Latest Science News

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First individual-based model of basking sharks replicates complicated social and environmental drivers of behavior

A first for basking shark science, the model simulates shark movement and aggregations around the Inishowen Peninsula in Ireland from 1982 to 2018. It shows that social and environmental drivers, not food availability, drive the formation of surface aggregations.

How enzymes learn to distinguish between molecules

Researchers investigated plant enzymes' selectivity, finding that changes in the active site and other protein sites contribute to precision. The study reveals the evolutionary origin of molecular precision, shedding light on how enzymes adapt for biotechnological applications.

Angstrom-scale water channels help membranes recover lithium and purify salt

Scientists at Kobe University develop membrane that enables rapid lithium recovery and purification of salt from brines and seawater. The new membrane uses water-filled channels to selectively separate singly and multiply charged ions, overcoming the trade-off between transport efficiency and selectivity.

New cancer treatments could come from understanding diabetes

Researchers found that high blood sugar can reprogram immune cells to better control tumor growth, increasing cancer-fighting abilities. This understanding could lead to new cancer immunotherapies that mimic these changes.

End of COVID-era snap emergency food assistance linked to increased child maltreatment rates

A study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that ending COVID-era SNAP Emergency Allotments was associated with increased child maltreatment rates, including neglect and physical abuse. The study suggests that policymakers should consider the role and level of nutrition assistance available to vulnerable families.

Ancestral enzyme redesigned with fewer amino acid types reveals new catalytic possibilities

A team of scientists from Waseda University has engineered ancestral nucleoside diphosphate kinase variants with restricted amino acid repertoires to explore alternative catalytic functions. One variant, Arc1-12KR, unexpectedly converted two ADP molecules into ATP and AMP, revealing a new catalytic pathway.

The “shape” of gene expression

A team of researchers developed Species-OT, a method that compares gene expression patterns to identify shared regulatory roles across species. Analysis of gene expression during primordial germ cell-like cell induction revealed matches between mouse and human genes with similar functions. The study also found similarities among primat...

Don't sing with your mouth full – whale song could reveal when whales are feeding

Researchers found pygmy blue whales generally fed during daylight hours, leaving more time available for singing at night. Listening to differences in whale song between day and night could provide a way to monitor feeding activity across large areas of ocean.

Kyushu University and Cipher Core advance preparations for preventive healthcare pilot in Bangladesh

Kyushu University and Cipher Core have signed a joint-research agreement to advance a preventive healthcare pilot in Bangladesh. The initiative aims to prevent illness through mobile community health screening, AI-powered digital health tools, telemedicine, and lifelong electronic health records.

Saitama University researchers reveal hidden pathways behind chemical reactions that produce multiple products

Researchers at Saitama University have identified alternative reaction pathways that conventional calculations fail to detect. By applying the double-ended string method to 33 reaction systems, the team successfully identified previously overlooked reaction pathways.

Scientists use light to reveal the hidden workings of superconductors

Researchers at Rutgers University used invisible light to study tiny magnetic whirlpools in superconductors, distinguishing two groups of particles and measuring properties that couldn't be separated by conventional techniques. The study provides a new way to understand materials used in powerful magnets.

Improving AI-generated images, pixel by pixel

Researchers from URochester and NVIDIA have developed a new model, PixelDiT, that provides pixel-level control over AI image generation, improving image quality and controllability. The model allows users to zero in on specific regions of an image, fixing details such as glasses or car colors.

An enormous 'Cat's Tail' tells of cosmic collision 63 light-years away

Astronomers have captured unprecedented details of the 'Cat's Tail,' a vast cloud of dust 1,000 times the distance between Earth and sun, in visible light. The feature is thought to be the aftermath of a collision between Pluto-sized bodies and consists of micron-sized, porous dust grains.

Measles outbreak that contributed to Canada losing elimination status highlights risks from persistent immunity gaps

A large measles outbreak in Canada led to the loss of elimination status, highlighting the risks of persistent immunity gaps in under-vaccinated communities. The outbreak disproportionately affected historically low-vaccine coverage groups, with limited spillover into the broader population.

Corridor care is hiding the true scale of the NHS hospital crisis

The NHS hospital crisis is exacerbated by 'corridor care', where patients are left waiting in hospital corridors or waiting areas, highlighting the need for improved capacity and social care support. The crisis has resulted in 15,860 excess deaths and 570,957 patients waiting over 12 hours for admission.

Hastings Center Report September-October 2026

The Hastings Center Report examines the intersection of artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and ethics, focusing on concerns surrounding mental surveillance, brain pioneering, and gene therapy. The report delves into the implications of speech decoding, mental privacy, and the ethics of neurotechnology research.

Achilles injections show no meaningful benefit over sham treatment

A recent clinical trial found that high-volume injections with or without corticosteroids offered no significant benefits over sham treatment for midportion Achilles tendinopathy. While corticosteroid-containing injections provided short-term symptom relief, their long-term effects and cost-effectiveness remain uncertain. The study sug...

Experimental study on moths supports the molecular cookie cutter idea proposed for butterflies

A recent study on moths, led by Andrei Sourakov, found that adding sulfated polysaccharides can drastically alter wing patterns and shape in luna and polyphemus moths. This supports the molecular cookie cutter idea, suggesting that wings evolved independently of each other and can change rapidly through genetic adjustments.

New DOE consortium advances SI-driven battery manufacturing to strengthen US competitiveness

The Battery Manufacturing Accelerator combines expertise in Super Intelligence-driven smart manufacturing, real-time defect detection, and advanced electrode processing to reduce commercialization risks and strengthen US manufacturing leadership. The consortium aims to develop self-optimizing manufacturing systems using real-time data,...

