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Science News for July 27, 2026


Tiny circuit turns a hidden property of electrons into a working info channel

Researchers have developed a tiny circuit that can encode and decode digital information using a hidden property of electrons called valleys. The device generates, routes, and reads valley information entirely on chip at room temperature, demonstrating the potential for valley multiplexing to increase photonic chip capacity.

Hebrew University and Hadassah Medical Center to take part in €15 million international trial exploring phage therapy for drug-resistant urinary tract infections

A €15 million EU-funded trial will investigate phage therapy as an alternative to antibiotics for recurrent urinary tract infections. Researchers from 13 countries, including Hebrew University and Hadassah Medical Center, will evaluate personalized bacteriophage therapy to treat antibiotic-resistant E. coli infections.

Dreams drain energy: the REM sleep paradox

Researchers at Tohoku University discovered a paradox in REM sleep where the brain's energy molecule decreases despite an increase in fuel supply. This finding suggests that the brain dynamically adjusts its energy economy to support complex internal processing, revealing new insights into biological computation and sleep function.

SourceTohoku University·JournalCommunications Biology·DateJul 27, 2026

Healthspan extension, slow appearance aging and improved muscle function in mice by pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) and imidazopyrroloquinoline (IPQ) supplementation

Researchers found that lifelong PQQ and IPQ supplementation in senescence-accelerated mice reduced mortality risk during midlife and delayed aging progression. Middle-aged mouse supplementation also improved age-related muscular dysfunction. The study suggests a potential healthspan extension benefit of these compounds.

SourceToho University·JournalFood & Function·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2026

Saitama University researchers reveal how “ductile” tunnel supports deform under simulated squeezing-ground pressure

Researchers studied deformation-accommodating support systems incorporating yielding elements to address squeezing ground deformation in tunnels. The study found that the deformation behavior of the entire support system changes depending on the installation angle of yielding elements.

SourceSaitama University·JournalTunnelling and Underground Space Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2026

AI reveals cancer therapy’s effectiveness

A new study published in eBioMedicine shows that combining irinotecan with standard chemoradiotherapy improves survival against advanced rectal cancer, particularly in those with high concentrations of cancerous cells. The AI-powered analysis revealed a 43% reduction in cancer recurrence and a 50% reduction in death risk.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalEBioMedicine·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2026

Engineered microbial communities offer a faster route to removing herbicide residues from soil

Researchers develop synthetic microbial communities to degrade persistent herbicides, improving degradation rates by 1.5-3 times compared to individual strains or natural attenuation. The approach promotes more complete mineralization of pollutants and resilience in complex soil environments.

SourceShenyang Agricultural University Collaborative Journals·JournalAgricultural Ecology and Environment·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 27, 2026

Comprehensive navigation service beats signposting for connecting primary care patients to needed resources

A randomized controlled trial found that a comprehensive navigation service significantly improved self-reported access to needed resources among primary care patients. The study also highlighted the benefits of this model for Francophone minority populations, particularly in accessing French-language services.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJul 27, 2026

Study identifies four self-care decision-making patterns among patients with multiple cardiometabolic conditions

A qualitative study identified four self-care decision-making patterns among adults with multiple cardiometabolic conditions, including past experiences and leveraging resources. Effective self-care behaviors can improve quality of life for these patients, particularly those with type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJul 27, 2026

Patients with long-term relationships with family physicians may have fewer urgent hospital admissions and lower hospital costs

Patients with long-term relationships to their family physicians may experience fewer urgent hospital admissions and lower hospital costs. This is due to consistently seeing the same general practitioner, which is associated with reduced hospital costs but not fewer urgent admissions.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJul 27, 2026

Critical care doctor says patients’ reliance on chatbots reflects deeper problems in health care

A growing trend of patients turning to AI chatbots for health advice reflects broader healthcare system strain and patient dissatisfaction with traditional care options. Critical care doctor Robert B. Shpiner argues that addressing underlying structural issues is essential to mitigate AI risks.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateJul 27, 2026

Family medicine residency program directors report their programs do not directly assess self-directed learning skills

A survey of 314 family medicine residency program directors found that only 44% have written expectations around self-directed learning. Despite this, 93.6% of directors believe recent graduates model lifelong learning, and over half (57.6%) consider self-directed learning a high curricular priority.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJul 27, 2026

Forest diversity and terrain shape how carbon is stored in southern Brazil’s Atlantic Forest

A new study reveals that forest structure, tree species evenness, and terrain slope jointly influence how carbon is divided among living vegetation, forest litter, and soil. The research found that soil contained the largest share of total carbon in most locations, while vegetation stored more carbon than soil in several plots.

