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press releases.

Science12 Feb 2026

Rich medieval Danes bought graves ‘closer to God’ despite leprosy stigma, archaeologists find

Medieval Christians in Denmark showed off their wealth in death by buying prestigious graves: the closer to the church, the higher the price. Researchers used these gravesites to investigate social exclusion based on illness, by studying whether people with leprosy — a highly stigmatized disease culturally associated with sin — or tuberculosis were kept out of the higher-status areas. Unexpectedly, they found that people who were ill with stigmatized diseases were buried just as prominently as their peers. “When we started this ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Seashells and coconut char: A coastal recipe for super-compost

In the lush landscapes of tropical agriculture, two waste products—oyster shells from the sea and coconut shells from the trees—are being combined to solve a major headache for farmers: how to turn animal manure into high-quality compost faster and more effectively. A study recently published in Carbon Research reveals that a unique "Ca-modified biochar" can act as a powerful catalyst for the composting process. Developed by a research team at Hainan University, this new material helps transform pig manure and rice straw into stable, nutrient-rich humus, significantly boosting the ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

TBI of any severity associated with greater chance of work disability

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4:00 P.M. ET, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2026 MINNEAPOLIS — Having a traumatic brain injury, no matter how serious, is associated with a greater likelihood of qualifying for work disability up to five years later, according to a study published February 11, 2026, in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study does not prove cause and effect, it only shows an association. “Traumatic brain injury can result in disability that may ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Seabird poop could have been used to fertilize Peru's Chincha Valley by at least 1250 CE, potentially facilitating the expansion of its pre-Inca society

Seabird poop could have been used to fertilize Peru's Chincha Valley by at least 1250 CE, potentially facilitating the expansion of its pre-Inca society Article URL: https://plos.io/4renTnm Article title: Seabirds shaped the expansion of pre-Inca society in Peru Author countries: Australia, U.S. Funding: Funding for archaeological fieldwork and isotopic analyses of maize samples was provided to JLB by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (DGE-1144087), the Society of Fellows at Boston University, the Ford Foundation Fellowship Program, the National Geographic Young Explorers Grant Program (9347-13), and the Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid Research ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Suicide hotline calls increase with rising nighttime temperatures

Suicide hotline calls increase with rising nighttime temperatures (by 168% for temperatures in the hottest 99th percentile), which could warrant temperature-triggered staffing protocols. Article URL: https://plos.io/3Mtdju2 Article Title: Temperature extremes contribute to suicide-related help-seeking through multiple pathways: Evidence from crisis hotline data (2019–2023) Author Countries: United States Funding: This work was supported by the National Academy of Sciences Gulf Research Program (SCON-10001154 to MS and JR). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Twist-controlled magnetism grows beyond the moiré

In the rapidly evolving world of two-dimensional materials, a small twist can have outsized consequences. Since the discovery that rotational misalignment between atomically thin crystals can reshape their electronic behaviour, moiré engineering has become a powerful design principle for quantum matter. Writing in Nature Nanotechnology, researchers now show that magnetism, too, can defy conventional expectations: in twisted antiferromagnetic layers, spin order need not be confined to the moiré unit cell, but can expand into unexpectedly large, topological textures that span hundreds of nanometres. Most moiré phenomena inherit their defining length ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Emergency department–initiated buprenorphine for opioid use disorder

About The Study: No difference was detected in opioid use disorder treatment engagement on day 7 between the 7-day extended-release and sublingual buprenorphine groups. Both buprenorphine formulations were well tolerated; precipitated withdrawal was rare despite a high prevalence of fentanyl. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Gail D’Onofrio, MD, email gail.dononfrio@yale.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jama.2025.27019) Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Different visual experiences give rise to different neural wiring

The visual system is hierarchically organised into different areas. The lower visual areas see small parts of the visual field, and they are sensitive to very simple features, such as edges and their orientation. Higher up the hierarchy, the visual areas start encoding more abstract representations of the world, expanding their visual field to respond to stimuli such as objects and faces. At the same time, the areas that see “the big picture” send back information to the lower visual areas, called ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

City of Hope research spotlight, January 2026

LOS ANGELES — City of Hope® Research Spotlight offers a glimpse into groundbreaking scientific and clinical discoveries advancing lifesaving cures for patients with cancer, diabetes and other chronic, life-threatening diseases. Each spotlight features research-related news, such as recognitions, collaborations and the latest research defining the future of medical treatment. To learn more about research at City of Hope, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

The ACMG Foundation 2026 Early Career Travel Award is presented to Bianca Seminotti, Ph.D.

