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Phys.org / Prehistoric fossil poses puzzles in shark research

A newly examined prehistoric shark from the age of dinosaurs provides surprising insights into the early evolution of modern sharks. It cannot be confidently assigned to any shark order that exists today and thus calls into ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Biology
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
Phys.org / Strong Field Spin-Boson model revises how intense lasers drive electrons in dense matter

A team of physicists from the University of Ottawa, led by Neda Boroumand, have developed a new theoretical model that shines new light on how scientists understand the way lasers interact with dense matter, such as solids ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Physics
Phys.org / Ancient cone-shaped vessels may have served as beeswax lamps during ritual processions, study finds

Chalcolithic cornets are conical ceramic vessels produced exclusively during the Chalcolithic period, recovered in abundance at some archaeological sites but absent at others. Their function has long been debated. However, ...

Feb 15, 2026 in Other Sciences
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
Tech Xplore / Atom-thin ferroelectric transistor can store 3,024 polarization states

Over the past few decades, electronics engineers have been trying to develop new neuromorphic hardware, systems that mirror the organization of neurons in the human brain. These systems could run artificial intelligence (AI) ...

Feb 14, 2026 in Hardware
Tech Xplore / New electrolyzer turns plastic-waste syngas into ethylene with less energy

For every ton of ethylene created, one ton of carbon dioxide is produced. With more than 300 million tons of ethylene produced each year, the production system has a huge carbon footprint that scientists and engineers are ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Engineering
Phys.org / A yeast enzyme helps human cells overcome mitochondrial defects

Nucleotide synthesis—the production of the basic components of DNA and RNA—is essential for cell growth and division. In most animal cells, this process depends closely on properly functioning mitochondria, the organelles ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / JWST spots most distant jellyfish galaxy to date

Astrophysicists from the University of Waterloo have observed a new jellyfish galaxy, the most distant one of its kind ever captured. Jellyfish galaxies are named for the long, tentacle-like streams that trail behind them. ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
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
Phys.org / Horses with over 30 minutes of REM sleep show better persistence in learning tasks

Just as for humans, sufficient sleep supports learning and coping for horses. A recent study at the University of Helsinki indicates that short periods of REM sleep impair horses' perseverance and performance in demanding ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / New amplifier design promises less noise, more gain for quantum computers

The low-noise, high-gain properties needed for high-performance quantum computing can be realized in a microwave photonic circuit device called a Josephson traveling-wave parametric amplifier (JTWPA), RIKEN researchers have ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Physics