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First touch, faster play: Study reveals the body and ball movements associated with quicker soccer passing

The study found that faster receive-to-pass transitions were linked to avoiding rapid foot approaches, maintaining upright body posture, and limiting ball rebound. This research provides a new biomechanical perspective on the soccer 'first touch' and may help translate coaching concepts into measurable movement characteristics.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalFootball Studies·DateSep 9, 2026

Recent progress on cobalt-based electrocatalysts for nitrate reduction to ammonia

Cobalt-based electrocatalysts have shown high efficiency in reducing nitrate to ammonia, with some achieving 100% Faradaic efficiency. Researchers have discovered alloying cobalt with other metals and engineering crystal structures can fine-tune the reaction pathway to favor ammonia production.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalEnvironmental Surfaces and Interfaces·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 31, 2026

Breaking through AlphaFold’s limits to predict how proteins change shape

Researchers have developed a novel AlphaFold-based method that introduces a repulsive force between predicted structures, allowing for the sampling of multiple conformational states. This enables the prediction of diverse protein conformations rapidly and accurately, with potential applications in drug design and protein engineering.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalJACS Au·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 31, 2026

A critical review of pharmaceutical pollutants in soil and air: Ecotoxicological impacts on animal, plant and microbial communities - health hazards and waste management

Pharmaceutical contamination in soil and air has severe ecological impacts, affecting animal, plant, and microbial communities. The review highlights the need for interdisciplinary research to understand the dynamics of pharmaceuticals in soil and their long-term implications for ecosystem health.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalEnvironmental Pollution and Management·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 31, 2026

Vertical loading or horizontal loading? Network meta-analysis settles the debate on the best training for change-of-direction speed

Vertically resisted plyometric training ranked highest among 10 training modalities for improving change-of-direction speed in trained individuals. The analysis found that this type of training optimizes reactive strength and muscle's ability to switch from eccentric to concentric contraction.

SourceJournal of Sport and Health Science·JournalJournal of Sport and Health Science·TypeMeta-analysis·DateAug 5, 2026

Ancient Egyptian princesses born 4,000 years ago were skilled archers, new study shows

Researchers studied six royal mummies from the Middle Kingdom and found evidence of strong muscle attachments and healed fractures, indicating the princesses were skilled archers. The study provides insight into the daily lives of these royal women, revealing they faced hardships despite their high status.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Environmental Archaeology·TypeObservational study·DateJul 17, 2026

Development of the ultrasensitive biosensor for detecting early-stage liver fibrosis without tissue biopsy

Researchers developed an ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor to detect early-stage liver fibrosis using only a small amount of blood, providing a non-invasive diagnosis method. The sensor achieved high sensitivity and accuracy, distinguishing between healthy individuals and patients with 95.24% sensitivity and 100% specificity.

SourceSungkyunkwan University External Affairs Division (PR team)·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·DateJul 14, 2026

How skilled soccer players outsmart defenders through coordinated motion

Researchers analyzed high-speed camera footage of skilled soccer players performing the scissors feint, revealing distinct movement characteristics that differ from less-skilled players. These include active distance regulation, strategic modulation of relative speed and efficient feint execution.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalTaiikugaku kenkyu (Japan Journal of Physical Education Health and Sport Sciences)·DateJun 11, 2026

Bringing bacteria into better focus

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers developed a light-driven method to rapidly collect microscopic targets, outperforming traditional techniques. The technique concentrates bacteria between 1000-10,000 times faster than existing approaches, paving the way for early disease detection and analysis of nanoparticles.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalCommunications Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 18, 2026

Understanding how oxygen is delivered to tissues at the microscopic level

Researchers at Kyushu University developed a new mathematical model that simulates oxygen transport by red blood cells through tiny blood vessels and their delivery to surrounding tissues. The findings show that RBCs can naturally adjust the amount of oxygen released based on local requirements.

SourceKyushu University·JournalInternational Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 28, 2026

Why dolphins swim so fast: the secrets of eddies

A team of researchers from The University of Osaka used supercomputer simulations to study how vortices generated by dolphin kicks power fast swimming. They found that large, powerful vortices created by the movement of the dolphin's tail are responsible for most of the propulsion, while smaller ones contribute little to forward motion.

