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.
Researchers found that beech seedlings that were slightly taller than their immediate neighbours at the end of their first year of life had a higher chance of survival two decades later. This suggests that even small initial differences in size contribute to long-term growth and survival.
Researchers at Iowa State University have developed a biobased carbon fiber using lignin and bio-oil, reducing costs to under $5 per pound while maintaining exceptional performance properties. This innovation has the potential to transform the aerospace and transportation industries.
Researchers are investigating the processes that shape river systems and influence their health and resilience. The 'Riverscapes in Transition' theme brings together science at the intersection of water, climate, landscape, and society, examining these connections across different environments and spatial scales.
A study from Ohio State University found that green space can help prevent gun violence, but its location and quality matter. In less disadvantaged neighborhoods, visible greenery and tree canopy were linked to lower odds of firearm-related homicides.
Researchers at Auburn University used flashes of laser light to align nanoscale polar regions in a crystal, providing strong evidence that the islands were already present before they lined up. This discovery opens a path toward ultrafast optical control and could inspire future technologies.
Researchers refined the age of the oldest human footprints in North America and found that humans witnessed a complete turnover of the landscape from conifer forest to sagebrush and oak steppe. The study reveals dynamic environmental conditions, including swings in water availability and severe aridity, within a century.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute find that bamboo can be turned into fuel at a competitive cost with lower greenhouse gas emissions. The study suggests that using bamboo for fuel could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 times lower than conventional petroleum diesel fuel.
The research team engineered a bacterial biocatalyst, PsGalOx, to produce greener pharma and food ingredients. The enzyme achieved 40 to 1800 times more efficiency at processing various sugars and alcohols.
A cross-disciplinary team at the University of Pittsburgh has developed a method to improve how researchers model transition metals, which are crucial for creating new materials and catalysts. The team's approach uses a combination of coupled cluster theory and Kohn-Sham density encoding to achieve high accuracy in simulations.
The study, supported by a $3.82 million grant, aims to capture daily stress experiences and their impact on heart health. Researchers will use a new survey tool, wearable technology, and laboratory testing to better understand how everyday experiences affect the body.
A new study found that states in New England, the Midwest, and West have a higher prevalence of alcohol use disorder among women, but fewer services that address women's unique concerns and common barriers to alcohol treatment. The study highlights the need for treatment programs tailored to women's needs, as research shows that these ...
A study found that stimulation of specific brain connections, including the cingulum bundle, forceps minor, and medial uncinate fasciculus, is associated with sustained clinical improvement in patients with treatment-resistant depression. The findings support connectome-based targeting for deep brain stimulation and may help researcher...
Stem Cell Reports will be the official meeting journal for the Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting. The journal will provide complimentary ISSCR memberships for selected researchers and host a co-branded webinar in 2027.
A new study reveals how manganese-modified biochar helps beneficial fungi break down agricultural residues and accelerate the formation of valuable humic substances. The combination accelerates plant fiber decomposition and promotes the formation of more complex humic materials.
Researchers found that straw stimulates microbial activity and carbon transformation, while biochar improves soil structure and physical protection of carbon. Both straw and biochar combinations increased soil organic carbon by 19% compared to manure alone, providing two complementary carbon sequestration strategies.
New Horizon Press Limited, an independent open access academic publisher, has joined NISO as a Voting Member, enabling it to shape standards and practices for academic publishing. This membership will help New Horizon Press journals maintain metadata, article markup, and discoverability practices aligned with industry standards.
Scientists at the Université libre de Bruxelles have found that females renew their skin in a more coordinated way than males, with faster wound healing. This difference is controlled by sex hormones and could lead to personalized treatments taking into account patients' sex.
The new website features a clean, intuitive architecture and interactive elements that streamline exploration of Gladstone's transformative discoveries. The site highlights the institute's core disease and technology areas, making complex scientific concepts more inviting for patients and the scientific community.
Scientists warn of a surge in Galapagos iguana trafficking due to Super El Niño's impact on their primary food source, intertidal macroalgae. The species is already vulnerable to climate change, and confiscations have resulted in deaths and long road to recovery for surviving iguanas.
The study, published in the journal Extracellular Vesicles, found that tiny vesicles produced by neural stem cells can carry medicines to the brain and spinal cord despite the blood-brain barrier. In mice, nasal delivery delayed disease onset, improved movement, and protected motor neurons.
