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Science News for March 27, 2026


The Lancet Neurology: Over 250,000 deaths from meningitis globally in 2023; over one third in children under five, suggests most comprehensive global assessment to date

Globally, meningitis resulted in over 259,000 deaths and 2.5 million infections in 2023, according to a comprehensive study. The disease disproportionately affects low-income countries, particularly in Africa, where air pollution, premature birth, and low birthweight are major risk factors for death.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Neurology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 27, 2026

General population study shows that BMI classification system wrongly identifies some people as having overweight or obesity

A new study published in the journal Nutrients found that the traditional WHO body mass index (BMI) classification system misidentifies significant numbers of people as having overweight or obesity. Using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), researchers showed that more than one-third of those with obesity defined by BMI were actual...

When algae stop growing, bacteria start swarming

A new study published in mBio describes the unique relationship between diatoms and a newly identified species of marine bacteria. When diatom growth ceases, the bacteria become aggressive, releasing compounds that damage the algae and then feeding on them. In nutrient-rich environments, the bacteria can overcome the diatom's defenses.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalmBio·DateMar 27, 2026

New biochar design enables stable and long-lasting oxygen release for environmental applications

Researchers developed a new type of engineered biochar that can deliver oxygen in a controlled and stable way, overcoming limitations of current materials. The phosphate-modified biochar demonstrated strong environmental adaptability, making it suitable for complex natural environments.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2026

Microbes hold the key to unlocking biochar’s carbon storage potential in soils

A global analysis reveals that microbial communities play a decisive role in determining biochar's carbon storage potential. Biochar increases soil organic carbon by an average of 52.4%, but its effectiveness varies depending on the composition of soil microbial communities and environmental conditions.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2026

Biochar offers climate-smart path to restore dryland soils and fight desertification

A new review highlights biochar's potential to reverse land degradation, improve soil health, and support sustainable agriculture in arid regions. Biochar can increase crop yields, reduce erosion risks, and enhance soil resilience, while also contributing to global carbon sequestration efforts.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeLiterature review·DateMar 27, 2026

Stem Cell Reports named official conference journal for “Latest Advances in Stem Cell-Based Disease Modelling and Drug Screening”

The International Society for Stem Cell Research has named Stem Cell Reports as the official conference journal for the Latest Advances in Stem Cell-Based Disease Modelling and Drug Screening meeting. The journal will focus on high-impact research spanning basic discovery to clinical translation in stem cell science.

Study explains Antarctic sea ice growth and sudden decline

A new study by Stanford University reveals that Antarctic sea ice extent grew for decades until 2016, when it declined abruptly due to the release of accumulated ocean heat. The researchers used data from autonomous floats in the global Argo array to analyze the relationship between wind-driven upwelling and sea ice variability.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 27, 2026

New technique reveals body-wide cellular processes

Researchers have developed a new system to map gene expression across whole mouse bodies, providing a toolkit for studying molecular and cellular processes. The technique allows for the analysis of inflammation in every cell type and organ tissue, paving the way for a 'virtual mouse' model that could be used for research.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalCell·DateMar 27, 2026

University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center receives $3 million NCI Award to develop next generation of cancer researchers

The University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center has been awarded a $3 million National Cancer Institute Career Development Award to support early-career oncology researchers focused on improving cancer outcomes for patients from diverse backgrounds. The program, called Advancing Oncology Research C...

Researchers find 3,500-year-old loom that reveals key aspects of textile revolution in the Bronze Age

A team of researchers from Spanish universities has found a remarkably well-preserved 3,500-year-old loom that provides new insights into the textile revolution during the European Bronze Age. The loom's wooden structure and components made from wood and plant fibers have allowed the researchers to accurately determine how it worked.

SourceUniversity of Alicante·JournalAntiquity·TypeObservational study·DateMar 27, 2026

Women outperform men when confidence is measured in intelligence testing, study finds

A new study reveals that women excel in aligning confidence with correctness, particularly in fluid intelligence tests. The research challenges long-held assumptions about gender differences, suggesting that efforts should focus on encouraging greater self-awareness and calibrated confidence among men.

