10-Sep-2026 Physical activity may protect older adults from hearing loss, new study finds Arnold School of Public Health Researchers from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (COMD) have partnered with faculty from across the Arnold School and USC to complete a study investigating the connections between physical function, blood pressure, hearing, and cognition among older adults. Published in Scientific Reports, the team found that participants who maintained higher levels of physical function (i.e., engaging in everyday physical activities) were less likely to experience hearing loss. Journal Scientific Reports
10-Sep-2026 Purple pak choi’s hidden genetic gift: a borrowed gene from a distant relative unlocks anthocyanin richness Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science Purple pak choi gets its striking color from anthocyanins—potent antioxidants that boost nutritional value. Journal Horticulture Research
10-Sep-2026 Medicare Part D plan designs hold steady in initial wake of Inflation Reduction Act implementation, researchers find Arnold School of Public Health A recent study led by health services policy and management assistant professor David Anderson has examined changes in Medicare Part D plans (both Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage and standalone prescription drug plans) to assess how insurers may have changed various aspects of the plans in response to the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Published in Health Affairs, the researchers findings showed that insurers reacted primarily by lowering premiums and increasing deductibles. Journal Health Affairs
10-Sep-2026 West Nile virus more than ten times higher in South Carolina compared to national average Arnold School of Public Health With little historical data on the prevalence of the West Nile virus in the state of South Carolina, members of the Delores Marie Thomas Research Lab have assessed its presence in the Palmetto State. Led by epidemiology associate professor Melissa Nolan, the team published their findings in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Journal American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
10-Sep-2026 It’s time to change how we think about exercise, researchers suggest Arnold School of Public Health An abundance of clinical trials has shown that exercise reduces pain and facilitates everyday activities like climbing stairs for individuals with osteoarthritis. But researchers from the University of South Carolina, McMaster University and the University of Delaware believe it’s time for a mindset shift. Instead of viewing exercise as a temporary treatment for the condition, clinicians and patients should view physical activity as a lifelong behavior. Journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
10-Sep-2026 Blue light boosts key medicinal compounds in Astragalus, study finds: Multi-omics and genetic tools uncover light-driven isoflavonoid biosynthesis Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science Astragalus mongholicus, a cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine, produces isoflavonoids—bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, and antiviral properties. Journal Horticulture Research
10-Sep-2026 Antarctic ozone recovery alters austral summer Southern Hemisphere circulation patterns Advances in Atmospheric Sciences & Partner Journals Antarctic ozone recovery alters austral summer Southern Hemisphere circulation patterns Journal Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters
10-Sep-2026 Novel photonics materials are needed to drive the second quantum revolution ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems A new review from TMOS researchers examines the materials and technologies needed to make quantum photonic systems programmable. The authors identify multifunctionality as a key challenge and highlight emerging approaches, including two-dimensional materials and tunable quantum light sources, that could help enable future quantum computing, communications and other quantum technologies. Funder Australian Research Council
10-Sep-2026 Researcher describes two previously unknown insect species University of Missouri-Columbia A University of Missouri entomologist, Robert Sites, discovered two previously unknown saucer bug species, Ctenipocoris sagittatus from Guyana and Venezuela and Ctenipocoris reticulatus from India, expanding scientific knowledge of global biodiversity. The findings highlight both the complexity of identifying these tiny aquatic insects and the vast amount of life that remains undiscovered in freshwater ecosystems around the world. Journal Zootaxa
10-Sep-2026 The viral tipping point Weizmann Institute of Science Until now, virologists have addressed the infectious dose mainly at the level of the whole organism, but scientists from the laboratory of Prof. Noam Stern-Ginossar at the Weizmann Institute of Science have discovered that the fate of an individual infected cell, too, depends on the number of virions that enter it. In a study published in Nature Communications and focusing on herpesviruses, the researchers reveal that the cellular infectious dose determines whether a virus will become active in the cell or enter a dormant state. These findings pave the way for therapies that could control the outcome of infection. Journal Nature Communications
