Two new sea spider species are discovered in the Salish Sea, shedding light on the diversity of marine arthropods and their impact on ecosystems. Researchers found these species to have unique traits, such as hairy legs, red eyes, and dexterous ovigers.
A research team at the Duke Quantum Center has observed string-breaking dynamics related to particle-antiparticle formation on a quantum simulator. The experiment emulates a phenomenon where two connected fundamental building blocks of matter stretch apart, creating new particles when the connection snaps.
Researchers at the University of Liège and Rockefeller University have made a major breakthrough in understanding the biology of trypanosomatid parasites, which cause diseases such as sleeping sickness and Chagas' disease. The discovery sheds light on a previously mysterious molecular machine essential to the parasites' survival, revea...
New York University researchers have trained an AI model to predict stable tautomers in drug-like molecules, addressing a challenge in molecular design. The model, released as an open-source tool, can analyze large molecular libraries and identify correct tautomer assignments.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed microrobots that can sense temperature and coordinate to change their environment. The robots use a feedback loop inspired by natural systems to alter physical conditions, such as pumping liquid from hot to cold regions.
An international study has established age-specific ultrasound reference values to distinguish normal joint changes from early signs of inflammatory arthritis. The study analysed over 28,000 joints from 802 healthy volunteers and developed new thresholds for normal and abnormal findings, which will help clinicians identify inflammatory...
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital developed a slow-release injectable drug delivery system that achieved pain-numbing anesthetic effects lasting two to three weeks in rats. The system uses liposomes with multiple compartments, allowing for ultra-slow release of hydrophilic drugs.
Global warming is causing heatwaves to occur earlier, lasting longer, and developing faster worldwide, with significant changes observed in drylands. The study found that heatwave risks depend not only on intensity and duration but also on timing and onset speed.
GBIF has grown to include 70 participating countries and 3.8 billion biodiversity data records, supporting over 15,000 publications and eight new peer-reviewed research papers per day. Despite challenges, GBIF continues to provide critical infrastructure for biodiversity science and policy worldwide.
A four-year project has produced a blueprint for transforming digital healthcare into a circular system, keeping products and materials longer in use. The Digital Health in the Circular Economy project recommends redesigning healthcare systems to deliver greater environmental benefits, with changes across clinical workflows, product de...
US mortality rates have exceeded peer countries, with increasing deaths from external causes and rising mortality from hypertensive and other diseases. The study highlights the need for political will to improve health outcomes.
A new study reveals that grazing abandonment leads to lower soil carbon, while continued grazing consistently results in higher soil carbon. Grazing is found to be crucial for sustaining grasslands and enhancing soil carbon storage.
A study found that racial and ethnic differences in US disability insurance approval rates are largely attributed to socioeconomic, health, and demographic factors. After adjusting for these factors, the disparities in allowance rates become statistically insignificant.
New research shows how precision agriculture can save up to 15% of water needed to produce tomatoes and grapes, while improving yield and fruit quality. By using sensors to shield plants from weather stress, farmers can also test fruit quality without damaging the crop.
A recent review of 3 million participants found small positive associations between prenatal paracetamol exposure and autism and ADHD, but these associations weakened with higher-quality studies. The evidence does not support a causal link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
A pharmacist-led medication review improved medication quality in older adults with cancer, with 29.9% fewer patients on potentially inappropriate prescriptions and 34.2% less medication overuse. The review also recommended 337 missing vaccinations.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new method to manufacture tiny OLED pixels using direct light exposure and photolithography. They created luminescent polymers in various colors that serve as photoresists, enabling the creation of fine-scale geometric structures.
Researchers developed a heat-venting ceramic metastructure with high terahertz shielding efficiency, combining material modification and structural design. The metastructure exhibited multifunctional characteristics, including hydrophobic and antifouling surfaces and excellent heat dissipation capabilities.
Researchers from HKU and BNU used wave simulations to test the effects of ultralight dark matter on gravitationally lensed images. The simulations reproduced observed image positions more closely than common models, suggesting gravitationally lensed systems could be used to test ultralight-dark-matter models.
A recent study found that spiders from different lineages construct similar funnel-shaped webs, despite diverging hundreds of millions of years ago. Genomic analysis identified genes involved in neural regulation, sensory processing, and motor control, suggesting that complex behaviors can evolve repeatedly in distantly related lineages.
A new study reveals that plant community turnover and nematode body width shape soil nematode diversity across different spatial scales. Nematode diversity consistently increases with plant β-diversity, emphasizing the need to maintain a mosaic of plant communities to safeguard hidden biodiversity.
A new book by researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that organized groups, not voters, play a crucial role in shaping US House primaries. The study examines 55 winnable open-seat House nominations and reveals that these groups prioritize reliable representation over ideological purity.
