Latest Science News

The dehumanization effect: New PSU research examines how abusive supervision impacts employee agency and burnout

The power of photonics

The photonics technology can detect molecular signals long before symptoms emerge, enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment. The technology uses nanomaterials and photonics to interact with microRNAs and detect cancer signals.

A new RNA therapy could help the heart repair itself

A new RNA therapy has been developed to enhance the heart's own ability to protect and repair itself after a heart attack. The therapy, which involves injecting particles into the arm, significantly reduced scarring and improved heart function in lab experiments, offering a potential breakthrough for heart patients.

Indiana signs landmark education law to advance data science in schools

The new law, House Bill 1266, guides curriculum and teacher training to prepare students for a data-rich world. By integrating data science across K–12 subjects, Indiana aims to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills for future success.

New gel-based system allows bacteria to act as bioelectrical sensors

Researchers at Rice University developed a safe bioelectronic sensor using naturally occurring polymer chitosan to effectively communicate with bacteria. The system uses a hydrogel to trap bacteria near an electrode, generating a stable electronic current when exposed to target substances.

New U of A study expands pesticide risk window to before pregnancy

A new University of Arizona study found that exposure to certain pesticides before pregnancy is associated with lower Apgar scores, a measure of newborn health. The study suggests that pesticides can affect the next generation, highlighting the importance of regulating pesticide use to improve maternal and child health.

Agricultural and industrial waste transformed into advanced porous carbon for soil and water conservation

Researchers transformed waste into high-performance porous carbon materials for soil and water conservation. The study identified top-performing materials from agricultural wastes, which exhibited high surface areas and favorable pore structures, enhancing adsorption capacity and water retention.

Insilico Medicine announces inclusion in Hang Seng Index and Stock Connect program

Insilico Medicine's inclusion in the Hang Seng Index and Stock Connect program is expected to enhance stock liquidity and market attention, strengthening the company's capital market influence. The company has achieved multiple drug development milestones, including 12 IND-enabling programs and preclinical candidates ISM0676 and ISM5059.

From pioneer to leader: Alex Zhavoronkov chairs precision aging discussion and presents Luminary Award to OpenAI president at PMWC 2026

Insilico Medicine's Alex Zhavoronkov chairs precision aging discussion and presents Luminary Award to OpenAI president Greg Brockman. The company's AI-driven approaches accelerate drug discovery and advance precision medicine for aging and age-related diseases.

Bursting cancer-seeking microbubbles to deliver deadly drugs

Researchers at Duke University have developed a technique using microbubbles and ultrasound to deliver large cancer drugs into cells, causing them to self-destruct. The technology, called SonoPIN, shows promise in precisely delivering therapeutics to cancer cells with minimal off-target effects.

How far will seniors go for a doctor visit? Often much farther than expected

Researchers found that seniors are willing to travel more than an hour for routine or specialized medical care, but this willingness varies by socioeconomic status, mobility, and location. The study's findings have implications for telehealth expansion and transportation policy, suggesting that programs offering ride services, improved...

In a South Carolina swamp, researchers uncover secrets of firefly synchrony

Engineers from the University of Colorado Boulder have discovered the mathematical rules that fireflies follow to sync up their flashes in a South Carolina swamp. The team's findings could lead to new designs for robots that move in swarms and help scientists understand other examples of synchrony in biology.

Targeting two flu proteins sharply reduces airborne spread

A study in ferrets demonstrates that immunity to two proteins on the surface of the influenza virus can reduce transmission and viral evolution. Targeting both hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins can effectively curb the spread of the virus, with transmission rates dropping by half in animals with immunity to both.

A new method produces CAR-T cells to keep fighting disease longer

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have developed a new strategy to engineer immune cells that prolong their effectiveness, addressing a major limitation of current treatments. The new method generates longer-lasting immune cells that provide more sustained control of human blood cancers and suppression of HIV-infection.

Excessive smartphone use associated with symptoms of eating disorder and body dissatisfaction in young people

A systematic review found a significant association between excessive smartphone use and eating disorder symptom severity in young people, including disordered eating and food addiction. The study highlights the need for early intervention strategies to address excessive phone use in young people displaying eating disorder symptoms.

ACC/AHA issue updated guideline for managing lipids, cholesterol

The updated guideline consolidates evidence-based recommendations for managing dyslipidemias, offering a comprehensive approach to lower risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The guideline recommends earlier intervention through healthy lifestyle changes and considers the use of a new cardiovascular disease risk calculator, P...

