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Exploring the neural mechanisms that enable conscious experience (medicalxpress.com)

Recently, there has been convergence of thought by researchers in the fields of memory, perception, and neurology that the same neural circuitry that produces conscious memory of the past not only produces predictions of the future, but also conscious perception of the present.

2026-01-24 20:00:01 +0100
Why some messages are more convincing than others (phys.org)

What kinds of marketing messages are effective—and what makes people believe certain political slogans more than others? New research from the University of California San Diego Rady School of Management explores how people constantly evaluate whether messages are true or false and finds that a surprisingly small ingredient—whether a word has an easy opposite—can shape how confident people feel when deciding whether a message is true.

2026-01-24 19:50:02 +0100
Three-in-one process recycles spent lithium batteries, captures CO₂ and generates catalysts—all at room temperature (techxplore.com)

Scientists from China have developed a new way to recycle lithium batteries that is a triple win for the planet. It not only extracts nearly all the lithium for reuse but also traps carbon dioxide and converts the remaining metal waste into high-performance catalysts for generating green energy.

2026-01-24 19:20:02 +0100
New nanoparticle technology offers hope for hard-to-treat diseases (phys.org)

A newly published Perspective article in Nature Nanotechnology details groundbreaking nanoparticle technology to eliminate harmful, disease-causing proteins in the body. The technology marks a transformative leap in the potential to drug "undruggable" proteins, to treat diseases such as dementia and brain cancer.

2026-01-24 19:20:01 +0100
Psychiatrists hope chat logs can reveal the secrets of AI psychosis (medicalxpress.com)

"You're not crazy," the chatbot reassured the young woman. "You're at the edge of something."

2026-01-24 19:10:01 +0100
An app that uses drone footage to track plastic litter on beaches is promoting voluntary cleanup in Ireland (phys.org)

Plastic pollution is one of those problems everyone can see, yet few know how to tackle it effectively. I grew up walking the beaches around Tramore in County Waterford, Ireland, where plastic debris has always been part of the coastline, including bottles, fragments of fishing gear and food packaging.

2026-01-24 18:00:02 +0100
Cancer tumors may protect against Alzheimer's by cleaning out protein clumps (medicalxpress.com)

Cancer and Alzheimer's are two of the most common chronic diseases associated with aging. For years, doctors have known about a curious aspect of these two conditions: people who survive cancers are significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer's. While this link has been observed in the data for some time, the biological reasons for it have remained a mystery. Now, a new study published in the journal Cell has discovered a possible explanation.

2026-01-24 17:30:05 +0100
Humanity's oldest known cave art has been discovered in Sulawesi (phys.org)

When we think of the world's oldest art, Europe usually comes to mind, with famous cave paintings in France and Spain often seen as evidence this was the birthplace of symbolic human culture. But new evidence from Indonesia dramatically reshapes this picture.

2026-01-24 17:30:02 +0100
Using lab-grown lung tumors as test subjects for tailored cancer therapies (medicalxpress.com)

Lung cancer varies widely from patient to patient, and that diversity makes it hard to find effective treatments. Researchers at the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH) have developed a method to evaluate multiple therapeutic approaches on patient-derived "tumoroids"—miniature tumors grown from tissue removed during surgery at Charité.

2026-01-24 17:30:01 +0100
How to get managers to say yes to flexible work arrangements (phys.org)

In the modern workplace, flexible arrangements can be as important as salary for some. For many employees, flexibility is no longer a nice-to-have luxury. It has become a fundamental requirement for staying in the workforce, especially after COVID.

2026-01-24 17:20:01 +0100
Takeout meals serve as both reward and comfort after work, study finds (phys.org)

A unique study exploring popular ways to "self‑gift" has found that ordering a takeout meal is a preferred treat regardless of whether people have had a good or a bad day at work.