SourceThe University of Osaka·JournalPhysical Review Fluids·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 27, 2026

Why the Nordic hamstring exercise protects against injury

Research shows that nine weeks of Nordic hamstring exercise training increases eccentric knee flexor strength and allows participants to control the exercise through a greater range of motion. The study found that muscle fibers can stretch to longer lengths during exercise without overstretching, reducing injury risk.

SourceJournal of Sport and Health Science·JournalJournal of Sport and Health Science·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 16, 2026

Wristband enables wearers to control a robotic hand with their own movements

Researchers at MIT have developed an ultrasound wristband that precisely tracks hand movements, allowing users to control a robotic hand or manipulate virtual objects. The device produces high-quality images of the wrist's muscles and tendons, which are then translated into specific hand positions, enabling precise movement control.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Electronics·DateMar 25, 2026

How an alga makes the most of dim light

Researchers discovered a freshwater alga that captures far-red light for photosynthesis by rearranging ordinary chlorophyll. This unique strategy allows the alga to thrive in shaded forests and murky waters, making it resilient in tough environments. The findings have practical implications for sustainable bioenergy production and may ...

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 13, 2026

World’s first AI-based optical diagnostic platform to distinguish nasal secretion from cerebrospinal fluid

A research team developed an AI-based optical diagnostic platform that can distinguish between nasal secretion and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaking within minutes. The platform achieved an exceptionally high diagnostic accuracy of 90.8% in identifying CSF leakage, overcoming the challenge of visually indistinguishable fluids.

SourceSungkyunkwan University External Affairs Division (PR team)·JournalJournal of Materials Science·DateFeb 12, 2026

Reimagining proprioception: when biology meets technology

A new theory of proprioception challenges traditional understanding by incorporating frontier bionic evidence. The proposed framework reconceptualizes proprioception as a dynamic augmentable interface, enabling functional movement and potentially improving rehabilitation outcomes in sports injuries and neurological diseases. Researcher...

SourceJournal of Sport and Health Science·JournalJournal of Sport and Health Science·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJan 22, 2026

Korea University study mimics heart mechanics in organoids using three-dimensional magnetic torque

A Korea University study successfully mimics heart mechanics in organoids using three-dimensional magnetic torque, enhancing cardiac differentiation, maturation, and vascularization. This breakthrough could improve drug safety testing by providing more accurate human-relevant models for cardiotoxicity screening.

SourceKorea University College of Medicine·JournalActa Biomaterialia·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 13, 2026

Kangaroos fix their posture to save energy at high hopping speeds

A study published in eLife reveals how kangaroos increase their hopping speeds without incurring an associated energetic cost. By adjusting their posture, kangaroos reduce tendon stress and energy storage, allowing them to maintain the same amount of net work at the ankle, regardless of speed.

SourceeLife·JournaleLife·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 19, 2025

Intelligent hydrogel microstructures enable the precise application of force to cellular systems

Scientists at Max Planck Institute develop a novel lab-on-a-chip system using intelligent hydrogel structures to simulate spatially and temporally controlled mechanical perturbations of biological polymer networks. The system applies precise pressure forces to cellular microenvironments, enabling research into biomechanical interaction...

SourceMax Planck Institute for the Science of Light·JournalLab on a Chip·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 2, 2025

Malaria parasites are full of wildly spinning iron crystals. Scientists finally know why.

Researchers find that malaria parasites use a chemical reaction powered by hydrogen peroxide decomposition to make their iron crystals spin. This motion may be crucial for the parasite's survival, helping it to eliminate excess toxic chemicals and efficiently store essential heme.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 29, 2025

South American long-necked dinosaur could easily stand on two legs

Researchers used computational engineering techniques to simulate weight and gravitational stress on sauropod femurs. They found that two South American genera, Uberabatitan and Neuquensaurus, could generally remain standing for extended periods, allowing them to feed on high branches and defend against predators. The simulations sugge...

Snake bites: How they do it

Researchers studied snake strikes using high-speed cameras, revealing distinct biting styles among viper, elapid and colubrid species. Viper fangs embed quickly, while elapids bite repeatedly, with colubrids sweeping their jaws to deliver maximum venom.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2025