Science News for May 7, 2026

Cosmic blowtorches: How quasars shut down star formation in the early universe

Prof Chandra Sekhar receives ASHRAE F. Paul Anderson Award

Prof Liu Bin named fellow of the National Academy of Inventors

Professor Lam Khee Poh named IWBI Global WELL Educator of the Year 2025

Increased estimated tubular filtrate phosphate concentration accelerates age-related decline in kidney function

Do saltwater crocodiles raised in captivity go home after being released into the wild?

Tomato-derived lycopene shields gut cells from fungal toxins

Mitochondrial stress identified as a key factor in rare myocarditis after messenger RNA vaccination

Association of childhood outdoor play with adult sedentary behavior and physical activity in patients with congenital heart disease

Visualizing cerebrospinal fluid microdynamic changes following mild traumatic brain injury

Synergistic heterojunction breakthrough: Scientists develop high-efficiency catalyst for green hydrogen production

Dual-site functional orchestration enables synergistic anodic modulation and cathodic mooring for durable zinc–iodine batteries

Ligand‑wise stripping dictates metal ensemble catalysts for selective oxidation of biomass‑derived 5‑hydroxymethylfurfural

New review highlights electrolyte design strategies to stabilize lithium metal battery interfaces

Brain imaging reveals migraine headache subtypes, Stanford Medicine researchers find

This anti-CRISPR stops the protein assembly line in bacteria

Child abuse may be connected to changes in development, body regulation

Earliest signs of neurodegeneration in Down syndrome detected shortly after birth

Cash transfers in the perinatal period and investigations of infant maltreatment

Prisoners in England at 41-67 times greater risk of avoidable healthcare harms than general public

Higher dietary soy and legume intake linked to lower high blood pressure risk

Children in poorer countries face almost sixfold higher risk of dying after emergency surgery

Pilot whales shout louder to be heard over noise pollution

New study finds Rx kids associated with significant reductions in infant maltreatment investigations

New Durham University study reveals how parenting styles shape babies’ willingness to help others

Nearly 3,000 peer-reviewed medical papers have fake citations, a Columbia Nursing AI-assisted audit finds

AI language models struggle with basic hospital data tasks, study finds

Postpartum diabetes care falls short as many women skip essential A1C testing

National study seeks to improve sleep in the ICU

TCT 2026 Master Operator Award to be presented to Rebecca T. Hahn, MD

One fifth of flowering plant evolutionary history is at risk of extinction

Predicting the carbon cost of land-use change in Bangladesh’s Chittagong hill tracts

Lithium may help curb impulsive decisions tied to suicide risk, study finds

24-hour rest-activity rhythms linked to rate of biological aging

Engineered biochar could offer a greener path to carbon dioxide capture

New material approach could lead to lower-power devices

Wildfire smoke risks understudied, review paper warns

Inspired by the brain, researchers build smarter, more efficient computer hardware

Biologist contributes to study reshaping complexity of aging

Mouse study suggests high-fat diets during pregnancy worsen severe gi illness in preterm babies

A targeted ‘off switch’ in the egg cell speeds up the breeding process

Beer and cannabis could share ‘sex switch’, UCD-lead study find

Psychedelic substances: Who can they help – and who might they harm?

Hasanuddin University study outlines protocol for a community-driven approach to prevent adolescent female suicide

ICI Academic | Targeting "Real Issues": Professor Ke Zheng launches new book series on building an education powerhouse

Tuberculosis risk: promising approaches for screening and prediction

Low-cost color sensor device enables rapid detection of ovarian cancer biomarkers

Study finds digital therapy app improves student mental health

Quantum metallurgy: Electron crystals deform and melt

BMFTR awards millions in funding for fusion research – Dr. Yannik Zobus of GSI/FAIR secures a young investigators group

The ‘nostalgia effect’: Scientists produce less disruptive work as they age

How bacteria 'Chat' their way to carbon-neutral water treatment

Brano Therapeutics raises US$6.8 million to advance new heart failure therapies

New Nature Scientific Reports study challenges the inevitability of cognitive decline and proves brain gain is possible at any age

Rice University students turn classroom project into publishable breakthrough in aerospace composites

Needle-free flu vaccine aims to boost children’s immunity

DNA errors found to help tumors survive

Researchers show a new, sustainable, way to remove toxic chemicals in water

Toxic mercury exposure might harm the body’s metabolism, study finds

Simon Fraser University and Thompson Rivers University enhance inter-province collaboration

KAIST unveils ‘complexity paradox’: Multimetallic nanoparticles grow more uniform as components increase

