Early in the 1969 film “Midnight Cowboy,” Dustin Hoffman, playing the character of Ratso Rizzo, crosses a Manhattan street and angrily bangs on the hood of an encroaching taxi. Hoffman’s line — “I’m walking here!” — has since been repeated by thousands of New Yorkers. Where cars and people mix, tensions rise.  And yet, governments and planners across the U.S. haven’t thoroughly tracked where it is that cars and people mix. Officials have long measured vehicle traffic closely while largely ignoring pedestrian traffic. Now, an MIT research group has assembled a routable dataset of sidewalks, ...

An AI-powered model developed at University of Michigan can read a brain MRI and diagnose a person in seconds, a study suggests. The model detected neurological conditions with up to 97.5% accuracy and predicted how urgently a patient required treatment. Researchers say the first-of-its-kind technology could transform neuroimaging at health systems across the United States. The results are published in Nature Biomedical Engineering. “As the global demand for MRI rises and places significant strain our physicians and health systems, our AI model has potential to reduce burden by improving diagnosis and treatment with fast, accurate ...

Researchers from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with international partners, have engineered a thin two-dimensional perovskite phase at the buried interface of three-dimensional (3D) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to boost device performance and operational stability. The method, published in Nature Energy on February 6, improves the crystallization quality of perovskite films and reduces defect concentrations at the buried interfaces by more than 90 percent (a tenfold ...

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have uncovered a strategy that triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells use to boost their ability to metastasize, or spread to other organs. Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and scientists are investigating ways to prevent it. These findings, published in Nature Communications, highlight new possibilities for developing clinical interventions to treat metastatic TNBC patients for whom there are no specific therapies. “Metastasis occurs ...

A recent study, led by the Center for Astrobiology (CAB), CSIC-INTA and using modelling techniques developed at the University of Oxford, has uncovered an unprecedented richness of small organic molecules in the deeply obscured nucleus of a nearby galaxy, thanks to observations made with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The work, published in Nature Astronomy, provides new insights into how complex organic molecules and carbon are processed in some of the most extreme environments in the Universe. The study focuses on IRAS 07251–0248, ...

The Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA), in partnership with the scientific publisher Pensoft Publishers and famous science YouTuber Ze Frank, have let the Internet name a newly discovered deep-sea chiton (a type of marine mollusk). The formal description of the species was published today in the open-access Biodiversity Data Journal. From over 8,000 name suggestions submitted via social media, the research team responsible for describing the species selected the name Ferreiraella populi. The specific epithet populi is a Latin singular noun in the genitive case meaning “of the people”. Curiously, the name was independently suggested by 11 different contributors ...

February 6, 2026 -- A UT San Antonio-led international research team has identified chitin, the primary organic component of modern crab shells and insect exoskeletons, in trilobite fossils more than 500 million years old, marking the first confirmed detection of the molecule in this extinct group. The findings, led by Elizabeth Bailey, assistant professor of earth and planetary sciences at UT San Antonio, offer new insight into fossil preservation and Earth’s long-term carbon cycle. Chitin is one of the most abundant organic polymers produced by life on Earth, second only to ...

A research team from the Department of Psychiatry at Tohoku University, led by Dr. Zhiqian Yu and Professor Hiroaki Tomita, has uncovered compelling evidence that maternal perinatal depression - psychological distress occurring during pregnancy or postpartum - elevates the risk of autistic-related traits in toddlers, with a particularly strong impact on girls. Their findings are derived from a large-scale Japanese cohort of over 23,000 mother-child pairs (the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study) and supported by mouse ...

MIAMI, FLORIDA (Feb. 5, 2026) – Overcoming tumor resistance to chemotherapy drugs has long been a challenge for oncology clinicians and researchers. Now, a new study suggests that blocking a key protein, p300, may force damaged cancer cells into a state of uncontrolled transcriptional activity, thereby creating a novel form of cellular stress that can make even chemo-resistant tumors sensitive again to treatment. The study was led by researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of ...

HRT via skin is best treatment for low bone density in women whose periods have stopped due to anorexia or exercise, says study Hormone replacement therapy applied via the skin is the best way of protecting bone density in women whose periods have stopped due to anorexia or intense exercise, according to new research from Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. The study, a meta-analysis of all previous clinical trials, identifies the most effective way to treat women with Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhoea (FHA), where periods stop because of anorexia nervosa or intense exercise. FHA is a common reproductive disorder, accounting for almost a third of cases of ...

Insilico Medicine (“Insilico”), a clinical-stage generative artificial intelligence (AI)-driven biotechnology company, today announced its participation in the World Health Expo 2026 (WHX 2026), held from February 9–12 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, UAE. As one of the premier global healthcare exhibitions, WHX 2026 serves as a high-impact platform for international healthcare enterprises, research institutions, and investors to explore digital health, biomedical innovation, and life sciences in the Middle East and beyond. Insilico Medicine, in partnership with the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE), will present its latest breakthroughs in AI-driven drug discovery at a joint ...

Formaldehyde is a common but unwelcome guest in many modern homes, leaking silently from furniture, flooring, and household products. While this colorless gas is a known respiratory irritant, cleaning it out of the air usually requires expensive or energy-heavy technology. Now, a research team from Vietnam National University has found a clever way to turn agricultural waste into a high-tech filter that breathes new life into indoor spaces. In a study published in Carbon Research, the team describes how they successfully ...

A University of Houston psychology professor is challenging the notion that dyslexia, or specific reading disorder, stems from a single faulty gene in the brain, suggesting instead that it is caused by an overall brain network vulnerability. The insight reshapes understanding of one of the world’s most common learning disorders, which affects up to 20% of the world’s population—nearly 780 million people who face lifelong challenges with reading.  Using computers and large biology databases, Elena Grigorenko, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen ...

