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Science News Archive March 2026


Page 11 of 32

Thorny issue plaguing lithium-ion batteries laid bare in new study

Researchers directly measured lithium dendrites' mechanical strength, finding they exhibit unexpectedly high strength and brittle behavior under stress. The study provides insights into how dendrites respond to physical stresses within a battery cell, shedding light on the challenge of scale and access that hindered previous research.

Improving AI models’ ability to explain their predictions

Researchers at MIT developed a new method that coaxes AI models to achieve better accuracy and clearer explanations in safety-critical applications. The approach extracts concepts the model has learned while training for a specific task and forces it to use those, producing better explanations than standard concept bottleneck models.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

People's opinions can shape how negative experiences feel

A new study from Dartmouth College finds that social information can significantly impact how people experience negative events, including physical pain and mentally demanding tasks. When others describe an experience as painful, individuals tend to feel it that way, even when the actual experience is low in intensity.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

American Meteorological Society responds to NSF regarding the future of NCAR

The American Meteorological Society strongly opposes the dismantling of NCAR, highlighting its central role in atmospheric sciences and its impact on the nation's economy. The AMS recommends that NSF engage in a rigorous process to develop a strategy for enhancing scientific innovation in the weather enterprise.

Romiplostim prevents serious side effect of chemotherapy in phase 3 trial

A phase 3 clinical trial by Mass General Brigham reveals romiplostim's ability to prevent chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia, allowing full-dose chemotherapy delivery. The medication boosts bone marrow's resistance to chemotherapy, reducing the risk of life-threatening bleeding and improving cancer treatment outcomes.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Advancing breastfeeding research through optical analysis of human milk

Researchers from the University of Twente are studying the optical properties of human milk to understand the causes of lactation insufficiency. The combined findings from two studies aid the development of light scattering based methods for human milk analysis, providing a powerful tool for research into lactation insufficiency.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

This epigenetic switch could be targeted by new cancer therapies

Researchers found that a small region of the PRC2 complex, called the SBD, is crucial for its function and can be targeted by cancer inhibitors. The SBD's absence halts the growth of aggressive lymphomas and normalizes gene expression, mimicking the effects of powerful clinical cancer inhibitors.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

High-fat diets cause gut bacteria to enter brain, Emory study finds

A new study from Emory University finds that live bacteria from an imbalanced gut microbiome can enter the brain via the vagus nerve, potentially initiating neurological conditions. The study used mouse models and found that high-fat diets increased intestinal barrier permeability, allowing bacteria to reach the brain.

Overlooked brainstem pathway controls human hands

A new study identifies a previously unknown brainstem pathway controlling hand and arm movements, revealing a multi-stage pathway integrating signals from the cortex, brainstem, and spinal networks. This finding may lead to new therapies for stroke rehabilitation, providing additional targets for neuromodulation treatments.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

A better method for planning complex visual tasks

MIT researchers developed a generative AI-driven approach for planning long-term visual tasks, surpassing existing techniques with a 70% success rate. The system combines vision-language models with formal planners, enabling robots to navigate complex environments and assemble multi-robot teams with high efficiency.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Secrets of evolution found in ancient plant DNA

A new study has discovered over 2.3 million conserved non-coding sequences in plants, providing a comprehensive atlas of regulatory conservation across 284 species. These sequences date back to over 400 million years ago, shedding light on the evolution of plant genomes and gene families.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

CNIO research links fertility with immune cells in the brain

A study published in Science reveals that microglia and the protein RANK are involved in regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, which controls fertility. The research found that suppressing RANK expression led to distorted reproductive function, including reduced sex hormones and hypogonadism.

High-fat diet drives gut bacteria into the brain in mice

A high-fat diet allows bacteria to move from the gut to the brain in mice, according to a new study. Researchers found that a small number of bacteria translocated to the brain, likely via the vagus nerve, and that these bacteria were also detected in mouse models of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and autism.

Embryogenesis in 4D: a developmental atlas for genes and cells

A new imaging method reveals the activity of thousands of genes simultaneously throughout the entire zebrafish embryo, enabling the creation of an atlas of early development. The study provides insights into how genes and cells shape the growing embryo, with potential applications in understanding organ formation.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Power outages linked to more emergency hospital visits for older adults

A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that power outages in the US are associated with increased emergency hospital visits for older adults, particularly for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The study estimated that 4,246 additional hospitalizations occurred in 2018 among adults over 65 due to power outages.

