Science News for May 8, 2026

New study finds higher dementia risk in insulin-requiring diabetes

AI-driven wearable patches help identify undetected hormone disruption in unexplained infertility

Tiny sensor harnesses light to feel touch

Ground-breaking study finds immigrants face a host of hurdles in the workforce

Lonely Jupiter-like planet tells us more about gas giants

Employment of people with disabilities declines but remains near all-time high

Iron minerals help decide whether dissolved organic matter becomes microbial food or long-term carbon

A biochar-based material offers a promising route for uranium recovery from seawater

Discovery of brain-body connection offers clues for Parkinson’s and alcohol use disorder

Drones match farm planning effectiveness of more expensive tech, study finds

Rewiring the urge to smoke

Old plant populations offer new clues to climate resilience

Hertz Foundation announces 19 recipients of the 2026 Hertz Fellowship

Study finds cancer location determines how testosterone regulates tumor growth

ORNL names Kate Evans associate lab director for biological, environmental systems science

Ethics & Human Research, May-June 2026

Smartwatches and GPS show promise for tracking environmental impacts on health in real time

Gentoo penguin is actually four distinct species, one new to science. Three are threatened.

Children with rare, debilitating brain diseases suffer from mutations in a little-known protein complex

Researchers have mapped the structure and mechanics of a critical cellular machine that malfunctions in people with rare genetic disorders. The discovery could lead to new treatments and faster diagnoses for children with conditions like infantile encephalopathy, corpus callosum hypoplasia, and Kenny-Caffey syndrome.

Antarctica sea ice collapse driven by triple whammy of climate chaos, scientists find

A new study reveals Antarctica's sea ice collapse is driven by a triple whammy of climate chaos, resulting in record-breaking lows. The Southern Ocean's transformation led to the loss of vast areas of ice equivalent to Greenland, destabilizing global ocean currents and accelerating global warming.

Plant stress and unique cAMP signaling

Researchers have discovered that plants utilize two forms of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) to regulate normal cellular functions and respond to stress, while maintaining cross-talk between the pathways. This redundancy enables plants to adapt more robustly to a wider range of environmental factors.

UPF awards the title of Doctor Honoris Causa to Helga Nowotny and Maria Leptin, key figures in the consolidation of a European research model

Pompeu Fabra University has awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa to Helga Nowotny and Maria Leptin for their contributions to consolidating a European research model. The award highlights the importance of fundamental research, interdisciplinarity, and scientific independence in achieving European values.

New book ‘AI TO EYE’ brings together 40+ voices from science, art, and media to ask: how do we really want to live with AI?

The book captures the AI moment through a chorus of perspectives from science, business, art, journalism, and media, challenging and complementing each other to reveal tensions and contradictions. It paints a vivid picture of how AI is reshaping our self-understanding and what it discloses about us.

Study finds multiple PFAS, the man-made ‘forever chemicals’, in 98.5% of people tested in US study

A new study found that nearly every person in the US has multiple man-made chemicals, known as PFAS, in their system. The study examined over 10,500 samples and found that 98.8% contained at least one PFAS, with many carrying multiple types.

Good vibrations for quantum communications

Scientists have successfully demonstrated atomic spin qubit interaction with a single-quantum sound wave, opening up new possibilities for quantum information storage and sensing applications. The experiment uses phonons to interact with atomic defects in diamond, enabling precise measurement of forces and temperatures.

Deep learning helps engineer stronger continuous fiber composites

Researchers developed a deep learning method that optimizes both material layout and fiber direction for continuous fiber composite structures, reducing design time by up to 99.7% while maintaining strong accuracy. The ResUNet-GAN framework produces high-performance structural layouts directly from design parameters.

SNU professor Sangwoo Seo’s research team develops next-generation CRISPR biocontainment technology for controlling microbial survival without DNA cleavage

Researchers develop irreversible CRISPR base editing system to permanently block microbial survival, reducing environmental risk and genetic instability. The technology has broad applications in industrial biotechnology and biopharmaceutical fields.

