Day April 23, 2026

How enriched housing (right) influences fentanyl use, seeking, and stress-triggered relapse compared to standard housing (left). Credit: Jessica A. Higginbotham Combating the opioid crisis relies on identifying new prevention strategies for problematic fentanyl use. In a collaboration between Washington State…

Credit: Katya Wolf from Pexels Food calorie labels on menus in cafes and restaurants can be helpful for people with binge eating disorders, even aiding their recovery, finds new research from UCL and King’s College London. For the study, published…

Graphical abstract. Credit: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2026). DOI: 10.1172/jci194136 Repeated menstrual cycles may do more than trigger endometriosis. They may rewire the brain. That is the key finding from a new Washington State University study showing that recurring inflammation…

There has been no shortage of bold claims recently about artificial intelligence (AI) and jobs—from mass unemployment to over-hyped distraction. Much of this debate is speculative. Often, coming from the tech giants promoting their own products, it is self-serving. But…

Facial expressions are a fundamental aspect of human social interaction. While emojis are an extremely popular way for people to communicate, very little is known about the psychological response that they can generate. A new study might make people rethink…

Measles remains one of the most contagious infectious diseases, spread through coughing and sneezing, with even small declines in vaccination coverage leading to outbreaks. As of 2026, California has reported its highest annual measles case count in seven years. In…

New research from the University of Bath shows that graduates of elite MBA programs, particularly the so-called M7 super elite US schools, are significantly more likely to become top management team members and CEOs than those with non elite MBAs…

Credit: Ammad Rasool from Pexels Child marriage in Malawi has proven to be a persistent problem. Nearly 40% of girls are married by the age of 18 despite legal reforms. New research from the University of Kansas draws on insights…

Biomarkers of cholesterol absorption and synthesis. Credit: Journal of Internal Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1111 The way in which the body processes cholesterol affects the risk of cardiovascular diseases. LDL cholesterol is obtained from saturated fats in food and from hepatic…

Economic instability—including job loss, food insecurity, eviction and homelessness—is strongly associated with higher rates of violence among California adults, according to a new statewide survey led by the University of California San Diego. The findings come from the 2025 California…

Schematic representation of bacteria producing a plastic-degrading enzyme involved in the breakdown of a plastic polymer. Credit: Pere Puigbò Researchers have identified more than 600,000 microbial proteins capable of breaking down natural and synthetic plastics, revealing a far broader biodegradation…

Women taking antiseizure medication for epilepsy have around a 45% reduced risk of major congenital anomalies in their children—if they initiate high-dose folic acid before pregnancy. This is the finding of a large Nordic register-based study (SCAN-AED) involving Aarhus University…

Clinical trial participant Matthew Husar lived for roughly two years after starting the trial. He is seen here at the start of treatment in 2020. Credit: Madeline Husar Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers and among the hardest…

Test for resistant fungi. Credit: Radboud University Medical Center An increasing number of fungi are becoming resistant to medication, posing serious risks for patients with weakened immune systems. That is why 50 researchers from around the world, led by Radboudumc,…

A new U.S. Senate report, released by Sen. Bernie Sanders, found that drug companies involved in price deals with President Donald Trump have continued to raise prices on hundreds of meds. Some new drugs are also launching with very high…

Structural and functional characterization of HDAC3i reveals mechanisms of HDCR modulation. Credit: Science Advances (2026). DOI: 10.1126 Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) is one of the most challenging viruses for doctors to treat. Even with effective antiretroviral therapy, immune cells infected…

Whether social media connects us or leaves us feeling isolated depends on how we use it, according to new research from The University of Manchester. A major review of global evidence has found that online interactions can either reduce or…

An assistance dog at work. Credit: Suvi Satama Assistance dogs are active caregivers, according to a new study by the University of Turku and Aalto University in Finland. The study examined the collaborative interaction between humans and assistance dogs. Dogs…

An increasing number of U.S. states have passed laws that allow health care providers—including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists—to refuse to treat patients based on their personal or religious beliefs. While these conscientious objection laws have long existed for issues such…

We live in what has been called the “distraction economy”: an environment full of triggers that are engineered to demand our attention at every turn. The result is often fragmented attention, loss of focus, and sometimes even increased rumination and…