The third year of 'AI Adventures: When AI Meets Games with Tencent' concludes with a more diverse cohort of students from around the world, exploring AI tools with traditional Chinese cultural elements. The programme offers students a layered understanding of AI, placing them in direct contact with industry knowledge and academic persp...
Insect-scale robots are getting a brain upgrade through embodied intelligence, promising environmental monitoring, search and rescue, and precision agriculture. The new approach focuses on seamless integration of physical form, materials, and environmental interactions to achieve adaptive behaviors.
The University of Melbourne has joined the Structural Genomics Consortium to develop AI-powered tools for drug discovery, targeting rare diseases. The new SGC-Melbourne facility will generate large-scale datasets on protein-molecule interactions, enabling the creation of high-quality data needed for AI to predict new molecular tools.
The HKU Business School's Wealth Management Academy aims to connect policy makers, industry, academics, and research to nurture the next generation of industry leaders. The academy will focus on thought leadership, talent development, and industry engagement to reinforce Hong Kong's position as a leading global wealth management centre.
Professor Jay Siegel emphasizes the need for a human-centric AI economy to mitigate negative externalities and ensure human fulfilment. He draws parallels with historical breakthroughs in chemistry and petroleum, highlighting the importance of factoring societal costs into technology implementation models.
Researchers have developed a Janus-style catalyst that turns seawater into two valuable products: hydrogen peroxide and active chlorine, simultaneously, with high production rates and Faradaic efficiencies. The catalyst achieves this by attracting chloride ions at the anode and repelling them at the cathode, enabling efficient electrol...
Professor Ruibang Luo has been awarded the 2026 APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education for his groundbreaking AI-powered tools in genomic analysis. His open-source tools have been downloaded over 10 million times worldwide and are being integrated into healthcare, agricultural, and medical biotechnology industries.
The Asia Global Institute at HKU has announced the 2026 cohort of AsiaGlobal Fellows, consisting of 16 mid-career professionals from 13 countries, including Bulgaria, New Zealand, Thailand, and Venezuela. The program aims to facilitate cross-cultural dialogue and address modern policy challenges through Asian perspectives.
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has achieved its highest-ever position of second place in the 2026 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects for the subject of Education. The Faculty of Education's global leadership in education is reinforced by its notable performance in other major international rankings.
Food Science of Animal Products (FSAP) has been officially included in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), expanding the journal's global reach and credibility. All articles published since 2023 will be indexed, marking a significant milestone in the field of animal-origin foods research.
Researchers develop humidity-sensitive memristor that mimics brain-like synaptic functions without physical contact, enabling artificial sensory systems to perceive environmental humidity and process information simultaneously. The device demonstrates analog resistive switching with tunable resistance states under varying humidity leve...
Researchers developed LARGE, a language model-based tool that maps antibiotic resistance genes by species, linking aging shifts to chronic disease. The study found 31 bacterial species with changing resistance genes, tied to 13 age-related chronic diseases.
Candidemia, a bloodstream infection caused by Candida species, remains a major clinical challenge. The review highlights the need for rapid diagnosis, susceptibility-guided treatment, and new therapeutic approaches. Combination therapy and emerging antifungal candidates may offer new options for selected difficult infections.
A team of researchers developed a microwave Rayleigh scattering diagnostic system to measure electron density in microscale explosive plasma. The system provides a rapid and non-intrusive approach for time-resolved diagnostics, overcoming limitations of conventional optical diagnostics and charge-probe techniques.
Researchers have developed Cr3+-doped MgNb2O6 transparent glass ceramics through co-melting and controlled crystallization, exhibiting high transmittance and thermal quenching resistance. The resulting glass-ceramics emit broadband NIR light with a full width at half maximum of 210 nm, making them promising for applications such as nig...
A new study by Australian veterinarians has exposed the challenge of identifying pain in horses with gastric ulcers. The researchers tested a potential new blood-based method but found it to be unreliable. The study highlights the need for better diagnostic methods to improve horse welfare and treatment.
Researchers have developed a defect-engineered metal-organic framework catalyst that converts glucose into lactic acid with substantially improved efficiency. The catalyst showed activity toward raw biomass feedstocks, producing a 62.8% lactic acid yield at 170°C after four hours when corn cobs were used directly as a biomass feedstock.
A new review highlights the need for stronger evidence before claiming microplastics affect aquatic offspring through maternal transfer. The study proposes an evidence classification framework to distinguish true maternal particle transfer from intergenerational and transgenerational toxicity.
A large prospective study found that a multicancer blood test identified cancer signals across 17 broad cancer types, including ovarian, lung, and breast cancers. The test correctly predicted cancer diagnoses in 60.3% of cases, with 99.64% specificity.
