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Updates every hour. Last Updated: 25-May-2026 08:16 ET (25-May-2026 12:16 GMT/UTC)
Study links coal ash sites to elevated cancer risk nationwide
University of Mississippi- Journal
- Environmental Geochemistry and Health
Virtual reality therapy
Wroclaw Medical UniversityVirtual reality (VR) is emerging as a promising tool in the treatment of mental disorders, particularly as a complement to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). It enables patients to experience anxiety-provoking situations—such as public speaking or flying—in a controlled, immersive environment that feels realistic enough to trigger emotional and physical reactions.
A key application of VR is in exposure therapy, where patients gradually confront their fears. Unlike traditional settings, VR allows therapists to recreate difficult or impractical scenarios in a safe, repeatable way while monitoring and adjusting treatment in real time. This makes it especially effective for anxiety-related disorders, including phobias, social anxiety, and PTSD.
VR also helps reduce avoidance behaviors by offering a less intimidating starting point for patients who may struggle to face real-life situations. However, its effectiveness in treating other conditions, such as depression or addiction, remains less clear due to limited research.
Despite its advantages, VR has limitations, including costs, access to technology, and the need for proper therapist training. It may also cause side effects like dizziness in some users. Importantly, VR cannot replace real-life experiences; successful therapy still depends on applying learned skills in everyday situations.
Overall, VR is likely to play a significant role in the future of hybrid therapy models, combining traditional methods with digital tools to enhance treatment outcomes.
- Journal
- Psychology Research and Behavior Management
Hydrochemistry and isotopic characterization of water resources in Santa Rosa mining area, Ecuador.
Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral- Journal
- Groundwater for Sustainable Development
- Funder
- International Atomic Energy Agency
Groundbreaking review unveils genetic diversity and molecular breeding potential of Ethiopian cattle
South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesThis comprehensive study illuminates the extraordinary genetic richness of indigenous Ethiopian cattle and provides a roadmap for leveraging cutting-edge molecular tools to revolutionize sustainable livestock breeding in the region.
- Journal
- Biological Diversity
Groundbreaking phylogeny resolves the largest legume tribe: astragaleae redefined
South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesA global collaborative study has clarified the phylogeny and generic boundaries of tribe Astragaleae, the most species-rich legume group containing the world’s largest angiosperm genus Astragalus.
- Journal
- Biological Diversity
- Funder
- Science and Technology Projects in Guangzhou, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University through a Hu Award, Guangdong Science and Technology Department, National Natural Science Foundation of China, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Rediscovered after 100 years: scientists reveal status of the critically endangered Osmanthus pubipedicellatus
South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesIntegrative morphological and molecular evidence confirms the rediscovery of a long-lost Osmanthus species, revealing its declining population and urgent conservation needs.
- Journal
- Biological Diversity
- Funder
- Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province, Central Forestry and Grassland Ecological Protection and Restoration Fund for National Key Protected Wildlife in 2023
Plant invasions disrupt soil carbon balance in tropical coral islands, new study reveals
South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesResearch finds soil inorganic carbon rise offsets organic carbon loss, masking ecosystem degradation beneath stable total carbon pools.
- Journal
- Biological Diversity
- Funder
- National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China
A study questions how long biochar really locks away carbon
Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University- Journal
- Biochar
AI in the clinic: Can algorithms diagnose patients better than traditional tests?
SWPS UniversityArtificial intelligence (AI) can recognize common mental disorders just as effectively as – and sometimes better than – traditional diagnostic tools. According to a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, a generative AI assistant was also perceived by patients as highly empathetic and supportive. The study was conducted by researchers from Sweden, Norway, Italy, and Poland, and could significantly improve the field of mental health diagnostics.
- Journal
- Scientific Reports