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Science News Archive January 2026 - Page 36


Page 36 of 47

Aligning games and sets in determining tennis matches

Game theorists propose revising Grand Slam rules to give greater weight to games won, resolving rare but striking fairness problems. In a study of over 50,000 matches, researchers found that game-set discrepancies occur between 3-5% of the time, affecting high-level competition.

SourceNew York University·JournalJournal of Sports Analytics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 12, 2026

X-raying auditory ossicles – a new technique reveals structures in record time

Scientists have developed a refined X-ray diffraction technique that allows for the simultaneous analysis of materials on scales from nanometres to millimetres, enabling detailed studies of complex tissue and bone diseases. This method has been successfully applied to reveal the alignment of collagen fibres in a human ossicle, providin...

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalSmall Methods·TypeImaging analysis·DateJan 12, 2026

NTU Singapore-led study reveals El Niño could reduce life expectancy gains by 2.8 years by 2100, cause trillions in economic losses

A new study led by NTU Singapore reveals that El Niño events can persistently slow long-term improvements in mortality rates, leading to enduring reductions in life expectancy. The research estimates that El Niño could reduce life expectancy gains by 2.8 years and cause economic losses of up to US$35 trillion by 2100.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateJan 12, 2026

HKUST co-develops robotic nanoprobe for precise mitochondria extraction charting new directions in research on therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer

A team led by Prof. Richard Gu has developed an automated robotic nanoprobe that can navigate within living cells, sense metabolic whispers in real time, and pluck individual mitochondria without causing damage or fluorescent labeling. The breakthrough holds great promise for advancing treatment strategies for chronic diseases and cancer.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

KAIST develops OLED technology with double the screen brightness​

Researchers at KAIST have developed a new OLED technology that more than doubles screen brightness while maintaining the flat structure of OLED displays. The new technology uses a thin, near-planar light outcoupling structure and an OLED design method to significantly reduce light loss inside OLED devices.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalNature Communications·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 12, 2026

Gamma rays quickly toughen nitrogen‑fixing bacteria

Researchers at QST discovered that controlled gamma-ray mutagenesis can create heat-tolerant nitrogen-fixing bacteria in weeks, shortening development timelines. The method produces robust, climate-ready microbial products for agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and biofuel production.

SourceThe National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology·JournalMutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Plant-based hydrogel tames zinc dendrites, pushes aqueous batteries past 1 000 stable cycles

A new plant-based hydrogel has been developed to tackle the problem of metallic zinc growing needle-like dendrites that short-circuit cells within a few hundred cycles. The cellulose-nanofiber dual network boosts ion flow and mechanical strength, delivering a cheap and biodegradable electrolyte.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Korea University Institute for Environmental Health completed an invited training to strengthen environmental health capacity for Karakalpakstan Medical Institute

Korea University's Institute for Environmental Health trained faculty members from Karakalpakstan Medical Institute to improve environmental health in the region. The training aimed to enhance water quality and waste disposal management, fostering collaboration and joint research.

Chonnam National University researchers develop novel virtual sensor grid method for low-cost, yet robust, infrastructure monitoring

A team of researchers from Chonnam National University has developed a novel superpixel-based virtual sensor framework for full-field vibration measurement. The approach offers robust and accurate motion estimation without the need for physical markers or contact sensors, making it suitable for large-scale infrastructure monitoring.

SourceChonnam National University, The Research Information Management Team, Office of Research Promotion·JournalMechanical Systems and Signal Processing·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Discovery of a new superfluid phase in non-Hermitian quantum systems

Researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo have discovered a stable superfluid that inherently hosts singularities known as exceptional points. The study reveals how dissipation can stabilize this unique superfluid phase, which features a finite order parameter and emerges deep inside a strongly interacting phase.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 12, 2026

Codes in the cilia: New study maps how Cilk1 and Hedgehog levels sculpt tooth architecture

Researchers identified cilia-mediated Hedgehog signaling as a key regulator of tooth development. The study found that disrupting Cilk1 levels can lead to stepwise changes in tooth formation and morphology, including extra teeth or fused molars. This discovery may support earlier diagnosis for children with ciliopathies.

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

‘Death by a thousand cuts’: Young galaxy ran out of fuel as black hole choked off supplies

Astronomers have spotted an ancient galaxy that was slowly starved of fuel by a supermassive black hole. The galaxy's lack of cold gas prevented it from forming new stars, despite its relatively young age. Repeated episodes of heating and gas removal by the black hole likely drained the galaxy's fuel in as little as 16-220 million years.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJan 12, 2026

Astronomers surprised by mysterious shock wave around dead star

Researchers have imaged a beautiful shock wave around a dead star, RXJ0528+2838, which challenges our current understanding of how dead stars interact with their surroundings. The team found that the white dwarf has been expelling a powerful outflow for at least 1000 years, driven by its strong magnetic field.

SourceESO·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJan 12, 2026

Glow with the flow: Implanted 'living skin' lights up to signal health changes

A Japanese research team has developed a biohybrid approach that works inside the body, transforming engineered skin into a visible indicator of internal biological states. The system leverages the body's natural skin regeneration to support long-term biomarker monitoring, providing a visual readout without blood sampling.

How brain waves shape our sense of self

Research from Karolinska Institutet found that alpha frequency determines body ownership by modulating temporal integration of bodily signals. Faster frequencies led to higher temporal resolution, while slower frequencies caused broader timing differences.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Why are men more likely to develop multiple myeloma than women?

A new study published in CANCER found that men are more likely to have advanced disease and high myeloma load at diagnosis compared to women. Men were also less likely to have low bone mineral density and had different chromosomal abnormalities, which may contribute to the sex disparity in multiple myeloma risk.

SourceWiley·JournalCancer·DateJan 12, 2026

Smartphone-based interventions show promise for reducing alcohol and cannabis use: New research

New research suggests that mobile health interventions tailored to individual needs can reduce harms associated with heavy drinking and cannabis use. Studies demonstrate the effectiveness of personalized feedback and protective behavioral strategies in reducing substance use risks, paving the way for innovative digital interventions.

SourceJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs·JournalJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

How do health care professionals determine eligibility for MAiD?

Healthcare professionals in Canada assess applicants for medical assistance in dying (MAiD) using a careful and individualized approach. They consider the patient's life circumstances, support networks, and personal preferences when determining eligibility. The assessment process is often legally and morally complex, requiring provider...

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeSurvey·DateJan 12, 2026

Chongqing Medical University team: dual-branch graph attention network enables personalized prediction of ECT efficacy in adolescent depression

A team from Chongqing Medical University developed a model that integrates sMRI and fMRI data to predict treatment responders, achieving high accuracy rates. The dual-branch graph attention network (DBGAN) captures coordinated brain changes linked to emotion regulation and memory processing.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalMeta-Radiology·TypeImaging analysis·DateJan 11, 2026

DGIST achieves the world’s highest efficiency with the development of a perovskite-based self-powered betavoltaic battery

The research team led by DGIST Professor Su-Il In developed a high-performance next-generation betavoltaic battery with an energy conversion efficiency of 10.79%. This is a significant improvement over the previously reported highest efficiency for perovskite-based betavoltaic batteries.