SourceUniversity College Cork·JournalJournal of Political Economy·TypeObservational study·DateMar 27, 2026

TENS improves pain and fatigue in fibromyalgia

A new study led by University of Iowa Health Care researchers found that TENS reduced movement-evoked pain and fatigue in patients with fibromyalgia, with effects lasting for at least six months. The treatment was also shown to be safe, effective, inexpensive, and readily available.

SourceUniversity of Iowa Health Care·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 27, 2026

Hybrid structure for enhancing robustness in optical diffractive neural networks without vaccination training

Researchers developed a novel Hybrid Optical Diffractive Neural Network (H-ODNN) with variable neuron sizes to overcome fabrication flaws and alignment errors. The architecture matches or surpasses vaccinated networks' performance without re-training, significantly reducing development time and increasing production yields.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Optoelectronics·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2026

Simple tumor biomarker test predicts which stomach cancer patients will respond to immunotherapy

Researchers have discovered a tumor biomarker that can predict which gastric cancer patients will benefit from immunotherapy before surgery. The biomarker, tsMHC-II expression, showed strong correlation with treatment response and was easily assessable using standard immunohistochemistry techniques.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 27, 2026

Water, water everywhere - but how to find it?

Researchers compared commercial PlanetBasemap data to a public data set from the United States Geological Survey and found that higher-resolution imagery detects more small bodies of water. However, in seasons with high vegetation, public data excels at detecting water hidden beneath forest cover.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeImaging analysis·DateMar 27, 2026

Microwave magic turns Moon dust into building blocks without Earth imports

A team of researchers at Harbin Institute of Technology has developed a method to efficiently melt lunar regolith using microwave energy, eliminating the need for susceptor materials. The approach enhances electric field strength and uses compressed waveguide design to focus microwave energy, achieving thermal runaway in just 420 seconds.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalPlanet·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2026

Cooking efficiently for better nutrition

Researchers at the University of Seville have found that cooking methods significantly impact the bioavailability of carotenoids in tomatoes and carrots. Oven cooking increased carotenoid availability ninefold for carrots, while air frying and oven cooking resulted in high values for tomatoes.

SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalFood Chemistry·DateMar 27, 2026

How fetal reversion supports intestinal regeneration and preserves stem cells

Researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo discovered a unique mechanism in which conventional stem cells can temporarily switch into a specialized regenerative state called revival stem cells, driving tissue repair. This process, known as fetal reversion, enables efficient regeneration without exhausting the stem cell pool.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2026

Brain’s wiring and signal speed shape alpha waves and background activity across the lifespan

A new model, Xi–αNET, explains how brain structure and signal conduction speed shape alpha waves and background activity. The study found that faster conduction speeds in younger individuals correspond to higher alpha frequencies, while slower conduction speeds in older adults lead to declining alpha frequencies.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 27, 2026

Terahertz radiation-induced remodeling of purine metabolism and membrane raft signaling in human melanoma cells

Exposure to terahertz radiation induces significant changes in purine metabolism, pantothenate/CoA biosynthesis, and the pentose phosphate pathway. Gene network analysis reveals associations with membrane raft reorganization and receptor-mediated signaling involving epidermal growth factor receptor and G-protein subunits.

SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalGene Expression·DateMar 27, 2026

Lasting income costs of mental and physical illness

A study estimated income losses from individual perspectives in Denmark from 2000 to 2023 after hospital diagnoses of depression, alcohol use disorder, stroke, and breast cancer. The researchers found that income losses were largest for mental disorders, with average losses growing over time, particularly among younger individuals.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Health Forum·DateMar 27, 2026

Strong patient diversity in biobanks reveals new genetic links to disease risk, treatment response

Researchers analyzed genetic data from nearly 94,000 participants in UCLA's ATLAS Biobank, highlighting new connections between genes, disease risk and medicine response. The study found that genetics can predict how well patients respond to GLP-1 drugs for weight loss purposes, with varying response rates across ancestry groups.

The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Ahead-of-Print Tip Sheet: March 27, 2026

Recent studies published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine have made significant advancements in the field. Researchers have developed a new tracer to detect active collagen turnover following myocardial infarction and evaluated folate-based radioconjugates for ovarian cancer imaging. Additionally, targeted radiotherapy shows promise ...