SourceShenyang Agricultural University Collaborative Journals·JournalEnvironmental and Biogeochemical Processes·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2026

Barriers to dementia care arise when medical records of people living with dementia are not linked with medical records of their caregivers

A Canadian pilot study examined ways to link dementia patients' medical records with those of their caregivers. The report highlights critical gaps in clinical application due to EMR incompatibility, varying provincial privacy rules, and consent requirements.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJul 27, 2026

Benefits of middle school program trickle down to next generation

A middle school substance-use prevention program led to wide-ranging benefits well into adulthood, including better communication with romantic partners and better-adjusted children. Parents who participated in the program reported lower levels of family conflict and higher levels of family cohesion.

SourcePenn State·JournalChild Development·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2026

First-of-its-kind study reveals how sleep strengthens memory and how epilepsy can disrupt the process

Researchers at Kennedy Krieger Institute discovered that memory consolidation during sleep depends on coordinated activity among three brain regions, disrupting this activity impairs memory performance. Epileptic spikes can also interfere with brain activity, leading to cognitive effects in patients with epilepsy.

SourceKennedy Krieger Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 27, 2026

A lipid regulator of Sonic hedgehog signaling influences heart and lung development

Researchers discovered a lipid regulator, arachidonic acid, boosts Smoothened activity through a newly found binding site, enhancing SHH signaling in tissues like the heart and lungs. Disrupting this interaction impaired cardiopulmonary development, providing insight into how the SHH pathway may be modulated in diseases.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2026

Fossil footprints reveal that an ancient human relative was larger than previously thought and traveled in groups 1.4 million years ago

A study of ancient human relatives' fossil footprints reveals that a previously thought smaller species was actually larger, while also showing evidence of group travel. The tracks, preserved over 1.4 million years ago in northern Kenya, offer insights into the behavior and interactions of these early humans.

SourceSmithsonian·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2026

From plants to bones: Researchers develop sustainable material that could help the body rebuild itself

A new study reveals that lignin can be transformed into a bioactive material that promotes the formation of bone-like minerals while supporting the growth of bone-forming cells. The material also degrades gradually under physiological conditions, making it suitable for scaffolds intended to be replaced by newly formed bone during healing.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2026

Researchers identify useful tool for diagnosing endocrine dysfunction in sick foals

A study by North Carolina State University researchers found that an AVP stimulation test can reliably diagnose endocrine dysfunction in sick foals. The test, which involves administering arginine vasopressin to stimulate the release of hormones, showed promising results in detecting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal gland axis (HPAA) dys...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Veterinary Internal Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 27, 2026

UCSB-led international team evaluates anoxic marine basins as potential sites for carbon sequestration

A recent international workshop led by UC Santa Barbara researchers has taken the first steps toward developing a large-scale strategy for carbon sequestration by burying plant biomass in anoxic marine basins. The concept, known as marine anoxic carbon storage (MACS), has the potential to operate at a massive scale required to mitigate...

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalBiogeosciences·DateJul 27, 2026

SKKU reveals how international aid fragmentation affects corruption in developing countries

A SKKU study finds that concentrated aid support from a single agency reduces local corruption, but overlapping aid agencies increase the risk of corruption. The research team analyzed data from over 30,000 projects across Afghanistan and found that moderate aid volumes with collaborative project ideas have a positive impact.

SourceSungkyunkwan University External Affairs Division (PR team)·JournalThe Review of Economics and Statistics·DateJul 27, 2026

First patient enrolled in GOG-3132/BEHOLD-Ovarian01 phase 3 study evaluating Mocertatug Rezetecan, a novel B7-H4–targeted ADC, in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer

The first patient has been enrolled in a global Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating Mocertatug Rezetecan, a novel B7-H4-targeted ADC, in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The study aims to determine whether this therapy can improve outcomes compared with standard chemotherapy.