Printed oxygen "highways" shatter the 2D transistor speed limit

A research team has successfully removed the primary obstacle to post-silicon computing by creating a record-breaking electronic connection for atomic-thin materials. The new GaOx layer enables 'hybrid tunnelling' mechanism, reducing contact resistance and allowing transistors to operate at much lower voltages without sacrificing speed.

Could patchouli oil save your skin from mosquito bites?

Novel CuBi₂S₄/Al₂WO₆/Ti₃C₂ MXene ternary photocatalyst achieves efficient visible-light driven reduction of nitrate, CO₂, and water

A new photocatalyst was developed that can efficiently reduce nitrate, CO₂, and water under visible light. The catalyst achieved high reductions in efficiency, with selectivities for nitrogen gas, methane, and hydrogen reaching 80%, 70%, and 60%, respectively.

From motion to memory: SNU researchers create soft machines that amplify movement and remember touch

Researchers at Seoul National University developed a new mechanical system that amplifies motion and remembers external triggers through magnetic attraction and elastic restoring force. The system, called Elasto-Magnetic Instability (EsMI), enables large-amplitude vibration and efficient energy conversion.

Numerical simulation study on the reaction mechanism of atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium CO₂–H₂O plasma discharge

Researchers present a comprehensive numerical simulation of atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium plasma discharge in CO₂–H₂O plasmas. The study reveals dominant reaction pathways, including electron-impact dissociation and ionization, which affect streamer dynamics and reaction pathways.

Multiscale modeling and operational challenges in autothermal CO₂-to-methanol reactors

Researchers identify three major bottlenecks: multiscale modeling complexity, operational multi-stability, and scale-up difficulties in autothermal reactors for CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol. This mismatch can produce multiple operating regimes, making temperature control challenging.

Expanded tuberculosis screening does not speed up treatment initiation or improve survival in hospitalized patients with HIV

A clinical trial found that adding molecular tests on urine and stool samples did not speed up treatment initiation or reduce mortality in hospitalized patients with HIV. The study showed no significant difference in treatment initiation within 72 hours between the expanded screening group and the standard group.

SNU researchers developed “intelligent artificial muscle” integrating sensing and actuation

The SNU research team created an LCE-based artificial muscle that integrates sensing and actuation functions, mimicking biological muscle-tendon complexes. This breakthrough technology enables robots to delicately manipulate objects and recognize their properties.

A tiny cell structure with a big role in brain development

Researchers at University of California - Riverside discovered that the primary cilium, a microscopic structure inside nearly every cell, plays a critical role in brain development. The study found that proteins associated with the cilium are directly linked to human developmental disorders and that protein production occurs directly w...

Machine learning and multi-objective optimization boost PEMFC cold-start performance with cathode catalytic heating

Researchers combined machine learning and multi-objective optimization to enhance PEMFC cold-start efficiency. The cathode catalytic approach used a non-electrochemical combustion reaction, providing high-power heating during initial startup while inhibiting ice accumulation.

How a strange fruit fly became a bloodthirsty underwater hunter

Researchers at Lund University mapped the genome of Drosophila enhydrobia, a carnivorous fruit fly that lives entirely underwater in African streams. The study shows clear genetic adaptations to its unusual lifestyle, highlighting the importance of natural history museums for understanding biodiversity and evolution.

Pregnant women’s mental images are directly linked to vaccine hesitancy and uptake

A study of over 400 pregnant women found that vivid mental images are directly linked to their opinion of vaccines and whether they get vaccinated. Positive mental images were associated with increased vaccination rates, while negative images predicted higher hesitancy towards certain vaccines.

USDOT awards $10 million to OU-led autonomous freight movement project

X-shaped sleepers improve load transfer under impact on railway tracks

Researchers found that X-shaped sleepers break down impact loads into a dense, uniform network of force chains, reducing stress concentrations and enhancing interlocking between ballast particles. This spatially diffused load transfer mechanism improves trackbed stability and impact resistance.