A cell dividing, which requires the DNA to replicate and be repackaged into two newly formed nuclei, resulting in two identical daughter cells. DNA is stained blue. Credit: Lothar Schermelleh/Wikimedia Commons Weill Cornell Medicine researchers have found that temporarily disabling…

Scientists who use imaging to understand the brain’s complexity often focus on the strongest signals and ignore the rest. But this strategy, researchers warn, may reveal only the tip of the iceberg. A study published in Nature Human Behavior reveals…

Bruce on a rock checking the photographer out. Credit: Alex Grabham A study reported in Current Biology shows how physical disabilities in the animal world can be overcome through behavioral innovation. The report features an endangered kea parrot in captivity…

Credit: Karola G from Pexels Cancer treatments can take a toll on a person’s body. A patient’s treatment may cause nausea, changes in appetite, taste and smell, diarrhea, or constipation, making it harder to meet their nutritional needs. Fortunately, there…

Credit: Acta Biomaterialia (2026). DOI: 10.1016 Diabetes affects more than 40 million people in the United States, according to the American Diabetes Association. For many, the chronic condition means a lifetime of pain as worsening circulation leads to nonhealing ulcers…

Khushdeep Bandesh, Ph.D.; Romy Kursawe, Ph.D.; and Efthymios Motakis, Ph.D. analyze type 2 diabetes islet data in the microscopy lab at The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in Farmington, CT. April 8, 2026. Credit: The Jackson Laboratory Dozens of unexpected…

The handling of any specimens within the newly developed device will be handled by a robotic arm such as this one. Credit: John Holt /Space Park Leicester The possibility of life on other planets is one of the biggest mysteries…

Sleep deprivation has long been known to weaken the immune system. Now UF Health Cancer Institute researchers have made a startling discovery: The gut microbiota drives changes to the immune system caused by chronic sleep loss. These changes promote cancer…

An international clinical trial led by researchers at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and University of California San Diego School of Medicine, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, has found that magnetic seizure therapy (MST) is as effective…

(A) Averaged parametric images of 18F-SynVesT-1 BPND values and (B) 18F-FDG SUVR (60–90 minutes) values overlaid on anatomical (T1) images in MNI space show group differences between behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (top) and healthy controls (middle). Credit: Alzheimer’s & Dementia…

A biology-guided artificial intelligence model applied to routine pathology slides accurately predicted outcomes and response to immunotherapy in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to a study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual…

They choose their clients, set their own rates and manage their businesses like any other entrepreneur. They are independent sex workers—women who work without pimps or agencies, often away from the streets and organized establishments. They tend to fly under…

As the risk of measles remains an ongoing concern, herd immunity in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, is already slipping. According to data obtained via The Washington Post in January 2026, 1 in 3 Allegheny County kindergartners were in a classroom too…

Tracking how blood cancers develop over time has uncovered important genetic differences between patients whose disease stays stable while others worsen. The research also reveals how genetic information can help refine diagnoses, improve how patients with cancer are monitored in…

A new study published in The Journal of Nutrition, offers new insights into a decades-old puzzle in childhood obesity. The study found that while body mass index (BMI) starts to rise in early childhood during a stage known as adiposity…

In new research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, Turkey (12–15 May) and published in The Journal of Nutrition, a 42-year-old theory as to why children’s body mass index (BMI) decreases post-infancy before then rising continuously…

Credit: cottonbro studio from Pexels New research from Swansea University has identified significant delays and diagnostic barriers affecting rheumatology patients in Wales. The study is published in the Journal of Patient Experience. Drawing on patient interviews, survey data and Freedom…

Aided by the Trump administration, debate over gender identity has gone from being a touchstone of domestic culture wars to infiltrating the work of international groups—including those designed to protect vulnerable communities. In March 2026, at the 70th session of…

Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels New research reveals that as people age, naps may be an easily trackable warning sign of underlying conditions or declining health. A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham and Rush University Medical…

Fluorescent Anabaena. Fluorescently labeled CorM filaments inside Anabaena. These represent a newly discovered cytoskeleton in multicellular cyanobacteria. Credit: Loose group | ISTA Photosynthetic bacteria helped shape planet Earth. Among them are cyanobacteria that produced the oxygen in the atmosphere and…