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Science News Archive January 2026 - Page 35


Page 35 of 47

Getting a grip on aging

A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Riverside, found that a specific brain region known as the caudate nucleus is strongly linked to physical strength in older adults. The discovery could help detect and prevent frailty before it begins.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateJan 12, 2026

Open-sourcing the future of food

The Tufts University Center for Cellular Agriculture has teamed up with the Good Food Institute to salvage intellectual property from failed startups and make it publicly available. Eight commercially developed beef cell lines have been obtained, including two that have been engineered to remove antibiotic resistance markers, making th...

Clinical trial in Ethiopia targets the trachoma scourge

A large-scale field trial in Ethiopia found no significant difference between fluorometholone and placebo treatments in reducing postoperative trachomatous trichiasis recurrence. The study, which involved over 2,400 participants, suggests that anti-inflammatory therapy may not be beneficial for improving TT surgery outcomes.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 12, 2026

The Lancet: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy decreased over time, though mistrust persists among certain groups, study of over 1 million people in England suggests

A study of over 1.1 million people in England found that most COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is addressable and can be reduced over time. Among those who initially expressed hesitation, 65% went on to get vaccinated at least once, highlighting the potential for targeted messaging and information to improve vaccine uptake.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet·TypeObservational study·DateJan 12, 2026

Using rare sugars to address alcoholism

A new protocol models alcoholism in mice and shows that stimulating the FGF21-oxytocin-dopamine system with rare sugars can reduce alcohol consumption. The researchers believe that this system may play a role in regulating subconscious information processing, leading to effective dietary therapy for reducing over-drinking.

SourceKyoto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Overlooked decline in grazing livestock brings risks and opportunities

A new global study finds that nearly half of livestock production occurs in areas with destocking, a process that poses new ecological and land management challenges. Destocking can increase wildfire risk and biodiversity decline, but also enables ecosystems to capture more atmospheric carbon dioxide.

SourceArizona State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 12, 2026

Two wrongs make a right: how two damaging variants can restore health

A study published in PNAS found that over 60% of pairs of damaging genetic variants can restore enzyme activity when combined, challenging long-held assumptions about genetics. This phenomenon, known as intragenic complementation, has implications for rare disease diagnosis and treatment.

SourcePacific Northwest Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Npj Aging publication: Insilico’s Pandaomics identifies dual-purpose therapeutic targets PRPF19 and MAPK9 at the intersection of hepatocellular carcinoma and cellular senescence

Researchers use AI-driven target discovery platform to identify PRPF19 and MAPK9 as promising targets that suppress tumor cell proliferation while reducing senescence-associated signaling. The study suggests these dual-purpose targets may address both hepatocellular carcinoma progression and cellular senescence.

SourceInSilico Medicine·Journalnpj Aging·DateJan 12, 2026

How hidden factors beneath Istanbul shape earthquake risk

New research simulates 10,000 years of seismic activity to show how underground temperature and sediment patterns control where earthquakes start, spread, and stop. This study provides a more accurate picture of the Main Marmara Fault's behavior, essential for building codes, emergency planning, and infrastructure decisions.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 12, 2026

Paulson Family Foundation makes an additional $19 million donation to Hebrew University to fund a new building for electrical engineering. Together with its previous gift brings the total donation to $46 million

The Paulson Family Foundation has donated an additional $19 million to Hebrew University, bringing the total support to $46 million. The donation will be used for a state-of-the-art research and teaching complex supporting STEM disciplines critical to Israel's high-tech future.

New “humane intelligence” framework guides safer, more patient-centered AI in older-adult mental health care

A new framework, called Humane Intelligence, aims to make AI in older-adult mental health care safer and more human. The framework has four pillars and a Moral Grid Operational Index to guide clinicians and health systems. It emphasizes relational intelligence, transparency, reciprocity, and ethical governance.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 12, 2026

Mechanisms by which smoking worsens periodontitis discovered

Researchers identified altered gene expression in smokers with periodontitis, leading to weakened gum epithelial integrity and excessive inflammation. A new target molecule, CXCL12, was found to drive immune-cell recruitment and inflammation, making it a potential therapeutic approach.

