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Science News for February 13, 2026


Outdated mortality benchmarks risk missing early signs of famine and delay recognizing mass starvation

A recent paper by Columbia University researchers calls for a re-examination of how famine thresholds are defined, citing stark disparities in how famine mortality is assessed across contexts. The authors argue that widespread starvation may go unrecognized until it is well advanced due to the current classification system.

Tiny cell messengers show big promise for safer protein and gene delivery

Researchers have discovered that vesicles generated from cell-surface protrusions can deliver active proteins and genome-editing enzymes far more efficiently than conventional extracellular vesicles. This natural delivery system may enable the development of safer and more precise strategies for genome editing, regenerative medicine, a...

SourceNara Institute of Science and Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2026

Scientists reveal major hidden source of atmospheric nitrogen pollution in fragile lake basin

A new study reveals that the Erhai Lake Basin in southwest China is releasing far more atmospheric nitrogen pollution than it absorbs, threatening regional air quality and ecosystem health. The imbalance creates a net surplus of over 8,200 metric tons annually, making the basin a major source of atmospheric nitrogen pollution.

Flipping and reversing mini-proteins could improve disease treatment

A team of researchers from Penn State and The University of Minnesota Medical School found that chemically changing the structure of a naturally occurring peptide can make it more stable and effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The new shape imparted by the modified molecule allows it to physically degrade bacterial cell me...

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2026

Promoting civic engagement

A new pilot study in Long Beach found that heightened federal immigration enforcement is undermining democratic participation, even among U.S. citizens who fear for undocumented family members. The study identified three critical barriers: climate of fear, knowledge gaps, and practical constraints.

Modular assembly of chiral nitrogen-bridged rings achieved by palladium-catalyzed diastereoselective and enantioselective cascade cyclization reactions

Researchers developed a palladium-catalyzed tandem cyclization strategy to construct chiral bridged oxazole bicyclic skeletons with high diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity. The method exhibits excellent substrate universality, providing an efficient route for synthesizing complex three-dimensional structures.

SourceChinese Chemical Society·JournalCCS Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2026

Parents’ alcohol and drug use influences their children’s consumption, research shows

A Brazilian study analyzing 4,280 adolescents and their guardians found that parental attitudes play a significant role in preventing alcohol and drug use among young people. The 'authoritative' parenting style, which combines acceptance and monitoring, is the most effective in mitigating the risk of repeated consumption patterns.

Protecting turfgrass from fungal foes

University of Delaware researchers have discovered a novel strain of Bacillus subtilis that helps plants resist soil-borne diseases and retain moisture. The microbe, UD1022, is effective in controlling dollar spot fungus but only when applied directly to leaves, not through soil treatment.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalPlant Stress·DateFeb 13, 2026

Deforestation in the Amazon raises the surface temperature by 3 °C during the dry season

A study using satellite data found that deforestation in the Amazon increases surface temperature by 3°C during the dry season, with a 25% decrease in rainfall. This leads to greater forest degradation, increased tree mortality, and susceptibility to forest fires, threatening biodiversity.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·DateFeb 13, 2026

Batista Lab study reveals how local antibody feedback regulates B cell competition and promotes immune diversity

Researchers at Ragon Institute discovered that antibodies produced in germinal centers act as a 'brake' on selection, redirecting the immune system toward broader protection. Stronger-binding B cells suppress weaker ones targeting the same site, establishing a localized feedback loop.

SourceRagon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard·JournalImmunity·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2026

Extreme heat strengthens of pure metals

Researchers at Northwestern University found that heat strengthens pure metals under extreme conditions, challenging long-held assumptions. The study revealed a stark divide between pure and alloyed metals, with pure metals becoming stronger and harder as temperatures increased.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 13, 2026

From the lab to the living room: Decoding Parkinson’s patients movements in the real world

Researchers from UC San Francisco successfully decoded brain activity patterns associated with walking, enabling the development of personalized neural biomarkers for movement state classification. This breakthrough could lead to more effective adaptive DBS systems that adjust stimulation in response to a patient's activity state.

SourceUniversity of California San Francisco Medical Center·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2026

How did humans develop sharp vision? Lab-grown retinas show likely answer

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University used lab-grown retinal tissue to discover the cellular mechanisms that shape the foveola, a critical part of the eye responsible for sharp vision. The findings suggest that blue cones convert into red and green cones during early development, rather than migrating to other parts of the retina.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 13, 2026

Confidence in your relationship can improve individual well-being

A new study found that improvements in relationship confidence have the biggest impact on individual outcomes, including improved mental health, better sleep, and reduced substance use. Relationship confidence involves trusting that a partner can handle challenges and feeling assured of building a lasting future together.

