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Science News Archive June 2026 - Page 13


Page 13 of 52

How Rutgers reduced cancer treatment times

Researchers at Rutgers University used simulation to identify bottlenecks in their blood cancer clinic and implemented changes that reduced visit times from 90 minutes to less than 30 minutes. The approach could be applied to other medical oncology offices, improving efficiency and patient care.

SourceRutgers University·JournalAnnals of Operations Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 23, 2026

People lack critical information about wildfire smoke risks

A new study reveals gaps in wildfire smoke education among people living with COPD. Researchers found that many individuals rely on smartphone apps and online information for air quality updates, but lack knowledge on mitigation strategies and real-time guidance from healthcare teams.

SourceCOPD Foundation·JournalChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases Journal of the COPD Foundation·DateJun 23, 2026

NTU Singapore scientists create optical skyrmions using a two-century-old light phenomenon

Researchers have created stable patterns of light called optical skyrmions using a laser and a small circular disc, generating up to four related topological field patterns simultaneously. This method offers a simpler way to generate, study and adjust optical skyrmions, which hold potential for future data storage and computing systems.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalOptica·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 23, 2026

Scientists help verify origin of cotton’s domestication

Researchers sequenced nearly 400 wild and domesticated cotton plants to confirm the Northwestern Yucatán Peninsula as the center of upland cotton's domestication. The study reveals valuable genetic diversity in wild cotton populations that can improve breeding efforts and make modern cotton more resilient.

SourceMississippi State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 23, 2026

UT San Antonio study: As FDA approved semaglutide for weight management, calls to poison control centers skyrocketed in the U.S.

A recent study found that the FDA approval of semaglutide for weight management led to a significant increase in calls to poison control centers, with over 8,000 cases reported by 2023. The majority of errors were preventable and stemmed from unintentional dosing or therapeutic mistakes.

SourceUniversity of Texas at San Antonio·JournalJournal of Medical Toxicology·DateJun 23, 2026

Whole-food plant meal fails to boost post-workout muscle gains, study finds

A randomized controlled trial found no differences between whole-food plant meals and nutrient-matched shakes in stimulating muscle-building response after exercise. The study suggests that consuming high amounts of carbohydrates with protein may limit blood amino acid availability for post-exercise muscle repair.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 23, 2026

The Ross Procedure is associated with excellent outcomes, durability, and efficacy in a wide range of adults with aortic valve disease

The Ross Procedure offers long-term benefits and normal quality of life due to its living pulmonary valve replacement. Excellent durability and physiologic valve function are achieved, challenging traditional conceptions around the operation.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 23, 2026

Airborne observations provide clarity on where carbon is going

A new study based on global airborne surveys found that forests in the tropics take up less carbon than predicted, and models struggle to simulate carbon dioxide uptake in forests north and south of the tropics. Regular airborne missions could narrow uncertainty further.

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateJun 23, 2026

Keck School of Medicine of USC launches pioneering collaboration to improve breast cancer screening, access, and outcomes in Los Angeles County

The collaboration aims to eliminate barriers to screening and access for medically underserved women, leveraging data science and community-based research to develop targeted solutions. By listening to residents' experiences and challenges, USC and Novartis will create lasting improvements in breast cancer care.

Harvesting UV Light from sunlight just got ‘solid’

Researchers at Kyushu University have created a solid-state material that converts visible light into ultraviolet (UV) light under ordinary outdoor sunlight, achieving a conversion efficiency of 1.9%. The material offers advantages for real-world use, including straightforward synthesis and low-cost starting materials.

SourceKyushu University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 23, 2026

Virtual reality study with zebrafish shows surroundings influence developing biology of the eye

A virtual reality study with zebrafish shows that the environment experienced by young fish influences the shape and electrical activity of neurons in the eye. Fish growing up surrounded by horizontal stripes develop differently shaped neurons compared to those exposed to vertical stripes, which affects their behavior.

