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Science News Archive July 2026 - Page 47


Page 47 of 56

Beyond heat: New infrared filter for thermal cameras could detect pollution and disease

Researchers have developed a tiny, electrically tunable infrared filter that can distinguish between different materials and gases based on their spectral 'fingerprints'. This technology has the potential to enable handheld pollution detectors, compact multispectral cameras, and next-generation chemical sensing devices.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems·JournalAdvanced Materials Technologies·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 7, 2026

Making heat behave like data

Scientists developed a device that controls heat radiation direction and switches this effect on and off, enabling 'heat programming' like microchip data. The new material exhibits different responses depending on light direction, improving efficiency compared to previous devices.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 7, 2026

Clinician support key to patient adoption of virtual reality therapies

A new study found that clinician support significantly increases patient adoption of virtual reality therapies, leading to better time-based adherence and technology acceptance. The research team evaluated three implementation environments, with provider-led support demonstrating the most favorable usability pattern.

SourceJMIR Publications·JournalJMIR XR and Spatial Computing·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 7, 2026

New PROSPECT-S model captures wheat spike growth dynamics to improve spectral simulations

The new PROSPECT-S model accurately estimates chlorophyll, water, and dry matter content in wheat spikes, allowing for non-destructive monitoring of physiological status. The model demonstrates greater stability across developmental stages than existing models, enabling improved light interception and photosynthetic capacity estimations.

SourceJournal of Remote Sensing·JournalJournal of Remote Sensing·DateJul 6, 2026

Carbon-based sensors are poised to facilitate a seamless human-machine interface Shedding light on the effect of pore orientation on hydrogenation over carbon-supported single-atom catalysts

Researchers investigated how pore orientation influences catalytic hydrogenation using carbon-supported single-atom catalysts. Oriented pores exhibit three times higher activity than non-oriented counterparts, enabling smoother diffusion and preventing 'traffic jams' in disordered structures.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalNano Research·DateJul 6, 2026

Visual intelligence is key to more autonomous, helpful AI robots

Researchers emphasize the importance of enhancing visual intelligence in autonomous robots to achieve complex tasks. Visual perception, decision-making, path planning, and control must be integrated for robots to perform reliably. The ultimate goal is to make robots have human-like intelligence and enable collaboration between robots.

SourceSciOpen·JournalVisual Intelligence·DateJul 6, 2026

Darwin's Ark invites research collaboration on the world's largest community science initiative for cats and dogs

Darwin's Ark has established the world's largest community-powered pet research initiative, combining genetic data with owner information to explore questions about pet health, behavior, ancestry, and evolution. Researchers can collaborate by submitting a request form, accelerating discoveries that benefit animal and human health.

SourceDarwin's Ark·TypeObservational study·DateJul 6, 2026

All-in-one optically interactive soft robots with embedded liquid crystal holography

Researchers developed an all-soft robotic system utilizing liquid crystal holography for optical command processing, achieving a synergy of multi-degree-of-freedom actuation and information multiplexing. The system showcases an intelligent gripper capable of precise grasping and object classification.

Unlocking soil's carbon secrets: Microbes and minerals team up for lasting carbon storage

A study from Huazhong Agricultural University sheds light on the intricate processes of microbial activity and geological structures beneath our feet. The team's work illustrates how bacterial EPS contributes to SOM persistence, a process crucial for maintaining soil health and securing long-term carbon storage.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalCarbon Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2026

Soil moisture may decide whether fertilizer nitrogen feeds crops or fuels hidden soil pollution

A new study published in Environmental and Biogeochemical Processes shows that changing soil water levels can disrupt the balance between two key steps of nitrification, a central process in the soil nitrogen cycle. Soil moisture and nitrogen availability jointly control the microbial 'handoff' in agricultural soil nitrogen cycling.

SourceShenyang Agricultural University Collaborative Journals·JournalEnvironmental and Biogeochemical Processes·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2026

Rare colorless carotenoids emerge as multifunctional ingredients for beauty and health

Researchers successfully isolated highly pure geometric isomers of phytoene and phytofluene, revealing distinct ultraviolet absorption characteristics and different responses to light- and heat-induced isomerization. The study demonstrated strong UV-A-shielding capacity and antioxidant activity for these colorless carotenoids.

