Science
press releases.

Science3 Feb 2026

Human vaginal microbiome is shaped by competition for resources

The vaginal microbiota is shaped by bacterial access to specific nutritional resources, influencing health outcomes. This study uses a resource-based model supported by clinical data to identify key ecological mechanisms underlying microbiota composition and potential bacterial vaginosis interventions. In your coverage, please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper in PLOS Biology: https://plos.io/4qaZ2kt Article title: Resource landscape shapes the composition and stability of the human vaginal microbiota Author countries: France, United States Funding: Research reported in this publication was supported by the Fondation pour ...

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Science3 Feb 2026

A hearing test for the world’s rarest sea turtle

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2026 — Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are among the most endangered species of sea turtles in the world. They reside along the east and Gulf coasts of North America, alongside some of the world’s most active shipping lanes. While the threats from fishing, pollution, and vessel collisions are well understood, it is less clear how disruptive human-caused noise is to their survival. In JASA, published on behalf of the Acoustical Society of America by AIP Publishing, researchers from Duke University Marine Laboratory, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and North Carolina State University evaluated ...

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Science3 Feb 2026

Shared purpose outperforms specialization, new study shows

A new study published in the Strategic Management Journal challenges long-standing assumptions about managerial specialization by examining when organizations perform better by having leaders collectively pursue multiple objectives rather than dividing responsibilities among them. Addressing the growing complexity of modern organizations—where financial, social, environmental, and technological goals increasingly coexist—the research introduces what the authors call the “common purpose advantage.” Drawing on a computational model of multi-manager firms, the study compares performance under two approaches: “objective ...

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Science3 Feb 2026

Shrinking shellfish? FAU study uncovers acidic water risks in Indian River lagoon

Florida’s Indian River Lagoon (IRL), one of the state’s most ecologically productive estuaries, is facing a growing but invisible threat that could reshape its marine ecosystems. Over the past decade, the lagoon has suffered severe degradation caused by nutrient pollution, excessive freshwater runoff, harmful algal blooms (HABs), and declining water quality. These changes have led to the loss of tens of thousands of acres of seagrass and have negatively impacted shellfish, fish, dolphins, manatees and other key species. A new study from Florida Atlantic University’s ...

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Science3 Feb 2026

CT scans unwrap secrets of ancient Egyptian life

Photos and b-roll package available for download here. LOS ANGELES — Keck Medicine of USC radiologists use computed tomography (CT) scanners to diagnose and treat patients’ diseases and injuries. Recently, however, this advanced technology was put to a far more novel use: examining the bodies of two ancient Egyptian mummies. Radiologists conducted full-body CT scans of two Egyptian priests, Nes-Min, circa 330 BCE, and Nes-Hor, circa 190 BCE, whose bodies had been preserved for more than 2,200 years. The ...

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Science3 Feb 2026

From leadership to influencers: New ASU study shows why we choose to follow others

For a long time, most scientists believed that early human hunter-gatherer societies were mostly equal, with little hierarchy or leadership, and that strong inequalities only emerged later with farming and complex societies. However, new research out of Arizona State University is challenging this. Archaeological finds, ethnographic studies and now psychological research suggest that inequality in influence — who people listen to, copy, and follow — may have been part of human societies deep into our evolutionary past. “At some point in our past, humans became reliant on culture,” ...

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Science3 Feb 2026

Are cats ‘vegan’ meat eaters? Study finds why isotopic fingerprint of cat fur could trick us into thinking that way

Cats – unlike humans – are true carnivores: they must eat meat to survive because their bodies can’t draw some essential nutrients from plants. By looking at tissues, researchers can get a good understanding of what foods animals ate. Now, researchers at the Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science at the University of Vienna measured nitrogen and its stable isotopes 15N and 14N in the fur and whiskers of domestic cats as well as in cat food available in supermarkets. They then compared nitrogen isotope values to those found in the hair of humans ...

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Science3 Feb 2026

Landmark study to explore whether noise levels in nurseries affect babies’ language development

Nearly two million children in the UK are affected by early language delays. New research will examine whether noise in nurseries is a hidden factor. An estimated 1.9 million children across the UK are affected by early language delays, with rates doubling among children from disadvantaged backgrounds. A major new research project led by The Institute for the Science of Early Years (ISEY) at the University of East London supported by the Nuffield Foundation, will explore how background noise in nurseries affects early language development. The study ...