Missing information can misinform

New ultrasonic needle yields samples 2–3 times larger, potentially reshaping cancer diagnostics

[Research Article] A tool for crop phenology metrics analysis from big Earth observation data

Scientists discover how gut bacteria toxin invades colon cells to trigger cancer

When nerve cells form new connections: approach to treating spinal cord injuries developed

A Clearer Signal for MEMS Gyroscopes

Study projects plant extinction rates through 2100

Toward startup-friendly smart cities

Trees improve health — but not for everyone, MSU study finds

New UH tool measures whether lactating mothers’ psychological needs are being met

ECNU scholars make national top list: Prof. Cui Yunhuo and Prof. Lei Hao Named Elsevier's 2025 Highly Cited Researchers in Education

How soil bacteria help plants defend themselves against disease

Ultrahigh-energy cosmic messengers may carry ultraheavy secrets

Trafficked pangolin DNA reveals hotspots of illegal wildlife trade

Forest fuel treatments not only reduce wildfire risk, but are cost-effective

Do higher gas prices lead to increased usage of electric cars?

Nutrition and body image program supports healthier behaviors in women undergoing substance use treatment

Boyce Thompson Institute names Dr. Natalie Hoffmann inaugural Jane Silverthorne Postdoctoral Fellow

Leukemia stem cells cause treatments to fail – Findings open new avenues to overcome resistance

ECNU study in top journal resolves "seductive detail" debate in multimedia learning

New predictive approaches forecast extinction risk for plants in a changing climate

What a devastating earthquake revealed about future quake risk

Digital archive reveals how NIH built the field of genomics

How researcher age influences likelihood of disruptive innovation in science

Sharper brains switch to a ‘not what you know, but who you know’ mindset online and on social media, study shows

Cooling without pumps: New measurement data for modular reactors

Forest fuel treatments reduce wildfire spread, prevent $2.8 billion in damage

Stanford researchers combine five metals to build a better nanocrystal

Asst Prof Gianmarco Mengaldo appointed to AI Advisory Group at World Meteorological Organization

Long-term dynamic virological response patterns and clinical outcomes in hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis

Genomic insights unlocked: adaptive divergence of Capsella bursa-pastoris across altitudinal gradients

A new type of microneedles with light- and temperature-dependent transdermal delivery properties

The merits and pitfalls of metaphor use in science communication

1,5-anhydroglucitol aggravates acute liver failure via the PPARα signaling pathway

Planning for hydrogen under geopolitical uncertainty

Muon g-2 collaboration with strong contribution from Mainz wins Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

Research shows soil temperature modulated millet agriculture in Neolithic East Asia

Brexit did not just shake Britain - it sent financial shockwaves across Europe

Strong graphene bulk composites with high thermal conductivity

National study examines genetic testing to inform follow-up care for cancer survivors

Preserving the neurovascular bundle during radical robotic prostatectomy: Tips and tricks

Ratiometric SERS platform with dual bioprobes achieves stable detection of circulating tumor cells

Oral nanomaterial formulations for gastrointestinal therapeutics and disease treatment

When faith meets a melting point: New study warns Hajj pilgrimage is breaching human survivability limits

Seasonal COVID-19 vaccination in 2025/26 reduced risk of illness by half in Canada

Inherited long telomeres may drive broad risk for lymphoid cancers

Uncovering new ways to break down tight football defenses through AI

Does personalized virtual try-on turn imagination into reality?

Information processing in cells at the edge of jamming

Scientists reveal how cells “back up” DNA replication to survive severe damage

Hasanuddin University study paves way for sustainable construction in sugar-producing regions

Huazhong Agricultural University team identifies key boron transporter genes to combat yield loss in rapeseed

Researchers reconstruct path and intensity of China's Guangzhou 'April 27' tornado using multi-source data

Opioid overdose survivors face higher risk of death than previously thought, study finds

Scientists uncover hidden sex differences in the human immune system

Global experts discover new genetic cause of juvenile glaucoma

Manchester team steer electron spin ballistically in graphene

Muscle loss, weak grip and slow walking pace linked to higher stroke risk

Garlic-derived compound shows potential to improve muscle health during aging

Despite breakthroughs, many go without treatment for metastatic lung cancer

Copper cold plates could slash data-center energy usage

New TGen clinical test for multiple myeloma consolidates multiple analyses and provides detailed information in 3 days

Psilocybin in the treatment of cocaine use disorder

One-year mortality among opioid overdose survivors

Organic luminescent radicals enable bright circularly polarized light in the near-infrared region

Mind the detection gap: Why publishing needs a multilayered defense against industrial-scale papermills

