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Science News Archive May 2026 - Page 6


Page 6 of 48

Listening to the Sun reveals previously hidden changes to solar cycle

Researchers use helioseismology to track sound waves inside the Sun, finding a gradual change in structure just beneath the surface that spans multiple cycles. This discovery reveals a shift towards more tightly confined magnetic activity near the surface, with implications for space weather predictions.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 27, 2026

You are what you eat — or are you?

A new mathematical model developed by Arizona State University researchers estimates how much of the calories people absorb from food, considering the role of gut microbes. The model, DAMM, suggests that short-chain fatty acids produced by gut microbes contribute to an average of about 140 calories per day.

SourceArizona State University·JournalPLOS One·TypeObservational study·DateMay 27, 2026

Quantum research points to future energy and computing technologies

QuVET researchers explore how quantum wave functions move through ultra-thin materials, which could improve solar energy technologies and enable new forms of quantum control. They also manipulate quantum states in materials only a few atoms thick, opening possibilities for energy conversion and future quantum technologies.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 27, 2026

USC robot learns music by ear, opening new possibilities in medicine and therapy

A robotic hand developed at USC can hear a melody once and play it back after just two minutes of self-taught practice on a keyboard. The system, called the Musician Hand, mimics the way the brain and body coordinate fine motor skills through trial and error, offering a new model for machines — and medicine — to approach complex moveme...

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 27, 2026

Wistar Institute and Temple scientists identify metabolic target to overcome chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer

Researchers at The Wistar Institute and Temple University have identified a metabolic target that can help overcome chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer. Elevated alpha-ketoglutarate activates an enzyme called TMLHE, which drives carnitine production and loosens the DNA-histone complex, allowing cells to access and fix damaged DNA.

SourceThe Wistar Institute·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 27, 2026

New study finds neighborhood-level sampling could close equity gap in wastewater disease surveillance

Researchers at Syracuse University found that larger populations with more vulnerable communities struggle with early detection due to dilution. Taking wastewater samples upstream from large treatment plants can detect outbreaks in smaller sub-communities before dilution makes it more difficult.

SourceSyracuse University·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 27, 2026

Introduced wild pigs linked to fewer invasive plants, while native deer show the opposite pattern

A new study from Aarhus University found that introduced wild pigs are associated with lower abundance and species richness of invasive plants, but native white-tailed deer are linked to reduced abundance of native tree seedlings. The research suggests that ecological impact depends on feeding behavior, functional traits, and environme...

SourceAarhus University·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeContent analysis·DateMay 27, 2026

Italians and Dutch share the same gestural instinct for teaching

Researchers found that Italian and Dutch adults increased use of two-handed representational gestures when teaching children, suggesting a shared communicative strategy for young learners. This finding supports theories of folk pedagogy and highlights the importance of multimodal scaffolding in human cultural transmission.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·TypeObservational study·DateMay 27, 2026

Researchers link specific microbiomes to archaeological bone degradation

A study published in PLOS One analyzed microbial communities in well-preserved and degraded bones from medieval cemeteries in Norway. The researchers found distinct microbial communities associated with different levels of degradation, suggesting that microbes play a role in bone preservation and decay.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·TypeObservational study·DateMay 27, 2026

Clear disclosure of social media sponsorships is linked to better advertising awareness among adolescents, but critical thinking is needed to curb purchase intent, per study of over 3,000 Taiwanese students

A recent study of over 3,000 Taiwanese students found that adolescents who received clear disclosure of social media sponsorships demonstrated improved advertising literacy. However, this improvement was tempered by a need for critical thinking to curb purchase intent among the young participants.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·DateMay 27, 2026

Scientists reveal how dividing cells precisely trigger spindle formation

Researchers discovered a step-by-step process underlying SPD-5 activation, which regulates where and when spindle fibers form in C. elegans. This finding provides insights into the fundamentals of cell division regulation and may lead to new treatments for diseases caused by incorrect chromosome segregation.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 27, 2026