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Phys.org / Could the discovery of a tiny RNA molecule explain the origins of life?

One of the greatest mysteries of our planet is how a soup of lifeless chemicals transformed into the first living cell. There are several competing theories about where this happened, from frozen polar ice to superheated ...

Feb 13, 2026 in Biology
Tech Xplore / Why city street surveys miss methane leaks, and what that means for safety

The complexities of urban environments—like variable winds off tall buildings or surfaces—significantly impair the ability to detect natural gas leaks from underground pipelines, a new study shows. SMU researchers found ...

Feb 19, 2026 in Engineering
Phys.org / Physicists explain the exceptional energy-harvesting efficiency of perovskites

Despite being riddled with impurities and defects, solution-processed lead-halide perovskites are surprisingly efficient at converting solar energy into electricity. Their efficiency is approaching that of silicon-based solar ...

Feb 16, 2026 in Physics
Medical Xpress / Scientists discover 'bacterial constipation,' a new disease caused by gut-drying bacteria

Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan have found two gut bacteria working together that contribute to chronic constipation. The duo, Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, destroy the intestinal mucus ...

Feb 19, 2026 in Gastroenterology
Medical Xpress / Same-day hospital discharge found to be safe for select patients after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

With careful selection, same-day hospital discharge was found to be feasible and safe in around one-fifth of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation in a study presented at the EAPCI Summit 2026. The summit ...

Feb 19, 2026 in Cardiology
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 / Early study connects dogs' cancer survival with their gut microbiome composition

Canine cancer patients receiving a new form of immunotherapy lived longer or shorter depending on the composition of their microbiome, the community of organisms living in their gut. Results of the clinical trial led by Oregon ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Biology
Medical Xpress / Therapeutic outcomes for autistic adults: Exploring factors that shape anxiety and depression trajectories

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by differences in social interactions and in the understanding of others' thoughts or feelings, restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. ASD can ...

Feb 14, 2026 in Psychology & Psychiatry
Phys.org / Science on the double: How an AI-powered 'digital twin' accelerates chemistry and materials discoveries

Understanding what complex chemical measurements reveal about materials and reactions can take weeks or months of analysis. But now, an AI-powered platform developed by researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Chemistry
Medical Xpress / Single dose of a psychedelic drug can rapidly reduce depressive symptoms, clinical trial suggests

A single dose of the psychedelic drug dimethyltryptamine (DMT), given with psychological support, rapidly reduced depressive symptoms in 34 adults with major depressive disorder, according to a clinical trial published in ...

Feb 17, 2026 in Psychology & Psychiatry
Medical Xpress / Capacitive-resistive monopolar radiofrequency appears safe, effective for genitourinary syndrome of menopause

Capacitive-resistive monopolar radiofrequency significantly improved sexual function and vaginal health in women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause, according to a study published online Feb. 10 in Menopause.

Feb 19, 2026 in Endocrinology & Metabolism
Phys.org / Time crystals could become accurate and efficient timekeepers

Time crystals could one day provide a reliable foundation for ultra-precise quantum clocks, new mathematical analysis has revealed. Published in Physical Review Letters, the research was led by Ludmila Viotti at the Abdus ...

Feb 13, 2026 in Physics