Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive September 2026 - Page 23


Page 23 of 54

Chronic stress may trigger hidden inflammation that damages the heart

A large-scale study found that chronic stress triggers hidden inflammation in the heart, leading to structural changes and increased risk of heart attacks and stroke. Higher levels of inflammation were associated with socioeconomic disadvantage, psychological distress, and established risk factors like smoking and excess body fat.

SourceMedical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Medical Sciences·JournalEuropean Journal of Preventive Cardiology·DateSep 18, 2026

Seeing activities in 3D neural structures at 100 Hz

A new microscopy technique captures rapid calcium dynamics across extended neuronal structures, revealing sub-threshold and suprathreshold spatiotemporal modes in neurons. The dual-view Bessel two-photon projection microscopy achieves a volumetric imaging rate of 100 Hz, surpassing conventional sequential scanning.

New strategy enables co-production of hydrogen and fresh water from seawater

Researchers have found a way to harness waste heat from water electrolysis to desalinate seawater and produce fresh water alongside hydrogen. The new STHW process couples alkaline water electrolysis with low-temperature vacuum distillation desalination, achieving high hydrogen productivity and improving electrical efficiency.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature Energy·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 17, 2026

Monolithic QBIC-MQW chip for machine vision

A novel QBIC-MQW chip for machine vision has been developed with a tunable nonlinear photoresponse and a linear photoresponse modulated by incident angle and external bias voltage. The chip enables high-efficiency optoelectronic response and low-energy consumption for real-time object tracking and optically encrypted communication.

HKUST develops optimization framework for autonomous materials experimentation platforms

Researchers from HKUST develop a hybrid-automata-inspired approach to optimize equipment configurations for materials experimentation platforms, reducing time and cost. The framework accelerates discovery, improves repeatability, and produces structured datasets, transforming materials research.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalIEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 17, 2026

Achieving rigid-flexible coupling in polyimide aerogels via biomimetic cross-scale architecture for extreme condition protection

Researchers developed a biomimetic polyimide aerogel with integrated molecular crosslinking, nanofiber interlocking, and porous scaffold support, achieving rigid-flexible coupling and extreme condition protection. The material demonstrated high thermal insulation, mechanical robustness, and impact resistance.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalNano Research·DateSep 17, 2026

Birds basking in natural ‘saunas’ – Otago research

Research found that some bird species, such as black swans and gulls, spend more time preening themselves in geothermal areas, suggesting they may be using the sulphurous steam to remove parasites. This behavior is likely an adaptation to help birds cope with disease agents that are carried around the world.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalOrnithology·TypeObservational study·DateSep 17, 2026

Cardiac rehabilitation cuts hospital admissions and heart attack risk

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation reduces hospital admissions by a third and heart attack risk by more than a quarter, with long-term benefits and cost-effectiveness. Digital programmes can be just as effective as traditional centre-based services, making rehabilitation more accessible.

SourceCochrane·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·TypeSystematic review·DateSep 17, 2026

KAIST technology behind toothbrushes and sportswear advances into high-performance graphene fiber research

Recent advances in high-performance graphene fibers based on graphene oxide liquid crystals have improved strength and thermal conductivity. Researchers at KAIST and worldwide have developed technologies to overcome limitations, leading to applications in consumer products and emerging fields.

Regular exercise has greater impact on reducing risk of type 2 diabetes in younger adults, but the highest absolute benefit in older adults, finds UK Biobank study

A UK Biobank study found that higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity are associated with a substantially lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly among younger adults. Encouraging older adults to be physically active could prevent more cases of type 2 diabetes due to their high overall risk.

SourceEuropean Association for the Study of Diabetes·JournalDiabetes Obesity and Metabolism·DateSep 17, 2026

Right dose of biochar boosts vegetable yields and nitrogen efficiency in Southern China

A two-year field study found that moderate biochar application improves soil quality, strengthens microbial activity, and helps vegetable crops make better use of nitrogen fertilizer. Biochar application rates above 20 t ha⁻¹ did not produce additional yield benefits and could disturb nutrient balance or microbial conditions.

SourceShenyang Agricultural University Collaborative Journals·JournalNitrogen Cycling·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 17, 2026

Microplastics may help antibiotic resistance travel farther through livestock waste

A new review suggests that microplastics can act as mobile carriers for antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes, creating hotspots where resistance can persist and spread. The review calls for integrated treatment methods to control microplastics, antibiotics, and resistance genes.