BETHESDA, MD – February 11, 2026 | Bianca Seminotti, PhD is the 2026 recipient of the ACMG Foundation Early Career Travel Award. The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine selected Dr. Seminotti based on her abstract “Mitochondrial Function in Fibroblasts from a Patient with Congenital NAD Deficiency due to Biallelic NADSYN1 Variants,” which will be delivered as a platform presentation at the 2026 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting. Dr. Bianca Seminotti earned her bachelor’s degree in Biomedicine and her master’s and doctoral degrees in Biochemistry from ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Successful press conference for Special Issue II of the JSE Himalayas Series

On January 30, 2026, thirty experts and scholars from domestic and international research institutions and universities, along with more than a hundred faculty and students, gathered at the Guanggu Campus of the Wuhan Botanical Garden to celebrate the release of the Journal of Systematics and Evolution (JSE) special issue on Uplift history and biological evolution of the Himalaya (II). The release of this issue, the second volume of the JSE Himalayas Series, also included a journal development seminar and was jointly organized by JSE and the Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In addition to promoting ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Hair extensions contain many more dangerous chemicals than previously thought

In the most comprehensive analysis to date, a new study by Silent Spring Institute identified dozens of hazardous chemicals in hair extensions, including products made from human hair, providing the strongest evidence yet of the potential health risks associated with this largely unregulated category of beauty products that disproportionately affect Black women. Published in the American Chemical Society journal Environment & Health, the study arrives amid growing concern about the health impacts of hair extensions, which are widely used by Black women. More than 70 percent of Black women report wearing hair extensions ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Elevated lead levels could flow from some US drinking water kiosks

After high-profile water crises like the one in Flint, Michigan, some Americans distrust the safety of tap water, choosing to purchase drinking water from freestanding water vending machines or kiosks. Yet this more expensive water may contain different pollutants than local tap water, according to a study in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology. Researchers report that water sampled from 20 kiosks in six states sometimes contained lead at levels above public health recommendations. "Currently, water kiosks ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Smokefree generation law could see English smoking prevalence drop below 5% decades earlier than expected

New research, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, has found that smoking prevalence among 12 to 30-year-olds in England could drop below 5% decades earlier than expected, if the government progressively raises the age of tobacco sale. With less than a year to go until the planned introduction of the “smokefree generation” law, researchers at the University have modelled the policy’s potential impact on smoking rates and health inequalities. The findings are published in the BMJ-owned journal Tobacco Control. The proposed legislation, part of the Government’s Tobacco and Vapes ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Do certain factors affect life expectancy in people with spina bifida?

Studies have reported on survival probabilities of people born with open spina bifida, a condition where the spinal cord and nerves are exposed through an opening in the back. Research published in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology now provides life expectancies, with results reported by age, sex, and different levels of impairment. In the study of 1,659 patients with open spina bifida who received support from the California Department of Developmental Services in 1986–2019, survival varied significantly by walking and feeding ability and by bowel/bladder continence. As an example, at age 5, the life expectancy was 27 additional years for males in ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Nearly three quarters of US baby foods are ultra-processed, new study finds

An alarming 71 percent of grocery store baby food products in the United States are classified as ultra-processed foods (UPFs), according to new research published today in the scientific journal Nutrients.1 Researchers at The George Institute for Global Health analyzed data on 651 products from the Institute’s FoodSwitch database, which includes infant and toddler food products sold in the top ten US grocery store chains. The products were assessed using the well-established NOVA classification system. UPFs are defined as industrially made products created from highly processed ingredients and additives.2 Such products tend ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Nonablative radiofrequency may improve sexual function in postmenopausal women

CLEVELAND, Ohio (Feb 11, 2026)—Hormone declines during menopause can cause genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), a cluster of vulvovaginal and urinary symptoms that can significantly impair a woman’s quality of life. Local estrogen therapy is effective in relieving genitourinary symptoms, but a new study suggests nonablative capacitive-resistive monopolar radiofrequency (CRMRF) may also be effective in restoring vaginal and sexual health. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause is estimated to affect at least half of postmenopausal women. Common symptoms include ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

