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Science 2026-03-13

Geographic accessibility of deceased organ donor care units

About The Study: This cohort study found that despite their reported advantages and consensus endorsement, heterogeneous adoption of donor care units (DCUs) has left a substantial proportion of deceased donors after brain death more than a 180-minute drive from a DCU. Given inefficiencies introduced by donation service area boundaries, opening additional DCUs in acute care hospitals and donor transport across these existing boundaries may be 2 potential approaches to improve system efficiency and donation outcomes.  Corresponding ...
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Technology 2026-03-13

How materials informatics aids photocatalyst design for hydrogen production

MLIP calculations successfully identify suitable dopants for a novel photocatalytic material, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. As demonstrated in their latest study, a materials informatics approach could predict which ions can be stably introduced into orthorhombic Sn3O4, a promising and recently discovered photocatalytic tin oxide. Their experiments revealed that aluminum-doped samples achieved 16 times greater hydrogen production than the undoped material, paving the way for next-generation clean energy applications. Building a sustainable hydrogen economy requires clean and efficient ways to produce hydrogen at scale. One particularly ...
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Medicine 2026-03-13

BSO recapitulates anti-obesity effects of sulfur amino acid restriction without bone loss

“Sulfur amino acid restriction (SAAR), a diet low in methionine and lacking cysteine, reduces obesity but also lowers bone mineral density (BMD) and increases marrow adipose tissue.” BUFFALO, NY — March 13, 2026 — A new research paper was published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on March 2, 2026, titled “D, L-Buthionine-(S, R)-sulfoximine recapitulates the anti-obesity effects of sulfur amino acid restriction without the associated deleterious effects on bone in male mice.” Led by Naidu B. Ommi from the Orentreich Foundation for the Advancement ...
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Medicine 2026-03-13

Chinese Neurosurgical Journal reports faster robot-assisted brain angiography

Digital subtraction angiography remains the gold standard for diagnosing cerebrovascular diseases, including intracranial aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and arterial stenosis. However, the procedure requires operators to work under fluoroscopic guidance, resulting in prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation. To address this issue, vascular interventional robotic systems have been developed to allow operators to perform procedures remotely from the radiation zone. In a study published in Volume ...
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Science 2026-03-13

New study clarifies how temperature shapes sex development in leopard gecko

In reptiles, a simple temperature change can determine whether an egg develops into a male or female. This process is formally known as temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), in which the sex of an embryo is determined by the temperature it experiences during a specific window of development known as the temperature-sensitive period. For example, in American alligators, incubation at around 30 °C typically produces females, while temperatures near 33 °C produce males, although extremely ...
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Medicine 2026-03-13

Major discovery sparks chain reactions in medicine, recyclable plastics - and more

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 ...
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Science 2026-03-13

Microbial clues uncover how wild songbirds respond to stress

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 ...
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Technology 2026-03-13

Researchers develop AI tools for early detection of intimate partner violence

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 ...
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Medicine 2026-03-13

Researchers develop AI tool to predict patients at risk of intimate partner violence

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 ...
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Environment 2026-03-13

New research outlines pathway to achieve high well-being and a safe climate without economic growth

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 ...
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Science 2026-03-13

How an alga makes the most of dim light

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 ...
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Earth Science 2026-03-13

Race against time to save Alpine ice cores recording medieval mining, fires, and volcanoes

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 ...
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Energy 2026-03-13

Inside the light: How invisible electric fields drive device luminescence

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 ...
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Medicine 2026-03-13

A folding magnetic soft sheet robot: Enabling precise targeted drug delivery via real-time reconfigurable magnetization

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 ...
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Medicine 2026-03-13

Sylvester Cancer Tip Sheet for March 2026

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 ...
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Technology 2026-03-13

New tools and techniques accelerate gallium oxide as next-generation power semiconductor

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 ...
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Science 2026-03-13

Researchers discover seven different types of tension

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 ...
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Technology 2026-03-13

Report calls for AI toy safety standards to protect young children

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 ...
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Medicine 2026-03-13

VR could reduce anxiety for people undergoing medical procedures

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 ...
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Medicine 2026-03-13

Scan that makes prostate cancer cells glow could cut need for biopsies

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 ...
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Environment 2026-03-12

Mechanochemically modified biochar creates sustainable water repellent coating and powerful oil adsorbent

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 ...
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Environment 2026-03-12

New study reveals hidden role of larger pores in biochar carbon capture

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 ...
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Science 2026-03-12

Specialist resource centres linked to stronger sense of belonging and attainment for autistic pupils – but relationships matter most

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 ...
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Medicine 2026-03-12

Marshall University, Intermed Labs announce new neurosurgical innovation to advance deep brain stimulation technology

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 ...
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Medicine 2026-03-12

Preclinical study reveals new cream may prevent or slow growth of some common skin cancers

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 ...
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