SCIENCE

Feb 25 2026SCIENCE

Buckwheat’s Sweet and Sunny Secrets

Researchers followed buckwheat plants through their growing season, measuring how much of the healthy compounds rutin and quercitrin they stored in leaves and flowers. They also counted how strong the plant’s antioxidant power was and tracked a pigment called fagopyrin that can become toxic under li

reading time less than a minute
Feb 25 2026SCIENCE

Spinal Cord fMRI: How PCA Helps Clean Up the Noise

Researchers have tested a method that uses principal component analysis (PCA) to filter unwanted signals from spinal cord fMRI scans. The technique, called SpinalCompCor, picks out noise by looking at a region outside the spinal cord and cerebrospinal fluid. It then keeps only the most important com

reading time less than a minute
Feb 24 2026SCIENCE

New Rocket Roadblocks Push NASA’s Moon Mission Back

NASA’s biggest space plan is facing a fresh snag. After a recent test, engineers discovered that helium – the gas used to keep fuel tanks full and clean – was not flowing properly in the upper section of the Space Launch System (SLS). Because the problem cannot be fixed on the launchpad, the rocket

reading time less than a minute
Feb 24 2026SCIENCE

A Red Moon Reveal: Where to Catch March 3’s Eclipse

The first lunar eclipse of 2026 will turn the Moon into a deep red shade early on March 3. People in North America can watch this “blood moon” when the Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. The light that does reach is bent by our atmosphere, giving the Moon a coppery tint. W

reading time less than a minute
Feb 24 2026SCIENCE

Life, Love, and a Legacy in Psychology

Bernard Spilka, who passed away on May 23, 2025, in Denver, left a lasting mark on the field of psychology. Born in New York City on August 12, 1926, he began his journey by serving in the Army Air Force Medical Corps after World War II. His academic path led him to New York University, where he ear

reading time less than a minute
Feb 24 2026SCIENCE

New Paths for Carbon Capture: Polymer Membranes That Work

Polymer membranes are becoming a key tool for removing CO₂ from industrial gases, but they still face hurdles. The main challenge is balancing how fast the gas moves through the film, how well it can be separated from other gases, how stable the material stays over time, and whether it can be made a

reading time less than a minute
Feb 24 2026SCIENCE

Old Microplastics Meet Smart Surfaces

Microplastic pieces that have lived in the environment for years are hard to clean up. Scientists want to know how these tiny particles stick or slip off engineered materials. They studied polystyrene microplastics that had aged in water and tested how they interact with surfaces coated with special

reading time less than a minute
Feb 24 2026SCIENCE

Recycling the Gulf: Junk Turns Into Fish Havens

Old cargo containers, helicopters and even washing machines once floated away from Alabama’s coast. People thought throwing trash into the sea was harmless, but they had a plan: let these items sink and grow new reefs. Reefs made of metal can pull in fish, giving fishermen fresh catches and he

reading time less than a minute
Feb 24 2026SCIENCE

Living Near a Nuclear Power Plant May Raise Cancer Risk

People who dwell close to nuclear facilities might face a higher chance of dying from cancer, according to new research that examined data across the United States. The study looked at cancer deaths recorded from 2000 to 2018 and linked them to how far residents lived from a nuclear plant, finding t

reading time less than a minute
Feb 24 2026SCIENCE

Mini‑Circles Make Cancer Easy to Spot in Blood and Urine

Scientists have created tiny DNA loops that turn on only when they meet cancer cells. These loops, called minicircles, are built with a special design that keeps them stable and lets them stay in the body for a long time. When cancer is present, the loops become active and release signals that can b

reading time less than a minute