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Science News for November 2, 2026


An eight-year study of epidemiology and disease burden of child enterovirus in China

A Chinese study of 163,714 hospitalized children with enterovirus infections found serious complications involving organs like the brain and heart are uncommon but can significantly increase hospital resource usage. The study reveals strong age and seasonal patterns, with infants and toddlers carrying most of the hospitalization burden.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalVirologica Sinica·DateNov 2, 2026

SNU Professor Songhwai Oh’s team develops humanoid AI that performs sequential tasks using separately collected locomotion and manipulation data

A research team developed a humanoid AI system called RISE that learns jointly from locomotion and object-manipulation data to perform multiple stages of a task in sequence. RISE achieved an average success rate of 87.3% in simulation and 50.0% in real-world experiments, outperforming a baseline by 20 percentage points.

Telemedicine use increased in Japan, but age-related and socioeconomic disparities did not clearly narrow over time

A study in Japan found that telemedicine use expanded, but age-related and socioeconomic disparities did not narrow over time. The proportion of participants who had used telemedicine increased from 2.6% in 2020 to 7.0% in 2024, with younger adults and higher-status workers showing greater growth.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·DateNov 2, 2026

Molecular filler-enhanced DNA nanomachines enable one-step multiplex ctDNA quantification for mutation analysis and metastasis-associated assessment

Researchers developed DNA nanomachines that detect two ctDNA mutations simultaneously without DNA amplification, achieving improved sensitivity and specificity. The platform has potential for tracking treatment response and emerging resistance in cancer patients.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 2, 2026

SNU Professor Kyomin Jung’s team has 44 papers accepted to leading AI conferences over two years

The Seoul National University research team, led by Professor Kyomin Jung, has achieved significant milestones in AI research, including 44 papers accepted to top conferences in two years. Key findings include advancements in AI reasoning, multimodal AI, agent safety, and language generation, demonstrating the team's expertise in natur...

Exploring sodium batteries down to the atom

A recent study examines the effects of electron microscopes on sodium batteries, highlighting the need for caution when analyzing battery materials. The research, led by University of Chicago PhD student Thomas Marchese, aims to improve the efficiency and sustainability of energy storage devices.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalMicroscopy and Microanalysis·DateNov 2, 2026

Study identifies translation regulation mechanisms involved in cancer development and treatment resistance

Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital identified a protein regulation mechanism involved in cancer development and treatment resistance. The study found that altering a specific enzyme, METTL13, can promote efficient translation of oncogenes, such as KRAS, and is associated with poor prognosis.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalNature Cell Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 2, 2026

Earlier bedtime linked to weight loss in prediabetes

A randomized controlled trial found that adding sleep coaching to a diabetes prevention lifestyle program helped participants sleep better and feel less sleepy during the day, leading to greater weight loss. Falling asleep earlier was associated with about 1.3 pounds of weight loss over eight weeks, independent of sleep duration.

SourceNew York University·JournalNursing Research·DateNov 2, 2026

Dinosaur blood – oldest discovery rewrites what fossils can reveal about the past

A 115-million-year-old theropod dinosaur's limb bones contained mineralized red blood cells and preserved heme biomolecules, challenging longstanding assumptions about biomolecular survival in deep time. This discovery offers a direct molecular window into the physiology of long-extinct animals.

SourceCurtin University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateNov 2, 2026

MPFI researchers uncover new insights into circuit rewiring following the onset of visual experience

In a newly published study, researchers in MPFI's Fitzpatrick lab show that neurons gain many new connections that drive early visual circuit refinement after visual experience. Connections that responded selectively to edges of a particular orientation expanded much more than connections responding to all orientations alike. This expa...

SourceMax Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 2, 2026

New infrared-transparent aerogel boosts cooling performance by up to 5.2°C

Researchers at CityUHK developed a white infrared-transparent aerogel that spatially decouples solar reflection and thermal insulation, achieving up to 5.2°C cooling performance enhancement. The aerogel exhibits high optical performance and is durable, safe, and suitable for extended use.

SourceCommunications and Institutional Research Office, City University of Hong Kong·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 2, 2026

Study challenges assumption that more lean body mass means better metabolic health

Researchers found that where fat is stored in the body plays a crucial role in the relationship between fat-free mass and metabolic health, including metabolic syndrome and elevated blood sugar. The study suggests that the quality and composition of body tissues, not just their quantity, are important for understanding metabolic health.