SourceKing's College London·JournalNeuron·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 23, 2026

Plasma spray turns lignin waste into functional coatings in one step

Researchers developed a novel approach to convert technical lignin into functional coatings using low-energy suspension plasma spraying (LE-SPS). The new technique eliminates the need for solvents, crosslinkers, or catalysts, and produces continuous and dense coatings with improved UV attenuation and anti-fogging behavior.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 23, 2026

CNIC researcher Florian Weinberger awarded ERC Advanced Grant for the project CARDIOSWITCH

The European Research Council has awarded an Advanced Grant to CNIC researcher Florian Weinberger for the CARDIOSWITCH project, which aims to develop new regenerative strategies for congenital heart disease. The five-year project will investigate how mechanical workload influences cardiomyocyte proliferation and function.

Self-driving chemistry lab discovers catalysts that can switch products on demand

A self-driving chemistry lab called Flex-Cat has been developed to autonomously search for faster and more selective ways to make important industrial chemicals. The platform combines robotics, high-pressure reactors, and artificial intelligence to identify high-performing catalysts and those that can be programmed to produce different...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 23, 2026

Personality may shape how caregiving affects health

A new study published in Health Psychology reveals that individual personality traits play a significant role in how caregiving stress affects physical health. Caregivers with high neuroticism and low agreeableness experienced greater inflammation and poorer physical functioning, while others remained relatively resilient. The research...

SourceRice University·JournalHealth Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateJun 23, 2026

New global study reveals link between local-scale species changes and global extinction risk

A new global study reveals a strong link between decreasing local prevalence of species and higher global extinction risk, using the comprehensive BioTIME database. The analysis found that complex links exist between local temporal trends and extinction risk categories, highlighting the importance of assemblage-level monitoring in cons...

SourceUniversity of St. Andrews·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 23, 2026

Low-protein, amino acid-supplemented ‘longevity diet’ linked to longer healthy lifespan, lower fat mass and frailty risk, and better metabolic health

A new study published in Cell Metabolism found that a low-protein, amino acid-supplemented 'longevity diet' improved cardiometabolic markers and reduced frailty and fat mass in mice. The diet was associated with longer healthy lifespan and better metabolic health in both mice and humans.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalCell Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 23, 2026

Feeding data to AI to speed up drug discovery

The University of Michigan College of Pharmacy has created an open-access database of over 50,000 carefully designed chemistry experiments to improve AI tools in drug discovery. The dataset reveals patterns that were difficult to see from traditional studies alone, including the formation of arynes at low temperatures.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 23, 2026

Study finds social determinants of health can match or exceed genetic risk in predicting common diseases

Researchers integrated social determinants of health with genetic information to predict disease risk. Social, behavioral, and environmental factors contributed as much as genetics to disease risk for four out of six studied conditions.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalThe American Journal of Human Genetics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 22, 2026

UMass Amherst-led team discovers new way to make thermally insulative plastics

Researchers at UMass Amherst have discovered a way to make thermally insulative plastics by limiting heat-carrying vibrational channels, reducing thermal conductivity by 17% while maintaining flame-retardant behavior. This new design framework has promising applications in lightweight insulation materials and advanced building materials.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalMaterials Horizons·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 22, 2026

Bigger bodies were a late addition for humans

New research found that human body size increased in two stages: initially with early hominins like Australopithecus and later with Homo species, which coincided with changes in diet, movement, and environment. The study analyzed 386 fossils across 21 species of hominins.

SourceUniversity of Reading·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 22, 2026

New technique filters PFAS forever chemicals using “molecular Velcro”

Researchers developed a new gel-based material that filters PFAS 'forever chemicals' from water using 'molecular Velcro', improving filtration capacity and reducing the need for fluorinated materials. The material can be reused by flushing out contaminants, offering a potential solution to removing PFAS from water.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalEnergy & Environmental Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 22, 2026

Immediate treatment of moderate pre-cancerous cervical cells may be safely delayed without raising cancer risk

A target trial emulation study found that delaying treatment of moderate pre-cancerous cervical cells (CIN 2) does not increase three-year cancer risk and reduces unnecessary excisions. The study suggests it may be safe to delay treatment, especially for lower-risk CIN 2, by adopting careful follow-up strategies.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateJun 22, 2026