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Science X provides daily science news on research developments, technological breakthroughs and the latest science innovations.
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Low-cost air quality sensors mounted on drones have detected elevated PM2.5 concentrations at 100 meters above ground in Delhi, offering new insights for urban haze monitoring and mitigation strategies. doi.org/hbn96h
Drones with low-cost air quality sensors can improve air quality monitoring
A drone equipped with low-cost air quality sensors has revealed unexpectedly high concentrations of particulate matter at around 100 meters above ground level in Delhi.
phys.org
February 12, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Low-cost air quality sensors mounted on drones have detected elevated PM2.5 concentrations at 100 meters above ground in Delhi, offering new insights for urban haze monitoring and mitigation strategies. doi.org/hbn96h
A new insect-inspired bionic eye integrates vision and chemical sensing, enabling robots to detect obstacles and hazardous gases across a 180-degree field of view for improved navigation. doi.org/hbn96g
The insect-inspired bionic eye that sees, smells and guides robots
The compound eyes of the humble fruit fly are a marvel of nature. They are wide-angle and can process visual information several times faster than the human eye.
techxplore.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM
A new insect-inspired bionic eye integrates vision and chemical sensing, enabling robots to detect obstacles and hazardous gases across a 180-degree field of view for improved navigation. doi.org/hbn96g
A newly identified molecule, SLAMF6, acts as an internal brake on T cells, and novel antibodies targeting it have shown strong anti-tumor responses in preclinical models. doi.org/hbn9cr
Unraveling the mystery of why some cancer treatments stop working
Cancer researchers working on immunotherapies have made a big discovery: SLAMF6, a molecule on the surface of immune cells that prevents T cells from effectively attacking tumors—and, in mice, they've found a way to neutralize it.
medicalxpress.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:56 PM
A newly identified molecule, SLAMF6, acts as an internal brake on T cells, and novel antibodies targeting it have shown strong anti-tumor responses in preclinical models. doi.org/hbn9cr
Adjunctive brexpiprazole was associated with improved information processing speed in individuals with schizophrenia, without worsening psychiatric symptoms, in a recent observational study. doi.org/hbn96d
Brexpiprazole add-on may speed information processing in schizophrenia patients
Cognitive impairment, including decreased attention and memory, remains one of the most disabling aspects of schizophrenia, affecting the social life of patients.
medicalxpress.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Adjunctive brexpiprazole was associated with improved information processing speed in individuals with schizophrenia, without worsening psychiatric symptoms, in a recent observational study. doi.org/hbn96d
Sexual activity shortly before intense exercise does not impair strength or endurance in well-trained male athletes and may slightly enhance performance indicators. doi.org/hbn957
Pre-exercise sexual activity does not harm strength or endurance in male athletes, finds new study
Athletes may not have to observe pre-game abstinence before a big event after all. According to new research, sexual activity before intense exercise doesn't slow down an athlete's performance—in some cases, it may even help.
medicalxpress.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Sexual activity shortly before intense exercise does not impair strength or endurance in well-trained male athletes and may slightly enhance performance indicators. doi.org/hbn957
Automated SMS reminders from GP clinics have been shown to significantly increase the rate of children receiving vaccinations on time, offering a scalable approach to improve public health outcomes. doi.org/hbn9z7
Simple SMS 'nudge' a powerful prompt for timely vaccination
10,000 families participating in research by The Kids Research Institute Australia have demonstrated the effectiveness of a simple text message for increasing the number of children receiving their vaccinations on time.
medicalxpress.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Automated SMS reminders from GP clinics have been shown to significantly increase the rate of children receiving vaccinations on time, offering a scalable approach to improve public health outcomes. doi.org/hbn9z7
White-nose syndrome continues to devastate North American bats due to an immune response that causes inflammation and tissue damage, highlighting key differences from European bat populations.
White-nose syndrome puzzle solved: Biological mechanisms behind devastating bat disease revealed
Millions of bats in North America have died from white-nose syndrome, and a new study from the University of Waterloo explores why and how the fungal disease has devastated bat populations on this continent, while it has had little effect on bats in Europe.
phys.org
February 12, 2026 at 4:01 PM
White-nose syndrome continues to devastate North American bats due to an immune response that causes inflammation and tissue damage, highlighting key differences from European bat populations.
Fossilized reptile skin impressions dating back 298 million years have been identified in Germany, offering the earliest direct evidence of reptile skin and rare details such as a possible cloacal opening.
Oldest known reptile skin impressions dated to 298 million years found in Germany
An international research team led by Dr. Lorenzo Marchetti from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin has described the oldest known impressions of reptile skin from the Thuringian Forest in central Germany.
phys.org
February 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Fossilized reptile skin impressions dating back 298 million years have been identified in Germany, offering the earliest direct evidence of reptile skin and rare details such as a possible cloacal opening.