SourceThe GOG Foundation Inc·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 27, 2026

New research turns the Dunning-Kruger effect on its head: Rethinking the confident incompetent

A new study reverses the classic Dunning-Kruger effect, suggesting that high-ability people are more overconfident than low performers. The researchers argue that flawed statistical analysis led to the original finding, and when corrected, it reveals a universal human trait of overconfidence among the most capable.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalPsychological Review·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 27, 2026

Engineering dynamic electrolyte microenvironments via double‑shell hosts for practical lithium–sulfur batteries

Researchers have developed a novel double-shell host material that overcomes the notorious shuttle effect in lithium-sulfur batteries. The material's dynamic electrochemical microenvironment actively transports polysulfides away from the catalyst surface, preventing passivation and ensuring sustained high catalytic efficiency.

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalNano-Micro Letters·TypeNews article·DateJul 27, 2026

Diet reveals what life was like 2,700 years ago in a local community: Gender inequality, social status, and migration

A study of human remains from an Italian necropolis provides clues about the daily lives of people 2,700 years ago. The analysis of isotopes in bones, teeth, hair, and nails reveals differences in diet between men and women, as well as a society with significant mobility and contact with other populations.

SourceUniversity of Córdoba·JournalJournal of Archaeological Science·DateJul 27, 2026

Dementia affecting younger persons strikes Hispanics more than previously thought, UT Health San Antonio-led study shows

A new study from UT Health San Antonio found that Hispanic populations experience higher rates of frontotemporal dementia, with significant delays in diagnosis due to educational disparities. The research highlights the importance of culturally sensitive diagnostic tools and interventions for equitable dementia care.

What October 7 taught hospitals about preparing for modern warfare

A new study of an Israeli hospital's response to the October 7 attacks reveals critical gaps in communication, staffing, logistics, and casualty distribution. The findings offer practical lessons that could help hospitals worldwide prepare for prolonged armed conflicts and other large-scale emergencies.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalDisaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2026

Floating colonies: engineering three-dimensional microbial architectures in liquid cultures

A new liquid-based platform called 'floatony' can form and maintain complex three-dimensional microbial structures while preserving molecular diffusion, spatial structures, and cell mobility. This approach could offer new ways to study gut microbiota, biofilms, and other spatially organized microbial communities.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalBiofabrication·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2026

Houston Methodist researchers develop biodegradable implant that delivers targeted cancer immunotherapy while protecting healthy tissue

Scientists at Houston Methodist Research Institute have created a biodegradable implant that delivers cancer-fighting drugs directly to tumors, slowing their release over time. The device showed promising results in preclinical models of triple-negative breast cancer, eliminating tumors in 60% of cases without significant side effects.

SourceHouston Methodist·JournalJournal of Controlled Release·DateJul 27, 2026

New survey finds Native Americans open to plant-based diets rooted in indigenous food traditions but few know which foods help prevent or reverse type 2 diabetes

A new survey found that Native American adults are open to healthier eating based on traditional Indigenous foods, with 78% willing to try a whole food, plant-based diet. However, only 13% are aware that such diets can help prevent or improve type 2 diabetes.

Rutgers researchers lead study tracking risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and dementias in South Asian Americans

A comprehensive review of dementia prevalence and risk factors in India reveals unique health outcomes for South Asian populations. The study sets the stage for the SAMARTH initiative, tracking brain health in South Asian Americans to identify modifiable risks and protective factors.

SourceRutgers University·JournalAlzheimer’s & Dementia·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 27, 2026

ACLM achieves joint accreditation status to independently accredit interprofessional continuing education

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) has earned Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education, allowing it to independently accredit its own interprofessional continuing education activities. This enables ACLM to deliver high-quality, team-based training that strengthens collaboration and improves patient ...

Study finds shift away from cigarettes could reshape future cancer burden

New research finds that exclusive cigarette use is being replaced by exclusive use of electronic cigarettes, especially among young adults. The study's findings have important implications for predicting the future burden of tobacco-related cancer and highlight a need to address smoking cessation among older adults.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalJNCI Cancer Spectrum·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2026

Impact of GO and ITO nanostructures’ performance: A case study on nanostructure and optical behavior of a newly fabricated blended-PPY conductive polymer for antibacterial applications

Researchers developed a novel blended-PPY conductive polymer with graphene oxide and indium tin oxide nanoparticles for enhanced antibacterial performance. The resulting nanocomposites showed improved optical behavior and broad-spectrum antibacterial capacity.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalJournal of Biosafety and Biosecurity·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2026

