Science
Breakthroughs that shape tomorrow.
Phys.org
Why supermarkets may sell more by putting fresh meals in front
Why did the rotisserie chicken cross the aisle—and end up in your shopping cart? Maybe you grabbed the container that was closest to you, or maybe you examined all of the chickens, checking dates and timestamps to see when they were cooked. Markets follow various display strategies for prepared foods, with many stores making older items more visible so they'll be sold before they spoil. However, a theoretical model created by an NJIT researcher suggests that customers prefer finding the freshest items at the front of the displays.
Science
ScienceDaily
A hidden Aloe vera compound takes aim at Alzheimer’s
Scientists have uncovered promising clues that compounds found in Aloe vera could play a role in fighting Alzheimer’s disease. Using advanced computer modeling, researchers discovered that beta-sitosterol—a natural plant compound—strongly interacts with two key enzymes involved in memory loss and cognitive decline. The compound showed stability, strong binding, and favorable safety indicators, making it a standout candidate for future drug development.
Science
Technology
Innovations improving everyday life.
TechRadar
Ultrafast Wi-Fi 8 switches and access points on the way as Broadcom unveils new chipsets - but don't get rid of your Wi-Fi 7 gear just yet
New Broadcom Wi-Fi 8 access point and Trident X3+ switch chips support wired and wireless telemetry with real-time network data collection.
Technology
TechRadar
3 reasons why you shouldn't sleep on these $6 / £3 smart switches – they're the understated hit of IKEA's new gadget range
Exclusive: 'There are situations when you don’t want to pick up your phone, open an app, and tap through menus to steer your smart product.'.
Technology
Space
Uplifting discoveries beyond Earth.
Universe Today
An International Team Uncovers What Powers Auroras
A new study co-led by the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) reveals that plasma waves traveling along Earth’s magnetic field lines act like an invisible power source, fueling the stunning auroral displays we see in the sky.
Space
Phys.org
The 'Little red dots' observed by Webb were direct-collapse black holes
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was designed to look back in time and study galaxies that existed shortly after the Big Bang. In so doing, scientists hoped to gain a better understanding of how the universe has evolved from the earliest cosmological epoch to the present. When Webb first trained its advanced optics and instruments on the early universe, it discovered a new class of astrophysical objects: bright red sources that were dubbed "Little Red Dots" (LRDs). Initially, astronomers hypothesized that they could be massive star-forming regions, but this was inconsistent with established cosmological models.
Space
Space
SpaceX resumes Falcon 9 flights with Starlink satellite launch from California
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 25 Starlink satellites launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Feb. 7, 2025. The mission returned the Falcon to flight after an upper stage issue.
Space
Universe Today
SpaceX Crew-12 will Study How Microgravity Affects the Human Body
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is preparing to launch for a long-duration science mission aboard the International Space Station. During the mission, select crew members will participate in human health studies focused on understanding how astronauts’ bodies adapt to the low-gravity environment of space, including a new study examining subtle changes in blood flow.
Space
Phys.org
A giant star is changing before our eyes and astronomers are watching in real time
For decades, astronomers have been watching WOH G64, an enormous heavyweight star in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a galaxy visible with the naked eye from the Southern Hemisphere. This star is more than 1,500 times larger than the sun and emitting over 100,000 times more energy. For a long time, red supergiant WOH G64 looked like a star steadily reaching the end of its life, shedding material and swelling in size as it began to run out of fuel.
Space
Phys.org
Webb unveils nature of distant ultraviolet-luminous galaxy CEERS2-588
Astronomers from the University of Tokyo in Japan and elsewhere have employed the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to observe a distant ultraviolet-luminous galaxy known as CEERS2-588. Results of the observational campaign, published January 29 on the arXiv preprint server, shed more light on the nature and properties of this galaxy.
Space
Health
Advances for a healthier future.
Daily Mail
What King Charles eats in a day, rated by a diet expert: 'Shaped as much by routine and occasion by nutrition'
'Eating like a king' conjures up visions of lavish banquets and indulgent afternoon teas - but reigning monarch King Charles is more likely to be found tucking into a bowl of muesli.
Health
ScienceDaily
Scientists may have found the brain network behind Parkinson’s
A new international study points to a specific brain network as the core driver of Parkinson’s disease. Scientists found that this network becomes overly connected, disrupting not just movement but also thinking and other bodily functions. When researchers targeted it with non-invasive brain stimulation, patients showed much stronger symptom improvement than with conventional stimulation. The discovery could reshape how Parkinson’s is diagnosed and treated.
Health
Medical Xpress
Point-of-care hepatitis B DNA testing proves as accurate as lab tests
A clinical trial led by Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney has found that point-of-care testing for hepatitis B DNA is as effective as traditional laboratory testing, paving the way for faster diagnosis and treatment in hard-to-reach communities. The results have been published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.
Health
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Environment
Progress for a cleaner, greener world.
