After years of research, international experts have confirmed the discovery of a new chemical reaction, launching new opportunities for rapid advances in a range of fields – from recycled plastics to pharmaceuticals. In a major new article in top-ranking journal Nature Chemistry, the interdisciplinary team explore how sulfur-sulfur bonds can be formed and broken rapidly and cleanly at room temperature, opening new avenues for drug development, biotech and protein science, and chemical and material science. “It is rare to discover an entirely new reaction, and even more ...

Every animal carries a microscopic community of bacteria, fungi and other microbes that play a critical role in health. These gut microbes help regulate the immune system, support digestion, and even influence how animals respond to stress. In birds, stress triggers the hormone corticosterone, which helps individuals cope with challenges. But when stress is prolonged or repeated, it can disrupt the balance of microbes in the gut, potentially affecting health in ways that aren’t immediately visible. While scientists have studied these stress–microbiome links extensively in mammals and domestic birds, little is known ...

Researchers at Mass General Brigham have developed a series of artificial intelligence (AI) tools that uses machine learning to identify individuals who may be at risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) using information from their electronic medical records (EMRs). In a study published in npj Women’s Health, the researchers report the tools could detect IPV up to four years before the individual sought care at a domestic violence treatment center. The findings highlight its potential for proactive screening and supporting healthcare providers in initiating earlier conversations about IPV with patients. "Our research offers proof of concept that AI can support clinicians ...

Embargoed for Release  Friday, March 13, 2026  6 a.m. EDT    Contact:  NIH Office of Communications      A team of researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that provides decision support to clinicians by predicting if patients are at risk of intimate partner violence (IPV). Using data routinely collected during medical visits, the team trained a machine-learning model, a type of AI, that was highly accurate in detecting IPV among patients ...

Roadmap shows how to achieve good lives for all and a safe climate by reorienting production and distribution toward well-being and ecological transformation instead of capital accumulation and elite consumption. Governments’ attempts to achieve climate goals are falling short, in large part because wealthy economies are continuing to pursue economic growth. As these economies ramp up production and consumption, they make climate mitigation more difficult to achieve. As a result, the Paris Agreement is slipping out of reach, putting nature and human societies in jeopardy.   Post-growth ...

To survive in areas where it is difficult to photosynthesize, some organisms adopt unique strategies. Osaka Metropolitan University researchers have found that a freshwater alga captures far-red light as an additional energy source by arranging ordinary chlorophyll in an extraordinary way. Far-red light lies beyond the optimal range for photosynthesis for many organisms. Yet in shaded forests and murky waters, where this light dominates, plants and algae still pull off photosynthesis, making something out of almost nothing. “Whilst certain cyanobacteria use specialized chlorophylls to absorb far-red light, many plants and algae achieve the same effect by reorganizing ordinary ...

Ice cores taken from glaciers reveal the air pollution of the past, using atmospheric particles incorporated in snow that fell on the glacier and became ice. Now, scientists have extracted a record of thousands of years’ worth of air pollution from 9.5 meters of ice at the Weißseespitze glacier, close to the border between Austria and Italy. But this ice is under threat from global warming, and scientists warn that it is now a race against time to capture critical climate information locked in these glaciers before it’s gone forever.  “These ...

Fleeting electron-hole pairs are giving scientists a new window into optimizing light-emitting devices (LEDs). Using quantum magnetic resonance, Osaka Metropolitan University researchers have discovered how shifting internal electric fields dictate whether these devices shine brightly or dimly. Light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) are simple, flexible, and low-cost thin-film devices that generate light from an electric current. Unlike conventional organic LEDs, LECs contain just a single active layer — an organic semiconductor blended with mobile ions — sandwiched between two electrodes. This structural simplicity makes them promising tools for next-generation light-emitting ...

Gastrointestinal tract diseases affect millions worldwide, and traditional drug delivery methods suffer from low targeting efficiency and potential side effects due to systemic drug distribution. Magnetic soft robots have emerged as a revolutionary solution for minimally invasive medical operations, thanks to their small size, untethered drive, and agile motion. However, existing magnetic soft robots face critical limitations in multi-angle folding, real-time reconfigurable magnetization, and adaptability to the irregular, confined gastrointestinal cavity environment, hindering their clinical application ...

MARCH 2026 TIP SHEET Colorectal Cancer Sylvester Expert Leads Prevention Efforts for High-Risk Colorectal Cancer Patients March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and an ideal time to focus on the third most common cancer in the U.S. Many people know the importance of early detection for effective treatment, but fewer are aware that the disease sometimes has a genetic cause. Daniel Sussman, M.D., leads a gastroenterology high-risk prevention clinic at Sylvester. “We help identify people who are at increased risk for cancer,” he explains, adding that the clinic facilitates genetic testing to see if there’s a heritable cause. Either way, the clinic then ...

Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan, in collaboration with university spinout NU-Rei Co., Ltd., are presenting six advances in the growth of gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃), a semiconductor material with strong potential for next-generation power devices used in electric vehicles, power conversion systems, and space applications. Gallium oxide is attracting growing interest in the power semiconductor industry because it can in principle produce higher voltage devices with relatively abundant, lower-cost raw materials. The results are being presented at the spring meeting of the Japan Society of Applied Physics (March 15-18, 2026) by a research group ...