2026-01-24 17:00:03 +0100
Swarms of mini robots that 'bloom' could lead to adaptive architecture (techxplore.com)

Nature is, of course, the master engineer—been there, seen it, solved it. While we struggle to design buildings that don't overheat or feel like concrete cages, nature has been perfecting comfortable living structures for ages. Now scientists are borrowing from the natural world again; this time, to build a swarm of interconnected mini-robots that could lead to buildings with dynamic facades that respond to sunlight and the people inside.

2026-01-24 16:50:02 +0100
Rats demonstrate ability to replay episodic memories in complex experimental settings (phys.org)

In a new study Indiana University researchers observed episodic memory in rats to a degree never documented before, suggesting that rats can serve as a model for complex cognitive processes often considered exclusively human. Unlike semantic memory, which involves isolated facts, episodic memory involves replaying events in the order and context in which they occurred.

2026-01-24 16:14:53 +0100
A new three-way single step rearrangement enables precise ring editing (phys.org)

A new three-way bond-breaking and making mechanism makes the synthesis of five-membered rings easier than before.

2026-01-24 16:10:03 +0100
A year after undermining Bredt's rule, scientists make cage-shaped, double-bonded molecules that defy expectations (phys.org)

Organic chemistry is packed with rules about structure and reactivity, especially when it comes to making and breaking chemical bonds. The rules governing how these bonds, which hold atoms together in molecules, form and the shapes they give molecules are often thought to be absolute, but UCLA organic chemists are pushing the boundaries of the possible.

2026-01-24 16:10:01 +0100
DNA origami enables precise patterning of molecules on 2D semiconductors (phys.org)

Skoltech researchers and their colleagues from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, Nanjing University of China, and the National Institute for Materials Science of Japan have developed a method for depositing organic molecules on a two-dimensional semiconductor in a highly controlled manner. In this proof-of-concept study, the technique uses self-assembled DNA origami nanostructures to carry organic dye molecules in a predefined pattern covered by a 2D semiconductor.

2026-01-24 16:00:06 +0100
Why some Central Pacific El Niños die quickly while others linger for years (phys.org)

Predicting the duration of a Central Pacific El Niño event has long frustrated climate scientists and forecasters. Now, a new study reveals that Central Pacific El Niños follow two fundamentally different life cycles—and the difference is determined months before they peak.

2026-01-24 15:40:02 +0100
Using amino acids as fuels to make conductive graphene (phys.org)

Graphene has drawn attention as a scientific curiosity owing to its record conductivities, strength and thermal properties. But now, it's starting to make its way into a number of real-world applications, from batteries to concrete, sensors and material composites. Its market is already worth billions and is set to boom in the next few years.

2026-01-24 15:30:01 +0100
New strategies help slow myopia progression in children and teens (medicalxpress.com)

By 2050, an estimated 50% of the world's population will be nearsighted, and nearly a billion people will suffer from severe myopia. To understand this alarming trend, Langis Michaud is doing a thorough review of medical literature on the subject.

2026-01-24 15:00:01 +0100
Single gene found to influence gut bacteria balance and IBD susceptibility (medicalxpress.com)

Two recent studies from the University of California, Riverside, published in the same issue of Gut Microbes highlight the role of a gene called PTPN2 in protecting the gut from harmful bacteria linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

2026-01-24 14:09:29 +0100
Tailored care model reduces self-harm and depression in at-risk youth (medicalxpress.com)

A new study by UCLA and Kaiser Permanente Northwest's Center for Health Research demonstrates a health care approach matching treatment intensity to individual risk levels can significantly reduce self-harm and depression among at-risk adolescents and young adults while improving patient satisfaction with care.

2026-01-24 14:07:35 +0100
Africa no longer facing mpox emergency: regional health chief (medicalxpress.com)

Africa is no longer in the grip of a public health emergency over mpox though the viral infection "remains endemic in several settings," the head of region's disease monitoring centers said Saturday.