SourcePennington Biomedical Research Center·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 2, 2026

When to move is key to mobile retail

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a mathematical model to optimize mobile retail routes, finding that optimal balance between perching and migrating can maximize revenue. The model takes into account time of day, customer density, demand intensity, and fleet size to determine the best deployment strategy.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalManagement Science·DateNov 2, 2026

UK storm surges have far-flung, global climate connections

A new study by Cambridge University researchers found that global atmospheric conditions thousands of kilometres distant can determine which coastlines in the UK are hit by extreme storm surges. The study used 70 years of sea level data to identify relationships between storm surge extremes and larger-scale climate patterns.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Oceans·DateNov 2, 2026

New strategy identified for treating lupus

Researchers have identified a new strategy for treating lupus by targeting an imbalance in prolactin receptors, reducing inflammatory molecules and kidney damage while preserving healthy immune cells. This approach could potentially control disease activity and reduce the risk of organ damage.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalExperimental & Molecular Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 2, 2026

International survey launched on how and why (or why not) palaeontologists communicate with the public

A comprehensive international survey launched by University of Cape Town researchers aims to understand how palaeontologists communicate with the public. The study investigates factors influencing public engagement, including barriers and incentives, to inform actionable recommendations for future events and institutional policy.

Mount Sinai researchers awarded more than $3 million in NIH funding to study MRI tools for drug-resistant epilepsy

Researchers will test whether MRI measurements of brain tissue stiffness and blood flow can help identify where seizures begin. The study aims to improve diagnosis and treatment planning for people with drug-resistant epilepsy. The team will enroll 100 participants and analyze blood samples for markers associated with gliosis.

No neuralyzer needed. Identifying the molecular pathways and the circuit that triggers forgetting in C. elegans

Researchers from Kyushu University have found the molecular and neural pathways that cause C. elegans to actively forget a specific odor it previously remembered. A peptide called NLP-47 triggers this process, which is highly specific and targets a specific memory, suggesting a potential mechanism for understanding conditions and patho...

SourceKyushu University·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 2, 2026

Are we overfertilizing our fields? Researchers challenge conventional soil testing

A new study by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals that agricultural soils may contain a substantial un-accounted for reservoir of potassium, potentially reducing unnecessary fertilizer use. The research found that plants absorbed between two and nearly four times more potassium than could be explained by conventional measurements.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalPlant and Soil·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 2, 2026

An unusual sexual bond between a bull and a male donkey

A study published in Current Biology reports an unusual sexual bond between a bull and a male donkey on an Ethiopian plateau. The two animals, from different owners, engaged in repeated mounting behavior, accompanied by affiliative behaviors like licking, rubbing, and nuzzling.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 2, 2026

Laser slicing of large-area diamond substrates

Scientists investigate how ultrashort laser pulses can be used to slice diamond, with potential applications in optics, semiconductors, and power electronics. The study reveals that diamonds produced via different methods respond differently to laser treatment, and a new slicing method can create large-area diamond substrates.

SourceChiba University·JournalDiamond and Related Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 2, 2026

Hidden in plain sight in Ryugu and meteorites

Researchers at Kanazawa University and the University of Tokyo used X-rays to study asteroid Ryugu and carbonaceous meteorites. They found a previously overlooked material, magnesium silicate hydrate, which may have preserved the chemical composition of the early Solar System.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·DateNov 2, 2026

Heated mirror reveals hidden 3D patterns in rising air near a wall

A heated mirror reveals hidden 3D patterns in rising air near a wall, showing turbulence and changes in air density. The study uses synchronized cameras and a mirror to reconstruct near-wall air-density changes and track flow reorganization, providing insights into heat transfer and buoyancy-driven flow structures.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalInternational Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 2, 2026

Beyond visitor numbers: understanding overtourism risk in suburban Tokyo

A new study explores how local knowledge and visitor trends shape perceptions of overtourism risk in suburban Tokyo. Despite practitioners considering overtourism unlikely, the perception was partially inconsistent with statistical evidence, highlighting the need for a combined approach to assess tourism risks.

SourceKeio University Global Research Institute·JournalInternational Journal of Tourism Cities·TypeObservational study·DateNov 2, 2026