Weekly Headlines (Excerpts)

1. ChatGPT spits out surprising insight in particle physics

Physicists combined human acumen and AI-assisted math to show that a doubted particle interaction is possible after all

 20 FEB 2026 BY PERRI THALER 

2. A shocking explanation for tape’s distinctive screech

Fast-moving cracks in tape’s adhesive layer produce shock waves that make the stuff sing as it unrolls

 20 FEB 2026 BY SACHIN RAWAT 

3. Journal giant Elsevier unveiled an AI tool that scans millions of paywalled papers. Is it worth it?

First-of-its-kind product raises questions about costs, access, and equity

 20 FEB 2026 BY JEFFREY BRAINARD 

4. A little-known flu virus is sickening cattle around the world. Are humans next?

Features of recently identified influenza D point to possible pandemic threat

 19 FEB 2026 BY JON COHEN 

5. Unorthodox ‘universal vaccine’ offers broad protection in mice

Immune-stimulating cocktail could shield against diverse bacterial and viral infections

 19 FEB 2026 BY MITCH LESLIE 

6. Pollution plume from falling rocket debris tracked in real time

New analysis sheds light on space junk’s small, growing effects on upper atmosphere

 19 FEB 2026 BY DANIEL CLERY 

7. Highly destructive mussel has started to invade the Amazon

After ravaging waterways across South America, the fast-spreading species threatens a biodiversity stronghold

 18 FEB 2026 BY SOFIA MOUTINHO 

8. This glass wafer could back up your phone—and last 10,000 years

Laser-written patterns on glass could store data for millennia at a time

 18 FEB 2026 BY ROBERT F. SERVICE 

9. How do busy bees avoid overheating from flying?

New measurements could help predict pollinators’ ability to withstand climate change

 17 FEB 2026 BY ERIK STOKSTAD 

10. If AI discovers a drug, who gets the money?

Two intellectual property lawyers on why questions of AI inventorship and profit remain wide open

 17 FEB 2026 BY CELINA ZHAO 

11. Giant viruses hijack their hosts’ protein factories

Researchers identify a complex that hands mimivirus control of protein synthesis in infected amoebae

 17 FEB 2026 BY CATHERINE OFFORD 

12. A plant ‘vaccine’ takes on corn rootworm, a fearsome pest

Inoculating soil with pink microbes could help reduce the use of toxic insecticides.

 16 FEB 2026 BY ERIK STOKSTAD