Watching a lifetime in motion reveals the architecture of aging

Researchers tracked daily behaviors of African turquoise killifish for four years, identifying 100 distinct 'behavioral syllables' that predicted lifespan. Fish that lived longer tended to sleep at night, swim with greater vigor, and be more active during daylight hours.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Molecular garbage on tumors makes easy target for antibody drugs

Researchers at UCSF have discovered a new therapeutic target, SRC, present on up to half of all tumors, which can be targeted with antibody drugs. The enzyme, normally hidden inside cells, is exposed on the surface of tumor cells due to an overactive disposal system, making it an easy target for cancer-killing antibodies.

Wolves kill—and ravens remember where

Ravens use spatial memory and navigation to find food scattered over the landscape, visiting areas with a history of frequent wolf kills. They can remember the long-term 'resource landscape' created by wolves, allowing them to locate kills across tens or hundreds of kilometers

Ravens don’t follow wolves to dinner – they remember where the food is

Researchers found that ravens rarely trail predators over long distances and instead rely on spatial memory to return to places where kills have occurred before. Ravens treat areas with historically high kill density as predictable foraging sites, indicating that navigation and memory play the dominant role in food source location.

Inside the brains of seals and sea lions with complex vocal behavior learning

Researchers have discovered specialized neural circuits in the brains of seals and sea lions that enable complex vocal behavior and learning. These circuits, including strong bilateral connections between the vocal motor cortex and brainstem nucleus ambiguus, are found in species with varying capacities for vocal flexibility and learning.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Improving local transport with autonomous shuttles

The study analyzed 430 test runs in Mannheim and Friedrichshafen, finding that autonomous shuttles can make everyday trips easier, replacing car trips. Users are open to technology as long as they feel safe, and responsibilities need to be clearly defined for reliable operation.

Surface treatment of wood may keep harmful bacteria at bay

A recent study by the University of Helsinki found that untreated wood surfaces harbor more bacteria and remain viable longer than treated surfaces. The study suggests that surface treatment can affect the microbiota on wood surfaces, influencing hygiene and health risks.

Webinar: How to communicate your science to UK policymakers

A free webinar, part of the Sustainable Microbiology Policy Spotlight journal webinar series, explores how microbiologists can effectively influence policy in the UK. The webinar, featuring senior policymakers and parliamentary affairs professionals, will take place on April 1, 2026, and will be recorded for retrospective viewing.

How political borders in the Middle Ages are linked to chorales

Researchers analyzed 4,000 medieval trope elements to find that political borders severely restricted musical exchange between 9th-14th century empires. The study reflects the musical tradition's connection to Europe's political fragmentation following the Treaty of Verdun in 843 AD.

Gen Z holds companies to account for greenwashing

Members of Gen Z actively observe, evaluate and judge companies' environmental behavior, valuing commitment and credibility. They are more critical and demanding than previous generations, with varying perceptions across countries and genders.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Gut health supplement relieves arthritis pain, finds new study

A new study found that a prebiotic fibre supplement reduced pain, improved grip strength, and lowered pain sensitivity in people with knee osteoarthritis. The supplement, inulin, improved grip strength and reduced pain sensitivity, measures linked to how the nervous system processes pain.

The limitations of nontargeted chemical analysis

Researchers from the University of Amsterdam developed a novel computational framework, Measurable Feature Prediction, to quantify the gaps in nontargeted chemical analysis. The study shows that environmental screening methods leave massive blind spots in the data, with only 0.01% of the chemical space being measurable.

The Swedish flag – a force for unity

Research found that exposure to the Swedish flag reduces aversion towards political opponents, indicating it can be a force for unity. The study, involving 1,200 participants in Sweden and 1,200 in Denmark, suggests that the flag reminds people of shared Swedish identity, leading to increased tolerance.

Testing large language models on scientific literature

Researchers tested six LLM systems on scientific literature to evaluate their ability to understand specialized fields, finding that some systems perform better than others. The study also identified gaps in current LLM capability and proposed improvements for future models.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Study shows link between ADHD and mental ill health in teens

Researchers found that self-esteem and parental mental health have a small but statistically significant link to both ADHD and mental health risk. Additionally, difficulties with peers had a small but significant link for girls. The study suggests that targeted wellbeing support systems can help reduce the risk of mental health issues ...

A familiar voice shapes how zebra finches hear and respond

Researchers have found that zebra finches' brains respond more strongly to familiar calls, with inhibitory interneurons firing more intensely and for longer when the caller is known. This neural activity influences the bird's reply, suggesting that social context plays a crucial role in vocal communication. The study sheds light on why...