Hyperarousal plays an important role in mental disorders. It influences the severity of insomnia, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and ADHD. Yet it is striking that researchers do not always mean exactly the same thing when they use the term “hyperarousal.” Researchers at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience therefore investigated whether different forms of hyperarousal exist. “Within sleep research, we already know a great deal about the role of hyperarousal in insomnia,” says first author Tom Bresser. “But hyperarousal ...

AI-powered toys that “talk” with young children should be more tightly regulated and carry new safety kitemarks, according to a report that warns they are not always developed with children’s psychological safety in mind. The recommendation appears in the initial report from AI in the Early Years: a University of Cambridge project and the first systematic study of how Generative AI (GenAI) toys capable of human-like conversation may influence development in the critical years up ...

Using virtual reality (VR) to explain what to expect ahead of a medical procedure could help patients better understand their treatment and reduce anxiety, a new study suggests. The research is presented today [Friday 13 March 2026] at the European Association of Urology Congress in London (EAU26). Patients often receive a leaflet of key information before consenting to undergo treatment. This includes what will happen, risks and benefits, which they can then discuss further with their clinician. However, information leaflets often contain jargon and are ...

An imaging test could safely halve the number of people who need a biopsy for suspected prostate cancer following inconclusive or reassuring results from an MRI scan, new research has found. Findings from the PRIMARY2 trial are presented today [Friday 13 March 2026] at the European Association of Urology Congress in London (EAU26). The PSMA PET/CT scan identifies more aggressive prostate cancer cells, which are potentially harmful and may need treatment. It does this with a molecule that binds to prostate cancer ...

Researchers have developed a new eco friendly method to transform biochar into a highly hydrophobic material that can repel water and absorb large amounts of oil. The innovation could help advance sustainable materials for environmental cleanup and green coatings. The study, published in the journal Biochar, introduces a solvent free mechanochemical process that functionalizes biochar using octadecylamine. The resulting material can be applied as a coating on natural hemp fibers, giving them strong water repellent properties while allowing them to absorb oil efficiently. Biochar ...

Biochar is widely studied as a low cost material that can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Scientists have long believed that only the smallest pores in biochar play the main role in capturing carbon dioxide molecules. A new study now challenges this assumption by showing that larger pores may contribute more actively to carbon capture than previously thought. The research, published in the journal Biochar, examines how different pore structures in biochar affect its ability to capture carbon dioxide. The study combines theoretical modeling with experimental measurements to analyze the behavior ...

Specialist resource centres (a form of ‘Inclusion Base’) within mainstream secondary schools may be linked to stronger academic progress, improved attendance, and a greater sense of belonging for autistic pupils, according to a new three-year study from the University of Surrey.  However, the research suggests that placement alone does not determine wellbeing. Instead, pupils’ perceptions of teacher and peer support were the strongest and most consistent predictors of positive ...

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University and Marshall Health Network, in collaboration with Intermed Labs (IL), has launched a new medical technology development initiative focused on improving the precision and safety of deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedures. The project, currently operating under the working name DBS Lead Lock, is in prototype development and represents a joint investment in clinician-driven innovation. The concept for the device was developed by Heather Pinckard-Dover, M.D., a neurosurgeon at Marshall Health Network ...

PHILADELPHIA – A topical cream activated the skin’s immune defenses and suppressed tumor growth in two preclinical models of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), one of the most common cancers in the world, according to a study published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Developed by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the cream works by blocking LSD1, an enzyme that suppresses immune‑activating pathways in the skin. “What’s ...

The Stanley Family Foundation has renewed its commitment to psychiatric research at the Broad Institute, bringing its total investment to more than $1 billion. This funding, including their newest commitment of $280 million to the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, is opening up new paths to urgently needed therapies for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.  For decades, scientists have struggled to understand the biological causes of psychiatric disorders as patients continue to face both stigma ...

Thursday, March 12, 2026, CLEVELAND: As the use of injectable GLP-1 drugs continues to rise, questions persist about what happens after patients stop taking them in real-world settings. A new Cleveland Clinic analysis of nearly 8,000 patients suggests that discontinuing semaglutide and tirzepatide, on average, does not lead to significant weight regain in clinical practice, as many patients later restart the original medication or try an alternative obesity treatment. In one of the largest real-world studies to date ...

The American Meteorological Society, the United States professional society for weather, water, and climate, has submitted an official response to the National Science Foundation’s Dear Colleague Letter requesting information and feedback about restructuring science and observing facilities associated with the National Center for Atmospheric Research, which the Trump Administration has proposed to “dismantle.” The comment deadline is 13 March. The response outlines numerous ways that NCAR plays a central role in atmospheric and related sciences across the U.S. ...

Thanks to upstream diversions and climate change, Utah’s Great Salt Lake has shrunk by 70% since 1989, exposing about 800 square miles of playa and mudflats—along with numerous curiosities. While a potential environmental catastrophe, the lake’s dewatering presents numerous research opportunities for University of Utah geoscientists, including several who are looking to characterize the extent, characteristics, chemistry and flow of a mysterious, mostly freshwater aquifer under the playa. In a pair of studies coming out this year, a team led by geophysicist Mike Thorne deployed electrical resistivity tomography, or ERT, lines in 30 locations ...

Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and hospitalization among older adults, placing significant strain on individuals, families and the health-care system. And new research by UBC Okanagan’s Dr. Jennifer Davis shows that money spent to prevent additional falls and avoid significant injuries among older adults at high risk of future falls yields a strong return on the dollar. Dr. Davis is a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Applied Health Economics and an associate professor in UBCO’s Faculty of ...