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Science News for May 22, 2026


Blue and fin whale sightings on the rise in the South East Atlantic

New research reveals a recent increase in sightings of blue and fin whales in the southeastern Atlantic, suggesting resilience after decades of commercial whaling. However, both species remain vulnerable to human pressures such as climate change and pollution, highlighting the need for continued conservation efforts.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalAfrican Journal of Marine Science·TypeObservational study·DateMay 22, 2026

DNA reveals hidden biodiversity loss in Ontario streams, offering powerful new tool for freshwater monitoring

Researchers used DNA metabarcoding to analyze benthic macroinvertebrates across 18 Ontario streams, detecting far greater biodiversity than traditional methods. The study found that DNA-based biomonitoring can reveal ecological patterns and changes linked to agriculture, water quality, and land use.

SourceHajibabaei Lab, University of Guelph·JournalMolecular Ecology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 22, 2026

New Worcester Polytechnic Institute research could give used electric vehicle batteries a second life as higher-performance materials

Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute develop a one-step molten salt upcycling process to transform spent nickel cathodes into high-performance materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. This approach reduces recycling costs and energy demands while increasing the value of recovered materials.

Less fertilizer through smart alliances

Scientists discovered a molecular switch that enables plants to form partnerships with soil fungi even when sufficient phosphate is available, offering a potential solution to reducing fertilizer use. The discovery could enable targeted manipulation of mycorrhization in crop plants using modern breeding methods.

SourceLeibniz Instiute of Plant Biochemistry·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 22, 2026

University of Cincinnati structural biologists are first in world to visualize key cell protein

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati's Center for Advanced Structural Biology have visualized the structure of iRhom1 bound to the ADAM17 enzyme, shedding light on its role in regulating cell surface protein targets. This breakthrough discovery may lead to new therapeutic strategies for treating chronic inflammatory diseases.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalCell Reports·TypeObservational study·DateMay 22, 2026

Cholesterol-craving cancers need lipid enzymes to use metabolites for growth

Researchers discover that kinases play a crucial role in moving cholesterol to activate a growth pathway in aggressive cancers. Without these enzymes, cancer cells are blocked from fueling tumor growth. The study highlights the importance of targeting lipid enzymes as a potential treatment strategy for cancers with TP53 mutations.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 22, 2026

From environmental crisis to climate opportunity: New study shows how Atlantic seaweed could power carbon removal and biofuels

A new study by international researchers suggests that massive Atlantic seaweed blooms could be harnessed for climate solutions such as marine carbon dioxide removal and biofuel production. The vast blooms of Sargassum are not only likely to persist, but may be predictable, with predictive capability reducing uncertainty about the futu...

When AI imagines cities, smaller communities can disappear

A Virginia Tech study found that AI image generators consistently produce more realistic and recognizable images of larger metropolitan areas than smaller towns. The research raises questions about how generative artificial intelligence tools portray places and whose communities are most visible online.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalTechnology in Society·DateMay 22, 2026

Scientists discover how a father’s obesity affects his children’s metabolism

A new study reveals that metabolic dysfunction in offspring is caused by excess microRNA in sperm from obese fathers. After weight loss, these molecular marks disappear, and offspring develop normally. Research suggests that interventions promoting health and longevity may trigger an increase in this enzyme expression.

The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Ahead-of-Print Tip Sheet: May 22, 2026

Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in nuclear medicine, with studies revealing uneven radiation doses in tiny kidney structures, improving survival rates for prostate cancer patients through targeted radiation therapy, and developing a new PET imaging approach to detect abdominal cancer spread. These advancements aim to im...

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateMay 22, 2026

Phonon-assisted absorption photoconductive switch

A new Ga2O3 photoconductive semiconductor switch has been developed using a phonon-assisted absorption mechanism, achieving a voltage conversion efficiency of 98.93% and a peak output power density of 17.7 MW/cm². This breakthrough enhances the development of high-power microwave technology for low-altitude security systems.

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalOpto-Electronic Science·DateMay 22, 2026

Different meteorites, same birthplace

Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research identified the ring-shaped region outside Jupiter's orbit as a 'pluripotent' planetesimal breeding ground. Computer simulations show diverse populations of planetesimals can form over millions of years, establishing a connection to specific groups of meteorites.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Solar System Research·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 22, 2026

Pegylated interferon-based treatment improves response rates in immune-tolerant patients with chronic hepatitis B

This study found that pegylated interferon-based treatment significantly improved virological response rates, hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion rates, and HBsAg loss rates in immune-tolerant patients. Patients under 30 years old and those with a significant decline in HBsAg level by week 24 also showed better response rates.

SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalJournal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology·DateMay 22, 2026

Researchers identify new indicator for response to therapy in pediatric cancers

A study by University of Birmingham researchers has identified a new biomarker associated with response to therapy in Ewing Sarcoma and other tumour types. Patients with high aneuploidy scores were significantly more likely to benefit from the treatment, which combines irinotecan and PARP inhibitors.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalClinical Cancer Research·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 22, 2026

Understanding the mechanisms of collective cell movement

A team of researchers at Kyoto University has discovered that the protein ZO-1 plays a crucial role in collective cell migration by riding ERK activation waves to podosomes on the basal cell surface. This movement enhances force generation, extracellular matrix degradation, and invasive cell migration.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateMay 22, 2026

A simpler way to save root-treated front teeth? New study puts two restoration methods head to head

Researchers compared endocrown and post-and-core techniques for restoring severely damaged front teeth after root canal treatment. The study found that both methods had similar failure patterns, with the endocrown method showing more favorable fractures, suggesting it may be a clinically sound option for patients.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Dentistry Journal·DateMay 22, 2026

Unclear tasks and command structures increase fatigue in disaster responders

A study using real-time data from the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake response found that unclear tasks, command structures, and lack of meal and rest breaks significantly contributed to self-reported fatigue among disaster responders. Fatigue can compromise decision-making, lead to poor care outcomes, and affect public safety.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalSafety and Health at Work·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 22, 2026

New insights into oral cancer without traditional risk factors

Researchers identified four distinct mutational clusters in oral cancers lacking traditional risk factors, with two linked to endogenous processes and unique driver gene mutations. The study suggests a potential role of the oral microbiome in tumor development and highlights opportunities for precision medicine approaches.

SourceEditorial Office of West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University·JournalInternational Journal of Oral Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 22, 2026

Making biomolecules glow: new dye solves problem

Researchers at the University of Göttingen have developed a new method to make biomolecules glow in real-time, eliminating unwanted signals in microscopy. This approach ensures only labelled biological molecules emit fluorescence, making experiments clearer and easier to interpret.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalAngewandte Chemie·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 22, 2026

American College of Cardiology issues decision pathway for postpartum cardiovascular care

The American College of Cardiology has issued a new Expert Consensus Decision Pathway to guide postpartum cardiovascular care, emphasizing comprehensive visits and effective management of CV emergencies. The guideline aims to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality by optimizing cardiometabolic outcomes.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMay 22, 2026

Improved omnidirectional small moving object detection with an enhanced YOLO model

A new framework combines a custom-built training dataset with transfer learning to improve the detection accuracy of small and distant objects in omnidirectional videos. The proposed model achieved an overall accuracy of 90%, significantly higher than conventional models for small moving objects.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalIEEE Open Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 22, 2026

Cincinnati scientists develop human gut organoids with functional nerves that can be mass produced

Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have developed a new method to produce large, functional human gut organoids with nerve cells, growing them twice as fast as previous methods. These organoids can now be used for patching damage or restoring diminished functions of the small intestine, stomach, or colon.

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 22, 2026

Global rice paddy greenhouse gas emissions have doubled during the past six decades

Global rice paddy greenhouse gas emissions have doubled to approximately 1.1 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually since the 1960s, driven by area expansion and intensified residue incorporation. Practical farm changes such as optimizing water management and reducing excessive residue return can reduce emissions by about 10 percent w...

SourceBoston College·JournalNature Food·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 22, 2026

Weight loss drug semaglutide helps patients who do not respond to bariatric surgery

A new study published in Nature Medicine finds that semaglutide improves weight loss and metabolic health outcomes in patients who do not respond well to bariatric surgery. Patients taking semaglutide showed significant weight loss from body fat, improved blood sugar levels, and better quality of life.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 22, 2026

The Global Ocean Observing System is more fragile than we thought

A new study reveals that the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is more fragile than thought, with its dependence on data from various nations making it vulnerable to losses. The system's vulnerability is not just about data volume, but also geographic reach, emphasizing the need for a genuinely global, coordinated system.

Ancient DNA reveals web of marriage and migration in Peru

A new study analyzing ancient DNA alongside archaeological data suggests that population movement along Peru's Pacific coast began at least 800 years ago, centuries before the rise of the Inca Empire. Genetic evidence reveals mixed ancestry between people from different coastal regions over subsequent generations.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 22, 2026