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Science2 Feb 2026

Banning lead in gas worked. The proof is in our hair

Prior to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, Americans lived in communities awash with lead from industrial sources, paint, water supply pipes and, most significantly, tailpipe emissions. A dangerous neurotoxin that accumulates in human tissues and is linked to developmental deficits in children, environmental lead levels have come way down in the years since, and so have human exposures. The proof is in your hair. An analysis of hair samples conducted by University of Utah scientists show precipitous reductions in lead levels since 1916. “We were able to show through our hair samples what the lead concentrations ...

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Science2 Feb 2026

Night owl or early bird? Study finds sleep categories aren’t that simple

The familiar labels “night owl” and “early bird,” long used in sleep research, don’t fully capture the diversity of human internal clocks, a new study has found. The McGill University-led study published in Nature Communications found the two sleep-wake patterns, called chronotypes, contain a total of five distinct biological subtypes, each associated with different patterns of behaviour and health. A chronotype is based on the parts of a 24-hour period when a person naturally feels most alert or ready to sleep. Previous research has linked late chronotypes to worse health outcomes, but results have often been inconsistent. ...

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Science2 Feb 2026

Eduardo Miranda awarded 2026 Bruce Bolt Medal

The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), the Consortium of Organizations for Strong Motion Observation Systems (COSMOS) and SSA are pleased to announce that Eduardo Miranda of Stanford University is the recipient of the 2026 Bruce Bolt Medal. Miranda was recognized for his contributions in developing new ground motion models and intensity measures, refining damping modification factors, and improving methods for assessing seismic demands on structures and nonstructural components. His work has shaped seismic design provisions, and he has emphasized the use of strong-motion ...

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Science2 Feb 2026

How experiences in the womb affect alcohol drinking in adulthood

New in JNeurosci, Mary Schneider and Alexander Converse, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, led an interdisciplinary study to explore how prenatal alcohol and stress exposure affect rhesus monkey offspring in adulthood. Pregnant rhesus monkeys either drank moderate amounts of alcohol, experienced mild stress, or both. The researchers later assessed changes to the brain’s dopamine system and alcohol drinking in adult offspring. Prenatal stress and alcohol influenced the dopamine ...

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Science2 Feb 2026

Aging researchers find new puzzle piece in the game of longevity

The idea Improvements in public health have allowed humankind to survive to older ages than ever before, but, for many people, these added golden years are not spent in good health. Aging is a natural part of life, but it is associated with a greatly increased incidence of most chronic diseases, including various cancers, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. The laboratory of Kris Burkewitz, assistant professor of cell and developmental biology, wants to figure out if there is a way to break the links between the aging process and disease so that we can stay healthy longer, allowing ...

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Science2 Feb 2026

Opportunistic salpingectomy for prevention of tubo-ovarian carcinoma

About The Study: Existing evidence demonstrates that opportunistic salpingectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes during unrelated pelvic or abdominal surgery) is significantly associated with a lower risk of developing tubo-ovarian carcinoma. Clinicians should include this prevention intervention in preoperative counseling of eligible women. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Maria Kyrgiou, MD, PhD, email m.kyrgiou@imperial.ac.uk. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jama.2025.24510) Editor’s Note: Please ...

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Science2 Feb 2026

Targeting the “good” arm after stroke leads to better motor skills

HERSHEY, Pa. — Traditional stroke rehabilitation therapy focuses on restoring strength and movement to the more impaired side of the body, but a new randomized clinical trial has revealed that targeted therapy for the less impaired arm significantly improved movement and control for stroke survivors. The trial, led by researchers from Penn State and the University of Southern California (USC), compared the new approach to the standard best-practice therapy currently in use. The team said the findings, published today (Feb. 2) in JAMA Neurology, ...

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Science2 Feb 2026

Pink noise reduces REM sleep and may harm sleep quality

Pink noise reduces REM sleep and may harm sleep quality Earplugs were found more effective than pink noise for protecting sleep quality PHILADELPHIA—Pink noise—often used to promote sleep—may reduce restorative REM sleep and interfere with sleep recovery. In contrast, earplugs were found to be significantly more effective in protecting sleep against traffic noise, according to new study published in the journal Sleep from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. The findings challenge ...

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Science2 Feb 2026

Dynamic tuning of Bloch modes in anisotropic phonon polaritonic crystals

Polaritons—hybrid light-matter particles—allow light to be squeezed into deep subwavelength scales, holding great promise for ultra-compact photonic devices. By structuring materials into periodic crystals, known as polaritonic crystals (PoCs), researchers can engineer exotic optical modes called Bloch modes for enhanced light control. However, once fabricated, these crystals and their Bloch modes are fixed, lacking the dynamic tunability required for adaptive optical devices. While graphene supports highly tunable plasmon polaritons, their performance is limited by substantial optical ...