Exercise not only strengthens muscles but also activates SF1 neurons in the brain, which play a key role in building endurance and supporting physical adaptation over time.
Exercise may train the brain to build endurance via SF1 neuron activity
Exercise does more than strengthen muscles; it also rewires the brain. In a study published in Neuron, researchers reveal that the lasting gain in endurance from repeated exercise—such as the ability to run farther and faster over time—involves changes in brain activity that help muscles and hearts to become stronger.
medicalxpress.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Exercise not only strengthens muscles but also activates SF1 neurons in the brain, which play a key role in building endurance and supporting physical adaptation over time.
Male frogs’ mating calls become faster and more appealing as temperatures rise, providing females with cues about optimal breeding conditions and environmental suitability. doi.org/hbn9z6
Temperature affects the quality of male frogs' mating calls: Females can hear the difference
A study from the University of California, Davis, found that temperature affects the sound and quality of male frogs' mating calls.
phys.org
February 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Male frogs’ mating calls become faster and more appealing as temperatures rise, providing females with cues about optimal breeding conditions and environmental suitability. doi.org/hbn9z6
A new bio-based coating changes color in response to UV-A exposure, enabling materials to visibly indicate harmful sun exposure while maintaining stable material properties. doi.org/hbn9z4
Bio-based coating reveals harmful UV exposure by shifting color
Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a coating using proteins and bacteria that could enable the development of T-shirts that warn of excessive sun exposure or labels that reveal damage to light-sensitive materials.
phys.org
February 12, 2026 at 3:59 PM
A new bio-based coating changes color in response to UV-A exposure, enabling materials to visibly indicate harmful sun exposure while maintaining stable material properties. doi.org/hbn9z4
Death cap mushrooms are spreading rapidly in North America and now produce previously unknown chemical compounds, raising new concerns for public health and ecosystem impacts.
The changing chemistry of invasive death cap mushrooms
The California Department of Public Health reported 39 related poisonings in the last three months, leading to the death of four people, at least three liver transplants, and many more people made sick.
phys.org
February 12, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Death cap mushrooms are spreading rapidly in North America and now produce previously unknown chemical compounds, raising new concerns for public health and ecosystem impacts.
A redesigned fentanyl molecule maintains pain relief while significantly reducing respiratory depression in preclinical studies, suggesting a potential path toward safer opioid medications.
Fentanyl makeover: Core structural redesign could lead to safer pain medications
Fentanyl is one of the most effective drugs for managing severe pain, yet it carries substantial risks of addiction and respiratory depression, the dangerous and sometimes fatal slowed breathing.
phys.org
February 12, 2026 at 3:39 PM
A redesigned fentanyl molecule maintains pain relief while significantly reducing respiratory depression in preclinical studies, suggesting a potential path toward safer opioid medications.
A modular robot that shares power, sensing, and communication resources among its units demonstrates increased resilience, maintaining functionality even when individual modules fail. doi.org/hbn9zp
Power of the collective: Modular robot boosts resilience by sharing resources
EPFL roboticists have shown that when a modular robot shares power, sensing, and communication resources among its individual units, it is significantly more resistant to failure than traditional robotic systems, where the breakdown of one element often means a loss of functionality.
techxplore.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:20 PM
A modular robot that shares power, sensing, and communication resources among its units demonstrates increased resilience, maintaining functionality even when individual modules fail. doi.org/hbn9zp
Silver European eels have been documented in Cyprus inland waters for the first time, extending the known eastern range of this critically endangered species and highlighting new conservation opportunities. doi.org/hbn9zk
Silver European eel discovered in Cyprus for the first time
As part of a new study, researchers from Bournemouth University (BU) have discovered European eels, Anguilla anguilla, at the stage of silvering living in the inland waters of Cyprus for the first time.
phys.org
February 12, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Silver European eels have been documented in Cyprus inland waters for the first time, extending the known eastern range of this critically endangered species and highlighting new conservation opportunities. doi.org/hbn9zk
Plants in areas affected by past population declines retain genetic signatures of those events, highlighting the importance of considering genetic diversity in conservation strategies. doi.org/hbn9zh
Plants retain a 'genetic memory' of past population crashes, study shows
Researchers at McGill University and the United States Forest Service have found that plants living in areas where human activity has caused population crashes carry long-lasting genetic traces of that history, such as reduced genetic diversity.
phys.org
February 12, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Plants in areas affected by past population declines retain genetic signatures of those events, highlighting the importance of considering genetic diversity in conservation strategies. doi.org/hbn9zh
A new 3D MRI technique enables simultaneous visualization of heart tissue and blood flow, supporting more precise planning for treatment of complex congenital heart conditions in children.