2026-01-24 14:06:00 +0100
Japanese version of rPATD validated to assess attitudes toward medication reductions among patients, caregivers (medicalxpress.com)

Polypharmacy—the concurrent use of multiple medications—is a global challenge, and the active participation of patients and their families in decisions about medication use is essential. In a new study, researchers at University of Tsukuba, Hokkaido University of Science, and Keio University developed and validated a Japanese version of the revised Patients' Attitudes Towards Deprescribing (rPATD). It is an internationally recognized questionnaire designed to assess attitudes toward medication reductions among patients and their caregivers.

2026-01-24 04:10:02 +0100
Q&A: The present and future of the ecosystem reflected in marine life (phys.org)

An animal ecologist researching large marine animals such as whales and dolphins, Assistant Professor Iwata Takashi of the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences has performed surveys in oceans across the world. By using a method known as "biologging," which involves attaching various recording instruments to animals in order to collect data, Iwata is working to elucidate the activity and surrounding environment of mysterious marine life.

2026-01-24 02:10:04 +0100
Q&A: Ethical, legal and social issues—what does it take for new technology to be accepted? (techxplore.com)

How do cutting-edge science and technology respond to ethical and legal issues when incorporated into society? These issues are known as ethical, legal and social issues, or "ELSI" for short, and research on these issues is being carried out both within Japan and around the world.

2026-01-24 00:10:01 +0100
Q&A: Achieving a carbon neutral society through freshwater carbon research (phys.org)

CO2 that has been absorbed and accumulated in fresh water areas like lakes and reservoirs—is receiving attention for its potential contributions to achieving a carbon neutral society. Kobe University is a hub for freshwater carbon research, with Graduate School of Engineering Professor Nakayama Keisuke, an expert in aquatic and environmental engineering, at the forefront.

2026-01-23 23:50:01 +0100
Can certain foods prevent stomach cancer? (medicalxpress.com)

Can what you eat help you avoid getting stomach cancer? "Most cases of stomach cancer happen sporadically and are purely a matter of bad luck," says Sharon Shiraga, MD, an upper-gastrointestinal surgeon with Keck Medicine of USC. While there is no magic bullet to avoid stomach cancer, your daily food choices, combined with other healthy lifestyle practices, may help lower your risk.

2026-01-23 23:00:01 +0100
Ultra-thin wireless retinal implant offers hope for safely restoring vision signals (phys.org)

An international research team led by Prof. Dr. Sedat Nizamoğlu from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Koç University has developed a next-generation, safe, and wireless stimulation technology for retinal degenerative diseases that cause vision loss.

2026-01-23 20:00:09 +0100
Hydrogen's role in generating free electrons in silicon finally explained (phys.org)

Researchers announced that they have achieved the world's first elucidation of how hydrogen produces free electrons through the interaction with certain defects in silicon. The achievement has the potential to improve how insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) are designed and manufactured, making them more efficient and reducing their power loss. It is also expected to open up possibilities for future devices using ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) materials.

2026-01-23 19:59:35 +0100
Neuronal activity reveals new clues to ALS progression (medicalxpress.com)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease with no cure and limited treatment options. One of the earliest signs of ALS is overactive brain signals known as cortical hyperexcitability. This activity appears even before motor neurons begin to degenerate and physical symptoms such as trouble walking or swallowing show up. Now, Thomas Jefferson University researchers have discovered that neurons carrying the most common genetic cause of ALS respond abnormally to cortical hyperexcitability. The findings, published in the American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, offer fresh insight into how the disease takes hold.

2026-01-23 19:57:54 +0100
Rare cranial disorders: Towards a non-invasive therapy using gene silencing delivered by nanoparticles and 3D printing (medicalxpress.com)

A "gene silencer" (technically known as small interfering RNA, or siRNA), locally delivered by nanoparticles embedded in an injectable gel produced through 3D printing, can switch off the defective gene responsible for serious rare diseases known as craniosynostoses. These conditions are characterized by malformations of the skull and are currently treatable only through highly invasive surgical procedures performed in newborns and often repeated throughout childhood.