The Guardian
‘It’s sacred and transformative’: Somerset holds Saxon-inspired festival to embrace ‘month of mud’
Community organiser Jon Barrett says event, inspired by the tradition Solmōnaþ, aims to reconnect people with benefits of mud A misty, rainy day in the uplands of Somerset and the mud was thick and sticky. In some patches, just putting one foot in front of the other without plunging into the mire felt like a win. But Jon Barrett, a community engagement officer for the Quantock Hills national landscape, had a broad grin on his face as he negotiated the ooze. Continue reading...
Environment
Phys.org
Research reveals cost-effective food waste treatment through sewage systems
A research team at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has developed an innovative urban food waste management framework by analyzing food waste data from 29 large cities worldwide, including Hong Kong, Beijing, and New York. The study shows that in cities with higher food waste moisture loads, such as Hong Kong, grinding food waste and diverting it into the sewage system is more effective than relying solely on landfilling. This approach can reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by about 47% and lower total waste-management costs by about 11%. The research provides a new, quantitative basis for shaping food waste management strategies in cities around the globe.
Environment
The Guardian
In your face: Close-up Photographer of the Year Awards 2026 – in pictures
Animals, insects, flora and fauna – the world photographed in close-up in the annual competition dedicated to micro and macro photography. Cupoty 7 was won by underwater photographer Ross Gudgeon, triumphing over 12,000 entries from 63 countries Continue reading...
Environment
Phys.org
Computer simulations reveal hurricane currents can knock down surface wave heights
Using advanced computer simulations, researchers from the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) have concluded how and why strong ocean currents modify surface waves. "Our primary finding is that hurricane-generated ocean currents can substantially reduce both the height and the dominant period of hurricane waves," said Isaac Ginis, URI professor of oceanography. "The magnitude of wave reduction depends strongly on how accurately ocean currents are predicted. This highlights the importance of using fully coupled wave-ocean models when forecasting hurricane waves.".
Environment
ScienceDaily
This tiny molecular trick makes spider silk almost unbreakable
Scientists have cracked a key mystery behind spider silk’s legendary strength and flexibility. They discovered that tiny molecular interactions act like natural glue, holding silk proteins together as they transform from liquid into incredibly tough fibers. This same process helps create silk that’s stronger than steel by weight and tougher than Kevlar.
Environment
Phys.org
Saving seagrass and French oysters: Fresh solutions breathe new life into Europe's coastal areas
European coastal areas are under increasing pressure. Researchers are investigating ways to reverse this trend and help communities adapt to climate change. From Arctic fjords to Mediterranean seagrass meadows, centuries of human activity have damaged habitats that were once full of life.
Environment
Phys.org
Climate 'fingerprints' mark human activity from the top of the atmosphere to the bottom of the ocean
The world is warming. This fact is most often discussed for Earth's surface, where we live. But the climate is also changing from the top of the atmosphere to the bottom of the ocean. And there is a clear fingerprint of humanity's role in causing these changes through greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels.
Environment
Phys.org
Why does this river slice straight through a mountain range? After 150 years, scientists finally know
The western U.S. is a geologists' dream, home to the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, active volcanoes and striking sandstone arches. But one landform simply doesn't make sense.
Environment
Economy
Positive trends in business and growth.
Fortune
Dow futures rise after index tops 50,000 for the first time while landslide election in Japan sends U.S. bond yields higher
The Dow soared by 1,200 points on Friday to top 50,000 for the first time as chipmakers and airlines fueled a ferocious stock market rebound.
Business & Economy
Culture
Inspiring stories from arts and society.
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Entertainment Weekly
Watch the best and worst Super Bowl 2026 commercials, featuring Jennifer Aniston, George Clooney, Sofía Vergara, and more
This year's crop of game-day ads take viewers from tropical islands to snow-dappled slopes with the likes of Lady Gaga, Spike Lee, Emma Stone, and many more.
Culture
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World
Good news happening across the globe.
The Guardian
Merciless Philadelphia Eagles dismantle Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl
Kansas City Chiefs 22–40 Philadelphia Eagles As it happened: David Lengel’s minute-by-minute report Analysis: Mahomes left humbled and harassed Seven years after winning their first Vince Lombardi trophy, the Philadelphia Eagles are back on top of the NFL summit. Behind a MVP performance from quarterback Jalen Hurts and a defensive masterclass that harried, hit and harassed Patrick Mahomes into one of the worst games of his career, the Eagles steamrolled to a 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night in New Orleans that wasn’t as narrow as the scoreline suggests. The 59th Super Bowl was the second meeting in three years between Philadelphia and Kansas City on the NFL’s biggest stage, with the Eagles still nursing the scars of the first installment: a heart-stopping 38-35 Chiefs win in Arizona in which a hobbled Mahomes orchestrated a near-perfect second half to overturn a 10-point deficit that erased Hurts’ career-best performance. This one went the other way – and wasn’t nearly as close. Continue reading...
World
