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Science News Archive October 2026 - Page 18


Page 18 of 50

Where three climate zones meet

Researchers reconstructed 16,000 years of summer temperature changes in the Western Balkans using lake sediments and tiny insects. The findings show that temperatures warmed by up to 2.9°C between 11,800 and 11,400 years ago, and cooled by 2.3°C during the Younger Dryas event.

SourceEötvös Loránd University·JournalPalaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology·DateOct 21, 2026

Half-matched bone marrow transplant expands treatment options for children and young adults with severe aplastic anemia

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine report a 96% survival rate among children with severe aplastic anemia treated with half-matched bone marrow transplants from family donors. The approach expands access to potentially curative treatment, with patients experiencing strong engraftment and durable survival rates.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalBlood Advances·DateOct 21, 2026

Listening to the buzz: UMass Amherst ecologist develop new tool for monitoring bee populations

A new AI-powered tool allows for precise estimates of bee activity, complementing traditional methods in pollinator monitoring. The tool, developed by UMass Amherst ecologist Laura Figueroa, uses audio recordings to identify bee species, achieving high precision rates and correlation with visual observations.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalApproaches in Entomology: Methods, Philosophies, and Ethics·DateOct 21, 2026

Building brain-inspired semiconductor chips for smarter, greener data centres

Researchers from the University of Ottawa and collaborators developed brain-inspired computing systems, promising a fundamentally different way to process information. These emerging technologies will lead to physical devices that are dramatically more energy-efficient, faster, and adaptive, enabling greener technology and smarter wear...

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 21, 2026

Three-week radiation course a safe option for breast cancer patients undergoing reconstruction, Alliance trial shows

A new trial shows that a shorter three-week radiation course is as safe and effective as the standard five-week treatment for women undergoing breast reconstruction. The RT CHARM trial found no increase in complications or effects on reconstruction efforts.

SourceAlliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 21, 2026

Fully tunable on-chip meta-generator mapping multidimensional Poincaré spheres

The research team developed a fully tunable on-chip meta-generator, enabling compact control of structured light fields with high mechanical stability and multi-dimensional tunability. The platform achieves breakthroughs in waveguide mode multiplexing and full-surface dynamic remapping across diverse Poincaré spheres.

Barn owls are gradually changing color

Swiss barn owls have evolved to become more reddish-brown and heavily spotted over 30 years, driven by natural selection. Their plumage colour is linked to fertility and hunting strategies, with spotted owls appearing more resilient to stress and diet.

SourceUniversity of Lausanne·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 21, 2026

A shared driver, three different barriers: Review maps mitochondrial oxidative stress as a therapeutic target in rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis

Mitochondrial oxidative stress is a key driver of autoimmune diseases, with each disease having unique barriers to treatment. The review proposes a single therapeutic target, targeting the interconnected regulatory network of five pathways, including NRF2, AMPK, SIRT1, and mitophagy.

SourceMedicine Discovery·JournalMedicine Discovery·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 21, 2026

Study identifies world’s first corporate psychopath

A study by Anglia Ruskin University identifies Jeronimus Cornelisz, a 17th century trader, as the world's first corporate psychopath, exhibiting modern toxic leadership traits 400 years ago. The research found that Cornelisz displayed all 10 core characteristics associated with corporate psychopaths, including manipulating followers an...

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalAsian Journal of Business Ethics·DateOct 21, 2026

Student motivation and responsibility shown to be key to tackling bullying in physical education

A study of 1,300 students aged 10-18 found that motivation and responsibility are crucial in preventing bullying in physical education. Students who are more motivated to participate in physical education are more likely to show personal responsibility and actively intervene when faced with unfair situations.

SourceUniversity of Córdoba·JournalPhysical Education and Sport Pedagogy·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 21, 2026

Targeting the gut-liver axis: New review explores microbial modulation to enhance immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma

A new review examines how gut microbiota and metabolites reshape liver immunity and propose strategies to overcome immunotherapy resistance. The review discusses four major directions of gut microbiota intervention, including probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, engineered bacteria, and metabolite-based interventions.

SourceImmunity & Inflammation·JournalImmunity & Inflammation·TypeSystematic review·DateOct 21, 2026

Artificial intelligence aids in the development of new active ingredients

Researchers at HIPS used AI to design new building blocks for active ingredient production, resulting in functional proteins with improved pharmaceutical properties. The AI-designed building blocks increased yield up to three times compared to natural variants, making it easier to obtain new compounds for research and development.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Infection Research·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 21, 2026

One tooth, six clues: How a single tooth can help in identifying deceased persons

Researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo used integrated forensic methods to analyze a single tooth, revealing clues about birth year, age at death, dietary patterns, drug exposure, biological sex, and DNA profile. Stable carbon isotope analysis and amino acid racemization provided accurate estimates of birth year and age at death.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 21, 2026

Metabolically enhanced pH-dependent conformational switching of polymers for selective chemotherapy of solid tumors

Researchers propose a new approach to targeted chemotherapy, using pH-sensitive polymers to release drugs at acidic tumor sites. The system relies on glucose priming to transiently widen the pH gradient, triggering release from ultra-pH-sensitive carriers. This approach aims to overcome the limitations of current chemotherapy, which of...

SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalExploratory Research and Hypothesis in Medicine·DateOct 21, 2026

Living "railway tracks" bioprinted inside artificial conduits match gold-standard nerve repair

Researchers have developed a triple-layered artificial nerve conduit embedded with living cells that steers nerve regrowth across deep gaps, achieving functional recovery in rats that rivals a natural graft. The bioprinted nerve 'railway tracks' guide regenerating tissue, promoting axon-guidance genes and restoring electrical impulses.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateOct 21, 2026

Accelerate first or climb first? A meter-scale flapping-wing robot reveals the distance advantage of low-angle takeoff

A meter-scale flapping-wing robot demonstrates the benefits of low-angle takeoff, increasing flight distance by 49% and horizontal distance by 123%. The robot's ability to control pitch attitude through the flapping-pitch effect enables early acceleration and speed advantage.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalCyborg and Bionic Systems·DateOct 21, 2026

One strain, two jobs: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SQ1 degrades wheat straw and suppresses aflatoxin-producing aspergillus flavus

The strain accelerates wheat straw decomposition, reduces fungal proliferation, and decreases aflatoxin content, promoting peanut seedling growth and supporting sustainable agriculture. SQ1 functions as a dual-purpose biocatalyst, breaking down cellulose and inhibiting fungal growth.

SourceHEP Data Cooperation Journals·JournalSystems Microbiology and Biomanufacturing·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 21, 2026

The arrival of the Suebi, Alans and Visigoths did not erase the deep genetic legacy of Roman Hispania

A new study has reconstructed the genetic history of the Iberian Peninsula between the 1st and 8th centuries CE, revealing that Roman Hispania's genetic legacy survived the arrivals of the Suebi, Alans and Visigoths. The study found that Roman rule created an extraordinarily diverse society due to population movements across the Medite...

Maladaptive brain-state locking as a lifespan framework for neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders

Maladaptive brain-state locking (MBSL) is a lifespan hypothesis suggesting that distinct disorders converge on impaired state-transition or recovery dynamics. Candidate features include abnormal persistence, impaired transition, and delayed recovery, with lifespan timing and regional context modifying phenotypic expression.

SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalExploratory Research and Hypothesis in Medicine·DateOct 21, 2026

How a massive ice shelf buttressed the last ice age’s glaciers — and what it could mean for Antarctica today

A massive, 1-mile-thick ice shelf in Baffin Bay helped lock in three of the largest ice sheets in northern Canada and Greenland, contributing to hundreds of feet of sea-level rise. The discovery provides new insights into the future of Antarctica's massive ice sheets and the potential for sea-level rise.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeObservational study·DateOct 21, 2026

Build-up of common enzyme stunts brain growth

A mouse study of Angelman syndrome identifies a potential opportunity to restore healthy neurodevelopment by targeting the buildup of a normally harmless enzyme, asparagine synthetase. The findings suggest that the enzyme's accumulation triggers a stress response that impairs brain growth.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature·DateOct 21, 2026

Driverless electric taxi fleets adapt to the unexpected

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology developed a new optimisation method for near-optimal large-scale fleet control, accounting for uncertainties in real-world transport systems. The method combines machine learning techniques with advanced optimisation models to predict travel demand and charger availability, improving fle...

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalTransportation Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 21, 2026

Canadian Science Publishing launches Avancées francophones en sciences et en génie, a new collection of French-language scientific articles

Canadian Science Publishing launches a new collection of French-language scientific articles, strengthening the creation, dissemination, and mobilization of scientific knowledge in French. The inaugural collection features 14 articles exploring topics of significant importance, including forestry, Indigenous knowledge, and biodiversity.

How climate change, new technology are shaping the future of extremes in peak power demands

New research models energy demand extremes in the US, finding that technology diffusion may have a larger impact than climate change on peak demands in certain regions. The study considers four climate change scenarios and 18 technology diffusion pathways in 183 counties across the US, projecting changes in extreme peak demands.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2026

Mount Sinai to lead national trial of targeted therapy for infants with noonan syndrome and severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

The BabyMERIT trial will evaluate trametinib in infants with Noonan syndrome and related conditions who develop severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a potentially life-threatening condition. The study aims to improve outcomes for these young patients by targeting a molecular pathway known to drive these disorders.

Open-source tool helps researchers study unprocessed and processed pork and beef separately

A new open-source software package called PFclassify enables researchers to classify and quantify unprocessed and processed meats into separate subtypes, providing more accurate nutrition data. This gives scientists a standardized workflow to examine meat subtype-specific dietary intake, supporting more transparent and higher quality d...

SourceNational Pork Board·JournalJournal of Food Composition and Analysis·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 21, 2026