2026-01-23 19:26:43 +0100
Software engineering: How hybrid delivery systems adapt to real-world challenges (techxplore.com)

New research into project management in software engineering shows that the most successful systems are not the ones that follow a fixed blueprint from the start, but those that evolve in response to real challenges as projects unfold.

2026-01-23 19:25:15 +0100
Advancing the realization of oral insulin using novel peptide technology (medicalxpress.com)

For more than a century, oral insulin has been considered a "dream" therapy for diabetes, hindered by enzymatic degradation in the digestive tract and the absence of a dedicated intestinal transport mechanism. Consequently, many patients must rely on daily insulin injections, which can significantly reduce their quality of life.

2026-01-23 19:19:32 +0100
GNSS-only method delivers stable positioning for autonomous vehicles in urban areas (techxplore.com)

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are vital for positioning autonomous vehicles, buses, drones, and outdoor robots. Yet its accuracy often degrades in dense urban areas due to signal blockage and reflections.

2026-01-23 19:17:17 +0100
Regenerating lost lymph nodes with bioengineered tissues (medicalxpress.com)

The rising incidence of cancer worldwide has led to an increasing number of surgeries that involve the removal of lymph nodes. Although these procedures play a major role in cancer staging and preventing the spread of malignancies, they sometimes come with severe long-term consequences.

2026-01-23 18:48:24 +0100
Shapeshifting materials could power next generation of soft robots (techxplore.com)

McGill University engineers have developed new ultra-thin materials that can be programmed to move, fold and reshape themselves, much like animated origami. They open the door to softer, safer and more adaptable robots that could be used in medical tools that gently move inside the body, wearable devices that change shape on the skin or smart packaging that reacts to its environment.

2026-01-23 18:30:47 +0100
Surgery beats medical therapy in type 2 diabetes, regardless of social deprivation: Study (medicalxpress.com)

For adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), surgery is superior to medical therapy for reducing hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and achieving weight loss, regardless of social deprivation, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

2026-01-23 18:23:29 +0100
FDA weighs allowing Zyn pouches to be marketed as lower-risk nicotine option (medicalxpress.com)

Flavored nicotine pouches called Zyn could soon be legally advertised as a lower-risk option for adults who smoke, as federal regulators take a closer look at the popular product.

2026-01-23 18:22:35 +0100
HIV resistance to lenacapavir weakens the virus's ability to replicate (medicalxpress.com)

Lenacapavir (LEN) is an antiviral medication used to treat and prevent HIV/AIDS and was first approved for individuals with drug-resistant infections in 2022. While there is still no vaccine for the virus, the twice-yearly injectable is "the next best thing," according to the World Health Organization. However, even before the drug was approved, it was known that the virus could develop resistance to it, though this was rare. But now, a new study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine has shown that this resistance comes at a cost to the virus's ability to survive and replicate.

2026-01-23 18:10:01 +0100
Stress-testing AI vision systems: Rethinking how adversarial images are generated (techxplore.com)

Deep neural networks (DNNs) have become a cornerstone of modern AI technology, driving a thriving field of research in image-related tasks. These systems have found applications in medical diagnosis, automated data processing, computer vision, and various forms of industrial automation, to name a few.

2026-01-23 18:06:58 +0100
Targeted radiation therapy can be safely combined with chemotherapy, study finds (medicalxpress.com)

A University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center study shows that a targeted form of radiation therapy can be safely delivered alongside high-dose chemotherapy and systemic therapy without requiring patients to pause their cancer treatment. The study is published in the journal Cureus.

2026-01-23 18:05:43 +0100
Prediabetes: Blood-based epigenetic markers enable more precise risk assessment (medicalxpress.com)

Prediabetes is an extremely heterogeneous metabolic disorder. Scientists from several partner institutes of the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) have now used artificial intelligence (AI) to identify epigenetic markers that indicate an elevated risk of complications. A simple blood test could be sufficient to identify individuals at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes and its complications at an early stage. The study shows how data-driven approaches and molecular medicine interact in the diagnostic process.

