Brightsurf delivers daily science news discoveries, articles, and the latest scientific breakthroughs. Your trusted source for science news today, covering nature news, science & technology, and scientific discoveries from leading research institutions worldwide.
A study from the University of East Anglia found that Covid lockdowns disrupted children's ability to self-regulate, leading to slower growth in executive functions. Reception-age children, who normally learn to socialize and navigate classroom routines, showed significant setbacks in cognitive flexibility and self-regulation skills.
Research found that pollen exposure is negatively correlated with matriculation exam scores, particularly in subjects requiring accuracy and concentration. Pollen levels above a certain threshold led to a U-shaped curve drop in exam scores.
A 15-year retrospective study found that physical assault and excessive MDMA use are primary causes of nightclub deaths in the UK. The study reveals a significant number of young women are at higher risk of dying from drug-related causes.
A large observational study found that sleeping 7 hours and 18 minutes per night may help prevent insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, weekend catch-up sleep can increase the risk of impaired glucose metabolism in those who sleep beyond this threshold every night.
Researchers analyzed over 40 years of astronomical data to find detectable changes inside the Sun during four quiet periods. The study reveals that even small differences in solar magnetic activity produce measurable changes in the Sun's internal structure.
Researchers at TUM found that urban trees significantly absorb more CO2 than cars emit in summer, making them a key climate offsetting strategy. The high-resolution analysis reveals the impact of urban vegetation on local climate, providing valuable insights into its benefits.
A new study by Cleveland Clinic and Dyania Health demonstrates the potential of large language models in accurately identifying patients who could benefit from clinical research. The AI system reviewed 1,476 patients and identified 46 as potential matches, resulting in a more diverse patient population.
A new study presents a practical and regulation-compliant design for producing biochar on farms that could dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture while permanently removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The proposed system could produce 300 tonnes of biochar annually, sequester approximately 350 tonnes of c...
A new $1.7 million NIH grant will support Carol Webb's research on the protein ARID3a and its role in lupus development and treatment. The study aims to identify genes controlled by ARID3a, understand how it disrupts the immune system, and test potential treatments.
Scientists at Scripps Research have engineered a stabilized version of the Hepatitis C virus's E1E2 glycoprotein complex, paving the way for a new nanoparticle-based vaccine candidate. The approach uses self-assembling protein nanoparticles to display the stable proteins in a manner that amplifies the immune response.
Researchers convert herbal waste into high-performance biochar materials capable of removing toxic pollutants from water and soil. The biochars possess unique advantages due to their natural composition, which includes cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and bioactive compounds.
The grant will support environmental DNA surveys, expanded deep ocean monitoring, and glacier research. Scripps researchers will use new tools to collect crucial baseline data on marine organisms and bring new insights to parts of the ocean with little coverage.
A novel engineered biochar has been developed to simultaneously immobilize arsenic and cadmium in contaminated water and agricultural soils. The sulfur-ferrihydrite-modified biochar achieves high adsorption capacities for both pollutants, transforming them into more stable residual fractions.
Researchers at George Mason University are developing an AI-enabled virtual reality training program for Crisis Response Teams to manage substance use crises. The program aims to enhance team members' expertise during a crisis response and post-crisis event, aligning with the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority's mission to address the...
Scientists have discovered the southernmost Purgatorius fossils, challenging long-standing assumptions about archaic primate habitats. The new findings suggest that these early primates originated in the north and spread southward, diversifying after the mass extinction event.
A 70-year study by the University of Vienna reveals that imbalances in soil nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium can harm mycorrhizal symbiosis between plants and fungi. This affects plant health, pest resistance, and water management, highlighting the need for sustainable agricultural practices.
Researchers developed a digital safeguard, My Music My Choice, to protect songs from generative AI cloning. The tool adds imperceptible changes to a song's waveform, making it difficult for AI models to replicate.
A University of Victoria study found that implementing strong alcohol policies, including warning labels and minimum unit pricing, could prevent hundreds of cancer diagnoses and deaths in Canada. The combination of a $2.00 minimum price and a cancer warning label showed the strongest reduction in cancer cases and deaths.
Researchers have discovered that Porphyromonas gingivalis, a keystone pathogen driving gum disease, carries an internal genetic brake controlling its aggression. By locking this brake in place, future treatments could silence the pathogen while leaving beneficial bacteria untouched.
A preliminary study found that short-term exposure to wildfire smoke was associated with a higher incidence and severity of stroke, particularly in patients with elevated ozone and particulate matter levels. The study suggests that public health interventions during wildfires are crucial for preventing strokes.
