16-Mar-2026 Problematic social media use predicts higher depressive symptoms in adolescents under 16 Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche Analysing longitudinal data from 2,121 adolescents aged 13–15, researchers found that problematic social media use predicted increases in depressive symptoms one year later, particularly among younger teenagers and girls. Published in Scientific Reports, the study highlights how loss of control over social media use—rather than time spent online—may be a key mental health risk factor during early adolescence. Journal Scientific Reports Funder Ministerio de Innovación, Industria, Comercio y Turismo, Generalitat Valenciana
12-Mar-2026 Beyond left and right: Socio-cultural determinants of parenting leave policy in advanced democracies Osaka Metropolitan University An Osaka Metropolitan University researcher examined the political determinants of parenting leave policy across 21 OECD countries from 1970 to 2021, revealing that socio-cultural rather than socio-economic positions drive parenting leave expansion. Journal Journal of European Social Policy
12-Mar-2026 Rethinking distance in massive networks Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar A 25-year graph algorithm gap for the All Pairs Shortest Paths (APSP) problem has been narrowed by Dr Manoj Gupta, an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar. Previous methods provided distance estimates that were no worse than twice the actual distance (2-approximation) and worked effectively only for distant points. The new method, however, offers a reliable 2-approximation guarantee for the APSP problem while handling considerably closer spots with the same efficiency. This advance helps make large-scale network analysis faster and more practical across many real-world systems.
11-Mar-2026 Cuscutae Semen ameliorates mepanipyrim-induced visual impairment in zebrafish via the phototransduction pathway with identification of potential active constituents Beijing Zhongke Journal Publising Co. Ltd. In the paper published on Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine (STCM), the authors firstly demonstrated that Cuscutae Semen (CS) ameliorated mepanipyrim-induced visual impairment in zebrafish by modulating the phototransduction pathway. It integrated transcriptomics, behavioral assays, and histopathology to reveal CS's restorative effects on retinal structure and function. Notably, chlorogenic acid was identified as a key bioactive constituent. The research provided scientific validation for the traditional use of CS in eye health and offered a novel therapeutic strategy for visual disorders, highlighting the potential of zebrafish models in natural product pharmacology. Journal Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine
11-Mar-2026 Study finds biochar alone cannot offset carbon emissions in China’s Guangdong province Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University A new study reveals that while biochar technology can play a meaningful role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it cannot by itself achieve carbon neutrality in one of China’s most economically developed regions. Journal Carbon Research
11-Mar-2026 Novel phase-change thermal diode boosts passive energy savings in buildings Higher Education Press Looking for smarter ways to cut building energy use? A new phase-change thermal diode, developed by Chinese researchers, brings passive energy savings to dynamic building envelopes. With optimized hydrophobic surfaces and vacuum settings, it boosts unidirectional heat transfer, slashing cooling energy consumption by 11.83%–21.36% across China’s climate zones. Simple to manufacture and highly adaptable, this innovation bridges materials and building science—worth exploring for greener buildings! Journal Engineering
11-Mar-2026 Toward mobile satellite internet: navigating limitations and enabling technologies Higher Education Press Curious about how mobile satellite Internet bridges global connectivity gaps? This report dives into its 60-year evolution, LEO satellite breakthroughs lsuch as Starlink’s DTC constellation, and core limitations from transmission distances to spectrum scarcity. Discover key enabling technologies—ELAAs, multi-satellite cooperation, and advanced antennas—shaping its future as a 6G cornerstone. Journal Engineering
11-Mar-2026 Psychology: Study shows limits of multitasking Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg Even with highly extensive training, the human brain is not really capable of performing two tasks simultaneously. Moreover, even the smallest deviations from trained routines can have a significant impact on how quickly and successfully people complete tasks simultaneously. This is shown by a new study conducted by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the FernUniversität in Hagen and the Medical School Hamburg. It was recently published in the “Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology”. Journal Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology
11-Mar-2026 New validated scale measures marital happiness in the Omani context Sultan Qaboos University Researchers have validated a marital happiness scale tailored to the Omani context using Rasch analysis, providing a reliable tool for studying marital wellbeing and supporting cross-cultural research on family stability. Journal Scientific Reports
