Science News for May 14, 2026

Future-proofing robotics: Brain-inspired hardware to overcome AI computing bottlenecks

Kumamoto University technical expert receives prestigious MEXT Minister’s Award for excellence in research support

Review highlights antimicrobial peptides as cross-seeding modulators at the neurodegenerative–infectious interface

A*STAR scientists develop new method to reveal how RNA structure influences health and disease

"Reading the invisible": POSTECH-led team develops AI framework accounting for hidden defects in metal 3D printing

Information security with smart hydrogels: Photo‑patterning and multi‑stimuli responsive structural color

AI and supercomputer simulations reveal how a bacterial energy-converting enzyme pumps sodium ions, paving the way for new antibiotics

Blind Ambition: AI agents can turn routine tasks into digital disasters

Healthier brains may be more resilient to early Alzheimer’s disease

Could sea squirts' nano-packaging delivery system help restore sea forests?

Screening modestly reduces prostate cancer deaths

Shining light on cell-to-cell communication

The Lancet Psychiatry: No clear link between common antidepressant use in pregnancy and autism or ADHD in children, finds most comprehensive study to date

New study reveals best dosage for ADHD medications

UCLA to lead $9M study on pesticides’, air pollutants’ link to Parkinson’s disease risk

Research by Ochsner experts explores making behavioral health care more accessible

Viagra could hold key to halting Peyronie’s disease

CU Anschutz School of Medicine introduces 3-year MD program to address cost, physician shortages

Understanding and exploiting tuberculosis superspreading

Nationwide study finds reduced triptan use for migraine one year after semaglutide initiation for weight loss among women

Trial shows rapid weight loss is much more effective than gradual weight loss in achieving and sustaining clinically meaningful weight loss

Share proton therapy across national borders and plan five new centres in Romania, Greece, Italy, Northern Ireland and Poland to maximise access for patients in Europe

Analysis of 32 studies and more than 43000 participants shows how using obesity drugs for weight loss is associated with a clinically relevant drop in blood pressure

Study links use of new obesity drugs to reduction of asthma exacerbations and inhaler use

Endoscopic procedure associated with greater short-term weight loss than oral semaglutide, study finds

Obesity and dietician societies combine to issue consensus recommendations on use of incretin drugs in obesity therapy

JMIR Biomedical Engineering invites submissions on “Sex and Gender in Biomedical Engineering: Toward Equitable Outcomes in Workforce and Modeling.”

Improved life satisfaction linked to being in nature

Ochsner Children’s cardiologist named one of several principal investigators in $15 million initiative to treat heart valve disease

AMS Science Preview: “Ornamental twilight,” heat deaths, hurricane eyes

Targeted therapeutics show promise in fighting off drug-resistant bacteria

Researchers solve longstanding problem in measuring semiconductor defects

Nature study: Researchers use methane ‘fingerprints’ to better track global emissions

Mpox study reveals hidden infections may fuel spread

URI master’s student Emilio Pedroza Lopez earns prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Historical DNA connects 1.3 million living relatives to 17th-century Maryland settlers and may have identified the colony’s second governor

Study is first to detect, track multiple cancer-causing viruses in wastewater

Tiny ocean life helps scientists estimate whale prevalence off the California coast

Wall design centers experience of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals #ASA190

New marker aids diagnosis for aggressive prostate cancer

Bobba receives Young Investigator Award for prostate cancer research

Study finds new ACL surgery approach helps most patients return to activity

Hidden small RNA determines if cholera bacterium can infect humans

Artificial Intelligence + Education: Theory and Practice in Application Development

Childhood disadvantage can limit the social benefits of intelligence later in life, new research shows

Silk made into strong plastic-like materials with 6G potential

Privately educated CEOs seen as ‘safer bets’ despite no evidence they are

A new method for improving ecological monitoring in intermittent rivers

Missing patient information in SEER database may create “blind spots” in cancer data

Newly discovered microbial world helps protect developing lobsters

Prenatal exposure to chemical mixtures may influence fetal growth through the placenta

Oxidative modification twists mitochondrial DNA into Z-form to trigger acetaminophen liver failure

Digital environments generate moderate levels of psychological overload among university students

Combined sensory-and-motor function score may help assess cognitive impairment often underlying dementia

Nanotechnology special issue spotlights smart platforms while advancing precision cancer therapy

Building density, not trees, was strongest predictor of home loss in los angeles firestorms, finds new Cal Poly study

New study provides rule of thumb to estimate land sustainability in river deltas

Method calculates more efficient route between Earth and Moon than any previously described

Mayo Clinic study finds 1 in 8 adults carries hidden genetic risk — and reveals what it takes to act on it

The 1st annual meeting on experimental therapeutics

New Astrobiology special collection explores emerging scientific evidence for land-based origins of life

AI model predicts 10-year stroke risk based on routine cardiology test

Physics in uncharted waters: The mysteries of marine snow

Rare extraluminal esophageal cancer invades spine despite normal endoscopy

Steroid use falls, but creatine use climbs rapidly

Serum extracellular vesicle n-glycome identified as promising non-invasive biosignature for childhood epilepsy