A Pennington Biomedical researcher published an editorial on the benefits of fruit intake for vascular health, citing a study on increasing fruit intake with avocados and mangos. The findings suggest that diets rich in fruits can improve nutrient status and health outcomes, aligning with the goals of the Food Is Medicine initiative.
Researchers developed a dedicated microfluidics system to overcome limitations of existing methods in multiplexed super-resolution microscopy. The new platform precisely injects and removes solutions, allowing for high-quality imaging of proteins, specialized structures, and complex interactions within cells.
A team from Hackensack Meridian Health found that during the deepest sleep, breathing patterns become independent of brain activity, unlike lighter sleep or wakefulness. This study provides new insights into how internal brain states interact with peripheral rhythms like respiration.
A new tool, HIV-seq, has been developed to profile rare HIV-infected cells from people with HIV. The tool has recovered and analyzed more HIV-infected cells and higher numbers of HIV RNA within those infected cells. The study has identified key differences in people's HIV-infected cells before versus after starting antiretroviral therapy.
A recent study mapped brain injuries in individuals with acquired aphantasia and found that all cases were connected to the fusiform imagery node. This suggests a critical role for this region in maintaining visual imagination. The findings have implications for rehabilitation strategies and understanding of cognitive function.
Dana Bledsoe, Ochsner Children's CEO, joins the Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana Board to further strengthen collaborative efforts to reach more children in need. The partnership has successfully granted 12 wishes and provided support to hundreds of patients and their families since its formal launch in April 2025.
Cornell University researchers have used electron microscopy to detect 'mouse bite' defects in semiconductors, which can sabotage their performance. The imaging method has the potential to touch every form of modern electronics and could be a crucial tool for debugging and fault-finding in computer chips.
Researchers from the University of Exeter argue that AI models are not as smart as claimed, citing a potential 'transferability crisis'. They found that generalisability is difficult to predict and benchmark metrics often overstate model performance. The study highlights the need for rapid testing in real-world applications.
Researchers at Aalto University have discovered how tiny organisms break the laws of physics to swim faster, offering new pathways for engineering and medicine. The team found that non-reciprocal motion, known as time reversal symmetry breaking, is key to efficient swimming in the mesoscale realm.
A new study reveals that plant roots selectively accelerate the degradation of large biodegradable microplastic particles in soil, but also accumulate phytotoxic byproducts near crops. The findings challenge assumptions about biodegradable plastics' harmless breakdown in agricultural soils.
Researchers found that diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) exposure significantly increases conjugative transfer frequency of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria, particularly through oxidative stress and altered cell membrane permeability. This study provides a mechanistic framework for understanding the ecological risks posed by DIBP.
A team of scientists discovered that the mannose pathway plays a crucial role in regulating cell fate decisions in low glucose environments, particularly in cancer cells. They found that reducing mannose pathway activity led to impaired N-glycan biosynthesis and activated pro-survival signals, which can contribute to cancer progression.
Tingxiang Zou's newly formed Emmy Noether group will study higher-dimensional versions of the Elekes-Szabó problem, a combinatorial problem with connections to geometry, algebra, and model theory. The research aims to explain cases where algebraic equations have an unexpectedly large solution set in finite grids.
Digital Science is partnering with HERSA to support universities across the UK in boosting research security and integrity. The collaboration will help institutions develop a Trusted Research Hub and host a dedicated community forum for export control and research security practitioners.
A new study found that certain gut bacteria, such as Rothia species, can break down peanut allergens, reducing the severity of allergic reactions. This discovery may lead to new approaches in allergy prevention and treatment.
A prolonged drought in southeastern Connecticut disrupted the balance of key nitrogen-cycling microbes in a coastal salt marsh. The study found that ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria showed significant fluctuations during dry periods, leading to decreased temporal stability.
A new study proposes a framework for connecting AI risk prediction systems with scheduling platforms to detect emerging risks and adjust project plans before delays occur. This approach aims to close the gap between early warning and actionable response, enabling more resilient project delivery.
Researchers are using satellite data to measure the Amazon River's water loss through evaporation. This study will create a first-ever basin-wide record of evaporation across the Amazon River, covering 40 years. The findings have significant implications for global environmental sustainability and addressing real-world issues.
A comprehensive multi-omics study reveals how genome evolution, specialized metabolites, and microscopic leaf structures jointly determine the quality of Xiangru, a traditional medicinal and edible herb. The study identifies key biosynthetic genes and transcription factors that regulate aroma-producing compounds and trichome formation.
The MediaTek-SUTD Joint Laboratory aims to address pressing challenges in communications, including non-terrestrial networks and AI-native radio access. With a focus on 6G commercialisation targeted for around 2030, the laboratory will close the gap between theoretical research and industrial application.
