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Science News Archive February 2026


Page 19 of 45

New study: The brain may learn more from rare events than from repetition

A new theory asserts that associative learning depends less on repetition and more on time passing between rewards, explaining why students who cram don't perform well. The study's findings could shift the way we look at learning and addiction, potentially speeding up artificial intelligence by borrowing from this new approach.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Family relationships identified in Stone Age graves on Gotland

In a new study, researchers at Uppsala University clarified family relationships in four graves from a 5,500-year-old hunter-gatherer culture at Ajvide on Gotland. DNA analyses suggest that the people were well aware of family lineages and that relationships beyond the immediate family played an important role. The analysis showed that...

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.

New low-energy method produces ethylene from waste gas

A new low-energy method produces ethylene from waste gas, using electricity to create a chemical building block from syngas. The device is more than 60% efficient and can work with renewable energy sources, setting the stage for a greener ethylene supply chain.

Study: For women over 60, muscle strength matters

Researchers report a significant association between muscle strength and lower mortality risk in women aged 63-99 years. Grip strength and chair stands were found to be key indicators of muscular strength, with even small improvements leading to notable reductions in death risk.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Iron, carbon, and the art of toxic cleanup

Researchers at Tongji University identified ferrihydrite as the mineral that effectively traps chromium while storing organic carbon. The study's findings provide a new blueprint for environmental remediation using nature-based solutions to clean up contaminated mine soils and fight climate change.

A gel for wounds that won’t heal

Researchers developed an oxygen-delivering gel to heal chronic wounds that fail to heal for more than a month. The gel conforms to the wound's shape and provides continuous oxygen levels, helping transform nonhealing wounds into normal injuries.

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.

Weight-loss wonder pills prompt scrutiny of key ingredient

A new study finds salcaprozate sodium may have adverse biological effects on the gut and beyond, including shifts in potentially harmful gut bacteria and elevated inflammatory markers. The research highlights an important gap in understanding the long-term impact of repeated SNAC exposure.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Renowned developmental biologist wins March of Dimes Prize

Dr. Zon's pioneering research has illuminated how blood develops in embryos, leading to a deeper understanding of rare blood diseases, including pregnancy complications. His discoveries have also led to breakthrough treatments for genetic blood disorders affecting babies and children.

Is beef x dairy needed in market data?

University of Tennessee economist Charles Martinez recommends updating sales data reporting methods to account for the growing 'beef on dairy' trend. The trend involves breeding dairy cattle specifically for beef production, generating higher premiums for crossbred calves.

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.

Air pollution may directly contribute to Alzheimer’s disease

A large cohort study found that air pollution exposure increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease, particularly in individuals who have experienced a stroke. The study suggests that improving air quality could be an important way to prevent dementia and protect older adults.

Honey bees navigate more precisely than previously thought

Researchers tracked individual honey bees to record high-resolution flight paths in natural landscapes, revealing precise navigation and unique routes. Visual landmarks aid the bees' navigation, increasing the precision of their flight paths.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Bioengineers discover new clues in early-onset colorectal cancer

A study by University of Texas at Dallas bioengineers found that both cancerous and noncancerous colon tissue from young patients with colorectal cancer was mechanically stiffer than in older patients. This stiffness may promote the development of early-onset colorectal cancer, a condition rising over the past 30 years.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

New antibody–drug conjugate strategy to block HIV infection

Researchers developed antibody–drug conjugates that combine CD4 mimic and neutralizing antibodies to target HIV entry, showing seven times better efficacy than existing approaches. The strategy aims to block HIV before it enters the host cell, offering a more targeted therapeutic profile and potentially reducing adverse effects.

New biomarker predicts chemotherapy response in triple-negative breast cancer

Researchers developed a new computational approach to predict chemotherapy response in triple-negative breast cancer, outperforming current methods. The TmS biomarker accurately sorts patients into those with favorable or poor prognosis, highlighting its potential as an effective starting point for patient stratification.

Satellite imagery and AI reveal development needs hidden by national data

Researchers used satellite imagery and machine learning to estimate HDI scores for 61,530 municipalities and counties. The results show that over half the global population lives in areas with different development tiers than their national level, highlighting the need for finer-grained data to inform policy decisions.

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.

UC San Diego Health joins national research for maternal-fetal care

The University of California San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Health are now part of the NICHD Maternal-Fetal Care Network, expanding access to research on pregnancy and newborn health. Clinical trials will focus on maternal mortality, prematurity birth rates, and infant mortality rates.

Study finds early imaging after pediatric UTIs may do more harm than good

Researchers found that ultrasounds performed too early during hospitalization were more likely to produce false positives, leading to additional invasive testing. Waiting until a fever resolved and closer to discharge did not prolong the hospital stay, but reduced unnecessary tests and added stress for families.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Structural adaptations in aging podocytes

Research reveals that podocytes in aged rats adapt by increasing volume and forming atypical junctions to compensate for loss, while exporting unnecessary cellular components into the extracellular space. The study employed array tomography to elucidate age-related structural changes, shedding light on the mechanisms of aging glomeruli.

Retelling the Jomon story

Researchers used mitochondrial DNA from 13 Jomon skeletons to examine population changes over time, finding a significant increase in eastern Japan between 13,000 and 8,000 years ago. This study suggests regional factors, such as climate and food resources, played a role in shaping the Jomon population history.

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.

POST-PURPLE launches to advance zero-waste urban biorefineries

POST-PURPLE aims to convert urban wastewater and organic waste into valuable resources through innovative bio-based technologies. The project will demonstrate practical pathways toward cleaner, more circular urban biorefineries and reduce diffuse emissions.

REM sleep supports equine motivation and learning

A recent study at the University of Helsinki found that short periods of REM sleep impair horses' perseverance and performance in demanding learning tasks. Horses with longer REM sleep duration performed better in a reverse learning test, suggesting that REM sleep is associated with motivation and perseverance.

Psychology study: You can teach an old dog new tricks

A psychology study found that social and emotional skills training benefits both younger and older adults equally. The study showed that participants in their twenties and those between 60-80 years old demonstrated similar improvements in emotional stability and extraversion after an eight-week personality intervention program.

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.

How forest conversion can harm dung beetles

A study found that forest conversion harm dung beetles by increasing temperatures and drying out the ground, making it hostile for them. The key species, Anoplotrupes stercorosus, is particularly affected, with its population declining as temperatures rise.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

New research: No trace of DMT in the rat brain’s serotonin system

A new study by researchers from the University of Southern Denmark has found no evidence of naturally occurring DMT in the adult rat brain, even when its breakdown was inhibited. The study used highly sensitive methods to detect trace substances and examined whether administered DMT could be stored in serotonin neurons.

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.