Integrase, long known only as the enzyme that inserts HIV's genome into human DNA, turns out to play a structural role earlier in the viral life cycle. It forms filaments inside the HIV capsid that anchor the RNA genome to the shell wall. Without these filaments, the virus cannot infect cells - and no existing FDA-approved drug exploits this vulnerability.

The first company-level monitor of energy transition progress, applied to 25,000 Hungarian businesses, shows the shift to low-carbon energy is barely occurring in the private sector. If current trends hold, fossil fuels will still supply 80% of business energy in 2050 - far short of the EU's climate-neutrality target.

Severe frailty following a heart attack is more prevalent in women, but frail men face a significantly higher one-year mortality risk despite receiving more intensive treatment. Analysis of 900,000+ patients over 15 years reveals a sex-frailty paradox that current cardiac risk tools do not capture.

The first systematic analysis comparing stroke outcomes across traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage found meaningful differences in how each plan delivers care. Medicare Advantage patients received less post-stroke rehabilitation but had lower rehospitalization rates and recovered faster - though data limitations prevent firm conclusions about which plan performs better.

Bladder umbrella cells naturally become polyploid and display senescence markers throughout life - a state that appears protective rather than pathological. But new analysis from the University of Connecticut suggests this program can backfire: if tumor suppressor pathways fail, polyploid senescent cells may escape growth arrest and fuel chromosomal instability.

A qualitative study of 41 healthcare professionals at five U.S. health systems found that practicing lifestyle medicine reduced burnout by restoring alignment between clinicians' values and their daily work. Witnessing patients improve - often on fewer medications - countered the emotional exhaustion and cynicism that define burnout.

Focused ultrasound arrays that enable touchless tactile feedback and object levitation also generate steady airflow called acoustic streaming. A new study from the University of Tsukuba combines particle image velocimetry measurements with numerical simulation to predict this streaming behavior from first principles, validated across multiple beam configurations.

Tsukuba, Japan—Some plants, such as legumes, develop specialized root organs called nodules, within which they establish a symbiotic association with nitrogen‑fixing bacteria. Through this process, called rhizobial symbiosis, plants obtain nitrogen from the bacteria, which receive photosynthetically derived carbon compounds from plants. Clarifying the molecular basis of this interaction is of fundamental importance for plant biology and has significant implications for sustainable agriculture. The transcription factor ...

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, have discovered that immune cells known as macrophages remain poised to fight repeat infections due to the persistent presence of signaling molecules left behind during previous infections. The study, to be published February 18 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM), provides surprising new details about how the body’s innate immune system retains memories of previous immune threats, and suggests new ways to reduce the activity of misprogrammed macrophages that contribute to ...

(WASHINGTON – Feb. 18, 2026) – Extreme endurance running damages red blood cells in ways that may affect their ability to function properly, according to a study published in the American Society of Hematology’s journal Blood Red Cells & Iron. Although the duration and long-term implications of the damage are unclear, the study adds to a growing body of evidence that extreme forms of exercise may harm, rather than support, overall health. While previous studies have shown that ultramarathon runners experience breakdown of normal red blood cells during races – ...

A traditional Chinese mind-body practice that combines slow, structured movement, deep breathing and meditative focus lowered blood pressure as effectively as brisk walking in a large randomized clinical trial published in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology. Blood pressure reductions were seen after three months and sustained for one year. High blood pressure is one of the leading preventable risk factors for heart disease. Clinical guidelines recommend regular physical activity, yet long-term adherence to exercise programs is challenging for many ...

SAN ANTONIO — February 18, 2026 — Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is creating a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system that stores and organizes decades of scattered records and data. The U.S. Air Force Academy project aims to improve aircraft efficiency and safety through prognostic engineering, which involves using data, modeling and analytics to perform repairs and maintenance before problems occur. For decades, SwRI has worked with the U.S. military to sustain fleets of aging aircraft with monitoring, new technology and inspection methods while addressing problems associated with information security ...

The common view of natural selection is based solely on the individual: A trait allows an organism to out-compete its rivals and is thus passed down to its offspring. To suggest otherwise can provoke the ire of certain segments of the scientific community, acknowledged Binghamton University Associate Professor Emerita of Biological Sciences Anne Clark. But a bibliometric review of 280 scientific studies shows that natural selection can occur on multiple levels of biological organization simultaneously, and not just in social species. Clark is a co-author of the article “Abundant empirical evidence of multilevel selection revealed by a bibliometric review,” which recently ...

A national research program strategy on the use of liquid metals in fusion systems was discussed on Jan. 22 at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). The meeting, which was the first of its kind, also provided valuable insights into liquid metal infrastructure needs, along with current technology and science gaps, outlined in the DOE’s Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap published in October 2025. Research suggests that liquid metals could protect the components that directly face the intense heat of plasma and improve fusion system performance. Partly due ...