LJI scientists take crucial step in developing world's first measles treatment

Drug contamination traces may linger in cars, even after ventilation

Revolutionizing clinical trials with machine learning

Scientists finally see inside the ‘black box’ of depression treatment

Large-scale multi-omics study aims to decode aging in the Indian population

New heart disease risk prediction tool validated globally

Octopus-inspired underwater gripper with rapid stiffness tuning and robot enabling upward transport

Turning up the volume on macrophage-driven immune responses

Wearable fabric electrotactile system with stimulation–inhibition electrode units

Gut microbiota plays a role in metabolic health after bariatric surgery

New study: Women are 60 percent more likely to be injured in car accidents than men

Study identifies post-extubation pneumonia as a distinct condition after surgery and key risk factors

Feeling regret? Your feelings may mellow as you age

Cost-effectiveness of the START hospital addiction consultation service for opioid use disorder treatment

New research suggests sexual arousal could blind people to rejection cues

Deforestation lessens Amazon rainfall, and climate change hastens that process

Thawing Arctic soil awakens only half of soil microbes, new study reveals

Chilean wasp named in honor of Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday

Scientists describe new genus and species of parasitic wasp, Attenboroughnculus tau, found in Natural History Museum collections. The discovery highlights the scientific value of museum collections and showcases the unique characteristics of this rare subfamily.

Combination therapy with stem cell-derived immune cells boost anti-cancer response

A recent study reveals that combining iNKT cell therapy with antigen-presenting cells activated by a lipid compound triggers effective antitumor immunity. The therapy generates memory-phenotype T cells that can recognize and respond to specific threats, offering a promising personalized approach to cancer treatment.

Ice Age butcher’s tools are a sign of ancient humans’ creativity during hard times

The discovery of complex stone tools at the Lingjing archaeological site in China suggests that ancient humans were capable of advanced technological thinking and creativity. The tools, crafted by Homo juluensis, show a high level of organization and planning, indicating a deep understanding of stone properties and fracture mechanics.

Rapidly melting Antarctic ice shelves may cause global sea levels to rise far faster than expected – new study

A new study suggests that rapidly melting Antarctic ice shelves can lead to a significant increase in global sea levels. The researchers found that long, channel-like grooves on the underside of these ice shelves can trap warm ocean water, causing local melting and potentially weakening the structural strength of the ice shelf.

Digital therapy outperforms referrals to campus clinics among college students

A digital therapy app was found to be more effective in treating anxiety disorders, depression, and eating disorders among college students compared to traditional campus clinics. The study, which tested the app's effectiveness over six months, showed a significant increase in symptom-free students and services uptake.

AI-embodied surgical robots can revolutionize surgery—if regulatory questions addressed

Experts warn that AI-enhanced surgical robotics could enable true personalized surgery and enhance surgical team performance. However, regulatory reforms are needed to address risks from adaptive systems and ensure patient benefits.

Biggest black holes built up in busy star clusters after series of violent merging events, research finds

The most massive black holes detected by gravitational waves were formed through repeated and violent collision events in densely populated star clusters. The study identifies two distinct populations, with high-mass systems showing rapid spins and a signature consistent with cluster mergers.

Scientists stunned: Volcano cleans up after itself by removing methane from the air

Researchers discovered that a volcano's eruption can clean up methane pollution by breaking it down into formaldehyde. The phenomenon could potentially be key to slowing global warming and has implications for reducing methane emissions.

New national study published in The Permanente Journal shows physicians are changing their reasons for leaving clinical practice early

A national survey of 971 clinicians found that burnout, chronic workplace stress, administrative burden, and unrealistic patient expectations are now among the top reasons physicians leave clinical practice early. The study also highlights gender disparities in physician decisions to exit clinical practice.

Patients with Duchenne are driving the development of a ‘heart-on-a-chip’ to halt the cardiac damage caused by muscular dystrophy

Researchers are developing a 'heart-on-a-chip' platform with sensors to track cardiac damage and fibrosis in real-time. The project aims to improve the understanding of cardiac involvement in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and speed up treatment evaluation.

Key magic mushroom ingredient makes fish less aggressive and lazier

A study found that psilocybin, a key magic mushroom ingredient, significantly reduces aggressive attack behavior and energetically costly social behaviors in mangrove rivulus fish. The compound selectively dampens escalated social conflict without suppressing lower-energy social display behaviors.

AI cuts wildlife tracking time from months to days

Researchers at Washington State University and Google developed an AI system that can process hundreds of thousands to millions of camera trap images in just a few days, reducing analysis time from months to days. The results aligned with human experts' models in roughly 85-90% of cases, making it a significant breakthrough for conserv...