Even in the womb, where all oxygen is provided by the parental placenta, fetuses can—and do—yawn. More yawns during observation were associated with a lower weight at birth—potentially indicating mild fetal stress in the womb, according to a study published February 25, 2026 in the open-access journal PLOS One by Damiano Menin, of the Università degli Studi di Ferrara in Italy, and colleagues.

New research shows that, off the U.S. West Coast, humpback whales face a higher risk of getting entangled in fishing equipment during years with lower availability of cool-water habitat, where the whales feed. Jarrod Santora of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S., and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS Climate on February 25^th.

Scientists at Gladstone Institutes designed a new framework that matches vitamins with genetic diseases helped uncover that high-dose vitamin B3 can dramatically extend survival in mice with NAXD deficiency.

MIT neuroscientists have found that either of two genetic mutations that cause Rett syndrome undermine the structural integrity of developing blood vessels. By showing that the problem derives from overexpression of a microRNA, the new study points to a potential treatment

Bio-based polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are considered one of the most promising sustainable alternatives to fossil-derived plastics. Poly[(D-lactate)-co-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (LAHB) is an environmentally biodegradable microbial copolyester, and its lactate (LA) content significantly influences its properties. A new study shows how reinforcing the gene expression of the LA-polymerizing enzyme in a recombinant strain of Cupriavidus necator improves the LA fraction. The LA-enriched LAHB maintained a high molecular weight and displayed a balance of strength and elongation comparable to polyethylene.

By using advanced machine learning, Carnegie Mellon researchers have created compact, yet highly accurate models to better understand the visual system, offering potential breakthroughs for neuroscience and artificial intelligence.

Cells were long believed to safeguard nuclear contents, releasing them only during cell death. Extracellular DNA was thought to enter cells solely through endocytosis into endosomes, with self-DNA never reaching the cytosol directly. Challenging this view, researchers have discovered a previously unknown cellular phenomenon termed nucleocytosis, in which macrophages directly extract nuclear DNA from dying cells. This finding reshapes core cell biology concepts and may clarify immune responses, infections, cancer mechanisms, and future therapeutic development.

Unlearning fear responses is a fundamental learning process in the brain. It allows us to flexibly react to formerly threatening situations once the danger is no longer present. This mechanism, known in research as “fear extinction,” plays an important role in treating anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders, among other things. A team working with Dr. Katharina Spoida from the Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology at Ruhr University Bochum has now proven that this process can be influenced and accelerated: If certain nerve cells in the brain are activated, mice lose their learned fear responses considerably faster. The researchers report their findings in the Nature journal Translational Psychiatry from January 10, 2026.