SourceMeijo University·JournalFood Research International·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2026

Teaching AI the laws of navigation: New physics guided detector catches GNSS spoofing even in never before seen attacks

A new approach embeds fundamental physical laws into neural networks, enabling detection of GNSS spoofing with high accuracy. The framework outperforms standard models on unseen attack scenarios, offering a blueprint for building AI-based security systems that anchor decisions in physical invariants.

A general framework proposed for time-reversal symmetric superconducting diode effect

A research team at Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has realized a superconducting diode effect that preserves time-reversal symmetry in NbSe2 homojunctions. The device was built using a solid-state proton gating technique to form n–n, p–n and p–p junctions, all operating under zero magnetic field.

Small Language Models: opportunities and obstacles

The study reviews SLM optimization strategies and evaluates a Greek labor-law assistant that combines fine-tuning, Retrieval-Augmented Generation and quantization for practical local deployment. The evaluation used standard language-generation and retrieval-oriented metrics, indicating that larger models achieved stronger scores while ...

SourceELSP·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2026

Development of high-performance, air- and thermally-stable tin perovskite transistors through volatile surface coordination

A research team at Pohang University of Science & Technology has developed a next-generation semiconductor with enhanced performance and stability. The breakthrough solution, called 'Volatile Surface Reconstruction,' converts unreacted tin ions into a volatile compound that volatilizes, while creating a self-protective layer to shield ...

Large-scale European study indicates link between ultra-processed foods and higher levels of ‘bad’ fatty acids in the blood

A large European study found a correlation between ultra-processed food consumption and increased levels of harmful fatty acids in the blood. The study, which analyzed data from 15,200 participants, suggests that ultra-processed foods may contribute to metabolic stress and potential health risks.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalCritical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition·TypeObservational study·DateJul 6, 2026

Halving fertility treatment costs could more than double births, major global study shows

A landmark international study found that halving patient out-of-pocket costs for fertility treatment significantly increased births achieved through ART, with a 2.67-fold increase reported. Countries with lower cost-to-baby metrics consistently achieved higher levels of ART utilisation, highlighting the importance of affordability in ...

Hummingbirds speed up pineapple family’s evolution

Scientists found that hummingbirds facilitate the creation of new species in bromeliad plants at a rate of 2.77 per million years, compared to 1.46 for other pollinators. This accelerated evolution is attributed to hummingbirds' high-altitude feeding habits and their ability to act as an engine for new species.

SourceUniversity of Reading·JournalBotanical Journal of the Linnean Society·DateJul 6, 2026

More than 1.15 million fertility treatment cycles reported across Europe and the impact of frozen embryo transfer continues to grow

According to the European IVF Monitoring Consortium, over 1.15 million fertility treatment cycles were reported across Europe in 2023, resulting in the birth of 247,021 children. The growth in frozen embryo transfer (FET) was particularly notable, with FET cycles increasing by 151% compared to previous years.

Bacteria reveal hidden ecological stress in arsenic-contaminated brick kiln soils

A new study found that bacteria in contaminated brick kiln soils reorganize their communities, strengthen stress-response functions, and activate detoxification genes. This understanding can help design more effective microbial restoration strategies for industrial sites.

SourceShenyang Agricultural University Collaborative Journals·JournalAgricultural Ecology and Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2026

Skimping on sleep leads to weight gain

Research at Columbia University Irving Medical Center found that people who got 5-6 hours of sleep a night gained an average of one pound over six weeks, with increased sedentary time. This study suggests that getting adequate sleep may help reduce the risk of weight gain and obesity-related conditions.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2026

It’s disturbingly easy to trick AI into seeing aliens

Researchers at Michigan State University found that current AI models can be duped into seeing signatures of life in digital organisms with high accuracy. However, when tested on unseen examples, the results were less impressive. The team showed that it was possible to convince the AI that it was seeing signs of life where they didn’t ...

SourceMichigan State University·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 6, 2026

Study links birth control pills to more binge eating

A new study found that women taking hormone-containing birth control pills experienced higher rates of binge-related eating compared to those taking hormone-free pills. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, suggests that the hormones in birth control pills may contribute to increased emotional eating.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJul 6, 2026

Modest sleep loss linked to weight gain in adults with high cardiometabolic risk

A pooled analysis of two randomized trials found that decreasing sleep by just 1.5 hours each night was associated with increases in body weight, waist circumference, and sedentary time in adults with elevated cardiometabolic risk. The findings highlight the importance of discussing sleep duration at health care visits.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateJul 6, 2026