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Science News Archive May 2026 - Page 23


Page 23 of 48

Photonic wireless transmission reaches 112 Gbps at 560 GHz using soliton microcombs

Researchers developed a microcomb-driven terahertz wireless communication system that surpasses conventional limits by achieving 112 Gbps data rates in the 560 GHz band. This breakthrough uses high-frequency stability and low phase noise of microcombs to generate a low-noise terahertz carrier.

SourceInstitute of Post-LED Photonics, Tokushima University·JournalCommunications Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 18, 2026

Transparent hybrid metal halide glassy scintillators for tunable multicolor and high-resolution X-ray imaging

Researchers developed transparent hybrid metal halide glass scintillators that overcome light scattering and monochromatic limitations in X-ray imaging. The materials achieved high spatial resolutions of 18.8 and 22.5 lp mm⁻¹, nearly twice those of previously reported crystalline composite counterparts.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalJournal of Advanced Ceramics·DateMay 18, 2026

Dehydration’s role in learning and memory

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory discovered how dehydration enables calcium to pass through the NMDAR channel, revealing key molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory. This finding has implications for brain development and disease, including GRIN disorders that cause severe developmental disabilities.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateMay 18, 2026

New study finds sharp rise in children’s mental health needs seen in primary care

A new study found a steady rise in children's mental health concerns during routine primary care visits, with anxiety-related visits increasing by 300% over 10 years. The study highlights the growing role of pediatric primary care in addressing mental health needs and calls for more training and resources to support this shift.

SourceHarvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMay 18, 2026

Researchers unravel a copper-based ’sensor’ that underpins signal detection in plants

Researchers at Nagoya University have discovered a copper-dependent sensing system in plants that detects hydrogen peroxide, a key signaling molecule involved in stress responses and immunity. This finding paves the way for improving crop resilience and understanding plant responses to environmental stress and pathogens.

SourceNagoya University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 18, 2026

Links discovered between mitochondrial lipid deficiency and inflammation of the gut

A study published in Nature Metabolism has found a crucial link between mitochondrial lipid deficiency and gut inflammation, revealing that cardiolipin plays a key role in maintaining immune homeostasis. The research suggests that targeting the metabolism of immune cells could be a new approach to treating inflammatory bowel diseases.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalNature Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 18, 2026

augmented: life and death as a cyborg

This book challenges traditional notions of biology and death by exploring technological augmentations and their impact on human life. Candi Cann argues that being part-machine could make us more human, not less, and calls for a more inclusive, compassionate community.

How location sharing apps change the ways we communicate

A new study explores how location sharing apps impact interpersonal communication, revealing safety and practical reasons for sharing locations. The findings suggest that technology is increasingly dictating communication methods, potentially altering relationships and human interaction.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalJournal of Social and Personal Relationships·DateMay 18, 2026

Southeast University and Korea University researchers develop smarter copper catalysts for turning CO₂ into fuels

Southeast University and Korea University researchers developed advanced copper catalysts to convert CO₂ into valuable fuels. Their strategy integrates tandem effects, synergistic interactions, and geometric control to enhance reaction pathways, reducing energy barriers for C₂+ product formation.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalSmall Structures·TypeLiterature review·DateMay 18, 2026

New study links erosion to natural hydrogen potential in mountain ranges

A new international study confirms that erosion plays a key role in forming and accumulating natural hydrogen in mountain ranges. The Pyrenees and Alps are identified as key targets for natural hydrogen exploration, with the right conditions allowing for efficient serpentinization and hydrogen production.

SourceUniversity of Lausanne·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 18, 2026

Global North drains resources and labour from Latin America through unequal exchange in international trade

A new study reveals that the Global North has drained over 900 million tonnes of materials, 4 million km2 of land, and 53 billion hours of labor from Latin America through international trade. This unequal exchange reinforces the existing power imbalance in the global economy.

SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalEcological Economics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 18, 2026

You are what you eat: how diet drives evolution

Researchers have discovered how diet influences the composition of intestinal tissue in cichlid fishes, a key aspect of evolutionary diversification. The study found that different diets lead to distinct cellular adaptations, including changes in the number and type of cells involved in nutrient absorption.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalNature·DateMay 18, 2026

Should you accept internet cookies? BU researchers say the open web could suffer without them

A study by Boston University researchers found that removing cookies cuts website publishers' revenue by over a third, with privacy-enhanced alternatives recovering only a small portion of the lost revenue. The loss of cookies could impact the quality and usefulness of digital products.