DAYU3D: A modern code for HTGR thermal-hydraulic design and accident analysis

Advancing Thermal-Hydraulic Analysis for High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors High temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) are regarded as a key component of next-generation nuclear energy systems due to their inherent safety characteristics and high outlet temperatures. Accurate thermal-hydraulic analysis plays a central role in both reactor design and safety assessment. However, conventional thermal-hydraulic codes for HTGR typically rely on two-dimensional models and traditional numerical algorithms, which fail to meet the requirements for detailed three-dimensional ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Phylogenomics Insights: Worldwide phylogeny and integrative taxonomy of Clematis

Known as the "Queen of Climbers," the genus Clematis boasts over 300 species widely distributed across the globe. From tropical rainforests to sub-arctic regions, these plants are celebrated by gardeners for their vibrant flowers and are valued in traditional medicine. Despite their great popularity, however, scientists have long struggled to organize Clematis’ rapid species radiation into a coherent family tree of Clematis has plagued taxonomists—a challenge that has persisted since Linnaeus first described the genus in 1753, “Previous attempts using traditional DNA sequencing methods ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Tracking whether California’s criminal courts deliver racial justice

Mona Lynch, UC Irvine Chancellor’s Professor of criminology, law & society, has been awarded a $178,851 grant from the Russell Sage Foundation to study how California’s landmark Racial Justice Act provides access to racial justice for criminal defendants. The research project, titled “Access to Racial Justice in Criminal Courts,” will examine the implementation and impact of the California Racial Justice Act (CRJA), which prohibits the state from prosecuting, convicting or sentencing criminal defendants based on race, ethnicity or national origin. “Our ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

UCLA report reveals a significant global palliative care gap among children

Nearly all the world’s 10.6 million children experiencing serious health-related suffering (SHS) live in low- and middle-income countries with little to no access to palliative care specialized care for their illness, according to a comprehensive new report published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. The study defines SHS as physical, psychological, social or spiritual pain and distress linked to life-threatening or life-limiting conditions, as introduced by the Lancet Commission on Global Access to ...

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Science11 Feb 2026

Rapid response launched to tackle new yellow rust strains threatening UK wheat

The UK’s wheat is under threat from a newly identified strain of the yellow rust pathogen, prompting an urgent mobilisation of research institutes to protect harvests. The new strain, identified in 2025, has overcome a key resistance gene that was protecting many major UK wheat varieties from yellow rust infection. The breakdown of this resistance gene, Yr15, leaves more than 50% of the UK’s wheat acreage vulnerable ...

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Science10 Feb 2026

How many times will we fall passionately in love? New Kinsey Institute study offers first-ever answer

Falling passionately in love is one of the most talked about human experiences, celebrated in songs, movies, literature and art across cultures. Passionate love is widely considered a hallmark of romantic relationships and has well-documented psychological and behavioral effects. Yet until now, research has overlooked a surprisingly basic question: How many times do people actually experience passionate love over a lifetime? A new study from researchers at the Kinsey Institute offers the first population-level answer. Published in Interpersona: An International Journal on Personal Relationships, the ...

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Science10 Feb 2026

The genetics of anxiety: Landmark study highlights risk and resilience

Anxiety disorders — including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder and phobias — affect as many as one in four people over the course of their lives. They often begin early in life and persist for years, inflicting significant personal, social and economic consequences. Now, a major breakthrough published in Nature Genetics is offering the clearest picture yet of the genetic roots of these conditions. In what is now the largest genome‑wide association study (GWAS) of clinically diagnosed anxiety disorders ever conducted, an international ...

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Science10 Feb 2026

More banks mean higher costs for borrowers

When banks crowd a lending market, you can forget the traditional relationship of supply and demand, in which increased supply normally leads to lower prices. So finds new research from Cesare Fracassi, associate professor of finance at Texas McCombs. Paradoxically, a larger number of banks in a market sends the price of a loan up — as measured by the interest rate charged by the lender. For every six additional banks in a county, he finds, interest rates are 7 basis points higher. A basis point is one-hundredth of 1%. “The usual story we tell says the more suppliers of a product are out there, the better it is,” Fracassi says. “It’s ...

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