New study finds no significant joint damage in astronauts after short-duration spaceflight, highlighting promise of ultrasound monitoring

Researchers found no statistically significant changes in joint structures or evidence of inflammation following the 18-day mission. Ultrasound monitoring revealed stable cartilage thickness and tendon integrity.

Advances in adsorption processes driven by machine learning

This review highlights the integration of machine learning with adsorption science and engineering, achieving high precision and interpretability in adsorption processes. The reviewed studies demonstrate that machine learning enables accurate prediction of adsorption performance, accelerates material discovery and process optimization,...

On air travel and digital currencies

The Baker McKenzie Award has recognized Dr. Alexander Heger's dissertation on European Competition Law and Air Transport for its outstanding analysis of a complex field. The award also goes to Dr. Felix-Julius Konow for his research on regulating stablecoins, which explores regulatory mechanisms to address economic and financial risks.

The cost of metamorphosis in amphibians

Researchers found that amphibian metamorphosis entails a direct cost, including weight loss and reduced energy intake, which varies by sex. The study uses the palmate newt as a model to shed light on the evolutionary mechanisms governing the persistence or loss of metamorphosis, particularly in the context of climate change.

UCLA researchers help lead national effort to improve care for patients with glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive brain tumor that has seen modest improvements in survival rates over the past decade. Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center are part of a national effort to develop more personalized approaches to care, combining advanced imaging and analysis of tumor tissue samples and blood test...

Amplified Sciences enrolls patients in PanAMP real-world, multicenter clinical utility study

DFG Executive Committee presents position paper on the future of the NFDI

Common asthma drug shows promise for reversing fatty liver

AI-generated images of depression depict more stereotypes and arouse greater stigmatization

Invisible smart bug fights gum disease

What lies behind hereditary heart rhythm disorders

Don't rush into braces with disc displacement: experts reveal the science of sequential therapy

Emerging biomarkers and new therapeutic breakthroughs in MASLD and MASLD-HCC

New material technology boasts high-performance carbon dioxide absorption

Better prepared for fluctuating light stress

Barua extracting high resolution harmonic fingerprinting from sparse sampling to disaggregate complex CVDs

Nanoparticles overcome drug-resistant cancer via sequential drug release and photothermal therapy

Urine test better than MRI for monitoring low-risk prostate cancer in new study

Edible cannabis and pain, sleep, and mental health management in older adults

Causes of excess deaths in the US compared with other high-income countries

Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases are primary drivers of excess US deaths compared to other high-income countries

Clinical decision support for chronic kidney disease in primary care

Mid-domain effect and wooded habitats jointly shape Mediterranean reptile communities

Plants survived the dinosaur-killing asteroid by duplicating genomes

Bidirectional association between premenstrual disorders and psychiatric disorders

Physician-reported safety outcomes of AI-generated hospital course summaries

Study reveals why older adults are using cannabis edibles

Frontiers in Science Deep Dive webinar series: AI-embodied surgical robots can revolutionize surgery—if regulatory questions addressed

Dinosaur dental fossils reveal bird-like parental care bonds

New fiber-optic sensing method reads strain and displacement through electrical signals

Venus’ atmosphere jumps and waves

Toward artificial muscles that bend and twist on demand

A new explanation for 'Snowball Earth'

New research proposes Dante’s Inferno modelled a planetary impact 500 years before modern science!

Exercise can help people quit smoking—and even a single workout may cut cravings fast

Blocking TGF-β signaling may strengthen efficacy of osteoporosis therapy

From immunosuppression to active tolerance: the evolving paradigm of regulatory T cell therapy in organ transplantation

Intravenous tirofiban after tenecteplase in acute ischemic stroke

Chinese Medical Journal article review explores organoid models in investigational new drug regulation and development

Metformin’s real power may be in the gut

A study quantifies for the first time in the European population the impact of socioeconomic inequality on temperature-related mortality

The 28th European Congress of Endocrinology (ECE) starts tomorrow

Intravenous tenecteplase prior to endovascular treatment for ischemic stroke at 4.5 to 24 hours

Understanding Japan’s complex religious landscape

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia researchers find diagnostic delays are common for US pediatric patients with malaria