Science & Earth

Researchers who tracked Geoffroy's spider monkeys in Mexico's Yucatan from 2012 to 2017 found that individuals move between small subgroups in a fission‑fusion system, carrying foraging experience with them so information about where and when fruit ripens spreads through the population.

Researchers report an implantable "living" artificial pancreas that houses insulin-producing cells inside a protective crystalline shield and maintained glucose control in tests on mice and non-human primates.

Researchers engineered an antibody that binds a bacterial sugar called pseudaminic acid and cleared a normally fatal multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection in mice; the team plans to develop antibody treatments for clinical use over the next five years.

Researchers recreated perfumes from 3,500-year-old Egyptian balm using chemical analyses and interdisciplinary expertise, and museums in Germany and Denmark now offer scented cards and a scent station alongside mummy displays.

An international team developed the microfluidic Axialtrode (mAxialtrode), a flexible fiber thinner than a sewing needle that combines light delivery, electrical recording and microfluidic drug channels in one device. In tests on mice the implant stimulated neurons with blue and red light, recorded activity in cortex and hippocampus, and delivered substances at different depths up to about 2.7 millimeters apart.

A PLOS Biology study found that sleeping newborns showed brain responses of 'surprise' when musical rhythms changed, indicating rhythmic predictions in infants only days old. The same study did not find evidence of melodic expectation, and it did not test effects of musical exposure or later developmental outcomes.

A study published in Science Advances estimates wildfire smoke could account for up to about 24,100 U.S. deaths per year, based on satellite exposure and mortality data from 2006–2020. Researchers report roughly 5,594 additional deaths for each 0.1 µg/m3 annual increase in wildfire-related fine particle pollution.

A study published in Science reports that Kanzi, a bonobo who understood English, tracked imaginary juice and grapes during controlled tests, indicating he could follow human-created pretend scenarios.

State, tribal and university researchers will collar up to 43 moose in the western Upper Peninsula this month as part of a study into factors behind a roughly 30% drop in survey counts since 2023.

NASA will conduct a wet dress rehearsal and simulated launch for Artemis II as early as Jan. 31, and the crewed mission could launch around Feb. 6 to carry four astronauts on a lunar flyby.

The Ohio EPA has distributed $4.3 million in H2Ohio chloride reduction grants since 2023 and announced $1.5 million more to be awarded across two funding rounds, with applications due Friday.

NASA announced that astronauts may carry current-model smartphones beginning with Crew-12 and Artemis II, saying modern hardware was qualified on an expedited timeline. Artemis II remains tentatively scheduled after a wet dress rehearsal uncovered a liquid hydrogen leak that paused countdown procedures.

Malaysia announced an immediate, full ban on electronic waste imports and reclassified all e‑waste as an "absolute prohibition," removing prior exemptions. Authorities say the move comes alongside a widening corruption inquiry into e‑waste oversight that has led to detentions and asset freezes.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has published the Draft National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS) 2026 for public comment, with the consultation open until mid-February 2026; the draft emphasises waste minimisation, circular economy principles and supports extended producer responsibility within existing law.

A study published Feb. 4 in Communications Biology reports that the Deep Maniot community at the southern tip of Greece has been genetically isolated for roughly 1,400 years and retains ancient paternal lineages linked to Bronze Age and Roman-period Greek-speaking populations.

A new study by nine experts warns there are major knowledge gaps and no industry-wide standards for reproductive health beyond Earth, and its authors call for international research and ethical guidelines as long-duration missions and commercial activity increase.

A campsite in Khao Yai National Park was closed after authorities said a wild bull elephant fatally attacked a tourist on Feb. 2; officials reported this was the third reported death linked to the same animal.

Radio occultation data from 13 Juno flybys indicate Jupiter's equatorial width is about 8 kilometers less and its polar flattening about 24 kilometers greater than earlier estimates; the results were published Feb. 2, 2026.

NASA's Orion spacecraft sits atop the SLS rocket at the launch pad after rollout on Jan. 17, 2026, and is intended to carry the Artemis II crew around the Moon. The vehicle is designed to house four astronauts for up to 21 days without docking and includes upgraded life support, avionics, power, and thermal protection systems.

Erin Edwards is Deputy Branch Chief for Crew Operations and serves as a capsule communicator at NASA's Johnson Space Center, where she helps manage astronaut candidate training and relays operations to the ISS crew.

An ammonia spike in the Yamuna forced six of Delhi's nine water treatment plants to close, cutting running water to roughly two million people in 43 neighborhoods; officials say they will expand sewage processing to 1,500 million gallons a day and extend sewer lines to informal housing by 2028.

AES Andes cancelled the planned INNA hydrogen plant near ESO's Cerro Paranal, and ESO said the project could have increased light pollution above Paranal by up to 35%.

Researchers reporting in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface used seismic imaging and modeling to argue that a lithospheric drip lowered the Uinta Mountains 2–5 million years ago, enabling the Green River to cut a deep canyon and join the Colorado River.

A new study led by Adam Smith at the University of Glasgow reports that the Green River did not reverse direction; instead, the Uinta Mountains’ deep lithospheric root became unusually dense, sank into the mantle, and later detached about two to five million years ago, leaving the river’s course appearing to slope uphill.

Investigators collected vials described as unknown liquids during a search of a private residence in Las Vegas, and Sen. Ron Johnson said the discovery is "an enormous problem" and raised concerns about gene-editing tools like CRISPR and national security.

Host cities are investing in advanced snowmaking and other upgrades as Alpine regions warm faster than the global average; the IOC has set new sustainability obligations from 2030 and is considering rotating hosts among climate‑reliable countries.

Colossal Biosciences said it will open a Colossal Biovault and World Preservation Lab inside Dubai's Museum of the Future to store millions of frozen tissue and other samples from about 10,000 species, including the 100 most endangered globally and in the UAE. Experts and conservation groups note that cryobanking is a complementary tool and raise questions about governance, access and long-term integration with conservation efforts.

Jetavanaramaya in Anuradhapura was completed around 301 CE using an estimated 93.3 million baked mud bricks and originally rose to about 122 meters; today it stands roughly 71 meters and remains the largest brick structure by volume.

Immunic will present additional phase 2 CALLIPER trial data on vidofludimus calcium at the ACTRIMS Forum 2026; the company reports MRI analyses showing reductions in several lesion measures and a subset analysis showing declines in EBV‑specific T‑cell receptor sequences versus placebo.

Hawaii's green sea turtle populations have increased and are now common on many beaches, and some Native Hawaiians are calling for limited cultural harvest rights while federal protections under the Endangered Species Act remain in place.