Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive October 2026


Page 1 of 50

UVA researchers develop AI tool to personalize cardiac therapies with $4 million NIH grant

The AI tool, GenStrain, uses generative AI to learn from DENSE MRI scans and apply that knowledge to standard cine MRI scans, helping doctors choose the pacing therapy most likely to benefit individual patients. This could lead to better cardiac care and patient outcomes for the 6 million Americans living with heart failure.

UVA engineering professor Rupa Valdez elected fellow of American College of Medical Informatics

Rupa Valdez has been elected a fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics for her work on designing systems and technologies to support people's health outside traditional clinical settings. Her research focuses on human factors engineering, cultural anthropology, and health informatics to understand how social networks, phy...

Study provides reassuring news for women using medications to treat opioid use disorder during pregnancy

A new study led by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that medication doses for opioid use disorder do not affect withdrawal symptoms in newborns, challenging a common concern. Maintaining treatment is essential for pregnant patients to reduce the risk of relapse and overdose.

SourceUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateOct 30, 2026

RNA-protein interactions could lead to new coronavirus drug targets

A study led by University of California, Riverside researcher Joy Xiang identified new targets for coronavirus antiviral drugs by mapping RNA-protein interactions. The researchers found that disrupting specific interactions between the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and the nucleocapsid protein significantly reduced viral replication. Th...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 30, 2026

Don't call it DEI: How changing the language can win over Republicans

A Cornell University study finds that replacing DEI terminology with alternative language can improve Republicans' favorability toward diversity training. The researchers showed study participants various DEI training presentations and articles, using different language to frame the training content, and found that Republicans reported...

SourceCornell University·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 30, 2026

Space-grown glioblastoma organoids could help advance brain cancer treatments

Researchers have grown glioblastoma organoids in space, which more closely resemble human tumors than those grown on Earth. The space-grown organoids showed a more immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and higher levels of proteins associated with aggressive GBM biology.

SourceInternational Space Station U.S. National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 30, 2026

Herpes infection detailed in human skin model

Researchers traced herpes simplex virus 1 infection progression in human skin organoids, revealing differences in virus spread among skin cell types. They found that dermal fibroblasts and hair follicle cells exhibited intrinsic resistance to the virus, and that immune signaling molecules play a crucial role in controlling infection.

SourceMax Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 30, 2026

Fireside Project publishes largest-ever dataset on real-world psychedelic support interactions

The Fireside Project has published the largest-ever dataset on real-world psychedelic support interactions in Science Advances, analyzing 25,419 interactions and 2,777 post-interaction surveys. The study found that psilocybin was the most commonly reported substance, and seeking help during or after an experience was more predictive of...

SourceFireside Project·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 30, 2026

Maternal immune activation (MIA) reshapes placental development

Researchers investigated the effects of early-gestational maternal immune activation on placental development, revealing persistent structural remodeling, sexually dimorphic metabolic adaptations, and compensatory extracellular matrix responses. ITGB1 was identified as a candidate mediator of placental adaptation to inflammatory stress.

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalGenes & Diseases·DateOct 30, 2026

A rare case of Parkinson's disease reveals molecular changes in platelets during disease progression

A rare case of early-onset Parkinson's disease reveals molecular changes in platelets associated with disease progression. The study identified changes in gene expression in platelets, including those involved in mitochondrial function and protein synthesis, providing insights into molecular processes involved in disease progression.

SourceGermans Trias i Pujol Research Institute·JournalMovement Disorders·TypeCase study·DateOct 30, 2026

Tiny photonic chip links telescopes together to view the universe in ‘astonishing’ details

Researchers at Heriot-Watt University have successfully linked two telescopes together using a tiny glass chip, enabling the observation of celestial objects in extraordinary detail. The technology has the potential to transform the design of future astronomical instruments, making them smaller, more robust, and easier to upgrade.

SourceHeriot-Watt University·TypeObservational study·DateOct 30, 2026

Climate-friendly cooling

Caloric cooling technologies have made significant progress, with devices achieving cooling powers exceeding three kilowatts and mechanically driven prototypes surpassing the one-kilowatt mark. However, gaps remain between material performance and actual cooling efficiency, particularly in terms of durability and energy consumption.

Purple pak choi’s hidden genetic gift: a borrowed gene from a distant relative unlocks anthocyanin richness

Researchers have discovered a previously hidden gene in purple pak choi that unlocks its anthocyanin richness, a trait that boosts nutritional value and health benefits. The gene, BraMYB114, was borrowed from a distant relative, Brassica carinata, through natural hybridization, solving a long-standing mystery in Brassica genetics.

The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Ahead-of-Print Tip Sheet: October 30, 2026

Researchers have made significant advancements in nuclear medicine, improving treatment outcomes for prostate cancer, detecting cancer recurrence, and predicting treatment outcomes. Studies have shown that combining imaging methods, such as PET/CT and MRI, can improve detection of prostate cancer, while diagnostic scans may predict tum...