The partnership produced a single checkpoint model, LFM2-2.6B-MMAI, that achieves state-of-the-art performance across multiple drug discovery subdomains and covers the complete discovery loop, including property prediction, molecular optimization, affinity prediction, chemical reasoning, and retrosynthesis planning.
Researchers at OHSU found that sympathetic nerves support pancreatic tumor growth by communicating with cancer cells and nearby fibroblasts. The study suggests that removing these nerves may lead to smaller tumors, particularly in female mice.
A community-driven standard, Material Preparation Information File (MPIF), has been introduced to improve the reproducibility of metal–organic framework (MOF) syntheses. MPIF offers a modular format for documenting synthesis protocols and characterisation data.
A NASA-funded project is testing whether fungi can be grown into building materials for construction on the moon and Mars. Researchers are exploring in-situ resource utilization, using local materials to support exploration and long-term habitation.
A common CRISPR platform has been established for comparative analysis of multicellularity across different species of social amoebas. This technique enables gene modifications in several Dictyostelia species, ranging from ancestral to more complex groups.
A new study examines the link between globalisation and populism, finding that selective immigration and import policies can reduce populist rhetoric and electoral success. The study's authors developed a new index to measure a party's level of populism, which shows that populism grew significantly in Europe during the 2010s.
Researchers found that regulatory features of homoeologous genes become increasingly similar after polyploidization, reducing expression divergence between duplicated gene pairs. Epigenomic convergence directly contributes to transcriptional balance, while genomic structure and cis-regulatory evolution jointly buffer subgenomic conflict.
Engineered tissue grafts can take on the liver's function and help patients with liver failure. The injected cells remain viable in the body for at least two months, generating enzymes and proteins like normal hepatocytes.
A team from UCO develops a 100% recycled paving block made from mollusk shells and mining waste, replacing natural aggregates and conventional cement. The block meets mechanical, durability, and safety criteria without using single natural material, contributing to circular economy and decarbonization in the construction sector.
A Purdue University-developed contraceptive vaccine reduces fertility in feral horses, deer, swine, and other animals, overcoming limitations of existing models. The vaccine, based on a male sperm protein, induces a long-lasting immune response and infertility in female mammals, with promising results for wildlife management.
Researchers identified PpMYC2.1 as a central regulator that integrates ethylene biosynthesis, antioxidant metabolism, and cell wall remodeling to mitigate chilling injury in peaches. Exogenous MeJA treatment alleviates CI by activating this regulator, which coordinates hormone signaling and metabolic reprogramming.
Researchers at the University of Toronto found that higher ultra-processed food consumption is associated with increased anxiety, fearfulness, aggression and hyperactivity in preschoolers. Replacing ultra-processed foods with minimally processed options may support healthier development and lower behavioural difficulties.
A new study published in the Journal of Hydrometeorology reveals significant declines in snow cover across the Northern Hemisphere, with about 24% of regions showing decreases. The research also identifies seasonal shifts, with snow cover declining earlier in March and retreating at the southern edge.
University of Utah researchers have discovered a steam-enabled self-cleaning mechanism that dramatically improves sulfur tolerance in solid oxide fuel cell anodes. The addition of rhodium leads to the formation of bimetallic nanoparticles that actively resist sulfur poisoning and autonomously regenerate under steam exposure.
A recent study found that public perceptions of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) in wildlife conservation differ across EU countries. While respondents generally accepted ART as a complementary strategy to address biodiversity loss, there was variation in attitudes towards innovative approaches. The study highlighted the import...
A new study has found that a group of little brown frogs from Southeast Asia may be as many as 18 distinct species, rather than one. The research uses genetic sequencing to reveal complex evolutionary dynamics and challenges conservation efforts.
A new study successfully detected heterotopic ossification (HO) weeks before current imaging techniques, enabling early intervention and potentially transforming HO prevention and treatment. The liquid biopsy method identified a unique gene signature associated with bone formation, achieving high accuracy in predicting at-risk patients.
A new Concordia study reveals that UK household recycling rates are influenced by factors such as garbage collection frequency, education, and population density. The research found that districts with less frequent garbage collection and convenient recycling systems had higher recycling rates, with median levels of around 61%.
A randomized, double-blind clinical trial found that a natural fungal supplement, FoTv, reduced short-term vaccine side effects and helped antibodies last longer in people who had not previously been exposed to COVID-19. The study suggests that FoTv may help strengthen vaccine protection without increasing side effects.
A new study by North Carolina State University reveals that entrepreneurs with a growth mindset are more resilient when faced with venture-related setbacks. They are also more optimistic about future success, less discouraged, and more likely to put in effort to find solutions.