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Science News Archive March 2026 - Page 43


Page 43 of 52

Stark divide: Americans more confident in career scientists at US health agencies than leaders

A new survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that Americans are more confident in career scientists at federal health agencies such as the CDC, NIH, and FDA, than in their leaders. The survey also reveals a significant gap in confidence between career scientists and agency leaders, with only 5% of Americans expressing

Common drug class may increase risk of heart disease

A large cohort study found that people using anticholinergic medications, commonly prescribed for urinary incontinence and anxiety, have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The cumulative use of these drugs was associated with an increased risk of heart failure and arrhythmias.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalBMC Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMar 5, 2026

University of Ottawa Heart Institute, the University of Ottawa and McGill University launch ARCHIMEDES to advance health research in Canada

The University of Ottawa Heart Institute, McGill University, and the University of Ottawa have launched ARCHIMEDES, a national health data platform providing Canadian researchers with secure access to diverse health data. The platform enables collaboration, supports advanced analyses, including AI algorithms, and prioritizes public trust.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 5, 2026

How viruses mess with our brains

A review of 900 scientific articles identified several biological markers associated with cognitive decline in viral infections, including activated monocytes and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Conversely, certain markers like anti-inflammatory cytokines are linked to better preservation of cognitive abilities.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNeuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews·TypeNews article·DateMar 5, 2026

China’s economists warn of near-term “firefighting” risks and longer-term debt strains

Economists warn of sudden 'firefighting' risks linked to real estate finance, with potential chain reactions triggering financial instability. Long-term systemic risks, including local government debt sustainability concerns, could have overwhelming effects, prompting proposed reforms to address these challenges.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalRisk Sciences·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMar 5, 2026

Frequency-comb spectrum-correlation reflectometry

The proposed OFC-SCR technique enables parallel multi-frequency interrogation, improving measurement speed by over an order of magnitude. It also achieves high frequency response, wide dynamic measurement range, high sensing sensitivity, and excellent robustness, pushing the performance boundaries of distributed fiber-optic acoustic se...

Protecting wildlife from genetic collapse with newly identified "early warning signals"

Researchers have identified detectable 'early warning signals' in genetic data that can alert conservationists to an approaching crisis before it becomes irreversible. The findings provide a new tool for protecting endangered species by monitoring genetic changes in populations and identifying early warning signs.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 5, 2026

Share of migratory wild animal species with declining populations despite UN treaty protections worsens from 44% to 49% in two years; 24% face extinction, up 2%

The interim update to the State of the World's Migratory Species report warns that 49% of migratory species populations are declining, with 24% facing extinction, due to habitat loss and overexploitation. The report highlights the need for coordinated international action to address these threats and protect migratory species.

Saving two lives with one fruit drop

Researchers found that the plant aborts almost all fruits containing larvae, but instead allows larvae to emerge and burrow into soil, promoting a stable balance in the relationship. This 'fallen-fruit compromise' is a novel mechanism that stabilizes nursery pollination mutualism between Sambucus and kateretid beetles.

SourceKobe University·JournalPlants People Planet·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 5, 2026

RELAX study from Dresden: Innovative combination therapy shows promising efficacy in aggressive leukemia

Researchers from Dresden University Medicine developed a new treatment approach for relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), combining standard therapy with the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax. The innovative combination therapy has shown promising efficacy, increasing remission rates to 75% and improving patients' chances of recovery.

SourceTechnische Universität Dresden·JournalThe Lancet Haematology·DateMar 5, 2026

Study confirms food fortification is highly cost-effective in fighting hidden hunger across 63 countries

A comprehensive systematic review found that large-scale food fortification is a highly cost-effective intervention for reducing global malnutrition, with benefits far outweighing costs. The study analyzed 56 studies from 63 countries and found that fortification programs deliver substantial health benefits relative to costs.

SourceCochrane·JournalJournal of Nutrition·TypeSystematic review·DateMar 5, 2026

Tundra tongue: The science behind a very cold mistake

Tundra tongue is a common childhood experience where kids freeze their tongues to metal, leading to mild or no consequences. However, in 18% of cases, it results in avulsion, a piece of the tongue being torn off. Researchers found that most cases had no serious harm and suggest warming the metal with water or air to loosen the tongue.

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalInternational Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology·TypeContent analysis·DateMar 5, 2026

Targeting a dangerous gut infection

Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) affects half a million Americans annually, causing severe diarrhea and life-threatening inflammation of the colon. Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine have developed a new imaging approach to track individual C. diff cells, revealing unexpected findings, such as toxin production not dep...

SourceTufts University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 5, 2026

A kaleidoscope of cosmic collisions: the new catalogue of gravitational signals from LIGO, Virgo and KAGRA

The updated catalogue, GWTC-4, doubles the number of events, revealing 128 new gravitational signals and a kaleidoscope of cosmic collisions, including massive black hole binaries and neutron star binaries. The data provides unprecedented precision to test Einstein's General Relativity and probe the universe's evolution.

SourceEuropean Gravitational Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 5, 2026

Real-time imaging of microplastics in the body improves understanding of health risks

Scientists create fluorescent nanoplastics that resemble real-world plastics in morphology, enabling real-time tracking and studying chronic exposure effects. The study reveals that smaller particles retain longer in the body, highlighting the need for further research on health risks due to microplastic ingestion.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalEnvironmental Science Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 5, 2026

Altered copper metabolism is a crucial factor in inflammatory bone diseases

Copper metabolism plays a crucial role in inflammatory bone diseases, with copper overload suppressing glycogen synthesis and increasing inflammatory activity. Researchers found that cuproptosis, a form of programmed cell death, can lead to bone weakening and osteoclast formation, providing a potential new therapeutic target.

SourceEditorial Office of West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University·JournalInternational Journal of Oral Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 5, 2026

Molecular ‘catapult’ fires electrons at the limits of physics

Scientists at Cambridge University observed ultrafast charge transfer happening within a single molecular vibration, occurring on the natural timescale of atomic motion. The discovery challenges long-held theories about how solar energy systems work and reveals a new pathway to designing more efficient light-harvesting technologies.

SourceSt. John's College, University of Cambridge·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 5, 2026

Researcher finds evidence supporting sucrose can help manage painful procedures in infants

A recent Cochrane review found that administering sucrose to infants undergoing venepuncture is an effective and safe way to manage pain. The study recommends using sucrose as a first-line pain management strategy before the procedure, especially when other options like skin-to-skin contact or breastfeeding are not available.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·DateMar 5, 2026

Bureaucracy Index 2026: Business sector hit hardest

The Bureaucracy Index has reached a record high, showing a 62% increase in federal legislation since 2010. Commercial law has developed at an above-average rate, with the strongest growth since the beginning of systematic evaluation. To generate new growth momentum, deregulation must start here.

SourceESMT Berlin·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 5, 2026

Korean researchers enable early detection of brain disorders with a single drop of saliva!

A team of Korean researchers developed a technology that can precisely analyze structural changes in brain-disease proteins using saliva, enabling early diagnosis of major neurological disorders. The technology has been shown to classify disorders with high accuracy, exceeding 90%, and holds significant potential for non-invasive and l...