SourceShenyang Agricultural University Collaborative Journals·JournalAgricultural Ecology and Environment·TypeLiterature review·DateSep 17, 2026

Hot new dataset focuses on human health

The High-resolution Urban Meteorology for Impacts Dataset for Atlanta Metropolitan Region (HUMID-Atlanta) analyzes the effects of urban heat stress on human health, providing a new tool for city governments and health officials to minimize heat impacts. The dataset helps identify the mix of weather and infrastructure that leads to spik...

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalScientific Data·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 17, 2026

In hottest summer on record, 2 in 3 Americans say climate change is increasing heat-related illnesses

A survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that climate change is increasingly affecting Americans' daily lives, from electricity bills to outdoor activities and sleep. The survey also reveals that 76% of respondents report that extreme outdoor heat affected their daily activities at least sometimes in the past year.

Scientists map mysterious “blue place” of the brain and discover longest brain cell in mouse and cells used for learning

Researchers mapped the locus coeruleus (LC) neurons, discovering they transmit multiple signals through distinct routes with great precision. They found that LC neurons in the dorsal part send connections to the cerebral cortex and forebrain, while those in the ventral area communicate with the brainstem and spinal cord.

SourceAllen Institute·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 17, 2026

REM and deep sleep, not just total sleep time, associated with disease risk

A new study found that greater amounts of REM and deep sleep were associated with lower risks of dozens of diseases, while less than 5 hours of total sleep was linked to high risks of disease. The study analyzed data from 95,559 UK Biobank participants and identified significant associations between sleep patterns and incident diseases.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateSep 17, 2026

Blood test trends may help identify patients at increased risk of cancer

A study found that trends in 26 blood tests were associated with cancer risk in patients with unexplained weight loss. Researchers identified specific trends linked to lung and prostate cancers, suggesting that monitoring changes in routine blood test results could identify patients who would benefit from additional cancer testing.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateSep 17, 2026

Mt. Mantap nuclear testing triggered delayed seismicity via fault reactivation

A new study reveals that North Korea's underground nuclear tests at Mt. Mantap have triggered persistent and organized seismic activity via fault reactivation. The explosions have the potential to reactivate seismically quiet faults and produce earthquakes that may be difficult to distinguish from naturally occurring tectonic activity.

Introducing RADAR, a generalist AI tool for abdominal CT diagnosis

A new AI model called RADAR demonstrates substantial performance in abdominal CT diagnosis, outperforming existing systems across various diseases and clinical settings. The model achieves high accuracy in diverse patient cohorts, clinical settings, and imaging protocols, showcasing its potential for an expert-level generalist system i...

New process for making MXenes via vapor-phase synthesis could expand technological applications

Researchers at Drexel University have developed a new process for making MXenes via vapor-phase synthesis, which could enable their use in energy, electronic, and quantum technologies. The new method bypasses traditional chemical etching steps and uses abundant precursors, resulting in lower-cost and higher-quality MXene materials.

SourceDrexel University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 17, 2026

Glucose patterns captured by continuous glucose monitors linked to cardiometabolic risk in adults without diabetes

Researchers found that glucose patterns captured by CGM devices among adults without diabetes are related to markers of cardiometabolic risk, including hypertension and cholesterol levels. Higher average glucose and higher glucose variability were associated with increased cardiometabolic risk.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalDiabetes Care·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 17, 2026

Networks could benefit from more disorder

Researchers found that intentionally designed differences can make systems more stable, including power grids and biological networks. The study suggests that scientists and engineers could harness disorder to build more robust systems, revealing a potential explanation for the prevalence of variation in natural networks.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 17, 2026

Autism-risk mutations reveal two opposing patterns of brain gene activity

Researchers identified two opposing patterns of brain gene activity in mice carrying autism-risk mutations, which vary by sex and respond differently to experimental drugs. The patterns, which are shared across multiple analyses, suggest that many different genetic mutations converge into a limited number of molecular brain states.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 17, 2026

How compressive strain and oxygen content steer nickelate films toward high-temperature superconductivity

The study reveals that compressive strain and oxygen content drive a microscopic evolution towards superconductivity in Ruddlesden-Popper nickelates. Electronic states associated with interlayer orbitals become delocalized, long-range magnetic order loses coherence, and robust short-range magnetic correlations persist.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateSep 17, 2026