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateOct 30, 2026

A newly identified lncRNA axis explains delayed tooth eruption in cleidocranial dysplasia

Researchers have discovered a lncRNA axis involving RUNX2, LncRNA-ROD, and QKI that regulates osteoclast differentiation and alveolar bone remodeling in cleidocranial dysplasia. This axis is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of delayed tooth eruption and may offer a therapeutic target for eruption disorders.

SourceWest China Hospital of Sichuan University·JournalInternational Journal of Oral Science·DateOct 30, 2026

Introducing FAIR Health Atlas

FAIR Health Atlas is a free online tool visualizing chronic disease data across all 50 states and Washington, DC, revealing areas facing the greatest health challenges. The platform includes relevant social determinants of health influencing disease risk factors.

Safeguarding the black soil granary: deep plowing is preferred after short-term no-tillage with straw mulching

A study found that deep plowing improves the physical properties of Mollisols in Northeast China, reducing soil compaction and increasing water infiltration. The optimal rotational tillage practice, deep plowing, outperforms other methods in stabilizing soil and enhancing farmland resilience.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalENGINEERING Agriculture·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 30, 2026

Lanthanide-based luminescence thermometry: from fundamentals and materials to applications

Lanthanide-based luminescence thermometry offers a promising route to non-contact temperature sensing, leveraging the unique properties of trivalent lanthanide ions. The review highlights advances in fundamental photophysics, material design, and emerging applications, including single-cell metabolic imaging, in vivo temperature imagin...

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Materials·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 30, 2026

Chinese and Vietnamese bilingual news topic discovery via association graph clustering

Researchers developed a Chinese-Vietnamese bilingual news topic discovery method using association graph model, outperforming baseline models in low-resource languages. The approach reduces the impact of language differences on clustering results, enabling accurate extraction of news texts describing the same event in different languages.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Computer Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 30, 2026

AI in ophthalmology: from benchmarks to the bedside

Ophthalmic AI applications span population screening, disease grading, and treatment guidance, with emerging paradigms like multimodal AI and generative AI discussed. Key translational challenges include dataset bias, interpretability, and post-deployment monitoring, requiring clinician-centered design and accountable integration.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalEye & ENT Research·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 30, 2026

Screening for putative essential genes in Brucella abortus strains A19 and S2308 using transposon mutagenesis

Researchers used transposon mutagenesis to screen for essential genes in Brucella abortus strains A19 and S2308, identifying 451 and 393 putative essential genes, respectively. These genes were found to be involved in various cellular processes, including cofactor biosynthesis and ribosomal biogenesis.

SourceHEP Data Cooperation Journals·JournalBiophysics Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 30, 2026

New chemical reaction expands the design of DNA-encoded molecular libraries

Researchers have developed a new chemical reaction that enables the modification of molecules attached to DNA, expanding the design of DNA-encoded molecular libraries. This method is suitable for applications where sensitive chemical structures must be preserved, and it demonstrates a new approach for modifying molecules attached to DNA.

SourceCenter for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS)·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateOct 30, 2026

15 social factors linked to higher chronic kidney disease risk and may help identify high-risk groups

A large-scale prospective study shows that cumulative social disadvantage is associated with a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease and poor prognosis. The study identifies plasma metabolomic and proteomic signatures that may partly explain these associations, offering clues for understanding how social factors influence ki...

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Life Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateOct 30, 2026

GSAman: A desktop "magic brush" for perfecting gene structure annotations

GSAman, a desktop gene-annotation editor, uses IGV as a foundation and offers features like real-time flagging and built-in prediction and homology modules. The tool improved BUSCO completeness from 86.93% to 99.63% in a case study on elite indica rice, paving the way for more efficient hand-finishing of gene annotations.

SourceInnovation Press·JournalThe Innovation·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 30, 2026

One in four Americans have exaggerated or made up symptoms to try to get antibiotics

A new study found that nearly a quarter of Americans misrepresent symptoms to get antibiotics, citing reasons such as feeling sick or needing to return to work. This behavior is dangerous and contributes to antimicrobial resistance, emphasizing the need for better communication strategies to ensure patients receive appropriate treatment.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeSurvey·DateOct 30, 2026

Hemoadsorption in poisoning and intoxication

Hemoadsorption has been shown to be beneficial in treating poisoning and intoxication, with evidence supporting its use for acetaminophen, barbiturates, and carbamazepine. The treatment has been particularly effective in reducing mortality rates for patients with organophosphate and CCB poisoning. A proposed care pathway suggests asses...

SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalJournal of Translational Critical Care Medicine·DateOct 30, 2026

Titanium boosts thermoelectric performance of thin films by 250-fold

Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a thermoelectric material that delivers a 250-fold increase in power factor by adding titanium to chromium nitride. This discovery could enable the integration of waste heat recovery technology into small electronic devices, broadening its applications.

SourceAdvanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A·DateOct 30, 2026

Pseudogene SERHL suppresses gastric cancer metastasis

Researchers discovered SERHL as a previously unrecognized tumor suppressor in gastric cancer, inhibiting invasion and metastasis through KLF16-PLCB1/PRKCA signaling. SERHL expression correlated with aggressive disease, while restoring SERHL expression suppressed gastric cancer cell migration and invasion.

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalGenes & Diseases·DateOct 30, 2026