SourceEditorial Office of West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University·JournalInternational Journal of Oral Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Childhood exposure to air pollution linked to poorer cognitive performance in later life

A new study reveals that childhood exposure to indoor air pollution from solid fuels may impair brain health and cognitive abilities throughout life. The research analysed data from over 7,000 Chinese adults aged 45 and above, showing a significant association between early-life exposure and poorer cognitive performance in adulthood.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 12, 2026

Extreme heat waves disrupt honey bee thermoregulation and threaten colony survival

Research found that extreme summer heat can overwhelm honey bees' cooling systems, causing significant colony population declines. Larger colonies with more stable internal temperatures were less affected, highlighting the need for effective management strategies to mitigate impacts of high temperatures and maintain colony stability.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalEcological and Evolutionary Physiology·DateJan 12, 2026

One in four older Americans with dementia prescribed risky brain-altering drugs despite safety warnings

Research finds that nearly one in four Medicare beneficiaries with dementia are prescribed potentially harmful medications linked to falls, confusion, and hospitalization. Despite declines in prescribing rates, high levels of inappropriate prescribing persist among older adults with cognitive impairment.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJAMA·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 12, 2026

How wheat protects itself from fungi

Researchers discovered a previously unknown interplay between wheat's resistance genes and fungal disease factors. The study found that powdery mildew fungus overcomes resistance by modifying recognized effectors, but a new approach could slow down its development by combining targeted resistance genes.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Plants·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Nature Communications study from the Lundquist Institute identifies molecular mechanism underlying peripartum cardiomyopathy

Researchers at The Lundquist Institute have identified PTRH2 as a critical gene that protects the maternal heart during pregnancy, shedding light on the causes of peripartum cardiomyopathy. Loss of this gene leads to severe postpartum heart failure, highlighting the urgent need for better treatments.

SourceThe Lundquist Institute·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 12, 2026

Why did Earth experience drastic climate swings without ice sheets? Scientists reveal slow orbital wobbles as the hidden driver

Scientists reveal that slow orbital wobbles, known as precession cycles, generate abrupt millennial-scale climate fluctuations even under ice-free conditions. The study provides a new clue for understanding rapid climate swings and offers insights for future warming scenarios.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Researchers uncover how tumors become resistant to promising p53-targeted therapy

A Mass General Brigham study identifies new mutations that emerge in tumor cells following treatment, driving resistance in patients with different types of cancer. The researchers found two main categories of mutations: those impairing p53 function and others disrupting drug binding, highlighting a path forward for overcoming resistance.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalCancer Discovery·TypeObservational study·DateJan 12, 2026

New technique puts rendered fabric in the best light

Researchers at Cornell University have developed a new technique to create digital images of cloth that more accurately captures the texture of textiles. The method models how light interacts with yarns, both as it passes through and reflects off the fabric, enabling more realistic renderings for the gaming and animation industry.

SourceCornell University·JournalACM Transactions on Graphics·DateJan 12, 2026

Study offers evidence that racial bias is at play in overrepresentation of Black youth in Canadian child welfare systems

Researchers analyzed national data and found Black children were more likely to be investigated and placed out-of-home than white children, even when economic profiles were similar. The study suggests racial bias, specifically anti-Black racism, is a key factor driving these outcomes.

SourceMcGill University·JournalChild Abuse & Neglect·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 12, 2026

Uncovering how occludin protein maintains blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers

Researchers have uncovered the critical function of occludin in regulating cell barriers, particularly in diabetic retinopathy. The study revealed that occludin's alternative splicing produces a form of occludin that controls leaky blood vessels and excessive vessel growth.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

The secret route of prostate infections

Researchers developed a lab-grown model of the prostate gland to study bacterial infections. They found that E. coli targets specific cells and uses a 'lock and key' principle to invade. A sugar molecule called D-mannose blocks this interaction, offering a potential new strategy to prevent and treat prostate infections.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Microbiology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026