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Science News for October 2, 2026


Long-term ‘Food is Medicine’ program associated with improved adult cardiometabolic health

A new study by Mass General Brigham researchers shows that a longer duration Food Is Medicine program associated with improved adult cardiometabolic health. Participants who received weekly plant-based grocery packages for 2.7 years showed dose-dependent reductions in diastolic blood pressure, body weight, and BMI.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalPreventing Chronic Disease·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 2, 2026

UB researchers grow salivary glands from pluripotent stem cells

Researchers at the University at Buffalo have successfully grown salivary glands from human pluripotent stem cells, offering a promising solution for patients with dry mouth due to cancer treatment or Sjögren’s disease. The newly formed glands integrated with existing tissue and contained mature cells that produce saliva, suggesting po...

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2026

The Cheshire Cat’s grin: Cooper pairs found above superconducting critical temperature in pair density waves

Researchers have found Cooper pairs in uranium ditelluride to exist above the superconducting critical temperature in pair density waves, contradicting the conventional BCS theory. These non-uniform patterns, known as pair density waves, were predicted 20 years ago and provide direct evidence of their persistence even in the

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 2, 2026

New insights into fetal DNA could improve prenatal testing

Researchers from Adelaide University have reviewed decades of research to better understand fetal DNA, which could lead to improved non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) accuracy and reduced false results. The study aims to uncover the fundamental biology of fetal DNA to create new tools for reliable and comprehensive prenatal testing.

SourceAdelaide University·JournalScience Advances·TypeSystematic review·DateOct 2, 2026

New editorial in special issue calls for stronger disaster preparedness for older adults

The editorial highlights the need for disaster preparedness tailored to older adults' unique circumstances, including chronic health conditions and social supports. It suggests interventions that integrate disaster planning into routine clinical care and build organizational capacity in assisted living communities and nursing homes.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of Applied Gerontology·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 2, 2026

New University of South Florida study advances understanding of eye pressure and glaucoma

Researchers developed a wireless eye-pressure monitoring system to capture daily changes in eye pressure, revealing daily rhythms and circadian influences. The study suggests eye pressure follows a daily pattern linked to the body's internal clock, with nighttime increases driven by neural signals.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2026

Metabolite-inspired compounds show promise for ulcerative colitis drug discovery, study finds

Researchers at Georgia State University discovered two metabolite-inspired compounds, MLY2 and MLY8, with enhanced anti-inflammatory activity in experimental ulcerative colitis. These compounds showed promise for treating the chronic inflammatory disease, offering an underexplored drug discovery opportunity.

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2026

Mowing less, spraying smarter gives pollinators a boost

A new study found that reducing mowing and herbicide use along rural roadsides leads to a significant increase in pollinator numbers and species diversity. The research, led by the University of Ottawa, found that low-intensity roadsides averaged 27 species per site, compared to 22 on conventionally managed roadsides.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalInsect Conservation and Diversity·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2026

The risk of looking back at former versions of ourselves

A recent study from Ohio State University found that people are just as likely to compare their current bodies to their former appearance, with equally harmful results. The study's findings suggest that self-oriented comparison, particularly upward comparison, is strongly linked to negative body image and disordered eating, while downw...

SourceOhio State University·JournalBody Image·DateOct 2, 2026

Broccoli grows well under magenta solar panels

A study published in Cell Reports Physical Science found that magenta solar panels can increase broccoli yield and efficiency by 4.5 times, allowing for the growth of traditional-sized broccoli in 25 days. The technology has potential for farmers to generate renewable energy while sustaining crop yields.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2026

A stem cell pathway offers a new route to periodontal bone regeneration

Researchers found that restoring IGFBP5 reduces stem cell senescence and enhances periodontal bone regeneration by activating WNT5B signaling. IGFBP5 overexpression improves cell survival and bone-forming ability in stressed stem cells, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for age-related periodontal bone loss.

SourceEditorial Office of West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University·JournalInternational Journal of Oral Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2026

Atrial fibrillation during sepsis: what clinicians know—and what remains unclear

Atrial fibrillation during sepsis is a common complication with no established treatment guidelines, linked to increased risks of stroke, death, and recurrence. The review highlights the need for a universally accepted definition, validated prediction models, and standardized anticoagulation strategies to manage this condition.