How to keep electricity costs down amid uncertain federal policy

A new study reveals that expanding transmission infrastructure can lower electricity costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, even without federal policy support for renewables. Building more transmission lines and wind power infrastructure can save consumers billions of dollars per year.

Hidden fungal networks may help antibiotic resistance spread during manure composting

Fungi support antibiotic resistance genes and promote their survival and interactions, suggesting a novel approach to managing antibiotic resistance in agricultural waste. Reducing fungal activity increases removal of resistance genes, offering fresh insights into safer livestock waste management.

Navigating AI in transportation: New national research consortium aims to guide agencies

A new national research consortium, NAICT, is launching to help public transportation agencies use AI effectively. The consortium brings together three leading transportation research institutes and invites state and local agencies, industry, and researchers to join, starting with listening sessions and a panel workshop.

AGS releases findings from the AGS older adults vaccine initiative

The AGS Older Adults Vaccine Initiative found modest improvements in influenza and COVID-19 vaccination rates among seven health systems, despite overall national declines. The initiative demonstrated the effectiveness of tailored strategies and layered interventions in increasing vaccination rates.

Professor’s new book examines political tendencies of early Supreme Court

A new book by Rachel Shelden examines the overtly partisan activities of Supreme Court justices during the first century of American democracy. The justices, who were representative of their region, engaged in constitutional conversations outside the courtroom and actively participated in electoral politics.

Living near water-pollution sources associated with rare brain disorder

Research found a significant association between living near industrial facilities emitting water pollutants and developing progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare movement disorder. People living within three miles of such facilities were 66% more likely to develop PSP than those who did not live nearby.

Fresh as the microplastic-laden Sierra snow

Researchers measured significant amounts of microplastics in Sierra snowfall, with 270-3,200 plastic particles per square meter deposited per day. The study found polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester/PET, as well as cellulose derivatives, in the snowpack, suggesting the reach of everyday plastic use far beyond products themselves.

Researchers identify pathway that enables regulatory T cells to prevent devastating autoimmune responses to gut bacteria

Researchers identified a gene-regulatory pathway called COMPASS that enables regulatory T cells to maintain intestinal immune tolerance. Deleting this pathway led to severe inflammation and autoimmunity in mice, while introducing functional regulatory T cells reversed the disease process and prevented death.

Study refines our understanding of long COVID

A Stanford University study analyzed 14.4 billion health records and found conventional methods may overestimate long COVID's range and duration. The study suggests that a synthetic-control design can help isolate COVID's real symptoms and accurately measure their duration.

Wider surgical margins may not mean better cancer control, finds large-scale treatment trial

A new study led by UC Davis researchers finds that narrower surgical margins than previously thought can achieve cancer control in pediatric patients with non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas. The study, which evaluated 266 patients, found that close surgical margins as little as a millimeter can preserve precious healthy tissue a...

Mutated immune cells raise red flags in lupus

Lupus patients have mutated immune cells that may spark internal self-attack and tissue damage, a potential clue to the disease's driving cause. The mutated cells, called neutrophils, have unusual errors in their RNA code, leading to the production of

Coronal magnetic fields in 3D

Scientists reconstructed the Sun's hidden magnetic field in 3D using a novel method and existing observations from the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory. The breakthrough helps overcome a major bottleneck in measuring the coronal magnetic field, enabling better predictions of solar magnetic eruptions.

Optimizing AI energy consumption throughout its entire lifecycle

A $1.83M DARPA-funded project at the University of Michigan Engineering aims to reduce AI energy consumption by up to half. The team will develop high-precision energy measurement tools and a new mathematical framework,

Concordia study explores how a Montreal neighbourhood could meet more of its own food, energy and water needs

A Concordia study proposes a neighbourhood-scale framework to increase local resource self-sufficiency and reduce carbon footprint in Pointe-St-Charles. The model combines urban agriculture, solar power, rainwater harvesting, and local food-sharing networks, producing up to 30% of the neighbourhood's food demand and 14% of its building...

Schools increasingly affected by poor air quality as wildfire smoke becomes more common

A new national study reveals alarming trends in US schools and childcare centers struggling to keep indoor breathing conditions clean due to wildfire smoke. Fine particulate matter, a known health hazard, is linked to cardiovascular disease and respiratory illness, emphasizing the need for improved indoor air quality.

Heat waves and pollution increase stroke risk in older adults, study finds

A study found that heat waves and air pollution increase the risk of acute stroke in older adults in São Paulo, Brazil. Physical exercise and cardiovascular prevention are the best strategies for protecting the brain.

Mayo Clinic study finds measurable brain response within minutes of deep brain stimulation in patients with epilepsy

Researchers detected measurable changes in brain connectivity within 18 minutes of deep brain stimulation in people with drug-resistant epilepsy. The study suggests that measurable changes in brain connectivity may provide an earlier, objective signal of how the brain is responding to stimulation.

A soft robot by MIT engineers could help doctors diagnose and treat disorders of the small intestine

A new robotic enteroscope can inch through the hard-to-reach small intestine, making biopsies and drug delivery easier. The robot uses a snake-like locomotion strategy and textured coating to gain traction on the mucosal lining, allowing for automated evaluation and treatment of intestinal complications.

Why hugs become memorable

A large-scale survey of UK adults shows that nearly 70% remember hugs for their positive emotional impact. Individual differences in empathy, attachment patterns, and body perception are related to the likelihood of remembering a hug. Higher scores on empathy measures and body-perception scales are associated with more likely rememberi...

Canadian cougars have high mortality rates, with humans responsible for the majority of deaths, in 5-year radio collar monitoring study tracking 80 of the big cats in Alberta

A 5-year study in Alberta tracked 80 cougars, finding high mortality rates primarily due to human activity. The study aimed to identify biological and environmental correlates of cougar survival in west central Alberta.