Researchers will analyze blood samples from the OPTI-AML clinical trial to identify biomarkers for treatment resistance. The goal is to develop new therapies for patients with resistant disease, accelerating treatment decisions based on individual patient biology.
A new plan aims to increase awareness of veterans' needs in AOD care, with a focus on improving recognition and care through accreditation processes. This approach has the potential to strengthen military cultural competency and support more responsive, culturally safe care for veterans.
A UCL-led study found that babies born to single mothers by choice have similar birth outcomes to babies of partnered mothers who had conceived naturally. Single mothers by choice were also less likely to have low birth weight or be born pre-term compared to single mothers who conceived naturally.
Dr. Sunil Sharma has been recognized for his contributions to biological research and drug discovery, with a focus on developing breakthrough immunotherapies. His work has directly impacted global healthcare by training the human immune system to target cancer cells.
A Korean research team has developed NUDGE, a foundational technology that redirects cell fate in a desired direction through a minimal, temporary intervention. The approach harnesses the gene regulatory dynamics already present within cells, allowing for a single temporary stimulus to guide a cell to a desired state. NUDGE's technolog...
Researchers found fossilized vomit pellets from plesiosaurs in river delta sediments, indicating they ate shellfish from the seafloor before vomiting. The fossils were compacted and covered in mucus, surviving the waves and tides.
A pooled data analysis of 51 prospective cohort studies found that higher ultra-processed food (UPF) intake is associated with greater risks of multiple chronic health issues, including cardiovascular events, cancer, obesity, metabolic syndrome/diabetes, and death. Consuming extra 100g of UPFs correspondsingly increases risks.
A 30-day course of benznidazole taken once a day has been shown to significantly reduce side effects and improve treatment adherence for people with chronic chagas disease. The treatment, which is less toxic and easier to follow than the current standard regimen, was found to be non-inferior to the 60-day standard regimen.
A UK clinic's data suggests non-prescribed ketamine use among under-16s starts at age 13, with attendees more likely to live in socioeconomically deprived neighbourhoods and have experience of the care system. Heavy ketamine use is rising in the UK, with 8.4% in treatment now reporting ketamine use.
A new treatment for chagas disease has been found to be safer and more practical with once-daily dosing, reducing side effects by nearly 40% and improving treatment adherence. The 30-day benznidazole regimen is as effective as the standard 60-day treatment and has the potential to increase treatment completion rates.
A nationwide study in Denmark found that cancer incidence is 12% higher among men with type 2 diabetes and 22% higher among women with type 2 diabetes compared to those without diabetes. Obesity-related cancers, such as colorectal and postmenopausal breast cancer, are particularly prevalent among people with type 2 diabetes.
The Salk Institute's $18 million Bezos Earth Fund grant will test whether deeper-rooted soybeans can store more carbon in soil and withstand drought and disease. The project aims to develop and test soybean plants with deeper, stronger roots using artificial intelligence, field trials, and soil carbon studies.
Researchers found that repeated patterns in the environment can interfere with the algorithms and artificial intelligence models that estimate the distance between a camera and an object. This can cause an obstacle to appear significantly closer or farther away than it really is, posing a safety risk for autonomous systems.
Researchers at UTMB propose the 'frustration brake failure' hypothesis, suggesting frustration may play a key role in substance use disorders alongside craving, impulsivity, and habit. The concept suggests that repeated drug use may disrupt the relationship between frustration and motivation, leading to continued drug-seeking behavior.
A systematic review of 69 academic articles found 91.3% of authors had at least one food industry tie, highlighting the need for transparency in nutrition research. The study underscores the importance of considering industry relationships when evaluating debates over ultra-processed foods.
The 2026 Global Impact Conference focused on rebuilding evidence generation for drug development in rare diseases, neurology, and pediatrics. Key findings emphasized the importance of digital health technologies, patient experience, and emerging technologies in shaping the next decade of drug development.
C-Path's Translational Therapeutics Accelerator has awarded $1.7 million across five bridge grants for research in brain health, pediatrics, and rare diseases. The grants aim to advance small molecule, protein-based, and gene therapy candidates for conditions where existing options fall short.
The PATHFINDER 2 study found that adding a blood test to standard screening increased cancer detection 6.5-fold, identifying cancers with no routine screening options. The test demonstrated a high specificity and low false-positive rate, making it a powerful complement to standard screening.
NJIT students' swarm robot power plan, known as OSEHS, aims to harness 0.01% of the Sun's raw power to power the moon's surface. The team's proposal earned a $15,000 NASA prize and now plans to turn the idea into a startup venture to help power data centers.