Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive June 2026 - Page 26


Page 26 of 52

International surrogates recruited on social media face emotional control in Georgia’s booming childbirth market, new Oxford study reveals

A new Oxford study documents the hidden systems of emotional control sustaining Georgia's transnational surrogacy market, where intermediaries govern emotions and discipline conduct. Most women enter surrogacy through advertising on Instagram and TikTok, while staged payments reinforce financial control over their mobility.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalMobilities·DateJun 15, 2026

Ancient fire record rewritten: Researchers push earliest evidence of human fire use back to over a million years

A new study found evidence of repeated fire use at Wonderwerk Cave between 1.07 and 1.79 million years ago, revealing that early humans brought naturally occurring fire into the cave and maintained it. The findings provide new insights into how our ancestors first began to harness fire.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalPLOS One·TypeObservational study·DateJun 15, 2026

New study suggests novel EHR-based marker can identify at-risk transplant patients and reduce organ rejection

A new study suggests a novel electronic health record-based marker, MLVI, can help identify transplant patients at high risk for organ rejection due to non-adherence. The study found that using MLVI as a risk marker reduced overall rejection rates by bringing them down to levels typically seen in low-risk patients.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Transplantation·DateJun 15, 2026

Brain-computer interface enables independent, accurate communication for man living with ALS

A brain-computer interface (BCI) system has been developed at the University of California - Davis Health, allowing a person with severe paralysis caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to communicate, work, and interact with the digital world without assistance. The BCI system has been tested in a 47-year-old man with ALS, who ...

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalNature Medicine·DateJun 15, 2026

Bi‑functional extension on heterogeneous ORR/OER catalysis with 2D materials for Li‑O2 batteries

Researchers have presented a comprehensive review on the use of 2D materials to enhance lithium–oxygen battery technology through heterogeneous ORR/OER catalysis. The unique properties of 2D materials overcome traditional limitations, delivering remarkable metrics and enabling reversible Li2O2 formation with minimal overpotential.

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalNano-Micro Letters·TypeNews article·DateJun 15, 2026

Brain stimulation that adapts to Parkinson’s patients’ every step

Researchers created a personalized adaptive DBS system that detects neural signals associated with each step and adjusts stimulation in real time, improving gait symmetry and reducing falls. The study demonstrates the potential for brain stimulation to adapt to behavior itself, opening doors to future therapies.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 15, 2026

CUHK develops all-optical signal processor to break AI data centre transmission bottleneck

Researchers from CUHK develop an integrated all-optical signal processor that corrects distorted signals in real-time, improving communication efficiency between servers and data centres in large-scale AI systems. The OSP achieves aggregate data rates of 1.6 Tb/s with latency below 60 picoseconds and low energy consumption.

SourceThe Chinese University of Hong Kong·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 15, 2026

KAIST breaks a major AI bottleneck with liquid cooling technology 10 times more efficient than the previous record

Researchers create a highly efficient liquid-cooling system that cools semiconductor chips using room-temperature water. The system achieves a coefficient of performance (COP) of 106,000, approximately ten times higher than the previous world-leading result.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalEnergy Conversion and Management·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJun 15, 2026

Secondhand smoke can leave cancer-causing cadmium in the body

A study by Texas A&M University found that breathing in secondhand cigarette smoke significantly raises toxic cadmium levels in adults, increasing the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. The study also revealed disparities in cadmium exposure among racial minority groups and individuals with lower education or income.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalBiological Trace Element Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 15, 2026

How gun violence exposure drives racial health disparities

Researchers at Rutgers University found that higher exposure to gun violence among Black and Hispanic Americans explains persistent racial disparities in both general health and chronic health diagnoses. The study suggests that reducing gun violence exposure may be an important pathway for improving health equity in the US.

SourceRutgers University·JournalJournal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 15, 2026

New breakthrough in developing more personalized treatments for lung cancer

A study by the University of Barcelona discovered that differences in tumour microenvironment surrounding adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma largely depend on abundant benign cells called fibroblasts. This finding opens the door to develop more personalized therapies tailored to each tumour's specific characteristics.

SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalCell Death and Disease·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 15, 2026

Novel generative AI model enables atomic-scale prediction of protein–protein interactions

Researchers have developed a generative AI model called Void-X that can predict protein-protein interactions with high accuracy, enabling the design of new biomolecules for drug discovery and synthetic biology. The model achieves predictive accuracies of 78.3% for intra-chain clusters and 68.2% for inter-chain clusters.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 15, 2026

Think you’d never eat bugs? Research says you might—and you may even like it

Research suggests that direct exposure to insect-based foods can increase curiosity and attention, leading to a greater likelihood of consumption. Participants showed increased heart-rate activity and attentiveness when tasting insect-based products, regardless of knowledge about the ingredients.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Neuroscience Psychology and Economics·TypeObservational study·DateJun 15, 2026

MIT researchers develop tiny ingestible sensor that can measure temperature from inside the body

A team of MIT engineers has created a tiny ingestible sensor that can measure temperature from within the body, offering continuous monitoring for patients who are sick or at risk of hypothermia. The device is small enough to be easily ingested and can provide accurate temperature readings with an accuracy of 0.01 degrees Celsius.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Electronics·DateJun 15, 2026

Study reveals how bacteria assemble their envelope

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have discovered a key process for how gram-negative bacteria attach their outer membrane to the cell wall. The study found that protein PA2854 performs a chemical reaction linking the outer membrane to the cell wall, a crucial step in maintaining the bacterium's health.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 15, 2026

COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness among older adults

Vaccines administered in autumn and winter 2025 to 2026 showed substantial short-term effectiveness but low uptake. This results in approximately 55% effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 among older adults within 2 months of vaccination, missed opportunities for preventing symptomatic disease among unvaccinated vulnerable groups.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJun 15, 2026

Youth-designed “blue-green” spaces boost resilience and mental wellness for Appalachian adolescents

A new study from Georgetown University's Berkley School of Nursing found that youth-led environmental design can foster a unique form of 'Situated Strength' among high school students in rural Appalachia. The project transformed an unused concrete pad into a multifunctional wellness space, supporting emotional regulation and resilience.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalProgress in Community Health Partnerships Research Education and Action·DateJun 15, 2026

Light switch makes cancer vulnerable to attack

Researchers from ETH Zurich have developed a system that uses light to selectively destroy glucocorticoid receptors on tumour cells, making them vulnerable to attack. This approach could lead to more targeted and effective cancer treatments with fewer side effects.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 15, 2026

Female patients with traumatic brain injury less likely to be admitted to trauma centres

A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that female patients with traumatic brain injuries are 26% less likely to be admitted to specialized trauma centers than males. This disparity persisted even after adjusting for factors like age, severity of injury, and other health conditions.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeObservational study·DateJun 15, 2026

Can obesity make the brain age faster?

A new study investigates whether obesity contributes to faster brain aging and earlier memory decline. Researchers found that high K63 polyubiquitination levels in young obese rats matched those seen in older brains, suggesting a connection between obesity-induced and age-related memory loss.