The 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes, which recognize offbeat but scientifically valid research, were awarded for studies including a splash-free urinal design, using mosquito mouthparts to print tiny nozzles, decomposition rates of buried underwear, and the physics of blowing one's nose. For the first time in 35 years, the ceremony left Boston and was held in Zurich, Switzerland, with future events planned for Antwerp in 2027 and returning to Zurich in even-numbered years after.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-09-03
A new Pew Research analysis finds that 60% of Americans self-identify as working class, up from 54% last year. Notably, half of adults earning above $155,600—Pew's upper-income threshold—also embrace the label, alongside 67% of middle-income earners and 77% of blue-collar workers.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-09-03
Google has released WeatherNext 3, an updated AI weather forecasting model that generates hourly predictions using live satellite observations rather than relying solely on historical data. The model can resolve certain variables like temperature and moisture at up to 5-kilometer resolution, a sharp improvement over its predecessor's 25-kilometer, 6-hourly forecasts.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-03
A new practitioner's guide from Flare Research examines how infostealer malware like Vidar, RedLine and Lumma harvest corporate logins, browser cookies and saved credentials from infected machines. The study found that about 46% of stealer logs containing corporate credentials came from likely unmanaged or personal devices, and that exposure of credentials and sessions tied to major SaaS and cloud platforms is climbing roughly 29% each year.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-09-03
Researchers have identified immune cells located in the lymph nodes, outside the brain, as a significant driver of the neurological damage associated with Alzheimer's disease. The findings suggest that the disease's roots may extend beyond the brain itself into the body's broader immune system.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-03
Governments and funders in India, Peru and Vietnam have introduced new guidelines that punish researchers for fabricated data, plagiarism, image manipulation and peer-review fraud. Sanctions include cutting bonuses, blocking access to future grants and downgrading the institutional rankings of universities linked to misconduct cases. The moves follow reports showing sharp rises in fabricated citations and suspected paper-mill activity in scientific literature.
nature.com
· 2026-09-03
A Pew Research Center survey of nearly 10,000 US adults found that 53% believe they use their smartphones too much, while 36% say their usage is about right. Younger adults reported the highest rates of overuse, with 70% of 18-to-29-year-olds and 64% of those aged 30-49 saying they're on their devices excessively. Separately, Semrush data shows people worldwide spend over four and a half hours daily on their phones, checking them roughly 58 times a day.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-02
New research indicates that the anticipated surge in software vulnerabilities linked to AI-assisted coding tools may be more manageable than security experts initially feared. The findings suggest that enterprises adopting proper mitigation strategies can handle the increased volume of flaws without being overwhelmed.
darkreading.com
· 2026-09-02
Research on leadership psychology finds that many leaders struggle to deliver constructive criticism, even though guiding people toward better performance often requires telling them things they don't want to hear. The pattern shows up across organizations, where leaders prioritize comfort and likability over honest, corrective feedback.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-02
Scientists at the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment, which uses 10 tonnes of liquid xenon buried in South Dakota's Sanford Underground Research Facility, recorded one unusual flash consistent with a WIMP particle striking a xenon nucleus. The result, described in a preprint that has not yet been peer-reviewed, is far from confirmed but has generated excitement because it could represent the long-sought direct detection of dark matter.
nature.com
· 2026-09-02
Jason Arday, professor of sociology of education at the University of Cambridge, resigned on 5 August after facing allegations of research misconduct and what he described as relentless public attack going beyond normal academic criticism. Nine days later, following sustained media coverage of his professional and personal life, he died. Nature's editorial calls for reflection on how universities handle misconduct investigations and how the press covers such cases, particularly given the racism present in much of the coverage.
nature.com
· 2026-09-02
Nature's audio long read examines growing scientific evidence that unrepaired or poorly repaired DNA damage drives many hallmarks of ageing. Researchers are investigating whether artificially boosting the body's DNA repair mechanisms could extend healthy lifespan. The episode is an audio version of a Nature feature and is available on major podcast platforms.
nature.com
· 2026-09-02
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