Science News Archive May 2026 - Page 28

Higher BMI is associated with more financial problems, loneliness, and stress

Hmeidat, Hubbard named outstanding manufacturing engineers

Global hypertension study finds fight against high blood pressure falling short

Biodegradable sensors attached to plants detect pesticides in three minutes

Low-performing organisations more likely to look outside for knowledge, study shows

A faster, smarter ground station for crowded skies

April research news from the Ecological Society of America

Reducing fear is critical for improving trust in law enforcement, MSU study finds

Austrian trailblazer receives top award for women in computing

The dam dilemma: How to build dams to best protect community, environment

Researchers document PFAS in Great Lakes rain and snow

Even at low concentrations in the air, particulate matter increases hospitalizations for kidney disease

Red meat: Evolution’s double-edged sword

How does pregnancy affect myasthenia gravis?

UMass Chan scientists develop gene editing technology capable of rewriting entire chapters of the genome

Alzheimer's therapeutic breakthroughs may be financially inaccessible, warns Trinity College Dublin

New method to carry out long term climate simulations at fraction of cost

Simon Fraser University launches $20M fund with InBC to invest in spin-off ventures

New McMaster-made drug candidate shows promise as a brain cancer treatment

SETI Institute to honor Dr. Matthew Tiscareno with 2026 Carl Sagan Center Director’s Award

When the Schuylkill swallowed the city: Lessons from Hurricane Ida’s historic flood

Study validates accuracy of depression screening for people with chronic pain

Study unveils precise way to rewire brain circuits to boost resilience to stress

Researchers document rice plants trapping and killing fall armyworm caterpillars

To create change, new leaders should read the room

Simulating the future of medicine: How virtual clinical trials could transform drug development

Precision DNA editing targets root cause of severe childhood epilepsy in preclinical study

Wearable polygraph detects hidden stress

Illinois study: Can designer biochar pellets help manage phosphorus in agricultural fields?

More selective breeding might help flat-faced dogs to breathe easier

Stephanie Plaza-Torres named 2026–2027 GSA-USGS Congressional Science Fellow as program marks 40 years

New study explores how to improve diagnosis of a frequently missed heart condition

Hereditary epilepsy successfully treated in mouse model

Genetic link between cannabis use and psychosis could help to identify those most at risk

UC Irvine researchers invent a wearable sweat sensor for long-term health monitoring

The life story of the critically endangered Rice's whale, estimated to have just 50 remaining adults, is evidenced in new analysis of the hormones it stores in its baleen throughout its life

Comparing AI anatomy segmentation models when ground truth is missing

The first domesticated horses: 6,000 years of a complex story

Prehistoric Danish people continued to eat fish and hunt even after the rise of agriculture

Researchers challenge ‘propagation of medical equipment graveyards’ in Global South to help prosthetics patients

From molecules to meaning: A search engine for the chemistry of life

How water fleas detect their predators

Slower winds help grasslands enhance carbon gain while saving water

Mayo Clinic researchers identify molecule linked to treatment-resistant inflammatory bowel disease

Neanderthal dentists used stone drills to treat cavities nearly 60,000 years ago

BU researchers awarded $2.9M to investigate brain mechanisms that drive alcohol use disorder

Researchers aim to understand how chronic alcohol exposure changes the brain's stress circuitry, with potential breakthroughs in treating AUD. Advanced neuroscience approaches will be used to examine PACAP's role in excessive drinking, anxiety-like behaviors, and pain sensitivity.

Peruvian hairless dogs discovered at ancient site

A new study published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology provides physical evidence of Peruvian hairless dogs from the Wari Empire site of Castillo de Huarmey. The site, located on the Pacific coast of northern Peru, yielded dog skeletal remains that were analyzed using standard zooarchaeological methods and isotopic analysis.

FAU study maps first brain blueprint of a fly’s split-second great escape

A new study at Florida Atlantic University maps the neural wiring system linked to a fly's split-second escape behaviors, revealing a decentralized communication strategy. The findings provide insight into how brains process information at extraordinary speed and may represent a conserved blueprint shared across species.

Sustainable electrosynthesis enables production of amines directly from airborne nitrogen

Scientists have created an electrochemical strategy capable of producing amines directly from molecular nitrogen, eliminating complex chemical processes and reducing energy consumption. The new method uses a catalyst to facilitate the conversion of N2 into nitrogen-containing organic molecules.

BU medical students receive awards at Massachusetts Medical Society Research Poster Symposium

Boston University medical students won awards at the Massachusetts Medical Society Research Poster Symposium for their innovative research projects. The top winners presented posters on various topics including AI-driven referrals and cardiovascular research.

UW researchers decipher beluga calls to bolster conservation efforts

Researchers at the University of Washington decoded over 1,700 beluga whale calls in Cook Inlet, revealing insights into their social behavior, communication patterns, and vulnerability to human noise. The study suggests that shipping noise may be disrupting critical calf-mother communication, threatening the population's recovery.

A timeline of destruction and discovery: 180 years of “plant destroyer” research

Researchers tracing the journey of Phytophthora infestans, a plant destroyer behind Ireland's Irish Potato Famine, explore its taxonomy and identification from early microscopy to genomic technologies. Advances in science strengthen efforts to monitor and manage destructive plant diseases.

Genetic risk of schizophrenia manifests in early adolescence, study shows

Children with high genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia show decreases in frontal cortical surface area during early adolescence, contrasting with regional expansion in those with low genetic susceptibility. This suggests neurodevelopmental deviations prior to symptom onset.

Water-assisted alignment plus secondary cold lsostatic pressing: achieving high-performance pure h-BN ceramics by pressureless sintering

Rice researchers develop realistic ‘mock’ samples to speed cervical cancer test development

A team of Rice University bioengineers has developed a new way to create highly realistic mock patient samples that could help accelerate the development of faster and more accessible cervical cancer screening tests. The approach combines multiple factors, including viral DNA levels and cell counts, to mimic real clinical specimens.

Understanding the health paradox: Study explores factors influencing white men’s well-being

A new analysis suggests that shifts in the economic landscape and changing social roles can act as stressors impacting long-term health. The study proposes that more diverse and flexible social expectations for men could lead to better health outcomes across all populations.

Scientists build high-performance hydrogen separation membranes with "mortar-and-brick" design

A new composite membrane leveraging metal-organic framework induced hetero-nucleation achieves exceptional hydrogen separation performance. The membrane exhibits a 562% enhancement in hydrogen permeance and maintains high selectivity under pressure.

Small seabirds rely on crosswinds to navigate the open ocean

A new study reveals that storm petrels deliberately seek crosswinds while flying hundreds of kilometers across the sea, slowing their flight but gaining vital information through smell. This unexpected strategy highlights the adaptability of seabirds in exploiting wind patterns to survive above the open ocean.

Head and neck tumors: Modern imaging provides clues to aggressive progression

A study by Medical University of Vienna shows that PET/CT scans can detect aggressive forms of head and neck cancer at an early stage due to specific patterns reflecting biological activity. Modern imaging helps identify targeted treatment strategies for a type of cancer difficult to treat.

Soil also suffers from heat waves: organic waste used to boost its tolerance to 50 degrees Celsius

Researchers found that adding organic matter can increase soil resistance to heat waves and preserve phosphorus reserves. Organic amendments like olive pomace proved effective in boosting soil resilience.