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Phys.org / Space mining without heavy machines? Microbes harvest metals from meteorites aboard space station

If humankind is to explore deep space, one small passenger should not be left behind: microbes. In fact, it would be impossible to leave them behind, since they live on and in our bodies, surfaces and food. Learning how they ...

Feb 11, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Warming may boost soil carbon storage in boreal Sphagnum peatlands, study finds

A new study reports that climate warming can increase soil carbon accumulation in boreal Sphagnum peatlands by boosting plant productivity, protecting iron, and inhibiting microbial decomposition. These responses contrast ...

Feb 11, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / Non-biologic processes don't fully explain Mars organics collected by Curiosity, researchers say

In a new study, researchers say that nonbiological sources they considered could not fully account for the abundance of organic compounds in a sample collected on Mars by NASA's Curiosity rover. The paper is published in ...

Feb 10, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Medical Xpress / SSRI medications during pregnancy may increase risk of gestational diabetes but protect against preterm birth

An international team of researchers has found that the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes and early adaptation ...

Feb 13, 2026 in Psychology & Psychiatry
Phys.org / IceCube upgrade adds six deep sensor strings to detect lower-energy neutrinos

Since 2010, the IceCube Observatory at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station has been delivering groundbreaking measurements of high-energy cosmic neutrinos. It consists of many detectors embedded in a volume of Antarctic ...

Feb 13, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / DNA-binding proteins from volcanic lakes could improve disease diagnosis

Scientists have uncovered new DNA-binding proteins from some of the most extreme environments on Earth and shown that they can improve rapid medical tests for infectious diseases. The work has been published in Nucleic Acids ...

Feb 10, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Putting economic theory to the test: Cutting local taxes cuts household income

Voters might think less taxes would equate to more money in their pockets, but a new study shows that at the local level, the opposite may actually be true. Economists and politicians have weighed the benefits of different ...

Feb 13, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / The wild physics that keeps your body's electrical system flowing smoothly

Building on their pioneering 2018 research into how some of the body's cells, such as neurons and cardiac tissue, communicate via ions that flow through cellular channels, chemists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst ...

Feb 10, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Laser‑written glass chip pushes quantum communication toward practical deployment

As quantum computers continue to advance, many of today's encryption systems face the risk of becoming obsolete. A powerful alternative—quantum cryptography—offers security based on the laws of physics instead of computational ...

Feb 9, 2026 in Physics
Medical Xpress / Parkinson's disease triggers a hidden shift in how the body produces energy

Weight loss is a well-recognized but poorly understood non-motor feature of Parkinson's disease (PD). Many patients progressively lose weight as the disease advances, often alongside worsening motor symptoms and quality of ...

Tech Xplore / Non-consensual AI porn doesn't violate privacy—but it's still wrong

It rarely takes long before new media technologies are turned to the task of creating pornography. This was true of the printing press, photography, and the earliest days of the internet. It's also true of generative artificial ...

Feb 13, 2026 in Machine learning & AI
Tech Xplore / Burned out by smartphones, young people are choosing flip phones, cameras and MP3 players instead

Alarm clocks, maps, books, flashlights, watches, radios, MP3 players, Palm Pilots, remote controls, cameras, handheld recorders and other devices have all been gradually absorbed into a single one: the smartphone.

Feb 14, 2026 in Consumer & Gadgets