Knowridge Science Report

Since ChatGPT’s introduction in the fall of 2022, educators have been trying their best to navigate artificial intelligence’s explosion into the classroom. On one hand, AI proponents say, when used appropriately, the technology has the capacity to transform education for the better, enabling students to learn subjects more quickly and take in new educational experiences.

A model of the earliest bird, Archaeopteryx. Credit: Karen Fawcett. For more than a century, scientists have wondered how Archaeopteryx, one of the earliest known birds, managed to get off the ground. A new study suggests the answer may have been surprisingly simple: it jumped several times using its powerful legs while its wings helped it build enough speed to fly.

For more than half a century, astronomers have relied on a basic assumption when estimating the number of stars inside distant galaxies: stars of different sizes form in roughly the same proportions everywhere in the universe. New research suggests that assumption may not always be correct. Scientists at the University of Missouri have found evidence that the proportion of large and small stars can vary depending on the environment where the stars formed.

Shopping for groceries at dollar stores may help families stretch their budgets, but new research suggests that relying on these stores for food could come with a hidden health cost. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside found that greater access to dollar stores was associated with higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. In contrast, communities with better access to traditional grocery stores tended to have healthier outcomes.

Why the "rainbow" comparison? Like a rainbow, a microcomb is made up of many different frequencies of light. In a rainbow, these frequencies blend together. In a microcomb, the frequencies are separated and precisely spaced—like the teeth of a comb. The light produced by the microcomb in this study is invisible to the human eye. Illustration generated using artificial intelligence. Credit: Loughborough University.

A new Canadian study suggests that eating full-fat dairy every day may not have the harmful effects many people expect. Researchers found that three servings a day did not lead to worse body weight, body fat, cholesterol, or blood sugar control over 12 weeks. The study was led by University of Toronto professor Harvey Anderson and included 74 adults with overweight or obesity. The findings were published in The Journal of Nutrition.

Could estrogen use be connected with a healthier aging brain? New research involving more than 21,000 women found that those who had used estrogen-only hormone therapy later in life were less likely to develop dementia and had fewer physical signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The research appeared August 12, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The authors warned that the findings cannot show that estrogen was responsible for the lower dementia risk.

Liver disease can develop quietly for years, often without causing obvious symptoms. Researchers at The University of Toledo have developed a simple blood test that may help identify an early warning sign before serious liver damage becomes apparent. The liver is one of the body’s most important organs. It processes nutrients, helps remove harmful substances, makes important proteins and produces bile, which helps the body digest fats. Many liver conditions cause few symptoms in their early stages.

A large U.S. study suggests that older adults who live very close to dry-cleaning businesses may have a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The researchers found that the association was strongest for people living within about 500 feet, or 152 meters, of a dry cleaner. The study was led by researchers at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix and examined Medicare information from nearly 19 million older adults across the United States.

Taking part in routine colorectal cancer screening may greatly reduce the chance of dying from the disease, according to a large study from Sweden. Researchers estimated that people who actually participated in screening had as much as a 43% lower risk of colorectal cancer death. The findings show why responding to a screening invitation may matter even when a person feels completely healthy. Colorectal cancer develops in the colon or rectum, which are parts of the digestive system.