Proven childhood obesity treatment also works at pediatrician’s office

A large clinical trial found that family-based behavioral treatment significantly improved weight reduction and related health outcomes for children with obesity. The study demonstrated that this approach can be successfully integrated into routine clinical practice, increasing access to effective weight management for families in need.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 27, 2026

Financial stressors and suicide

A case-control study found that individuals with delinquent mortgage payments, repossessions, late credit card payments, and lower credit scores had a significantly increased risk of suicide. The study's findings suggest that financial stressors play a critical role in the development of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJul 27, 2026

Trends in alcohol consumption during pregnancy in the US

Researchers found a significant increase in binge drinking and heavy drinking among pregnant women in the US between 2011 and 2024. The study highlights the importance of addressing alcohol consumption during pregnancy, particularly among vulnerable populations such as those with tobacco use or mental health concerns.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateJul 27, 2026

Gefurulimab and generalized myasthenia gravis

A phase 3 randomized controlled trial found that gefurulimab significantly improved clinical benefits for adults with generalized myasthenia gravis, resulting in meaningful improvements in daily living and muscle strength scores. Most side effects were mild and similar between treatment and control groups.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Neurology·DateJul 27, 2026

AI and robotics accelerate search for better gut microbiome therapies

Researchers at Duke University have developed a method to systematically develop novel probiotic and prebiotic combinations to maintain gut health and treat gastrointestinal diseases. The approach uses machine learning and automation to explore complex interactions between microbes, nutritional sources, and the environment.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Chemical Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2026

New study finds upward trend in alcohol use during pregnancy in the U.S.

A new study published in JAMA found that prenatal alcohol exposure has increased in the US over the past decade, with a significant rise in current alcohol use, binge drinking, and heavy drinking among pregnant women. The study suggests that these trends may be concerning, as no amount of alcohol is established as safe during pregnancy.

Carnegie Mellon study finds that rideshare launches boost regional GDP and flexible jobs

A new study from Carnegie Mellon University and Oxford Saïd Business School found that the entry of ride-hailing platforms drove measurable increases in economic output and intermittent employment. Regional GDP per capita increased, and the number of seasonal, temporary, or intermittent jobs rose after Uber and Lyft entered the region.

When polymers meet primitive membranes: how molecular cooperation may have helped life begin

Researchers found that fatty acids and hydroxy acids can combine to create stronger and more stable structures than either molecule can form alone. This cooperative effect suggests that simple molecules may have been helping each other create more organized chemical systems, which could eventually lead to the emergence of life.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2026

Societies around the world have buried their dead at home. Anthropologists want to understand why the practice started, and why it has largely disappeared

Researchers analyzed ancient burial records to understand why some societies practiced residential burials and how this practice changed over time. They found that residential burials were more common in older societies than expected, suggesting that cultural practices can shift significantly over centuries.

SourceField Museum·JournalAmerican Antiquity·DateJul 27, 2026

Pusan National University researchers develop a new smart, adaptive vibration isolator

Researchers have developed a novel hybrid control strategy for quasi-zero stiffness isolators, addressing payload variations and residual resonant peaks. The 'smart cushion' can adapt to changing loads in seconds, making it crucial for precision applications like chip manufacturing and robot handling of fragile goods.

SourcePusan National University·JournalMechanical Systems and Signal Processing·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2026

Moth wings have a sense of smell

Researchers discovered that tobacco hawkmoth wings have specialized hair-like structures that can detect specific aromas. The wings contain sensory receptors that can pick out unpleasant amine odours, guiding the moths to their favorite plants for laying eggs.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2026

Unraveling the mysteries of habit formation

Researchers at Kyoto University developed a new training method to study habit formation in mice, revealing two distinct brain circuits managing different aspects of habits. The first circuit determines whether behavior becomes a habit, while the second controls execution levels.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 27, 2026

How changing environments can preserve an ancient microbial survival strategy

Researchers found that alternating periods of nutrient-rich conditions and starvation can stabilize a self-destructive survival strategy in yeast, allowing it to persist for hundreds of millions of years. This theory suggests that changing environments play a crucial role in shaping the evolution of complex ecological strategies.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 27, 2026