Science & Earth
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A study in Neuroscience of Consciousness reported that volunteers who incorporated unsolved puzzles into REM dreams solved them at higher rates, after researchers cued half the puzzles with unique soundtracks during REM sleep.
Horses of Chernobyl use abandoned buildings as shelter
Camera traps show Przewalski's horses routinely using abandoned barns and buildings in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, with repeated visits recorded in both winter and summer; researchers say those structures can serve as focal points for demographic study.
Sierra Nevada red fox collared after a decade of searching
Biologists captured and fitted a Sierra Nevada red fox with a GPS collar near Mammoth Lakes in January 2026 after a decade of camera, scat and trapping work, following a 2010 camera-trap sighting that confirmed the species persisted.
Greenland's warming ice is reshaping Inuit life and global seas
Residents of Ilulissat report an unusually snowless January and absent sea ice that is disrupting dog sledding and hunting, while the nearby Sermeq Kujalleq glacier has retreated markedly and is contributing to rising sea levels.
California protects 1,400 mountain lions in Central and Southern regions
The California Fish and Game Commission unanimously voted on Feb. 12 to list mountain lions in the Central Coast and Southern California as threatened under the state's Endangered Species Act, extending protections to about 1,400 animals.
Sumatran tiger spotted near Zamrud National Park, officials say
Authorities in Riau, Indonesia, are investigating a reported Sumatran tiger sighting near a water injection plant access road; BBKSDA sent a response team from Zamrud National Park and said it is conducting direct confirmation.
Fungi are mystical, often overlooked, and helping scientists learn more
Amateur naturalists and professional researchers are documenting fungi and lichens to fill major knowledge gaps; only about 155,000 species have been recorded while an estimated 2.5 million may exist, and many species face threats such as climate change, habitat loss and pollution.
Shark freed after deputies and Mote Marine Laboratory remove tangled fishing gear.
Marine deputies at Manatee Public Beach noticed a shark entangled in a crab-trap buoy line and contacted Mote Marine Laboratory; Mote staff carefully removed hooks and tackle, and the shark swam free.
U.S. Clean-Car Rules Are Essentially Eliminated by EPA Rollback
The E.P.A. rescinded the 2009 "endangerment finding," removing the federal legal basis for greenhouse-gas tailpipe rules; California and environmental groups have said they will challenge the decision.
Garden Hacks Going Viral May Harm Soil Health
Experts warn some viral garden hacks—such as adding coffee grounds or using vinegar—can harm soil chemistry or beneficial microbes, while companion planting and organic mulches are reported as supportive of soil health.
California company Vast will fly astronauts to the ISS in 2027
NASA selected Long Beach-based Vast to operate a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, with launch planned no earlier than summer 2027. The mission is part of a broader effort to transition low Earth orbit operations to commercial companies ahead of the ISS retirement.
10th tipping point identified: aquatic deoxygenation on Earth
Researchers propose adding aquatic deoxygenation as a 10th planetary boundary, reporting measurable oxygen losses in lakes, reservoirs and the oceans and noting a 40% midwater decrease off California; the study is published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.
Snow and ice warnings issued across UK as London rain relents
The Met Office has issued yellow snow and ice warnings for much of the UK on Monday and Tuesday, while London is forecast to be drier and gradually milder into the weekend.
Lunar New Year marks the Year of the Horse with equine science highlights.
The new moon on February 17, 2026, begins the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Horse; Scientific American summarizes recent research on horse evolution, social behavior, welfare and conservation.
Rescue puppies learn early survival skills that pedigrees often do not
An animal behaviorist says rescue puppies often learn survival responses during a sensitive 3 to 14 week development window, and ASPCA data show about 2.9 million dogs entered shelters and rescues in 2024.
Ancient rock art found in Egypt's Sinai Desert spans about 10,000 years
A rock shelter on the Umm Arak Plateau in southern Sinai contains rock art and inscriptions dated stylistically from roughly 10,000–5,500 B.C. through medieval times, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced.
Snow: Olympians and scientists explain why it matters.
Olympians and scientists say snow affects winter sports, water supplies and wildlife, and experts study snowpack, crystal types and melting behavior to improve forecasts.
Colorado snowpack may shrink as climate change alters ski seasons
Average temperatures in Colorado have risen about 2 degrees since 1980, and scientists report warmer fall and spring temperatures are already bringing more rain instead of snow and earlier spring melt that shortens late-season ski days.
State launches flood alert program and awards $9.5M in infrastructure grants
The state announced $9.5 million in water and sewer grants for McDowell and Mingo counties and proposed a $10 million SENTRY flood-warning pilot ahead of the one-year anniversary of a fatal flood.
Crew-12 Arrives at International Space Station for Eight-Month Stay.
NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 entered the International Space Station about 36 hours after liftoff on Feb. 14, restoring the station to its normal crew capacity; the four will remain for an eight-month mission.
Replacement crew docks at International Space Station, restoring seven-person crew
A SpaceX Crew Dragon carrying four astronauts docked at the International Space Station on Feb. 14, restoring the station's crew to seven after four members returned early last month because of a medical issue.
SpaceX delivers four astronauts to ISS one month after medical evacuation
SpaceX's Crew Dragon delivered four astronauts to the International Space Station, restoring the station to its normal seven-person crew after a January medical evacuation; the crew launched from Cape Canaveral and are expected to stay eight to nine months.
Trump moves to rescind the endangerment finding underpinning climate rules
The EPA under the Trump administration has proposed rescinding the 2009 endangerment finding that provided the legal basis for many federal greenhouse gas rules, with a formal announcement scheduled for Feb. 12; legal challenges are expected.
Prosthetic Leg Lost to the Sea Was Found Months Later
A 68-year-old woman lost a waterproof titanium prosthetic leg at Bridlington beach last April; a fossil hunter found the prosthesis about 10 months later on a nearby shore and it was returned to her.
Heavy rain expected in the parched West
Several storms will bring heavy rain and mountain snow to the western United States beginning this weekend, with a main low expected to come ashore near the San Francisco Bay Area on Monday.
Scientists find whales move nutrients across oceans through urine
A Nature Communications study reports that great whales move thousands of tons of nitrogen each year from polar feeding zones to tropical waters, mainly as urea-rich urine, a process researchers call the "great whale pee funnel".
Colorado River deadline may affect Northern California water supply
A Feb. 14 deadline asks seven Western states to agree on cuts to Colorado River use amid a multi-decade drought, and officials say the outcome could influence Northern California water transfers.
Woman builds cozy outdoor hotel for stray cats in winter
A woman in China built an elaborate outdoor "cat apartment" with multiple rooms, cushy blankets and a temperature-controlled water source for local stray cats; she posted videos on TikTok but her account appears to be deactivated.
Small RNAs shown to make copies of themselves
A research team identified a 45-base ribozyme, QT-45, that can assemble copies of RNA strands and—rarely and slowly—produce a copy of its own sequence; the enzyme works by joining short RNA fragments and copies with about 95% fidelity.
California mountain lions receive landmark protections after San Francisco sighting
The California Fish and Game Commission approved threatened-species protections for mountain lions across multiple coastal and mountain ranges, making it illegal to harm them and requiring habitat safeguards. The move follows a 2019 petition by conservation groups and a formal recommendation from the Department of Fish and Wildlife in December 2025.