A new study suggests that 27% of land may already be conserved for biodiversity, but many habitats, including grasslands and shrublands, have limited protection. Conservation experts emphasize the need for effective management of these sites to achieve positive biodiversity outcomes.
A study published in Neurology found an association between epilepsy and young-onset dementia, with people with epilepsy being six times more likely to develop dementia than those without. The study suggests that people with epilepsy may benefit from earlier assessments of their cognitive risks and intensified management of risk factors.
A new study proposes frameworks for AI-safeguarding to ensure fair and effective use in social service agencies, highlighting the need for human oversight and bias reviews. The research aims to prevent AI from perpetuating existing biases and unfairly targeting marginalized groups.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation awards the 2026 Pardes Humanitarian Prize in Mental Health to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for its sustained investment in rigorous scientific research and its humanitarian impact on suicide prevention. The Prize recognizes AFSP's contributions to advancing the understanding of...
A Columbia University School of Nursing study found that 63% of patients would not endorse AI-generated medical responses without a clinician's review. Patients prefer fast AI-generated responses for logistical tasks, but wait up to 48 hours for a doctor's review on medical questions.
A global survey of 102 cities across 31 countries has revealed over 40,000 new viral species, with 77% of them having never been described before. The study sheds light on the vast biological diversity of microorganisms in urban environments, revealing complex interactions between viruses and their hosts.
A new study from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that childhood cancer survivors living in socially or environmentally vulnerable neighborhoods are more likely to develop chronic health conditions. The study identified a doubled risk of overall chronic health condition burden compared to the least vulnerable neighborhoods.
Researchers unified magnetism, resolving water ice puzzle; a new framework classifies phases and phase transitions in classical pyrochlore spin-ice models. Sharp phase boundaries give way to smooth crossovers, with exceptions for spin 3/2 magnets.
A study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that US states with legalized online sports betting saw significant increases in antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication prescriptions, as well as outpatient diagnoses of depression and anxiety.
A recent study has identified unique genetic changes in brain tumors that recur after treatment, offering new insights into resistance to therapy. The research, conducted across 10 countries, found that different types of gliomas undergo distinct genetic changes, with some associated with poorer outcomes.
Researchers have discovered a vulnerability in water and energy networks that allows hackers to target and disrupt critical infrastructure without breaking encryption. By analyzing traffic patterns, attackers can identify critical communications and selectively block them, causing operational disruptions.
Roger Portell, director of invertebrate paleontology, retired after 42 years, leaving behind an extensive collection of over 7 million specimens. He also perfected strategies for organizing and managing museum collections, making it a key resource for paleontologists worldwide.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have developed a proof-of-concept gene therapy that targets and reduces the production of cerebrospinal fluid, potentially providing a minimally invasive treatment for hydrocephalus. The therapy uses an adeno-associated virus to deliver therapeutic genetic material into a patient's cells, wit...
Researchers have discovered a previously overlooked immune cell that can recognize and kill small cell lung cancer, a form of cancer with limited treatment options. The study found that patients with higher levels of these cells lived longer, uncovering a hidden immune defense that could be exploited to attack these hard-to-treat tumours.
Researchers have found that a single dose of the licensed Ebola vaccine can induce T cell cross-reactivity against the Bundibugyo virus, a closely related but distinct virus. This cross-reactivity may provide a level of protection against severe disease, although more studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness.
Researchers at UChicago PME developed a computational framework to model the full physics of spin defects, including internal conversion, a challenging process to predict. The framework sheds light on the utility of spin defects as qubits and could help design materials for quantum technologies and energy conversion.
A study of 1,020 men and women from Chennai found that a poor-quality diet may exacerbate the genetic risk of high blood cholesterol levels in Asian Indian adults. Genetic predisposition to diabetes, stroke, and heart attack may be worsened by a diet lacking essential nutrients.
An observational study of 533 Indonesian students found that LLMs enable personalized learning, which may enhance creativity by boosting analyzing and creating abilities. The study used Bloom's taxonomy framework and peer interaction to elevate higher-order thinking skills.
Researchers analyzed Italian paintings to discover the thorny oyster's cultural and culinary importance, shedding light on its 'forgotten history'. The study combined historical texts and testimonies to uncover the oyster's significance in art, archives, and cultural knowledge.
A UK study of over 13,000 children found that those with higher childhood body fat levels were more likely to experience body dissatisfaction in adolescence. The study suggests that both boys and girls with higher BMI or fat mass index trajectories in childhood are at risk of body dissatisfaction.