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Phys.org / Urban light pollution disrupts nighttime melatonin in wild nurse sharks

Artificial light from major coastal cities can disrupt the nighttime biology of sharks, according to new research that provides the first-ever measurements of melatonin—a hormone tied to biological rhythms—in wild sharks.

Feb 3, 2026 in Biology
Medical Xpress / Anticipating aging-related mental decline using saliva samples and AI

As humans age beyond early adulthood, their physical and mental functions tend to slowly worsen over time. One of the most common sources of severe mental decline in older adults are neurodegenerative diseases, conditions ...

Feb 1, 2026 in Gerontology & Geriatrics
Phys.org / Under snowpacks, microbes drive a winter-to-spring nitrogen pulse, study finds

When snow blankets the landscape, it may seem like life slows down. But beneath the surface, an entire world of activity is unfolding.

Feb 3, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Two huge hot blobs of rock influence Earth's magnetic field, study reveals

Exploring Earth's deep interior is a far bigger challenge than exploring the solar system. While we have traveled 25 billion km into space, the deepest we have ever gone below our feet is just over 12 km. Consequently, little ...

Feb 3, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Some bottled water is worse than tap for microplastics, study shows

Some brands of bottled water contain significantly higher levels of microplastics than tap water, according to new research by scientists who have developed a novel method for detecting these tiny particles.

Feb 2, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Lab-grown algae remove microplastics from water

A University of Missouri researcher is pioneering an innovative solution to remove tiny bits of plastic pollution from our water. Mizzou's Susie Dai recently applied a revolutionary strain of algae toward capturing and removing ...

Feb 2, 2026 in Biology
Tech Xplore / Unhackable metasurface holograms: Security technology can lock information with light color and distance

A research team led by Professor Junsuk Rho at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) has developed a secure hologram platform that operates solely based on the wavelength of light and the spacing between metasurface ...

Feb 3, 2026 in Hi Tech & Innovation
Phys.org / Ancient American pronghorns were built for speed

The fastest land animal in North America is the American pronghorn, and previously, researchers thought it evolved its speed because of pressure from the now-extinct American cheetah. But recently, that theory has come under ...

Feb 3, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Innate biases of newborn animals inspire adaptive decision-making model

Precocial animals, the ones that move autonomously within hours after hatching or birth, have many biases they are born with that help them survive, finds a new paper led by Queen Mary University of London, published in Proceedings ...

Feb 3, 2026 in Biology
Medical Xpress / Gene-editing therapy proves effective for Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy

A research team has successfully demonstrated the world's first gene-editing treatment for Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). The study was conducted in collaboration with the Seoul National University College of ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Immunology
Phys.org / Red giant stars can't destroy all gas giants—some are hardy survivors

Aging stars can completely destroy their planets. When a star reaches the end of its life on the main sequence, it goes through dramatic changes. And those changes don't just dictate the star's fate; they can also dictate ...

Feb 4, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Modeling finds old-growth wildfire risk highest where low-severity fires once burned

A new analysis shows that the Pacific Northwest's mature and old-growth forests are most at risk of severe wildfire in areas that historically burned frequently at lower severity. The study by scientists at Oregon State University ...

Feb 3, 2026 in Earth