New York, NY (February 19, 2026) — Researchers at the Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Heart Center led a multicenter effort to develop and validate an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that can analyze a standard electrocardiogram (ECG) to identify patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot who may be at risk for harmful heart changes typically detected by cardiac MRI. The study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, was published in the European Heart Journal: Digital Health. Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart ...

Gainesville, Fla — Global unprovoked shark bites returned to near-average levels in 2025, following a sharp reduction the year prior. There was a total of 65 unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2025, slightly less than the most recent 10-year average of 72. Nine of last year’s bites resulted in fatalities, compared to the ten-year average of six. “The International Shark Attack Files provide baseline data about shark attacks on people that are rigorously and scientifically investigated, evaluated and summarized on an annual basis. While a significant fraction of incidents likely go unreported, the temporal trends, and local and global patterns of incidents ...

Highlights: Heart health and heart disease risk go beyond the heart. Diabetes and kidney disease are major risk factors for heart disease, yet many cases are undiagnosed. Regular screening of connected health factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose (sugar), waist circumference and kidney function, and appropriate treatment when needed can help prevent heart disease. DALLAS, Feb. 18, 2026 — Diabetes and kidney disease are major risk factors for heart disease, yet many cases are undiagnosed. In addition, a consumer survey done ...

For five Januarys starting in 2016, researchers and students from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) travelled to a small valley outside of Svalbard’s main city with big jugs of liquid water and an unusual goal: To encase selected plant plots in a thick cover of ice. Their focus was a plant community dominated by the polar willow, a critical year-round food for Svalbard’s reindeer population. They wanted to see what happens to these plant communities during winter weather extremes, where prolonged rain instead of snow can freeze the ground solid and encase ...

Los Angeles, CA – February 18, 2026 - Dr. Vadim Jucaud’s lab at the Terasaki Institute has developed a vascularized liver tissueoid-on-a-chip (LToC) platform that recapitulates key structural, functional, and immunological features of human liver tissue, enabling the study of liver regeneration and immune-mediated allograft rejection in a physiologically relevant human system. Liver transplantation remains the primary therapeutic option for patients with end-stage liver disease, yet progress in understanding transplant rejection and tissue regeneration has been limited by the lack of experimental models that accurately reflect human liver architecture and immune interactions. ...

EVERETT, Wash. – Restaurants looking for new ways to engage and inform customers may benefit from incorporating augmented reality (AR) technology into their menus, according to new research from Washington State University. The study, published in the International Journal of Hospitality Management, finds that AR menus can significantly increase customers’ interest in visiting a restaurant and may result in more positive word-of-mouth marketing, when compared to printed or QR-code menus. Led by Soobin Seo, professor of hospitality business ...

Why do some systems collapse suddenly after what seems like a minor disturbance? A single transmission line failure can cascade into widespread blackouts. A delayed shipment can ripple through a global supply chain, emptying store shelves far from the original disruption. A rumor spreading in a small online network can spark nationwide panic. In nature, a slight environmental shift can throw an ecosystem into chaos, and a local disease outbreak can quickly escalate into an epidemic. New research suggests that in many of these cases, ...

Background and objectives Thalassemia is a group of anemias that result from inherited defects in the production of the beta chain of hemoglobin. It is stabilized by gamma globin, which combines to form fetal hemoglobin. One therapeutic approach is to target histone deacetylase (HDAC), which plays an important role in controlling beta thalassemia. This study sought to identify a natural inducer for treating this disease. Methods Twenty-five Andrographis paniculata compounds were screened using Schrödinger Suite 2020 (Maestro 12.3) for ligand preparation, grid generation, glide extra precision docking and molecular mechanics/generalized ...

In an international study, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have identified a gene variant that controls the body’s capability to form new blood vessels in muscles – a mechanism that affects physical performance, health and recovery. The favourable gene variant is considerably more common among top athletes in endurance sports, compared with both top athletes in explosive sports and non-athletes. Key facts • Discovery: The gene RAB3GAP2 regulates the number of blood vessels in muscles. • Significance: Affects muscle function, endurance and metabolism. • Sports: The favourable variant ...

Glenview, Illinois –The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) is pleased to announce the first class of advanced practice providers (APPs) to earn the CHEST Critical Care Advanced Practice Provider (CCAPP) designation.  Available to nurse practitioners and physician assistants/associates, this achievement underscores the dedication of the APP to maintaining the highest professional standards and commitment to patient-centered care. The CCAPP designation recognizes APPs who play an essential role on the critical care team and support high-quality care for patients who are critically ill across ICU settings. “Earning ...

Radioactive cesium ions, due to their high-water solubility, pose a serious threat to human health and the environment. Conventional adsorbents such as Prussian blue (PB), although effective for cesium removal, often involve complex fabrication and high operational costs. Researchers have now developed an innovative electrochemical electrode by depositing PB onto chemically treated carbon cloth, achieving high cesium adsorption capacity and excellent reusability, with strong potential for practical wastewater treatment applications. Although regarded as a clean and sustainable energy source, nuclear fission requires ...