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Phys.org / What freezing plants in blocks of ice can tell us about the future of Svalbard's plant communities

How will a warming Arctic affect plant growth on Svalbard? Researchers encased plant plots in a thick layer of ice during the winter and used little greenhouses to heat up those plots in the summer. The surprise? The plants ...

Feb 18, 2026 in Biology
Medical Xpress / Brainwaves of mothers and children synchronize when playing together—even in an acquired language

Interbrain synchrony is the simultaneous activity of neural networks across the brains of people who are socially interacting—for example, talking, learning, singing, or working together. Having brains that are thus synchronized ...

Feb 18, 2026 in Neuroscience
Medical Xpress / Being physically fit may keep you calm under pressure

Regular exercise is not only good for the body, but it may also help you stay cool under pressure. Research published in the journal Acta Psychologica found that higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with lower ...

Feb 16, 2026 in Psychology & Psychiatry
Phys.org / Physicists observe polaron formation for the first time

When an electron travels through a polar crystalline solid, its negative charge attracts the positively charged atomic cores, causing the surrounding crystal lattice to deform. The electron and lattice distortion then move ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Long-term radio observations probe a relativistic binary pulsar system

Astronomers have analyzed the data from long-term radio observations of a binary pulsar known as PSR J1906+0746. Results of the new study, published February 5 on the arXiv pre-print server, deliver important information ...

Feb 16, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Warming winters are disrupting the hidden world of fungi—the result can shift mountain grasslands to scrub

When you look out across a snowy winter landscape, it might seem like nature is fast asleep. Yet, under the surface, tiny organisms are hard at work, consuming the previous year's dead plant material and other organic matter.

Feb 17, 2026 in Biology
Medical Xpress / Why is everyone stuck on kinesiology tape?

It's available over the counter at the local pharmacy or online, comes in a variety of colors, and is seen on the bodies of countless athletes across the world, but what exactly is kinesiology tape and what does it do?

Tech Xplore / How can you rescue a 'kidnapped' robot? New AI system helps robots regain their sense of location

Mobile robots must continuously estimate their position to navigate autonomously. However, satellite-based navigation systems are not always reliable: signals may degrade near buildings or become unavailable indoors. To operate ...

Feb 18, 2026 in Robotics
Phys.org / Most roadless areas in Great Britain are smaller than 1 km², fragmenting wildlife habitats

Britain's landscape is highly fragmented by roads, with researchers from Cardiff University finding that more than 70% of the UK's roadless areas are smaller than 1 km2. The researchers say that more than 60% of roadless ...

Feb 18, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Climate change and persistent contaminants deliver one‑two punch to Arctic seals, study finds

New research shows a single year of warmer-than-average Arctic temperatures can cause malnutrition in Arctic seals, intensifying risks to Inuit food security and northern ecosystems already under pressure from environmental ...

Feb 18, 2026 in Biology
Medical Xpress / Millions are unaware of heart risks that don't start in the heart

Diabetes and kidney disease are major risk factors for heart disease, but many cases go undiagnosed. Furthermore, a consumer survey conducted last fall suggests that most people are unaware that heart, kidney, and metabolic ...

Feb 18, 2026 in Cardiology
Phys.org / Rhythm during sex in bonobos provides new insights into the evolution of communication

An international research team, including VUB data scientist Yannick Jadoul, has shed new light on the rhythmic nature of sexual behavior in bonobos. By precisely analyzing the tempo of movements during sex, researchers aim ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Biology