2026-01-23 18:05:06 +0100
Off-grid filtration technology can remove over 99% of nanoplastics smaller than 50 nm (techxplore.com)

Professor Jeong-Min Baik's research group of the SKKU School of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering has developed a reusable electrokinetic filtration platform capable of filtering more than 99% of ultrafine nanoplastic particles smaller than 50 nm even under commercial-level high-flow conditions.

2026-01-23 17:37:32 +0100
TikTok finalizes a deal to form a new American entity (techxplore.com)

TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new American entity, avoiding the looming threat of a ban in the United States that has been in discussion for years on the platform now used by more than 200 million Americans.

2026-01-23 10:08:50 +0100
Engineers invent wireless transceiver that rivals fiber-optic speed (techxplore.com)

A new transceiver invented by electrical engineers at the University of California, Irvine boosts radio frequencies into 140-gigahertz territory, unlocking data speeds that rival those of physical fiber-optic cables and laying the groundwork for a transition to 6G and FutureG data transmission protocols.

2026-01-22 22:33:26 +0100
Physicists predict significant growth for cadmium telluride photovoltaics (techxplore.com)

A solar energy generation technology once considered limited in its potential is poised for significant growth in the United States.

2026-01-22 21:46:46 +0100
Boosting consumer trust could unlock market for retired EV batteries (techxplore.com)

Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining unprecedented popularity across the globe, with their number reaching 26 million in 2022 and expected to grow eightfold by the end of the decade.

2026-01-22 21:20:31 +0100
AI is already writing almost one-third of new software code, study shows (techxplore.com)

Generative AI is reshaping software development—and fast. A new study published in Science shows that AI-assisted coding is spreading rapidly, though unevenly: in the U.S., the share of new code relying on AI rose from 5% in 2022 to 29% in early 2025, compared with just 12% in China. AI usage is highest among less experienced programmers, but productivity gains go to seasoned developers.

2026-01-22 20:00:07 +0100
Musk makes Davos debut with promise of robots for all (techxplore.com)

Elon Musk sees his humanoid robots hitting the market next year, one of several "optimistic" forecasts by the US tech mogul at his first-ever Davos appearance on Thursday.

2026-01-22 19:52:03 +0100
Solar-powered desalination system overcomes widespread salt-clogging barrier (techxplore.com)

Monash University and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay researchers have developed a solar-powered desalination prototype that can produce safe drinking water continuously, overcoming a major technical barrier that has limited many existing systems.

2026-01-22 18:42:43 +0100
Turning city traffic into a computer: Novel approach to AI could slash energy demands (techxplore.com)

What if traffic could compute? This may sound strange, but researchers at Tohoku University's WPI-AIMR have unveiled a bold new idea: using road traffic itself as a computer.

2026-01-22 18:29:32 +0100
Google offers users option to plug AI mode into their photos, email for more personalized answers (techxplore.com)

Google is leveraging its artificial intelligence technology to open a new peephole for its dominant search engine to tailor answers that draw upon people's interests, habits, travel itineraries and photo libraries.

2026-01-22 17:40:51 +0100
Top risk factors for pedestrian-vehicle crashes at Massachusetts bus stops identified (techxplore.com)

With pedestrian fatalities—particularly in public transit areas—continuing to rise across the country, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have determined the top risk factors of pedestrian-vehicle crashes at bus stops to recommend potential solutions. While their comprehensive analysis of bus stops focused on Massachusetts, the researchers are excited about the generalizability of the findings and application to other locations.

2026-01-22 17:37:30 +0100
Making blockchain fast enough for IoT networks (techxplore.com)

The vision of a fully connected world is rapidly becoming a reality through the Internet of Things (IoT)—a growing network of physical devices that collect and share data over the Internet, including everything from small sensors to autonomous vehicles and industrial equipment.