Scientists confirm existence of molecule long believed to occur in oxidation

Researchers have confirmed the existence of a long-theorized molecule in oxidation, which has implications for atmospheric chemistry, biochemistry, and medicine. The discovery was made using a unique mass-spectrometric technique and has significant implications for understanding reaction steps and products in oxidation processes.

The ghosts we see

Researchers used afterimages to measure brain predictions of visual consequences of eye movements, finding that predictions are accurate but subject to systematic errors. The brain's efference copy helps predict visual shifts, but this prediction falls short of the actual eye movement's consequences.

‘Just-shoring’ puts justice at the center of critical minerals policy

A new framework, 'just-shoring,' aims to shift focus from competition and security to the rights and interests of local communities whose lands are most at risk. The approach prioritizes accountability and transparency, giving communities a legal right to co-govern throughout the mineral lifecycle.

American Meteorological Society and partners issue statement on public availability of scientific evidence on climate change

The American Meteorological Society and partners urge reinstatement of climate science chapter in judicial reference manual, citing concerns over public access to scientific knowledge. The statement emphasizes the overwhelming agreement among experts on climate change, its impacts, and human activities as primary drivers.

Selfish sperm hijack genetic gatekeeper to kill healthy rivals

A new study reveals that selfish chromosomes exploit the Overdrive gene to destroy rival sperm, boosting their chances of passing into the next generation. The gene acts as a quality control checkpoint during sperm development, normally eliminating abnormal sperm cells, but selfish chromosomes hijack the system to kill competitors.

Heavy water expands energy potential of carbon nanotube yarns

The study found that using heavy water in the electrolyte solution significantly increased energy output from the yarns, with up to 2.5 times higher peak electrical power and 1.8 times more energy per stretching cycle. The energy conversion efficiency reached 9.5%, higher than any other previously reported twistron harvester operating ...

2025 Update for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The 2025 update provides 5 overarching principles and 9 individual recommendations for managing rheumatoid arthritis, emphasizing patient-centered care and simplifying clinical approaches. The update prioritizes treatment targets, monitoring frequency, and the role of methotrexate, glucocorticoids, biologics, and JAK inhibitors.

Kalinin receives SEC Faculty Achievement Award

Kalinin's work is reshaping how new materials are designed, tested, and studied, enabling researchers to predict promising new materials computationally. He has developed machine learning-driven systems that can synthesize and characterize new materials at unprecedented speed.

Bright pink insect stands out to blend in, scientists say

A tropical insect has been found to change color from hot pink to green within a fortnight, resembling the young leaves of rainforest plants. This remarkable adaptation allows the insect to blend in with its surroundings, suggesting a finely tuned survival strategy.

Sulfide coating shown to increase power and life of lithium batteries

Researchers at the University of Arkansas have developed a sulfide coating that significantly increases the life, power, and safety of lithium batteries. The coating, applied to nickel-rich cathodes, protects the battery electrolyte from decomposition and stabilizes the interface, leading to improved performance and longer lifespan.

STATEMENT from The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD)

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) have agreed on diagnostic criteria for COPD, aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment. The new guidelines will help reduce the number of undiagnosed cases and promote the use of spirometry tests.

BSC study reveals that the warming of the North Atlantic contributed to intensifying the Valencia DANA storm

A new study finds that the North Atlantic's exceptional warmth played a key role in the Valencia DANA storm's intensity, with precipitation 40% lower without it. The research highlights the importance of oceanic context in extreme weather events, reinforcing the need for global climate simulations.

The fish were biting in ancient Alabama

Scientists discovered a 4-meter-long Polycotylus fossil with a huge tooth embedded in its neck vertebrae, suggesting a violent attack by an enormous bony fish called Xiphactinus. The fossil's internal structure was analyzed using CT scanning, revealing a three-dimensional model of the tooth and its attacker.

Bilingual forms improve cancer treatment understanding among people with limited English

A new study found that bilingual consent forms significantly improve cancer treatment understanding among people with limited English, with understanding rising from 35% to 60%. The study, published in Supportive Care in Cancer, examined the impact of different translation approaches on cancer treatment understanding among Bengali- and...

