ResearchJul 23, 2026
Member Spotlight: 2026 APS Spence Awardee Yuan Chang Leong’s Pursuit to Understand the Brain
Learn more about the Spence Awardee and his research into how social context and affect construct subjective experience.
Research
Updated Nov 15, 2026 2:00 AM PT
Research Psychologist News
Current reporting, research and professional developments across Research, curated for psychologists and behavioral-health professionals.
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Exercise addiction: Researchers warn against pathologizing healthy dedication to sports and fitness
While physical fitness is vital for health, it can sometimes cross the line into a harmful behavioral addiction. However, a new scientific review warns against over-pathologizing athletes, noting that true exercise…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
In a first, Chinese woman wins the prestigious Fields Medal
Despite criticisms of a brain drain from China to the U.S., the awards come at a time when several high-profile Chinese scholars have returned home, some citing an increasingly hostile academic environment in America.
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Study challenges the “motherhood penalty” by revealing how moms excel at work
While working mothers often face career penalties, a new study reveals a hidden "motherhood advantage." Researchers found that mothers are highly likely to view their jobs as a way to be role models, driving greater…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the Way Investors Do Research
AI is reshaping investment research through faster analysis, broader insights, stronger oversight, and smarter decisions.
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Religion-justified childhood abuse linked to higher adult anxiety and depression
When perpetrators use faith to justify physical or sexual abuse, the psychological impact on victims is magnified. A new study links religion-justified maltreatment to quadrupled odds of extreme anxiety in adulthood…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
New research reveals friends students want versus the friends they actually make
New research finds a massive disconnect between the peers young adolescents admire and the friends they actually make. While youth target popular classmates for new friendships, they ultimately end up bonding with peers…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Daily almond consumption may boost cognitive processing speed for adults with prediabetes
Adults at elevated risk for type 2 diabetes might protect their brain function simply by updating their snacking habits. A recent trial shows that eating raw almonds daily improved processing speed and executive function…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Contrary to popular belief, a testosterone boost doesn’t make men overconfident
A new study shows that a quick boost of testosterone does not make men abandon logical reasoning in favor of gut instincts. Surprisingly, the hormone might actually lower their confidence in their own cognitive…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
AI could help identify patients at risk of psychosis more quickly
AI has been shown to be effective in identifying and analysing symptoms from psychiatric interviews, which could help speed up assessments and access to care for those who need it most, according to a new study.
ResearchJul 23, 2026
High-coverage ancient genomes reveal divergent population histories and prehistoric starch-related genetic variation in Japan
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 30, July 2026. SignificanceHow prehistoric migrations and dietary shifts shaped genetic diversity is a central question in human history. However, the…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Measurement accuracy in mechanobiology: A unifying statistical framework for testing cellular forces
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 30, July 2026. SignificanceMeasuring physical forces at the microscale is essential for studying biological processes such as cancer invasion and embryo…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
The multilayered cuticle underlying structural coloration in red algae shares features with the metazoan extracellular matrix
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 30, July 2026. SignificanceRed algae and land plants diverged more than a billion years ago and assemble cuticles using chemically different strategies…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
An activity–resistance trade-off constrains enzyme evolution
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 30, July 2026. SignificanceAntibiotic producers must be resistant to the toxins that they produce, but how such self-resistance develops is a mystery…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Equilibrium and stability of coupled nonlinear energy-storing components
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 30, July 2026. SignificanceMany natural and engineered systems, from mechanical structures to power grids, consist of networks of coupled components…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
HUWE1 targets mitochondria via RMC1 to promote neurodevelopment
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 30, July 2026. SignificanceMutations in HUWE1 are a recurrent cause of X-linked intellectual disability, yet most studies have focused on catalytic…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
TBC1D9 and TBC1D9B are ARL8 effectors that modulate exosome secretion through a RAB11A–exocyst pathway
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 30, July 2026. SignificanceBiogenesis of lysosome related organelles complex-one-related complex (BORC) and ARL8 are key regulators of endolysosomal…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
The quantum ensemble variational optimization algorithm: Applications to molecular inverse design
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 30, July 2026. SignificanceMolecular inverse design is a classically exponential problem that could greatly benefit from quantum computing. Here, we…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Structural and mechanistic basis for membrane recognition and activation of the vacuolar lipase Atg15
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 30, July 2026. SignificanceMembrane turnover is fundamental for cellular homeostasis, yet how cells achieve preferential and safe degradation of internal…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Sentinel plants enable quantitative monitoring of bioavailable nitrate in soils and microbial environments
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 30, July 2026. SignificanceNitrogen availability in soils fluctuates across space and time, yet most measurements rely on laboratory analysis of…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Stabilization of recurrent neural networks through divisive normalization
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 30, July 2026. SignificanceNeural circuits must remain stable to function correctly, yet strong recurrent connections, which are essential for complex…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Meaningful oversight of medical AI beyond human in the loop
Human oversight of medical AI is increasingly required, but clinician presence alone does not make oversight meaningful. We propose four interlocking conditionsâepistemic capacity, cognitive space, decisional…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Translational Readiness in Gene and Cell Therapy: Biomarkers, Safety, and Monitoring
Gene and cell therapies are reshaping the treatment landscape for inherited, degenerative, and acquired disorders. Yet successful translation depends on ...
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Goodbye, cavities? New gel could regrow tooth enamel
Researchers have developed a fluoride-free gel that could help rebuild damaged tooth enamel, something the body cannot naturally replace once it is lost. Inspired by the proteins that guide enamel formation in infancy…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
AI Is Challenging Market Research By Giving Marketers Better Research
The $150 billion market research industry has always struggled to keep pace with the market. Understanding how customers perceive your brand and products typically required hiring a firm, recruiting ...
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Watch an orca ram into a sunfish so hard it explodes
This strategy expands orcas’ already broad repertoire for dispatching different types of prey.
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Psychology says one painful comment can stay with you for years while dozens of kind words fade away
You can finish a day surrounded by encouragement and still find yourself replaying a single unpleasant remark on the journey home. A compliment from a colleague, a thoughtful message from a friend and ...
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Tiny vesicles in breast milk carry stress signals to the infant brain
When a nursing parent gets sick, immune stress alters the genetic messages carried in breast milk. A new study shows that an engaging environment protects these microscopic messages, buffering the infant's brain against…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Autistic students face ableism in the classroom
As a late-diagnosed autistic woman who was unaware of my neurodivergence as I was educated up until the age of 18, I have been reflecting on whether my schools might have pushed me towards a desire to be viewed as…
ResearchJul 23, 2026
Interpreting respiratory heart rate variability
As the heart beats, the interval between consecutive beats differs. A major source of this variability is the synchronization between respiration and heartbeats: the heart beats faster during inhalation and slows down…