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Science News Archive February 2026


Page 11 of 45

New rice gene breaks the yield–quality trade-off in rice

A new rice gene, GSN7, has been discovered that can simultaneously increase grain yield and improve quality. The study found that precise manipulation of this gene can overcome the long-standing trade-off between yield and quality in rice breeding.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Scientists create sustainable and cheaper catalysts from aluminium

Researchers at King's College London have developed highly reactive aluminium molecules that can break apart tough chemical bonds. The team discovered a new compound called cyclotrialumane, which exhibits unprecedented reactivity and retains its structure in various solutions.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Prussian blue goes from pigment to purification

Scientists at the University of Chicago have created Prussian blue analogs that can achieve 99.9% lithium purification, opening up new opportunities for separating industrial waste ions from environmental streams. The unique structure of Prussian blue analogs allows for selective filtering and purification.

How the brain suppresses itch during stress

Researchers at IISc have mapped a neural circuit that links stress to itch. Stress activates specific neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area, which directly regulate itch and reduce scratching behavior. This study provides new insights into the complex relationship between emotional states and sensory perception.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

New research: AI chatbots may worsen mental illness

A new study published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica found that people with mental illness who use AI chatbots risk experiencing a worsening of their condition, particularly in terms of delusions and mania. Researchers are calling for increased awareness among healthcare professionals about the potential risks of AI chatbot use.

Waterloo researchers turning plastic waste into vinegar

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have discovered a way to convert microplastic waste into acetic acid, the main ingredient of vinegar, using sunlight. The breakthrough offers a promising new approach to reducing plastic pollution through photocatalysis, creating a valuable chemical product.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Bacteria with built-in compass

Researchers at the University of Basel have unlocked the magnetic properties of individual bacteria, enabling them to navigate using an Earth-based compass. This discovery holds promise for medical applications, such as magnetically controllable microrobots, and environmental research.

Smarter tissue and organ repair thanks to made in Ottawa next-gen hydrogel

Researchers from the University of Ottawa have developed a groundbreaking biomaterial that combines strength, adaptability, and biological compatibility for soft tissue repair. The hydrogel is made from synthetic peptides and can be precisely tailored through chemical design, making it an attractive alternative to existing biomaterials.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Ribosomes in pairs

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research discovered that stressed animal cells, including neurons, assemble inactive ribosomes into tightly linked pairs, known as disomes. This novel mechanism relies on a specific piece of ribosomal RNA called an expansion segment to form a precise RNA-RNA interaction.

New support to SPARK Aston University anti-cancer collaboration

The team will use SPARK THE MIDLANDS programme to advance healthcare research and develop a minimally invasive cancer-killing paste. The paste, made from gallium-doped bioglass, has shown a 99% success rate of eliminating cancerous cells and regenerating diseased bones.

AI-boosted electronic nose detects ovarian cancer

Researchers at Linköping University have developed an AI-boosted electronic nose that can detect ovarian cancer from blood plasma samples with high accuracy. The method uses machine learning to identify patterns specific to the disease, making it a promising tool for early detection and improved survival rates.

Alloy-engineered valleytronics

Researchers have observed a new microscopic mechanism enabling precise control of magneto-optical properties in alloys of two-dimensional semiconductors. The discovery opens up prospects for technological applications in devices exploiting valleytronics.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Mayo Clinic and Mercy advance collaboration to transform patient care

The collaboration will utilize Mayo Clinic Platform's secure infrastructure to analyze de-identified patient data from both institutions, enhancing research and driving innovation in healthcare. With access to over 15 million patients, the partnership aims to predict illness earlier, improve outcomes, and deliver more proactive care.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Plant hormone therapy could improve global food security

Researchers at Colorado State University have found a way to boost plant growth while maintaining its immune system through hormone treatment, showing promise for increasing food production. The approach involves genetically manipulating phytohormone interactions to restore cell division and increase disease resistance.

How horses whinny: Whistling while singing

Horses produce high-frequency sounds by whistling through their larynx while vibrating vocal folds. Researchers found that the high-frequency component of the whinny is generated by a laryngeal whistle, shifting to higher frequencies when helium is used.

When influencers raise a glass, young viewers want to join them

A study from Rutgers University suggests that exposure to alcohol in social media drives the desire to drink. Young adults who viewed influencer posts with alcohol were significantly more likely to report increased desire to drink compared to those who watched similar posts without alcohol.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Measuring the expansion of the universe with cosmic fireworks

Astronomers have imaged and modeled an exceptionally rare supernova that could provide a new way to measure the universe's expansion rate. The supernova, known as SN Winny, is a superluminous stellar explosion 10 billion light-years away and appears five times in the night sky due to gravitational lensing.

US newborn hepatitis B virus vaccination rates

A new study found that US newborn hepatitis B virus vaccination rates declined by over 10 percentage points in the last 2 years. This decline reverses 6 years of growth and is aligned with WHO and CDC coverage estimates through 2022.

Dietary patterns and indicators of cognitive function

A study published in JAMA Neurology found that adhering to healthy dietary patterns, such as the DASH diet, is associated with lower subjective cognitive decline and better cognitive function. The findings highlight the importance of a balanced diet for maintaining long-term brain health.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

EPA criminal sanctions align with a county’s wealth, not pollution

A new study found that the US EPA's criminal prosecutions for environmental crimes correlate strongly with a county's socioeconomic status, rather than its level of pollution. Wealthier counties receive 24% more enforcement actions on average, while poorer counties are less likely to be targeted.

Missing geomagnetic reversals in the geomagnetic reversal history

A team of researchers applied adaptive-bandwidth kernel density estimation to analyze the latest reversal timing dataset, revealing four distinct dips in the new reversal frequency model following the Cretaceous Normal Superchron. This suggests that short-time-interval geomagnetic reversals may be missing from the compiled record.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Why laws named after tragedies win public support

Research by the American Psychological Association finds that eponymous laws, those named for victims of tragedy, surge in public support due to sympathy and emotional connection. However, this boost may come at the expense of effective policymaking.

Researchers build ultra-efficient optical sensors shrinking light to a chip

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed high-performing optical microresonators that can trap light and build up its intensity. By guiding light smoothly through the resonator, they dramatically reduced light loss, allowing photons to circulate longer and interact more strongly inside the device.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Engineers sharpen gene-editing tools to target cystic fibrosis

Engineers have refined a technology to edit individual genetic base pairs, reducing unintended edits and increasing safety for potential treatments. The new base editors could lead to better outcomes for some cystic fibrosis patients and more accurate models for drug testing.