AMS Science Preview: Mississippi River, ocean carbon storage, gender and floods

Researchers investigated the Mississippi River's hydrological trends, ocean carbon storage, and gender dynamics in flood mortality. A study found that precipitation increases, but soil moisture decreases, while high-resolution models reveal stronger Southern Ocean carbon absorption. Additionally, data showed men are overrepresented in ...

How stress disrupts the brain’s navigational system

Researchers found that cortisol significantly worsens orientation in individuals, particularly in environments without landmarks. The brain's internal GPS system, grid cells, lose function under stress, leading to impaired navigation.

AI’s game-playing still has flaws: AlphaZero-style self-play tested on Nim

Researchers tested AlphaZero-style self-play on the children's matchstick game Nim and found that agents can miss optimal moves, even with heavy training. The study suggests that impartial games require analytic representations, not pattern learning, to achieve optimal performance.

Geographic accessibility of deceased organ donor care units

A cohort study found that 180-minute drives from a donor care unit are common, highlighting the need to improve system efficiency and donation outcomes by opening additional DCUs in acute care hospitals and expanding donor transport across existing boundaries

Recovery experiences of older adults and their caregivers after major elective noncardiac surgery

A mixed-methods cohort study found daily living impairment is linked to slower recovery in older adults post-surgery. Targeted interventions, such as preoperative education and caregiver support, can optimize recovery experiences for both patients and caregivers.

High-altitude survival gene may help reverse nerve damage

A genetic mutation found in high-altitude animals may help regenerate myelin sheath and repair nerve damage in conditions like MS and cerebral paralysis. The mutation increases production of a metabolite that promotes myelin production and maturation.

How vitamin B2 could pave the way to new cancer therapies

Researchers have discovered that vitamin B2 protects cancer cells from ferroptosis, a type of programmed cell death. By targeting vitamin B2 metabolism, cancer cells may become more susceptible to ferroptosis, paving the way for new cancer therapies.

Early intervention in severe fetal megacystis can increase survival rate and kidney function

Researchers found that treating severe fetal megacystis with a vesicoamniotic shunt in the first trimester can improve survival rates and kidney function. In the study, 75% of children were born alive and 68% survived their first year of life, with most showing normal or only slightly impaired kidney function.

The mixed Iberian, Mediterranean and North African ancestry of an individual buried in the Menga dolmen has been revealed

A medieval individual buried in the Menga dolmen in Andalusia has been found to have a mixed ancestry, with uniparental lineages typical of European populations and mitochondrial DNA shared with modern North African individuals. The study sheds light on the genetic diversity of Andalusian society during the Middle Ages.

The results are in! ECMWF’s AI Weather Quest concludes latest period

MicroEnsemble wins AI Weather Quest, demonstrating improved sub-seasonal weather forecasting accuracy. The team uses AI technologies to post-process state-of-the-art forecasts, achieving consistent performance across various weather variables.

Safer space travel — Cosmic ray simulator at GSI/FAIR

GSI/FAIR's new Galactic Cosmic Ray simulator enables researchers to better understand radiation doses and control effects in human tissue and technical components. The simulator replicates the GCR exposure in a lightly shielded habitat, providing a crucial tool for space radiation research.

The writing on the genes and the tumor’s power grid

Recent discoveries have shed light on gene expression control in tumor growth, revealing the critical role of epigenetic marks and genomic imprinting. The findings have significant implications for cancer treatment, as they suggest that disrupting the tumor's access to neural signaling may halt its growth.

FDA-approved cancer drug fedratinib reshapes how cell organelles communicate, providing new therapeutic avenues

Researchers found that fedratinib inhibits BRD4, activating a transcriptional pathway that induces ERMCS formation and causes structural changes in organelles. The study provides a potential therapeutic avenue for diseases like neurodegeneration, obesity, and cancer.

Can exercise help chemo brain? New research adds promising results

A new study suggests that exercise can improve mental sharpness and reduce cognitive decline in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Researchers found that patients who exercised while on chemotherapy maintained their daily step goals and reported improved mental clarity, while those who did not exercise experienced significant dec...

Senolytic therapy of PDAC

Researchers explored using CDK4/6 inhibitors to treat PDAC by targeting RB1, which is often inactivated by oncogenic KRAS. This approach showed promise in inducing cellular senescence, but further combination therapy is needed for therapeutic benefit.

How flexible protein regions retain their function

Researchers discovered that intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) retain function through interplay of linear motifs and chemical characteristics, not just conserved sequence blueprints. The study found that short binding motifs and overall chemical context are crucial for protein function.

