All stories — Page 12

24 Feb 2026

Algae engineered to capture microplastics

Researchers at the University of Missouri modified algae so it makes limonene, a natural oil. The algae bind water‑repellent microplastics into clumps that sink; the algae can grow in wastewater and help clean it.

Level

Read

24 Feb 2026

Molecule stores sunlight and releases heat on demand

Chemists at UC Santa Barbara designed a modified molecule called pyrimidone that captures sunlight, stores it in chemical bonds and releases it as heat when triggered. Tests released enough heat to boil water under normal conditions.

Level

Read

24 Feb 2026

Funny teachers can help students feel better

A study of small lab classes found that short jokes from instructors can change students’ feelings. What students think is funny predicts their emotions about the course more than researchers’ judgments do.

Level

Read

24 Feb 2026

Older adults more exposed to low-credibility online health information

Researchers at the University of Utah tracked web activity of more than 1,000 US adults for four weeks. They found low-credibility health sites were rare overall but visits were concentrated among older adults, especially those who lean right politically.

Level

Read

23 Feb 2026

Nejra Turadinović and Her Children's Illustrations

A profile of Bosnian-Herzegovinian artist Nejra Turadinović and her renewed work drawing cartoons and illustrations for children. The piece also explains how illustration and caricature have been used in books and media.

Level

Read

23 Feb 2026

Fracking worries in Argentina's Vaca Muerta

Local people and researchers are concerned about expanded fracking in Vaca Muerta, Neuquén. They link the activity to more earthquakes, heavy water and sand use, and possible contamination of soil and rivers.

Level

Read

22 Feb 2026

Netflix series revives search for Oesterheld

A Netflix adaptation of the 1957 comic El Eternauta has renewed attention to Héctor Germán Oesterheld and his missing family. The show led to more searches for disappeared people and more contacts with Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo.

Level

Read

21 Feb 2026

Internet blackout and protests in Iran

Protests began in late December 2025 and the Iranian authorities shut down internet services in January 2026. When connections returned, videos and reports suggested wide state violence and many arrests and deaths.

Level

Read

20 Feb 2026

Some processed foods may be addictive

Researchers say many ultraprocessed products — like snacks, sugary drinks and fast food — share addictive qualities with tobacco. The study urges a shift from blaming individuals toward policies that hold companies accountable for engineered, habit-forming foods.

Level

Read

20 Feb 2026

Pakistani human rights lawyers sentenced over social media posts

Two Pakistani human rights lawyers, Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, were sentenced to 17 years on 24 January 2026 for social media posts about alleged military abuses. The fast trial and use of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act drew wide criticism.

Level

Read

20 Feb 2026

Backdoor threat to self-driving cars

Georgia Tech researchers found a vulnerability called VillainNet that can hide inside AI super networks used by self-driving cars. When a certain subnetwork is chosen, the backdoor can activate and take control of the vehicle.

Level

Read

20 Feb 2026

People learn to use robotic leg prostheses but misjudge their gait

A four-day study found that people who practised with a robotic lower‑limb prosthesis improved their walking but misjudged their own movement. Researchers say better visual feedback could help users calibrate their body image and gait.

Level

Read