SourceBoston University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 18, 2026

Teaching with food boosts preschoolers’ science knowledge and vocabulary

A new study by North Carolina State University found that teaching with food can increase preschoolers' understanding of scientific concepts four times more than traditional methods. The 'More PEAS Please!' program also improved vocabulary skills, with a 20% increase in the group that received the intervention.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 18, 2026

Just two radiotherapy sessions given over eight days can treat prostate cancer without any extra side effects

A study published by the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology found that delivering radiotherapy in just two sessions over eight days is safe and effective for treating prostate cancer. The treatment had no additional side effects compared to the standard five doses, making it a convenient option for patients.

Tiny materials, stronger antitumor immunity

Researchers review how engineered nanomaterials can be used to deliver antigens, improve antigen presentation, support T cell priming and infiltration, and reshape tumor niches. The materials are designed to intervene across the cancer-immunity cycle, improving immune activation while reducing off-target effects.

SourceChina Anti-Cancer Association·JournalCancer Biology & Medicine·DateMay 17, 2026

Ambient-pressure-dried cellulose/MXene aerogel integrates EMI shielding, infrared stealth and joule heating

Researchers developed a cellulose/MXene sediment aerogel that combines EMI shielding, infrared stealth, and Joule heating within a single porous structure. The aerogel retained high porosity and specific surface area, enabling strong electromagnetic wave attenuation and thermal insulation.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 17, 2026

Student wellbeing drops after move to high school

A study of over 20,000 South Australian students found that wellbeing declined across every measured domain, including happiness and life satisfaction, after transitioning to secondary school. The decline was independent of developmental changes associated with adolescence.

SourceAdelaide University·JournalJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry·TypeSurvey·DateMay 17, 2026

Bioinspired cellulose aerogel mimics white beetles for passive daytime cooling

Researchers developed a cellulose-based aerogel inspired by white beetles' optical structure, achieving high solar reflectance and infrared emissivity through hierarchical photonic scattering networks. The material achieved daytime subambient cooling of up to 7.1 °C and reduced building energy consumption by 43.5% on average.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 17, 2026

Long-term EORTC trial challenges assumptions about lymph node radiation therapy in breast cancer

A landmark EORTC trial with over 20 years of follow-up found that irradiation of internal mammary and medial supraclavicular lymph nodes reduces breast cancer mortality, but does not improve overall survival. Long-term cardiac and pulmonary toxicity was reported more frequently after IM-MS irradiation.

SourceEuropean Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer·JournalCA A Cancer Journal for Clinicians·TypeNews article·DateMay 17, 2026

Bioinspired photonic hydrogel breaks the trade-off between mechanical strength and structural color

Researchers designed a biomimetic triple-network hydrogel inspired by octopus skin, combining rigid photonic ordering with soft polymer networks. The material demonstrated substantial improvements in mechanical strength and structural color response under deformation.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 17, 2026

New research links aging gut changes to increased disease risk

Researchers found that gut luminal exosomes from older animals carried molecular signals associated with insulin resistance, inflammation and disruption of the gut barrier. Transferring these to young animals elicited similar effects, while transferring exosomes from young animals to older animals mitigated metabolic aging findings.

SourceMarshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 15, 2026

These “clockwork” earthquakes puzzled scientists for decades — new Indiana University study explains why

A new Indiana University study reveals that unusual zones within the fault itself act as built-in brakes on earthquake magnitude. These 'barriers' are structurally complex zones where the fault splits into multiple strands, promoting a process called dilatancy strengthening that prevents earthquakes from getting bigger.

SourceIndiana University·JournalScience·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 15, 2026

This single mother must learn quickly — or her colony won’t survive

Scientists found that queen bumblebees are faster learners and better at identifying scents than worker bees. This skill helps them differentiate between flowers, find the best ones, and ensure colony survival. Understanding their cognitive abilities could reveal fundamental insights into learning and evolution.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 15, 2026

Exploiting interfacial ionic mobility to make heat-moldable nanoparticle aggregates

Researchers at The University of Osaka developed a strategy to make nanoparticle aggregates thermoplastic by introducing ions at interfaces. This allows for the creation of high-strength and low-expansion materials suitable for various applications. The study paves the way for diverse systems, including graphene oxide and cellulose nan...

SourceThe University of Osaka·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 15, 2026

Sunlight-powered generation of correlated photon pairs

Researchers have successfully generated correlated photon pairs using sunlight as the sole pump source for spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The system, which eliminates the need for lasers and external power, achieves comparable ghost-imaging visibility to conventional laser-based systems. This breakthrough enables a fully passi...

University of Rochester Medicine's Flow Cytometry Resource recognized for excellence by International Society for the Advancement of Cytometry

The University of Rochester Medicine's Flow Cytometry Resource has been selected as one of 32 global laboratories that set the standard for cutting-edge research support. The facility delivers advanced cytometry services, including analytical and spectral flow cytometry, high-parameter cell sorting, and mass cytometry.