Researchers break decades-old bottleneck in chemotherapy drug manufacturing

Researchers have identified and resolved molecular bottlenecks to produce doxorubicin, a vital chemotherapy agent, resulting in a 180% increase in production. This breakthrough enables cost-effective manufacturing of essential antibiotics and anti-cancer agents, promising a cleaner and more reliable supply of life-saving medicines.

Spatially decoupling active-sites strategy proposed for efficient methanol synthesis from carbon dioxide

A novel design strategy has been proposed to efficiently synthesize methanol from CO2, decoupling active sites through a strong metal-support interaction. This approach enables a significant increase in methanol yield compared to conventional catalysts.

What can dogs tell us about how robots can locate objects? Gestures may be as important as words

Researchers at Brown University develop a way for robots to use inputs from both human language and gesture to reason about object location. The approach, which incorporates insights from dog behavior, achieved an 89% success rate in finding the correct object in complex environments, outperforming other methods.

BSO recapitulates anti-obesity effects of sulfur amino acid restriction without bone loss

Researchers found that D, L-buthionine-(S, R)-sulfoximine (BSO) replicates the anti-obesity effects of sulfur amino acid restriction without causing bone loss in male mice. The study suggests BSO as a promising tool for dissecting the beneficial versus deleterious axes of sulfur amino acid biology.

Comprehensive digital materials ecosystem streamlines material design

Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a comprehensive digital materials ecosystem that integrates AI tools to streamline materials design, enabling faster and more accurate discovery of new materials. The ecosystem uses databases, AI, and scientific workflows to predict material properties and optimize design processes.

Nonlinear and asymmetric response of the Miocene ENSO to increasing CO2 forcing

The study investigates ocean-atmosphere variability under Miocene-like high-CO2 conditions to evaluate climate-model performance in warm climates. ENSO variability peaked under 3×CO2 and was damped under 4×CO2, with El Niño events exhibiting longer mean duration than La Niña events.

TCR-pMHC recognition drives T cell phagocytosis: mechanobiology unlocking new potential for cancer immunotherapy

Researchers engineer T cells to express specific TCRs, demonstrating that antigen recognition drives phagocytosis and identifying key regulatory parameters, such as antigen density. The study's findings offer mechanistic insights and translational promise for immunotherapy.

How a clonal fish avoids genetic decay

A study led by Dr. Edward Ricemeyer reveals that the Amazon molly maintains its genome through gene conversion, which helps remove harmful mutations and allows natural selection to keep working in the absence of recombination. This process empowers natural selection in a clonal fish species, maintaining overall genome integrity.

Researchers realize room-temperature two-dimensional multiferroic metal

Scientists have developed a novel 2D multiferroic metal, bilayer CrTe2, with intrinsic room-temperature multiferroicity and strong magnetoelectric coupling. The material exhibits reversible out-of-plane polarization and demonstrates 'electrical writing and magnetic reading' capabilities.

How materials informatics aids photocatalyst design for hydrogen production

A new photocatalyst design using machine learning interatomic potential calculations has successfully identified suitable dopants for a novel tin oxide material. The resulting aluminum-doped material produces 16 times more hydrogen under visible light than the undoped material, paving the way for next-generation clean energy applications.

Describe the vibe, see the look: An AI-based system projects makeup onto the user’s face

Researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo created a system that turns spoken impressions into personalized makeup colors, combining AI and projection technology. The system shows realistic makeup previews on real skin under natural light, making it easier for users to find suitable colors.

Conditions suitable for life on distant moons

Moons around free-floating planets can keep their water oceans liquid for up to 4.3 billion years due to dense hydrogen atmospheres and tidal heating. This allows for stable habitats for complex life to develop and could significantly broaden the spectrum of possible environments that could harbor life.

Penicillin–streptomycin influences macrophage mechanical properties and microenvironment mechano-sensation

Researchers found penicillin-streptomycin increases macrophage stiffness and rewires ECM mechanosensing, impairing immune function and suggesting potential off-target effects in clinical use. The study highlights the need to re-evaluate common cell culture reagents through a mechanobiological lens.

Not so pretty but plenty of likes

Researchers at Kyoto University discovered that bees favor flowers with early visitors over color, even when the latter has an initial disadvantage. This finding indicates that social information plays a crucial role in pollinator choice, and flowers that secure early visitors may gain a lasting advantage.