrastructure within a circular economy.

Natural ovulation as effective as hormones before IVF embryo transfer

A clinical trial found that natural ovulation before frozen embryo transfer is as effective as hormone treatment in achieving a healthy baby by IVF, with a lower risk of maternal complications. The study involved 4,376 ovulatory women and showed similar outcomes for birth weight and newborn complications.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 21, 2026

Engineered biochar–clay “thermal sponge” turns waste wood into a green cooling battery for buildings

Researchers have developed a new composite material that stores and releases heat, reducing temperature swings in buildings. The engineered biochar-clay hybrid increased energy storage capacity by 223% and improved thermal conductivity, demonstrating potential for real-world applications.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 21, 2026

Policies to screen doctors’ fitness seen lacking in fairness

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that many hospital screening policies for late-career physicians lack basic fairness protections. The authors recommend creating policies that balance patient safety with fair treatment of physicians, including clear standards and appeal processes.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeContent analysis·DateJan 21, 2026

Long term use of anti-acid drugs may not increase stomach cancer risk

Researchers found no association between long term use of proton pump inhibitors and increased risk of stomach cancer. The study, which analyzed data from five Nordic countries over 26 years, suggests that patients needing long term proton pump inhibitor therapy may not need to worry about a higher risk of stomach cancer.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·TypeObservational study·DateJan 21, 2026

New critique prompts correction of high-profile Yellowstone aspen study, highlighting challenges in measuring ecosystem response to wolf reintroduction

A recent critique of a high-profile Yellowstone aspen study highlights the challenges in measuring ecosystem response to wolf reintroduction. The original study reported a 152-fold increase in young aspen density, but a formal correction has shifted the figure down to 17.5-fold.

SourceUtah State University·TypeObservational study·DateJan 21, 2026

US forests are locking in major carbon emissions

A new study found that US forests have stored more carbon in the past two decades than at any time in the last century. Natural forces such as temperature, precipitation, and carbon fertilization are among the largest contributors to carbon gains, while human drivers like tree-planting and forest management also play a role.

SourceOhio State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateJan 21, 2026

Scientists design molecules “backward” to speed up discovery

Researchers have developed a method called PropMolFlow that can generate molecular candidates roughly 10 times faster than existing methods while maintaining accuracy. The breakthrough could lead to faster creation of pharmaceuticals, materials, and new technologies by specifying properties first and then finding structures.

SourceNew York University·JournalNature Computational Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 21, 2026

Breakthrough organic crystalline material repairs itself in extreme cold temperatures, unlocking new possibilities for space and deep-sea technologies

Researchers have discovered a new type of organic crystal that can repair itself after being damaged at extremely low temperatures. The material, which can function up to 150°C, has potential applications in outer space, deep-sea operations, and polar research due to its unique molecular structure.

SourceNew York University·JournalNature Materials·TypeObservational study·DateJan 21, 2026

LSU Health New Orleans researchers link obesity, estrogen use, and increased blood-clotting risk

Researchers found that obesity and estrogen-based medications synergistically increase thrombotic risk by suppressing Protein S levels. This study offers new insights for cancer care, highlighting the need to monitor and prevent blood clots in patients with obesity or estrogen use.

SourceLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 21, 2026

Red light therapy shows promise for protecting football players’ brains

A preliminary study suggests that red light therapy can protect against brain inflammation caused by repetitive head impacts in collegiate football players. The treatment, which involves shining near-infrared light at the brain through the skull, appeared to be effective in reducing inflammation throughout almost all regions of the brain.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalJournal of Neurotrauma·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 21, 2026

Growing together, bacterium after bacterium

A study by University of Trento researchers found that babies share up to 20% of bacterial strains with peers in the same nursery, highlighting the importance of social interaction in shaping their developing gut microbiome. The study also discovered an increase in new strain acquisition after antibiotic treatment.

SourceUniversità di Trento·JournalNature·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 21, 2026

Chiral phonons create orbital current via their own magnetism

Chiral phonons can generate orbital currents in common crystal materials without needing magnetic elements, offering a promising path to developing less expensive and energy-efficient orbitronic devices. This breakthrough is made possible by the intrinsic magnetism of chiral phonons, which allows them to convert into orbital current.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 21, 2026

When tropical oceans were oxygen oases

Research reveals that ancient tropical oceans had the highest oxygen concentrations during the Proterozoic Eon, driven by photosynthetic organisms producing oxygen. The study suggests that a critical threshold of atmospheric oxygen led to a shift in ocean biogeochemistry, fundamentally reorganizing oxygen distribution.

SourceSyracuse University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJan 21, 2026

C-Path’s Translational Therapeutics Accelerator announces 2026 request for proposals from academic investigators

The Critical Path Institute's Translational Therapeutics Accelerator is offering grants to support the development of new treatments for polycystic kidney disease, brain health, pediatrics, and rare diseases. C-Path has partnered with the PKD Foundation to offer a specialized track focused on PKD, and is also accepting applications fro...