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Science News Archive February 2026


Page 37 of 45

MXene for energy storage: More versatile than expected

Researchers have discovered two distinct redox reactions in MXene flakes depending on the electrolyte, providing insights into charge transfer processes at the nanoscale. This finding lays the groundwork for optimizing pseudocapacitive energy storage devices with high storage capacity and speed.

How damaged huntingtin proteins are broken down

Damaged huntingtin proteins accumulate due to a genetic mutation, leading to severe symptoms like movement disorders and dementia. Blocking specific tagging sites on the protein exacerbates the disease, highlighting potential therapeutic targets.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Scientists describe a window into evolution before the tree of life

Researchers describe a method to study evolutionary history prior to the last universal common ancestor, providing insights into the emergence of foundational characteristics of life. They focus on 'universal paralogs,' rare gene families with broad presence across all or nearly all organisms alive today.

New ideas for resource-efficient closed-loop systems

The KIT Center Climate, Environment and Resources is developing resource-efficient closed-loop systems to reduce environmental impact. The project aims to analyze resource and energy flows in material and product cycles to optimize circular production.

Surgery for quantum bits

Scientists have developed a method to perform quantum operations between logical qubits while correcting for potential errors. The 'lattice surgery' technique involves splitting and merging surface-code squares to entangle two logical qubits, allowing for fault-tolerant quantum computing.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

LimbLab: A tool to vizualise development in 3D

LimbLab enables 3D visualization of gene expression patterns, making it easier to study embryonic development. The open-source pipeline also provides advanced features like developmental age assignment and alignment with reference models.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

The 9th HKU Quarterly Forum on Chinese Economy

The 9th HKU Quarterly Forum on Chinese Economy provided insights into China's macroeconomy, key issues emerging from the development of artificial intelligence, trade, and finance matters. The event highlighted the importance of strengthening domestic demand while advancing technology to drive economic momentum.

Ancient rocks reveal annual climate cycles during Snowball Earth

Scientists have discovered evidence of repeating climate cycles operating every few years to decades during the Cryogenian glaciation, a period known as Snowball Earth. The findings suggest that these cycles were likely exceptions rather than the norm, and were triggered by small patches of open ocean in the tropics.

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.

5-FU chemotherapy linked to rare brain toxicity in cancer patient

A rare case of hyperammonemic encephalopathy caused by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy has been reported, highlighting the importance of monitoring neurological symptoms in patients receiving 5-FU. The patient's symptoms resolved after stopping 5-FU and administering lactulose and intravenous fluids.

H5N1 causes die-off of Antarctic skuas, a seabird

The high pathogenicity avian influenza virus H5N1 has caused the death of over 50 skuas in Antarctica, marking the first documented case of wildlife mortality due to the virus on the continent. The study found that the virus was primarily affecting the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula.

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.

Tooling up to diagnose ocean health

A field-deployable CRISPR-based biosensing platform has been developed for rapid, on-site monitoring of marine species and ecosystems, offering a sustainable solution for tracking ocean health. The technology has the potential to detect critical species, predict outbreaks, and support early warning systems for ecosystem disruptions.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Controlling magnetism to unlock better hydrogen storage alloys

A team of researchers from Tohoku University's WPI-AIMR has developed a new class of hydrogen storage alloys that can store large amounts of hydrogen while remaining thermodynamically stable. By controlling magnetism, the researchers were able to design materials that combine high hydrogen capacity with good stability.

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.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

New approach to HIV treatment offers hope to reduce daily drug needs

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have made a breakthrough in HIV treatment by enhancing NK cells to better fight HIV infections. The study shows that lab-enhanced NK cells can reduce the viral reservoir enough to allow long-term immunological control of HIV without daily antiretroviral medications.

Researchers find new way to slow memory loss in Alzheimer’s

A study led by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory researchers found that inhibiting the protein PTP1B improves learning and memory in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. This suggests that PTP1B inhibition can also improve microglial function, clearing up Aβ plaques.

New stem cell treatment may offer hope for Parkinson’s disease

Researchers at Keck Medicine of USC are investigating a unique therapy that uses lab-generated stem cells to repair damaged brain cells and produce dopamine, which may slow down the progression of Parkinson's disease. The treatment has shown promise in early clinical trials with 12 participants experiencing improved motor function.

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.

For dementia patients, easy access to experts may help the most

Researchers discovered that collaborative care programs improve quality of life, reduce costs, and alleviate caregiver burden for dementia patients. Adding lecanemab to treatment increased healthcare costs but was offset by the savings from collaborative care.

New study: Immune cells linked to Epstein-Barr virus may play a role in MS

Researchers found that certain types of CD8+ killer T cells are more abundant in people with MS and target the EBV virus, indicating the virus may trigger an immune response leading to progressive neurological damage. The study suggests that interfering with EBV could have a significant impact on other autoimmune diseases.

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.

No association between COVID-vaccine and decrease in childbirth

A study from Linköping University in Sweden found no association between COVID-19 vaccination and decreased childbirth rates. Researchers analyzed data on over 60,000 women and found no statistically significant difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups.

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.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Natto your average food

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University discovered that natto bacteria convert soybean proteins and other substances into supersulfide molecules. Heat-treated soybeans also showed an increase in supersulfides before fermentation, indicating a complex mechanism behind natto's health benefits.

Family dinners may reduce substance-use risk for many adolescents

A new study from Tufts University finds that regular family dinners can help prevent substance use among adolescents with low to moderate levels of adverse childhood experiences. However, for those with severe stressors, more targeted approaches like mental health support are needed.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

41 US states are getting warmer, all in slightly different ways

A study published in PLOS Climate found that 41 US states are getting warmer, with regional variation likely to impact agriculture, public health, and climate action. Most states experience warming in specific parts of their temperature distribution, highlighting strong regional inequalities in climate change impacts.

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.

Unraveling the physics behind Kamchatka's 73-year earthquake cycle

A massive Kamchatka earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8-8.9 struck off the peninsula in 2025, rupturing nearly the same region as a 1952 M9-class earthquake. The study estimated fault slip reached 9-12 m across a broad area, substantially exceeding the accumulated slip deficit since 1952.