Science News Archive May 2026 - Page 37

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

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