Friday, February 13, 2026

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission launched successfully from Cape Canaveral early Friday morning, carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station for an eight-month science mission.^[1]

Scientists have discovered a protein called DMTF1 that may help rejuvenate aging brain cells, with research showing it can restore the ability of neural stem cells to regenerate even when age-related damage has set in.^[2]

For the first time, scientists have detected water vapor from an interstellar comet, catching hydroxyl gas emissions from 3I/ATLAS—only the third known interstellar visitor—as it releases about 40 kilograms of water per second while still far from the Sun.^[3]

A 20-year study found that older adults who completed five to six weeks of "speed of processing" brain training had a 25% lower risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, two decades later—the first randomized clinical trial to track such outcomes over this timeframe.^[4]

Russia and Ukraine will hold U.S.-brokered peace talks on February 17-18 in Geneva, both countries announced, marking the next round of negotiations seeking to end the four-year war.^[5]

A study combining fermented kefir with prebiotic fiber found the pairing reduced whole-body inflammation more effectively than omega-3 supplements or fiber alone, with participants showing the broadest drop in inflammation-related markers over six weeks.^[6]

New research using computer simulations shows that hunting and fire use by Neanderthals and early hunter-gatherers measurably reshaped Europe's forests and grasslands long before the advent of agriculture, challenging the notion that prehistoric Europe was an untouched natural world.^[7]

Researchers have determined that the "Little Red Dots" first observed by the James Webb Space Telescope in the early universe are best explained as direct-collapse black holes rather than massive star-forming regions or quasars, helping resolve discrepancies in early black hole formation models.^[8]

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the resignation of cabinet secretary Chris Wormald as part of efforts to address controversy over Peter Mandelson's ties to Jeffrey Epstein, which have prompted a police investigation.^[9]

A new scientific review challenges the widely cited claim that Yellowstone's returning wolves triggered a dramatic 1,500% surge in willow growth, finding the reported ecosystem transformation was based on circular calculations and methodological flaws.^[10]