Knowridge Science Report

TEM micrographs of TiO2 supported gold catalysts. Credit: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (2026). Researchers have improved the production of hydrogen using simulated sunlight by changing how tiny metal particles are spread across a light-sensitive material. Their laboratory study found that both the choice of metal and the way it was applied strongly affected performance. Hydrogen could help store energy and supply fuel for uses that are difficult to power directly with electricity.

A sensor used for CoughNet by Ismail's team, featuring a Raspberry Pi single-board computer. Credit: Dali Ismail. A new sensor system could help health workers estimate how many people are coughing in a shared room while keeping their identities private. Developed at Binghamton University, the prototype focuses on cough sounds rather than faces, names or conversations. That could be useful in places such as clinic waiting rooms, where several people may cough repeatedly.

Women reported pain more often than men across every body area examined in a global analysis of more than six million people. The study also found that pain did not rise steadily with age: the sharpest increases generally occurred before age 55. The findings provide a broader picture of pain than estimates based only on diagnosed conditions. People can experience substantial pain without receiving a diagnosis, particularly where healthcare access is limited.

High-dose vitamin C supplements may have potential benefits for some people with early-stage blood disorders, according to a clinical trial. However, the treatment did not slow the growth of abnormal blood cells, which was the main result researchers had hoped to see. The phase 2 EVITA trial was published online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The study involved researchers in Denmark and the United States.

Scientists in Manchester are investigating whether breast milk could help detect breast cancer during or after pregnancy. The new study is testing practical ways to collect and analyze samples, rather than offering a screening test already proven to work. Pregnancy-related breast cancer can be difficult to identify because normal breast changes may complicate examination and imaging. It is often diagnosed at a later stage, making better detection methods an important research goal.

Researchers have identified a pattern of blood proteins that changes around menopause and is associated with brain aging and dementia risk. The findings could help scientists investigate why this stage of life may be relevant to women’s long-term brain health. The work connects hormonal changes with biological signals linked to inflammation and Alzheimer’s disease. It does not establish that menopause causes dementia or provide a blood test that can predict an individual woman’s future diagnosis.

A large-scale perovskite solar submodule. Credit: Zhen Li/UNSW. Researchers have reported a new efficiency record for a larger experimental solar device made from perovskite, a promising light-absorbing material. The result helps address a key obstacle for the technology: keeping performance high as devices grow beyond tiny laboratory samples. The device converted 23.5% of incoming light energy into electricity in certified testing.

Being prescribed blood pressure medicine does not always mean that the condition is under control. An Oxford-led analysis found that half of treated participants still had readings above the study’s target. The finding comes from about 1.4 million adults in England who joined Our Future Health between 2022 and 2025. Researchers examined clinic measurements alongside information about diagnosis and medication. Their report appeared in BMJ Public Health in September 2026.

Americans eat very few beans, lentils, chickpeas and dry peas, but eating more of these foods could be linked to a lower risk of major long-term diseases. A new study suggests that one extra serving a day may make a meaningful difference. Beans, chickpeas, lentils and dry peas belong to a food group called pulses. They are naturally rich in fiber and plant protein and can be used in everything from soups and curries to salads and pasta dishes.

High cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes all contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. This condition involves fatty plaque building up in artery walls, narrowing the space available for blood to flow. The process can develop quietly for years before causing symptoms. Its importance lies in the complications: damaged or blocked arteries can reduce oxygen delivery to the heart, brain, legs and other parts of the body.