Hidden viruses reshape one of Earth’s largest carbon systems, study finds

UNCG awarded $2 million to grow bioindustrial manufacturing workforce across North Carolina

Why babies are dying and how we can stop it

Ruthenium nano-TSV and all-dry SOI thinning advance backside power delivery

BESPIN Regional Trialogue for Europe and Central Asia

How tissues tune immune responses to match the threat

Not just an energy drink: National study finds kratom use is rising

UT MD Anderson shares latest research breakthroughs

Houston Methodist researchers develop AI platform to decode how cells ‘talk’ in cancer, Alzheimer's and other complex diseases

A new method could help Washington shellfish farmers control a pesky shrimp

LAMECS 2026 set to bring the next generation of microbiologists to Manchester

UC San Diego researchers shine a light on peripheral artery disease

New antiviral strategy against SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen responsible for causing COVID-19 disease

Gallbladder tumor biology may affect survival

NTU Singapore scientists develop near-invisible solar cells that could turn windows into power generators

Synthetic biology leads to recyclable textiles: Engineered protein fibers for a cleaner future

A fresh approach to peppermint

Restructuring hospitals to help the elderly

Researchers at Kyoto University found that hospital restructuring improved local capacity for elderly hospital admissions and enabled more efficient bed management. The study suggests that reorganization can alleviate regional healthcare disparities in the elderly population.

Mathematical analysis reveals a hidden “golden rule” in abstract art

Researchers applied topological methods to distinguish between genuine and fake abstract artworks. They found that the structure of the compositions corresponds with how people perceive them. The study proposes an intuitive mathematical 'golden rule' for structuring art.

Improved genetic quality control required to ensure mouse models’ rigor

A recent study found nearly half of mouse strains held by major research repositories showed discrepancies between their reported identities and actual genetic profiles. This highlights a critical gap in genetic quality control (GQC), which can undermine experimental validity and reproducibility.

Young people are aware of and normalize hidden design features of video games that encourage spending

A study by UOC researchers reveals that young people are not fooled by monetization systems in video games; they often accept them as part of the gaming experience. The study highlights various systems that encourage consumption, such as loot boxes and virtual currencies, and shows a consistent relationship between these mechanisms and...

Study finds no link between first trimester pain reliever use and birth defects

A large Israeli pregnancy registry study found no association between first-trimester nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use and major congenital malformations. The study analyzed over 264,000 pregnancies and found no increased risk of birth defects, even at higher doses.

Your retina's biological age might indicate osteoporosis risk

A study found that accelerated retinal aging is associated with lower bone mineral density and an increased risk of fractures. The researchers developed a method to estimate biological age in the retina, which can predict incident osteoporosis.

How to see the invisible? The limits of two-photon vision

Researchers investigated the effect of laser-beam diameter on two-photon stimuli and found that accurate focusing is crucial for detection. The study revealed that beam geometry plays a key role in determining visibility thresholds, with precise alignment necessary to maximize photon density reaching the retina.

Measuring SARS-CoV-2 diversity in wastewater improves disease surveillance

Researchers report that tracking genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater improves disease surveillance and prediction of COVID-19 outbreaks. The new approach offers a powerful predictive tool for public health, providing earlier and more accurate insight into emerging waves of infection.

USAID cuts triggered sharp increase in violent conflict across Africa

A new study finds that sudden withdrawal of US aid leads to significant increases in violent conflict, armed clashes, and protests in regions with substantial US support. Local institutional strength mitigates these effects, while weaker states are more prone to increased conflict.

Which medicines can most affect driving?

Researchers developed a new scale to estimate the risk of using medicines while driving, combining factors such as adverse effects and dosage. The FMB scale offers greater resolution than existing systems like DRUID, allowing for more precise identification of medicines with similar profiles.

Prickly pears show promise as the building materials of tomorrow

Centimeter-scale piezo robots offer new reconfiguration solutions

Researchers have developed centimeter-scale reconfigurable piezoelectric robots with a built-in-ceramic actuation unit, enabling fast response, simple structure, and no transmission mechanisms. The robots achieve high speeds and carry heavy loads, making them suitable for environmental exploration and confined-space detection.

Implantable living materials autonomously deliver therapeutics using contained engineered bacteria

Researchers have introduced an implantable 'living material' that contains bacteria sensing infections and releasing therapeutic molecules on demand. Engineered living cells can autonomously sense disease and deliver treatment directly at affected sites, offering a new class of medicine that sustains itself in vivo.

A smarter way to measure how streams clean themselves

A new approach using Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics offers a direct fix for estimating nutrient uptake length in streams. The zero-order method substantially outperforms the first-order approach under saturation, providing more accurate estimates of stream filtration capacity.