Antibiotic resistance is widely recognized as one of the greatest global public health threats, but scientists are now uncovering an unexpected contributor to the problem living quietly in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. A new review highlights how microalgae, microscopic photosynthetic organisms that support aquatic food webs, may also help concentrate and spread antibiotic resistance genes in natural water environments. The study, published in the journal Biocontaminant, synthesizes emerging research showing that microalgae ...

Researchers have developed an environmentally friendly way to transform discarded orange peels into a highly efficient material that can remove toxic dyes from wastewater, offering a sustainable solution to two growing global challenges: agricultural waste management and water pollution. Industrial dye pollution is a major environmental problem worldwide. Each year, more than 700,000 tons of synthetic dyes are produced, and a significant portion enters waterways due to incomplete treatment. Even at low concentrations, dyes can discolor water, block sunlight essential for aquatic life, and produce harmful compounds that pose risks to human and ecosystem ...

Christos Papadelis, a pioneering researcher at The University of Texas at Arlington and leader in the Jane and John Justin Institute for Mind Health at Cook Children’s Health Care System, will serve as the founding director of the UTA Pediatric Brain Health and Neurosciences Center. The center links clinical and academic communities and bridges the gap between scientific discovery and patient care. Since 2015, UTA has earned the prestigious R1 designation from the Carnegie Classifications of ...

For decades, scientists assumed that order drives efficiency. Yet in the bustling machinery of mitochondria — the organelles that crank out adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the universal “energy currency” of cells — one of the most enigmatic components is a protein that appears anything but orderly. ATP powers nearly every biological task, from muscle contraction to neural signaling, by breaking high-energy phosphate bonds and being continually recharged through metabolism. This life-sustaining energy cycle depends on highly coordinated flows of electrons within respiratory supercomplexes. ...

Opioid overdoses continue to take a devastating toll across the United States. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2023, the nation recorded roughly 105,000 drug overdose deaths overall, with nearly 80,000 deaths involving opioids. Worldwide, opioids are also responsible for the majority of drug-related deaths. A University of California San Diego study is working on a potentially life-saving measure that may be as simple as strapping on a smartwatch. Researchers have ...

Cardiovascular disease results in around 20 million deaths worldwide and causes around a quarter of all deaths in the UK. Statins are highly effective drugs that lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels and have been repeatedly proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, there have been concerns about possible side effects. The researchers gathered data from 23 large-scale randomised studies from the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ Collaboration: 123,940 participants in 19 large-scale clinical trials comparing the effects of statin therapies against a placebo (or dummy tablet), and 30,724 participants in four trials comparing more intensive versus less intensive ...

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Ryan Milton, a fourth-year doctoral student in nuclear physics at UC Riverside, has been awarded a U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Fellowship. The fellowship, which provides a $3,600 monthly stipend for one year, will support his research at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, part of Stanford University. “My research focuses on developing and deploying AI tools to understand the behavior of protons and neutrons in nuclei,” Milton said. “Each proton and neutron is made of quarks, but we still don’t fully understand ...

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Following one of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history, University of Maryland researchers have detected high levels of fecal-related bacteria and disease-causing pathogens in the Potomac River, raising urgent public health concerns and underscoring the risks posed by aging sewer infrastructure.  Water sample results collected at the site by researchers show high levels of E. coli are present along with Staphylococcus aureus (the bacteria that causes Staph infections). An antibiotic-resistant strain of S. aureus, MRSA, was also identified at the site of the sewage overflow. “People coming into contact with the impacted ...

Cambridge, MA – A longstanding goal of immunotherapies and vaccine research is to induce antibodies in humans that neutralize deadly viruses such as HIV and influenza. Of particular interest are antibodies that are “broadly neutralizing,” meaning they can in principle eliminate multiple strains of a virus such as HIV, which mutates rapidly to evade the human immune system. Researchers at MIT and the Scripps Research Institute have now developed a vaccine that generates a significant population of rare precursor B cells that are capable of evolving to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies. Expanding these cells is the first step toward a successful HIV ...

In a series of tea party-like experiments, Johns Hopkins University researchers demonstrate for the first time that apes can use their imagination and play pretend, an ability thought to be uniquely human. Consistently and robustly across three experiments, one bonobo engaged with cups of imaginary juice and bowls of pretend grapes, challenging long-held assumptions about the abilities of animals. The findings suggest that the capacity to understand pretend objects is within the cognitive potential of, at least, an enculturated ape, and likely dates back 6 to 9 million years, to our common evolutionary ...

Marking a significant step toward a quantum-secure internet, researchers have demonstrated device-independent quantum key distribution over optical fibers spanning 100 kilometers (km). The findings show that cryptographic security can be guaranteed with this method, at the metropolitan scale – which represents a much greater distance than previous efforts – and help to close the gap between proof-of-principle quantum network experiments and real-world applications. Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a leading application of quantum technologies, enabling ultra-secure digital communications. Early forms of QKD derive security using trusted ...

Around the world, the total toxicity and ecological harm from agricultural pesticides are rising, despite recent United Nations commitments to halve pesticide use and risks by 2030. The findings establish a global, toxicity-weighted baseline for pesticide use and identify a subset of pesticides, crops, and countries driving the most biodiversity impacts. The widespread use of agricultural pesticides is a growing threat to global biodiversity. To address this concern, the 15th United Nations Biodiversity Conference set the goal of halving pesticide use and risk by 2030 and recently adopted a new global indicator – total applied toxicity (TAT) – that captures not just ...