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Science News Archive February 2026 - Page 8


Page 8 of 45

Ancient diets reveal surprising survival strategies in prehistoric Poland

Researchers reconstructed diets of prehistoric communities in north-central Poland, shedding light on how people adapted to changing environments and social landscapes. The study found that Corded Ware communities herded animals in forests and that millet consumption varied among groups, reflecting identity and group boundaries.

SourceUniwersytet Gdanski·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 24, 2026

Novel structural insights into Phytophthora effectors challenge long-held assumptions in plant pathology

Researchers at FABI define a conserved subset of Phytophthora RxLR effectors with short linear motifs embedded within folded WY domain cores. This arrangement preserves domain integrity while enabling potential interactions with host immune components, reframing pathogen strategies and challenging SLiM dogma.

SourceAmerican Phytopathological Society·JournalMolecular Plant-Microbe Interactions·DateFeb 24, 2026

Chapman University researcher warns of structural risks at Grand Renaissance Dam putting property and lives in danger

A new peer-reviewed study led by Dr. Hesham El-Askary finds significant vulnerabilities in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam's saddle dam due to leaks and seismic activity, posing a threat to downstream communities and infrastructure if urgent monitoring and mitigation steps are not taken.

SourceChapman University·JournalInternational Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 24, 2026

A new ecological model highlights how fluctuating environments push microbes to work together

Researchers develop mathematical model to capture microbial cooperation and community stability, predicting the outcome of experiments with E. coli strains. The model's results show that auxotrophs contribute to stable communities by trading essential nutrients and limiting growth.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalCell Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 24, 2026

Q&A: Researchers discuss potential solutions for the feedback loop affecting scientific publishing

The peer review process is facing a crisis due to an increasing number of manuscript submissions and a decline in willing peer reviewers. Researchers propose potential interventions to address this issue, including selecting high-quality reviewing and using machine learning to support editors. This could help maintain the credibility o...

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalPLOS Biology·DateFeb 24, 2026

Blaming beavers for flood damage is bad policy and bad science, Concordia research shows

A new Concordia research study refutes the notion that beaver dam failures can cause river flooding, arguing that failed dams had only a small effect on water levels downstream. The study found that natural conditions such as steep slopes and intense rainfall were more likely to cause damage.

SourceConcordia University·JournalEarth Surface Processes and Landforms·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 24, 2026

Why do female caribou have antlers?

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati found that female caribou gnaw on shed antlers to supplement their diets with calcium and phosphorus, essential for milk production. The study, published in Ecology and Evolution, reveals a previously overlooked benefit of shed antlers in the Arctic ecosystem.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalEcology and Evolution·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 24, 2026

Study identifies medical conditions that could predict future Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers identified over 70 medical conditions associated with Alzheimer's disease development, including endocrine/metabolic conditions like Type 2 diabetes. The study suggests that addressing these conditions in midlife may reduce Alzheimer's disease risk, and could lead to earlier interventions and improved patient outcomes.

SourceVanderbilt University Medical Center·JournalAlzheimer s Research & Therapy·DateFeb 24, 2026

Could British companies be sued in the UK for human rights abuses committed overseas?

A new study from the University of Surrey suggests that powerful companies risk legal responsibility for labor abuse, child labor, and environmental pollution linked to their global operations. Courts in the UK and abroad are treating corporate human rights responsibility as a legal duty rather than a voluntary promise.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalMultinational Business Review·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 24, 2026

Tourists are fuelling exploitative working conditions by demanding cheap holidays warns new research

A new study from the University of Surrey and Strathclyde University finds that customers' obsession with cheap travel is linked to low wages and harmful working environments for service staff. The research highlights evidence of widespread harassment of service workers, particularly among airlines and hospitality companies.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalJournal of Services Marketing·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 24, 2026

Illinois and UChicago physicists develop a new method to measure the expansion rate of the universe

A team of researchers from Illinois and UChicago has developed a novel way to compute the Hubble constant using gravitational waves, improving accuracy over prior methods. The new method uses background gravitational-wave hum from merging black holes in distant galaxies to learn about the age and composition of the universe.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 24, 2026

Ambitious climate policy ensures reduction of CO2 emissions

A recent study by Heidelberg University suggests that countries with more comprehensive climate policy portfolios are achieving greater emission reductions. The research analyzed data from 43 major economies worldwide, finding that targeted policies, such as carbon taxes and renewable energy subsidies, were most effective in cutting em...

SourceHeidelberg University·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 24, 2026

Pandemic, election crises mark 'critical events' in declining democratic accountability standards, governance scholar writes

Governance scholar Christopher Koliba argues that the politicization of the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 US elections led to a transgression of democratic accountability standards. The two crises undermined reason and truthfulness, forbearance toward democratic institutions, and professional discretion.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalPerspectives on Public Management and Governance·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 24, 2026

Borrowing from biology to power next-gen data storage

Researchers at Penn State have developed a bio-hybrid system that combines synthetic DNA with perovskite semiconductors to create a memory resistor that stores and processes data with minimal power consumption. This technology has the potential to enable more efficient data centers, speedier data processing and more complex data analysis.

SourcePenn State·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 24, 2026

A team from the Universitat Jaume I formulates a biostimulant composition that protects crops from adverse conditions and improves harvest yields

A team from Universitat Jaume I creates a biostimulant composition using proline particles encapsulated in silica, enhancing plant tolerance to drought, high temperatures and salinity. The new compound's production process is scalable, cost-effective and reproducible, with potential for industrial-level application.

Cacao of Excellence names 50 highest-ranking cacao producers in 2025 Global Evaluation

The Cacao of Excellence programme has announced its 2025 Edition, recognising 50 highest-ranking cacao producers from across four regions. The programme evaluates high-performing cacao through blind technical and sensory assessment, establishing an internationally comparable reference framework for cacao flavour.

One-dimensional photonic crystal nano-ridge surface emitting lasers epitaxially grown on a standard 300 mm silicon wafer

Researchers develop a new approach to grow high-quality III-V active material on silicon in the form of ordered nano-ridge arrays, supporting symmetry-protected bound states in the continuum mode. This enables strong in-plane confinement and vertical surface emission from a compact device footprint.

A comparison of the efficacy of non-chemical versus chemical cleansers against candida species on removable dental prostheses

This systematic review found that both chemical and non-chemical denture cleansers effectively reduce Candida species, with chemical agents demonstrating more consistent antifungal action. Non-chemical agents preserve material integrity and are preferred by patients for their taste and ease of use.

SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalJournal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology·DateFeb 24, 2026

Alcohol explains most suspected drugging cases

A nationwide review of 373 reported drugging cases in Denmark found that alcohol was the most frequent substance detected in complainants' blood and urine samples. Blackout was also a common symptom, suggesting high levels of alcohol consumption.

SourceAarhus University·JournalForensic Toxicology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 24, 2026