IgG glycan absolute quantification offers new path to biological age prediction

Researchers have developed a new method to predict biological age using absolute IgG glycan quantification. The study found that specific glycans, such as GP3 and GP8, are associated with aging and that modifying IgG with youthful glycans can alleviate aging-related declines.

KAIST develops real-time diagnostic smart dressing patch to end the fear of diabetic foot amputation​

A real-time diagnostic smart dressing patch has been developed by KAIST to monitor diabetic foot wounds. The patch combines an optoelectronic sensor with a functional dressing to analyze glucose concentration, acidity, and temperature changes in real-time, enabling patients to check their condition using a smartphone.

American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) to host Annual Meeting in Boston, September 26-30

New polymer thermal gel may improve cooling for next-generation AI chips

AI-enhanced project-based learning bridges STEM educational gaps in Africa

UofL pediatrics researcher uncovers new signaling mechanism related to anxiety and overgrooming

Tired? We can hear it in your voice #ASA190

Sexy eyes in hoverflies give insight into their aerodynamic powers

Immune system overreaction linked to deadly flu in pregnancy

Large-scale eDNA survey reveals "hidden" factors that affect regional fish communities

IgG fucosylation linked to severe COVID-19 progression and traditional Chinese medicine therapy

Most Australian ‘wild dogs’ are predominantly dingoes

Probiotic lactobacillus rhamnosus CMU-pb-7 shows promise in alleviating diabetic nephropathy via antioxidative pathway

Broadband colored skyrmions generated by on-chip ferroelectric spherulites

The hidden force of growth

Engaging young minds: Augmented reality helps children with STEM

Influenza virus platforms: New hope for vaccines and cancer immunotherapy

Researchers uncover chemical origins of the Perseus cluster of galaxies

Ai-driven multi-omics integration yields new aging clock gtAge

Challenging biases about vocal fry #ASA190

Basalt could be the key to greener and cheaper cement

Adverse pregnancy outcomes and cardiovascular health among offspring in early adulthood

Creating an affordable and sustainable marimba #ASA190

Why emus can’t fly: A ‘time switch’ in bird embryos holds the answer

Treatment shift needed for brittle bone disease, drug trial finds

Stanford Medicine researchers link human molecular, microbial diversity with geography, ethnicity

Heart disease risk may start in the womb, study finds

Parasite emergence facilitated by host wing-raising behavior

Contact lenses treat depression in mice as effectively as anti-depressant medication

“Silent” invasion of a widespread freshwater jellyfish across Europe

Study proves the existence and solves the mystery of the rotating Kaleidocycles

Exposure to air pollutants and Lewy body and Parkinson disease–related dementias

Scientists show genes give neurons a ‘GPS’ to form the brain’s neural circuits

Planet: A new open-access journal in planetary science now open for global submissions

Koala milk study may hold key to better care for orphaned joeys

Jellyfish-inspired ultrafast and versatile magnetic soft robots for biomedical applications

Scientists come up with way to overcome AI ‘Data Cannibalism’

Marine mystery uncovered: Ancient reefs hold key to modern marine life

Space physiology and technology: Adaptations, countermeasures, and opportunities for wearable systems

Novel tool enables high-precision, low-cost pediatric leukemia diagnostics

The rules neurons follow to make sense of what we see

Anthropomorphism encourages gratitude for non-human entities

Satellite launch pollution rapidly accumulating in the upper atmosphere

New analysis in JNCCN offers evidence for effective use of medication to combat fatigue in people with cancer

Advancing perioperative medicine central to future of healthcare

Korea University’s College of Medicine held the opening ceremony and commemorative international symposium for the MRI Precision Imaging Research Center

FAU’s CA-AI secures $2.2M U.S. Air Force grant for next-gen autonomous systems

Mechanisms and prognostic assessment value of thyroid hormone in liver failure

Keck Hospital of USC earns five stars on CMS 2026 quality star rating report

EU rules could make fossil-free aviation fuels unnecessarily expensive and energy-intensive

What gives stevia its sweetness? Scientists uncover the genetic secret

Flawed but correctable research hindered progress in infection-triggered chronic conditions, including Lyme disease and Long COVID

Chinese Medical Journal study examines rising neurological disease burden in China

Chinese Neurosurgical Journal study finds most basilar trunk aneurysms treatable with minimally invasive techniques

Canadian astronomy looks to Europe and invests in the world’s largest telescope

Most who meet proposed CTE criteria do not show disease signs at autopsy

In productive ecosystems, larger animals capture more energy per species - but human pressure is reshaping the balance

Prior heart attack linked to faster declines in thinking and memory skills

ALS is driven by a domino‑like chain reaction that begins in nerve cells

New research reveals rapid methane release mechanism at the front of retreating ice sheets

‘Last titan’: Southeast Asia’s biggest dinosaur discovered

Study provides detailed assessment of shifts in toxin producing phytoplankton abundance

Baby bugs must play ‘game of roulette’ to find survival partners before time runs out

New review confirms alcohol causes dozens of health harms, some reversible

Thicker yet cooler: Breakthrough magnet technology for next-generation motors