Locating people swept away

A study developed an innovative tool based on hydraulic power to aid in search and rescue operations. The tool accurately reproduces the dynamics of flooding events, including extreme flow velocities and depths exceeding four meters, to identify areas where people are most likely to be swept away.

How psychedelic drugs affect the brain

Research shows that psychedelics suppress visual processing by activating the 2A receptor, leading to hallucinations as the brain fills the gap with fragmented memories. Short-term oscillations also play a crucial role in communication between brain areas.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2026

Finally understanding the rules of the game

Researchers discovered how bacteria Pseudomonas sp. SZ40 and Paenibacillus sp. SZ31 work together to produce a toxic substance against an amoeba predator. The study revealed the role of DL peptidases in converting lipopeptides into a substance that is harmful to the amoeba.

SourceLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute -·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2026

HKU astrophysicists contribute to interpreting a possible first-ever Einstein probe observation of a black hole tearing apart a white dwarf

A high-energy cosmic event detected by the China-led Einstein Probe space telescope may mark the moment when an intermediate-mass black hole tears apart and consumes a white dwarf star, according to astrophysicists from The University of Hong Kong. The team provided crucial theoretical judgement that led to the focus on this model.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 13, 2026

HKUMed reveals end-of-life communication gaps, urges enhanced communication training alongside Hong Kong’s new ‘Advance Medical Directives’ legislation

A study by HKUMed found serious gaps in current communication practices among doctors, patients, and family members during advance care planning. The 'Advance Care Planning Communication Assessment Tool' (ACP-CAT) was validated for the first time in real-world clinical settings.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalPalliative Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2026

False alarm in newborn screening: how zebrafish can prevent unnecessary SMA therapies

A zebrafish model was used to test the functional significance of rare SMN1 variants in children with false positive SMA diagnoses. The research found that both variants were functional and did not cause the disease. This breakthrough could prevent unnecessary SMA therapies and provide families with security.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2026

Advancing AI for science: extracting and fusing cross-disciplinary expert knowledge with data to accelerate alloy discovery

Researchers develop AI framework to accelerate alloy discovery by fusing cross-disciplinary expert knowledge with experimental data, outperforming conventional machine learning methods. The approach can make reliable predictions for poorly studied alloy compositions, achieving accuracy rates up to 92%.

Electrically controllable 3D magnetic hopfions realized in chiral magnets

Researchers successfully generated electrically controllable magnetic hopfions in a chiral magnet, representing a significant advancement in topological soliton research. The team's findings also revealed that the hopfions exhibit unconventional dynamics and transport behavior linked to their three-dimensional topology.

Biochemical parameters in patients with diabetic nephropathy versus individuals with diabetes alone, non-diabetic nephropathy, and healthy controls

A study comparing biochemical parameters among patients with diabetic nephropathy (DNp), diabetes control (DC), nephropathy control (NC), and healthy controls reveals DNp exhibited the most severe disturbances. DNp showed markedly elevated glycemic indices and impaired renal function, while DC displayed prominent dyslipidemia.

SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalExploratory Research and Hypothesis in Medicine·DateFeb 13, 2026

Safety and efficacy of stereoelectroencephalography-guided resection and responsive neurostimulation in drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy

This systematic review compares the efficacy, safety, and quality of life outcomes associated with stereoelectroencephalography-guided temporal lobe resection (TLR) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS) in adults with drug-resistant TLE. Key findings include higher seizure freedom rates for TLR and better cognitive preservation with RNS.

SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalExploratory Research and Hypothesis in Medicine·DateFeb 13, 2026

Cleaner solar manufacturing could cut global emissions by eight billion tonnes

A new international study found that deploying next-generation solar panels at scale could reduce global carbon emissions by up to 8.2 billion tonnes by 2035. The technology, known as tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) photovoltaics, has lower environmental impacts in fifteen out of sixteen categories compared to the incumbent PE...

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2026

New study reveals how a key receptor tells apart two nearly identical drug molecules

Researchers investigated the binding thermodynamics of doxepin geometric isomers to the histamine H1 receptor, revealing differences in enthalpy and entropy contributions. The study highlights the importance of considering conformational constraints in designing ligands with optimized thermodynamic properties.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2026

Eleven genetic variants affect gut microbiome

Researchers identified 11 genetic regions influencing gut bacteria and roles they play, including connections to gluten intolerance, haemorrhoids, and cardiovascular diseases. The study analyzed genetic data from over 28,000 individuals, providing insights into the complex relationship between genes and gut microbiome.

SourceUppsala University·JournalNature Genetics·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 13, 2026

When heat flows like water

EPFL researchers have theoretically shown that heat can flow toward warmer regions in highly ordered materials, enabling the design of electronics with minimized heat loss. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient thermal management across multiple sectors, from consumer electronics to energy storage and data centers.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 13, 2026