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateMar 27, 2026

Ragon Institute study reveals how a live bacterial therapy reshapes the vaginal microbiome and identifies predictors of treatment success

A study from the Ragon Institute reveals how a live bacterial therapy works to prevent recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV) and why it works better for some women than others. The therapy, LACTIN-V, was found to successfully colonize the beneficial bacterium Lactobacillus crispatus in 30% of women, leading to improved vaginal health.

SourceRagon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard·JournalCell Host & Microbe·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 27, 2026

New strategy unlocks 29.76% efficiency for all-perovskite tandem solar cells

Researchers developed an innovative colloidal chemistry strategy to enhance the performance of all-perovskite tandem solar cells, achieving a power conversion efficiency of 29.76%. The unified carboxylate-based modulator system regulates nucleation dynamics, suppressing phase segregation and promoting uniform crystal growth.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalJoule·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2026

Scientists solve decades-long mystery about why Saturn appears to change its spin

Researchers at Northumbria University used the James Webb Space Telescope to map Saturn's auroral region, revealing a complex pattern of heating and cooling. The findings show that Saturn's aurora is not just a visual display but actively heats its atmosphere, driving winds that generate electrical currents.

SourceNorthumbria University·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Space Physics·TypeObservational study·DateMar 27, 2026

Individuals with worse cardiac structure at higher risk of developing adverse health outcomes and mortality long-term

Higher left atrial end-systolic dimension and left ventricular mass are associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, including mortality, cardiovascular disease, dementia, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Lifestyle changes and heart-healthy habits can help maintain optimal values of these measurements.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 27, 2026

From measurement to meaning: new research introduces a learning architecture for the age of AI

A new study proposes a learning architecture that integrates educational philosophy with AI-driven design, aiming to transform assessment into an ongoing process of reflection. The system prioritizes human judgment and interpretation over standardized metrics, enabling educators to build adaptive and interpretable feedback systems.

SourceECNU Review of Education·JournalECNU Review of Education·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 27, 2026

Researchers identify new drug target to prevent development of dangerous blood vessel defects in brain

Researchers have identified TIE2 as a crucial link between two signaling pathways that drive the growth of blood vessel abnormalities in the brain. Inhibiting TIE2 with a small drug called rebastinib may provide an endothelial cell-centered approach to prevent CCMs, which can cause brain hemorrhages and seizures.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2026

AI set to transform personality testing, new research finds

New research from the University of East London suggests that machine learning can improve the accuracy and nuance of personality tests like DISC assessment. Using over 1,000 participants, researchers achieved accuracy rates of over 93% in predicting personality types and identified four clear clusters with subtle overlaps.

SourceUniversity of East London·JournalJournal of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 27, 2026

The new cholesterol guideline: What to know

The new guideline focuses on lowering elevated LDL cholesterol levels and emphasizes the importance of earlier screenings, especially for those with a family history of heart disease. It also encourages more personalized risk estimations to support shared decision-making between clinicians and patients.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·TypeSystematic review·DateMar 27, 2026

How do giant caldera volcanoes fill up?

Researchers at Kobe University have discovered a region beneath the Kikai caldera in Japan that is filled with magma, which they believe is newly injected magma. This finding allows them to propose a general model for how magma reservoirs under caldera volcanoes refill, potentially improving our ability to predict future giant eruptions.

SourceKobe University·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2026

Hospital delirium linked to later dementia risk in healthy adults

A major population study found that delirium during hospital admission is associated with a markedly increased likelihood of future dementia across all levels of pre-existing health. In individuals with few long-term conditions, delirium was linked to a three-fold higher risk of developing dementia and substantially increased mortality.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalThe Lancet Healthy Longevity·TypeObservational study·DateMar 27, 2026

Making perovskite solar cells weather-resistant

TUM researchers have identified the microscopic causes of instability in perovskite solar cells and developed a strategy to prevent degradation through temperature swings. They discovered that a 'burn-in' phase triggers early loss of relative performance, but using special organic molecules as spacers can stabilize the material.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2026

‘Sometimes an adult should shut up and go away’: scientists reveal the qualities that kids need in play

Researchers surveyed schoolchildren about play and identified universal elements that contribute to 'good' play. High levels of accessibility and a sense of 'play feeling' were often present in enjoyable experiences, while factors like social inclusion, imagination, and transgression also played a role.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 27, 2026