3D MRI technique guides precision treatment of kids' heart conditions
With a new MRI technique that shows both heart tissue and blood flow simultaneously, physicians can see where heart defects occur and precisely plan to repair them, according to new research.
medicalxpress.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM
A new 3D MRI technique enables simultaneous visualization of heart tissue and blood flow, supporting more precise planning for treatment of complex congenital heart conditions in children.
Analysis of sediment records indicates that major earthquakes occur as randomly as smaller ones, highlighting the need for continuous preparedness in earthquake-prone regions. doi.org/hbn9x9
Major earthquakes are just as random as smaller ones
For obvious reasons, it would be useful to predict when an earthquake is going to occur. It has long been suspected that large quakes in the Himalayas follow a fairly predictable cycle, but nature, as it turns out, is not so accommodating.
phys.org
February 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Analysis of sediment records indicates that major earthquakes occur as randomly as smaller ones, highlighting the need for continuous preparedness in earthquake-prone regions. doi.org/hbn9x9
A new light-based sensor detects extremely low concentrations of cancer biomarkers in blood, offering potential for earlier, amplification-free diagnosis through simple blood tests. doi.org/hbn9x7
Light-based sensor detects early molecular signs of cancer in the blood
Researchers have developed a highly sensitive light-based sensor that can detect extremely low concentrations of cancer biomarkers in the blood.
medicalxpress.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM
A new light-based sensor detects extremely low concentrations of cancer biomarkers in blood, offering potential for earlier, amplification-free diagnosis through simple blood tests. doi.org/hbn9x7
Strawberry guava, an invasive plant in Madagascar’s Ranomafana National Park, disrupts soil quality and stalls natural forest regeneration for decades after deforestation.
Strawberry guava prevents natural forest generation in Madagascar, project reveals
Rice University biologist Amy Dunham has spent decades studying the mountainous rainforests of Madagascar's Ranomafana National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site that was designated a national park in 1991.
phys.org
February 12, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Strawberry guava, an invasive plant in Madagascar’s Ranomafana National Park, disrupts soil quality and stalls natural forest regeneration for decades after deforestation.
Cholesterol crystals may stiffen the liver early in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, potentially increasing risk before scarring occurs and highlighting the need for earlier detection.
Cholesterol crystals may trigger some liver disease
Cholesterol crystals in the liver may stiffen the organ early in those with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)—well before scarring develops—according to new research from a team in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
medicalxpress.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Cholesterol crystals may stiffen the liver early in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, potentially increasing risk before scarring occurs and highlighting the need for earlier detection.
Archaeological evidence from northern Vietnam indicates that intentional tooth blackening, a practice still seen today, dates back at least 2,000 years to the Iron Age. doi.org/hbn9wg
Scientists uncover Iron Age origins of Vietnamese tooth blackening practices
Not everyone wants their teeth to be white and gleaming. Tooth blackening is a recognized part of modern Vietnamese culture, and a recent discovery hints that the roots of this practice may stretch all the way back to the Iron Age.
phys.org
February 12, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Archaeological evidence from northern Vietnam indicates that intentional tooth blackening, a practice still seen today, dates back at least 2,000 years to the Iron Age. doi.org/hbn9wg
Sensors placed on loose clothing can capture human movement up to 40% more accurately and with less data than those on tight-fitting wearables, advancing health tracking and robotics applications.
Beyond the Fitbit: Why your next health tracker might be a button on your shirt
Measuring human movement with tracking devices on looser clothing is more accurate than on tight body suits or straps. This discovery by scientists at King's College London could mark a potential breakthrough for a range of technologies, including improving accuracy of personal health devices, such as Fitbits and smart watches, and enhancing motion capture for CGI movie characters.
techxplore.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Sensors placed on loose clothing can capture human movement up to 40% more accurately and with less data than those on tight-fitting wearables, advancing health tracking and robotics applications.
A gyroscopic wave energy converter uses a spinning flywheel to efficiently generate electricity from ocean waves across a broad range of frequencies, offering a promising approach for renewable energy.
Power in motion: Transforming ocean wave energy harvesting with gyroscopes
Ocean waves are one of the most abundant and predictable renewable energy sources on the planet, yet efficiently harnessing their power remains a major challenge.
techxplore.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:20 PM
A gyroscopic wave energy converter uses a spinning flywheel to efficiently generate electricity from ocean waves across a broad range of frequencies, offering a promising approach for renewable energy.
AI systems are increasingly able to mimic human responses in online surveys, raising concerns about data integrity and the reliability of research and political polling. New detection strategies are urgently needed. doi.org/hbn9sq
How AI is distorting online research, from polls to public policy
Artificial intelligence is increasingly able to simulate human behavior and answer online surveys and political polls, putting the reliability of survey-based research at risk.
phys.org
February 12, 2026 at 2:00 PM
AI systems are increasingly able to mimic human responses in online surveys, raising concerns about data integrity and the reliability of research and political polling. New detection strategies are urgently needed. doi.org/hbn9sq