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Science2 Feb 2026

Dr. Ben Thacker named SwRI chief operating officer

SAN ANTONIO — February 2, 2026 — Southwest Research Institute’s (SwRI) Board of Directors has named Dr. Ben Thacker, P.E., chief operating officer (COO). Thacker previously served as the vice president of SwRI’s Mechanical Engineering Division. In his new role, he directs the operations of the Institute’s technical divisions and administers SwRI’s internal research program in addition to other resources and programs. Thacker also joins the Institute’s executive team, which includes President and CEO Adam Hamilton, P.E., Vice President - Finance and CFO Beth Rafferty and ...

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Science2 Feb 2026

How a fridge could unlock modern dairy cattle breeding in the developing world

A Hiroshima University-led project has secured a $1.8 million grant from the Gates Foundation to develop a way to store bull semen using simple refrigeration instead of costly liquid nitrogen, a shift that could remove a major barrier to modern dairy cattle breeding that has long excluded farmers in low-resource regions. If successful, the technology is expected to deliver far-reaching benefits on food security and livelihoods in local communities. The project, headed by Professor Masayuki Shimada of Hiroshima University’s Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, received the grant in October 2025, marking the second time his laboratory has secured ...

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Science2 Feb 2026

CHEST® Critical Care added to Web of Science Emerging Sources Citation Index

Glenview, Illinois – The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) announced that CHEST® Critical Care was accepted for inclusion in the Web of Science Core Collection through the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI). Indexing in Web of Science marks an important milestone for the journal and further strengthens its visibility and discoverability for clinicians, researchers, and health care teams worldwide. With this indexation, CHEST Critical Care will receive its first Impact Factor for 2025 in mid-2026. The Web of ...

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Science2 Feb 2026

Scientists unravel vines’ parasitic nature

Twisting upwardly on trees and other plants—along with houses and even lampposts—vines are a wonder of nature. However, their marvels mask their parasitic behavior: in attaching to other life forms, vines block sunlight necessary for growth and strangle their hosts, preventing the flow of water and other nutrients. While these threats were widely known, less clear is what gives vines their searching, attaching, and climbing capabilities. An international team of scientists has now unlocked a formula that enables vines to search for ...

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Science2 Feb 2026

One-third of young people are violent toward their parents

Physical aggression by young people toward their parents occurs quite frequently – yet the subject remains taboo. Victims often struggle with shame and avoid seeking help, hoping to shield their children from repercussions. Now, in a first-of-its-kind longitudinal study, researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) have tracked the development of this behavior from early adolescence to young adulthood, identifying which factors increase or reduce the risk. The research draws on the Zurich Project on Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood (z-proso), directed by Manuel Eisner, Denis Ribeaud and Lilly Shanahan at UZH’s Jacobs Center ...

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Science2 Feb 2026

New discovery sheds light on evolutionary crossroads of vertebrates

UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 01:00AM (GMT) MONDAY 2ND FEB 2026 New research from the University of St Andrews has discovered a crucial piece in the puzzle of how all animals with a spine - including all mammals, fish, reptiles and amphibians - evolved. In a paper published today (2nd February) in BMC Biology, researchers found an intriguing pattern of gene evolution which appears to be significant for the evolutionary origin and diversification of vertebrates. All animals have major ...

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Science31 Jan 2026

Late-breaking study finds comparable long-term survival between two leading multi-arterial CABG strategies

Late-Breaking Study Finds Comparable Long-Term Survival Between Two Leading Multi-Arterial CABG Strategies Largest US analysis leveraging the STS National Database shows patient age may guide optimal conduit selection NEW ORLEANS — January 31, 2026 — A late-breaking study drawing on more than 15 years of national outcomes data from the STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (ACSD) suggests that the two most commonly used multi-arterial coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) strategies—bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) and single internal thoracic artery plus radial artery (SITA+RA)—offer comparable ...

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Science31 Jan 2026

A 100-fold leap into the unknown: a new search for muonium conversion into antimuonium

Exploring Lepton Flavor Violation Led by researchers from Sun Yat-sen University, the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and multiple collaborating institutions across China, MACE is designed to search for the spontaneous conversion of muonium—a bound state of a positive muon and an electron—into its antimatter counterpart, antimuonium. Such a transition would violate lepton flavor conservation, a symmetry upheld by the Standard Model of particle physics, ...

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