8-Apr-2026 Researchers urge stronger safeguards for health and medical science information CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy Editors of 20 medical, scientific, and health journals have published a joint editorial calling on science communicators, publishers, platforms, and policymakers to do more to safeguard the quality of health and medical science information. Journal Journal of Health Communication
8-Apr-2026 Molten salt chemistry converts consumer polymer into fuel DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a method to convert a commonly discarded hydrocarbon polymer into gasoline- and diesel-like fuels. The team has applied for a patent for the discovery, which treats polyethylene — the stuff of white cutting boards and shopping bags — with aluminum chloride-containing molten salts that serve as both solvent and catalyst. The results were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Journal Journal of the American Chemical Society Funder US Department of Energy Office of Science
8-Apr-2026 Selenium switch helps alfalfa turn greener Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science A tiny RNA signal may hold the key to making alfalfa greener, more productive, and more nutritious. Journal Horticulture Research
8-Apr-2026 How plants built a powerful gene toolkit Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science Plants rely on gene regulators to grow, flower, reproduce, and survive drought, disease, and other environmental pressures. Journal Horticulture Research
8-Apr-2026 d–p orbital hybridization in ethylene glycol oxidation reaction HEP Data Cooperation Journals The incorporation of Bi into Pt induces d–p orbital hybridization in the PtBi nanodendrites composed of ultrathin bimetallene subunits and promotes electron transfer from Bi to Pt, thereby facilitating C–C bond cleavage and accelerating the ethylene glycol oxidation reaction. Journal Advanced Powder Materials
8-Apr-2026 Novel zinc-compound iodine battery chemistry HEP Data Cooperation Journals A novel ZnC2O4·2H2O (ZCO) anode is introduced into an iodine-based battery system, complemented by a dual-functional K2C2O4 electrolyte that redefines the fundamental iodine battery chemistry. Journal Advanced Powder Materials
8-Apr-2026 Depression and pain, not chemotherapy alone, drive fatigue in middle-aged Chinese women with breast cancer HEP Data Cooperation Journals A cross-sectional study of 651 middle-aged breast cancer patients in China found that 21.2% experienced clinically relevant fatigue during chemotherapy. The main predictors were depression, pain interference, lack of medical insurance, treatment duration of 3–12 months, and later chemotherapy cycles, underscoring the need for early psychosocial and pain management support. Journal Healthcare and Rehabilitation
8-Apr-2026 New insights into pea protein effects on the human gut microbiota HEP Data Cooperation Journals A new study in Microbiome Research Reports shows that pea protein processing can influence gut microbiota composition. Dry-fractionated pea protein concentrates had broader effects than wet-extracted isolates, promoting beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium longum and Faecalibacterium duncaniae and modulating microbial community structure. These findings suggest pea protein concentrates may serve as functional ingredients to support a healthy gut. Journal Microbiome Research Reports
8-Apr-2026 Liver fibrosis and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus: an observational, cross-sectional study HEP Data Cooperation Journals This study investigates the association between liver fibrosis and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), highlighting the potential of combining non-invasive fibrosis scores with simple neurological assessments for DPN screening. Journal Metabolism and Target Organ Damage
8-Apr-2026 Anchoring safety and stability: a novel electrolyte design for next-generation lithium batteries Higher Education Press Solid-state electrolytes are widely considered the "holy grail" for safer, more energy-dense batteries, promising to replace flammable liquid electrolytes in everything from smartphones to electric vehicles. However, a major hurdle remains: achieving high ionic conductivity—the ease with which lithium ions move—while maintaining long-term stability. Journal ENGINEERING Energy
