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Phys.org / Celebrity dolphin of Venice doesn't need special protection—except from humans

Bottlenose dolphins usually live in small to medium-sized groups in coastal and open-sea waters, but every once in a while, a dolphin might leave its pod behind, flock to coastal areas and approach human settlements. While ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Getting closer to the stars: Fink, a French tool for tracking transient phenomena across the observable universe

Thanks to Fink, a software package created by two CNRS engineers, it is now possible to track millions of transient celestial phenomena observed in the sky by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, in real time and with ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Astronomy & Space
Medical Xpress / Congenital aniridia causes a progressive loss of corneal sensitivity, clinical study reveals

Congenital aniridia is a rare disease caused, in most cases, by mutations in the PAX6 gene, which is essential for the development of ocular structures. Although the most visible feature is the total or partial absence of ...

Feb 27, 2026 in Ophthalmology
Phys.org / AI model analyzes 52 factors to flag extinction risks for 10,000 fish species

Whether it's redfin pickerel in the Kennebec River or sturgeon in the Great Lakes, nearly one-third of freshwater fish species are facing possible extinction, threatening food supplies, ecosystems and outdoor recreation. ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Biology
Medical Xpress / In Rett syndrome, leaky brain blood vessels traced to microRNA

MIT researchers have discovered that two common genetic mutations that cause Rett syndrome each set off a molecular chain of events that compromises the structural integrity of developing brain blood vessels, making them ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Neuroscience
Medical Xpress / Why eczema often starts in childhood: New clues point to early immune 'overreaction'

A team of researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Weill Cornell Medicine, and other institutions have uncovered a key biological explanation for why eczema so often starts in childhood. The study, in young ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Immunology
Phys.org / Blaming beavers for flood damage is bad policy and bad science, research shows

Beaver dams are critical to river health and a source of biodiversity. They create wetlands, slow water and improve water quality. They also reduce flood peaks and delay runoff. But beaver dams are often blamed when extreme ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Earth
Medical Xpress / Unlearning fear faster: Activating certain neurons can accelerate the process

Unlearning fear responses is a fundamental learning process in the brain. It allows us to flexibly react to formerly threatening situations once the danger is no longer present. This mechanism, known in research as "fear ...

Feb 25, 2026 in Psychology & Psychiatry
Phys.org / Nine-city study finds richer neighborhoods get more sidewalk shade

One of the best forms of heat relief is pretty simple: trees. In cities, as studies have documented, more tree cover lowers surface temperatures and heat-related health risks. However, as a new study led by MIT researchers ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Earth
Phys.org / New technology reveals hidden DNA scaffolding built before life 'switches on'

For decades, scientists viewed the genome of a newly fertilized egg as a structural "blank slate"—a disordered tangle of DNA waiting for the embryo to wake up and start reading its own genetic instructions. In research ...

Feb 24, 2026 in Biology
Phys.org / Tracking wildlife trafficking in the age of online marketplaces

Wildlife trafficking is one of the world's most widespread illegal trades, contributing to biodiversity loss, organized crime, and public health risks. Once concentrated in physical markets, much of this activity has moved ...

Feb 26, 2026 in Biology
Medical Xpress / Black Americans face increasingly higher risk of gun homicide death than white Americans

Firearm homicide death rates have long been disproportionately higher for Black Americans compared to white Americans, and a new analysis across 45 years suggests that in recent years, this disparity has grown. Alex Knorre ...