SourceJournal of Intensive Medicine·JournalJournal of Intensive Medicine·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 2, 2026

Georgia State Telescope array reveals how nearby stars fade from center to edge

Astronomers using the Georgia State University Telescope array have found that nearby stars darken toward their edges more strongly at near-infrared wavelengths than predicted by several widely used models of stellar atmospheres. This effect, known as limb darkening, makes a star appear fainter at its edge than at its center.

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalThe Astronomical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateOct 2, 2026

Heel-prick blood samples from newborns could provide important insights into protection against serious infection

A new study from Aarhus University shows that heel-prick blood samples can measure antibodies against Group B Streptococcus in newborns, providing important insights into protection against serious infections. The method could contribute to the development of vaccines designed to protect infants against serious infections.

SourceAarhus University·JournalThe Lancet Microbe·TypeCase study·DateOct 2, 2026

Taste crucial to students’ support for climate-friendly school meals

Students' attitudes toward climate-friendly school meals were positively associated with considering climate important when choosing food, eating vegetarian food at school more often, and the food tasting good. Mixed attitudes toward modified recipes and all-vegetarian days were observed, with reducing meat in recipes being more accepted.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalAppetite·TypeObservational study·DateOct 2, 2026

US pharmacy closures are hitting racial minority communities the hardest

A new study reveals that pharmacy closures are occurring disproportionately among communities with a majority of racial and ethnic minority residents. Predominantly White communities have more pharmacies per 10,000 people than neighborhoods with predominantly minority populations, leading to unequal access to healthcare services.

SourceBoston University·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 2, 2026

Study sheds new light on why aurochs disappeared in Scandinavia

A study led by Lund University reveals that aurochs, the ancient ancestors of modern cattle, declined in Scandinavia due to genetic depletion, human pressure, and habitat change. The research found that the aurochs population became isolated from the main European population around 8,000 years ago, and was eventually driven to extincti...

SourceLund University·JournalThe Holocene·DateOct 2, 2026

Demonstration of prion-like transmission of tau in the mouse brain—elucidating the mechanisms behind disease-specific pathogenesis—

Researchers demonstrate prion-like transmission of tau in mice, replicating disease-specific pathologies. The study shows that tau filaments from Alzheimer's and corticobasal degeneration patients induce endogenous tau pathologies with identical structures, confirming the prion-like transmission of tau.

SourceTokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2026

Social media analysis finds health institutions delayed or did not respond to false claims inking autism to acetaminophen use during pregnancy

A social media analysis found that most health institutions failed to respond promptly to misinformation linking acetaminophen use to autism during pregnancy. The American Academy of Pediatrics was the only institution to respond quickly and effectively, posting 10 relevant posts within a day of the controversy unfolding.

Chinese Medical Journal study reveals gallic acid inhibits prostate cancer progression via the NF-κB/KLF7/L1CAM Axis

Researchers discovered gallic acid suppresses tumor progression by targeting the NF-κB/KLF7/L1CAM axis in prostate cancer. The study demonstrated that gallic acid significantly impaired aggressive behaviors of PC-3 and LNCaP cells without toxicity to normal cells.

SourceChinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd.·JournalChinese Medical Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2026

Tai ji quan roadmap charts path to next-generation exercise medicine for falls prevention

A new review outlines clinical, digital trial, and AI strategies to bring tai ji quan into routine fall-prevention care, reducing falls and improving mobility among older adults. The proposed three-pillar roadmap aims to close the evidence-to-practice gap, emphasizing human expertise and AI-enabled technologies.

SourceJournal of Sport and Health Science·JournalJournal of Sport and Health Science·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 2, 2026

Urine test may improve bladder cancer diagnosis and guide treatment decisions

A new urine test devised by researchers at Stanford Medicine can diagnose bladder cancer more accurately than current methods, capturing a tumor's behavior in addition to its presence. The test, called uRARE-seq, correctly identified 95% of people with localized bladder cancer and gave a clean bill of health to 90% of those who did not.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2026

From the cosmos to thunderstorms

A new study uses cosmic-ray particles to probe the electrical potential inside thunderstorms, revealing a six-to-one difference in thunderstorm detection rates between the east and west. The asymmetry arises from the geomagnetic field's effect on cosmic rays, allowing researchers to infer information about thunderstorm electricity.

SourceSissa Medialab·JournalJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 2, 2026