Comment

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 19, 2026 at 9:28am

Junk to high-tech: India bets on e-waste for critical minerals
India is increasingly extracting critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel from e-waste to reduce import dependency and support technological ambitions. While formal recycling capacity is growing, over 80% of e-waste is still processed informally, leading to loss of valuable materials and hazardous conditions. Integrating informal workers into formal supply chains could improve recovery and safety.
Source: News agencies

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 19, 2026 at 9:21am

Too many satellites? Earth's orbit is on track for a catastrophe—but we can stop it

The rapid expansion of satellite megaconstellations, with over a million satellites proposed, threatens to permanently alter the night sky, increase light pollution, disrupt astronomy, and raise collision and environmental risks. Current regulations overlook cultural and environmental impacts. A Dark Skies Impact Assessment is recommended to systematically evaluate and mitigate these effects before deployment.

https://theconversation.com/too-many-satellites-earths-orbit-is-on-...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 19, 2026 at 9:18am

Brainwaves of mothers and children synchronize when playing together—even in an acquired language

Interbrain synchrony is the simultaneous activity of neural networks across the brains of people who are socially interacting—for example, talking, learning, singing, or working together. Having brains that are thus synchronized or "in tune" can help people boost their emotional connection, improve communication, and align their attention.

Neural synchrony is thought to be important for healthy bonding between parents and children. And now, a team of scientists  has found that neural synchrony doesn't appear to get "lost in translation." The results are published in Frontiers in Cognition.

The researchers showed that the brains of bilingual moms and their kids stay just as 'in sync' through neural synchrony irrespective of whether they play in the mom's native language or in an acquired second language.

This is an important finding because it suggests that using a second language doesn't disrupt the brain-to-brain connection that supports bonding and communication.

Second-language speakers often report a sense of emotional distancing when using their non-native language, which may influence how they express affection, discipline, or empathy in parent-child interactions.

But the results of this work done on immigrants in the UK  showed that brain synchrony was equally strong when participants played in English as when they played in the mother's native language.

The researchers concluded that talking in an acquired language didn't impinge on a mom's ability to synchronize her brain activity with that of her child during interactive play. These results suggest that this key condition for effective learning and bonding can be met irrespective of language.

The Impact of Language Context on Inter-Brain Synchrony in Bilingual Families, Frontiers in Cognition (2026). DOI: 10.3389/fcogn.2025.1695132

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 19, 2026 at 9:11am

Chitosan-nickel biomaterial becomes stronger when wet, and could replace plastics

A new study led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) has unveiled the first biomaterial that is not only waterproof but actually becomes stronger in contact with water. The material is produced by the incorporation of nickel into the structure of chitosan, a chitinous polymer obtained from discarded shrimp shells. The development of this new biomaterial marks a departure from the plastic-age mindset of making materials that must isolate from their environment to perform well. Instead, it shows how sustainable materials can connect and leverage their environment, using their surrounding water to achieve mechanical performance that surpasses common plastics.

 The use of biomaterials as substitutes for conventional plastics has long been explored. However, their widespread adoption has been limited by a fundamental drawback: Most biological materials weaken when exposed to water. Traditionally, this vulnerability has forced engineers to rely on chemical modifications or protective coatings, thereby undermining the sustainability benefits of biomaterial-based solutions.

Now, a recent study led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), in collaboration with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), has overturned this paradigm. Inspired by the arthropod cuticle, the researchers adapted chitosan—the second most abundant organic molecule on Earth after cellulose—to create a biointegrated material that resists hydration and increases in strength to values well above those of commodity plastics when wet.

The method, published in Nature Communications, demonstrates the potential for a paradigm shift in manufacturing, with zero-waste production of both consumables and large objects that could meet the global demand for plastic.

Crucially, the process does not alter the biological nature of chitosan.

Stronger when wet: Aquatically robust chitinous objects via zero-waste coordination with metal ions, Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-69037-4

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 18, 2026 at 3:25pm

Does the cold really 'seep into your bones?'
Bones themselves do not directly sense cold, as they lack temperature-sensitive receptors found in skin. However, nerves in the periosteum, the bone’s outer layer, can detect temperature changes and mechanical strain, potentially causing pain. Prolonged cold exposure may reduce bone density and thickness. Cold also stiffens joints, tendons, and ligaments, and low vitamin D in winter increases pain sensitivity.

https://theconversation.com/does-the-cold-really-seep-into-your-bon...

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 18, 2026 at 3:17pm

In bright outdoor light, the pupil constricts to protect the eye while still allowing ample light to reach the retina. When people focus on close objects indoors, such as phones, tablets, or books, the pupil can also constrict, not because of brightness, but to sharpen the image. In dim lighting, this combination may significantly reduce retinal illumination
According to this mechanism, myopia develops when poor retinal illumination fails to generate robust retinal activity because the light sources are too dim and pupil constriction is too excessive at short viewing distances. Conversely, myopia does not develop when the eye is exposed to bright light and the pupil constriction is regulated by image brightness instead of viewing distance.

The new study demonstrates that negative lenses reduce retinal illumination by constricting the pupil through a process known as accommodation (i.e., an accommodative increase in the lens power of the eye when focusing on images at short distances). Such pupil constriction becomes stronger when accommodation is increased by shortening viewing distance or wearing excessively-strong negative lenses.

Moreover, pupil constriction becomes even stronger when lens accommodation is sustained for prolonged periods of time (e.g., tens of minutes), and even stronger when the eye becomes myopic. The study also demonstrates additional myopia disruptions of eye turning with accommodation and eye-blink efficacy at constricting the pupil.
If proven correct, the mechanism proposed could lead to a paradigm shift in our understanding of myopia progression and control. According to this mechanism, myopia can be controlled by exposing the eye to safe bright light levels under limited accommodative pupil constriction.

Accommodative pupil constriction can be limited by reducing accommodation strength with lenses (multifocal or contrast-reduction), blocking directly the muscles driving pupil constriction (atropine drops), or by simply spending time outdoors without engaging accommodation (looking at far distances).

Perhaps most importantly, the new mechanism predicts that any approach to myopia control will fail if the eye is exposed to excessive accommodation indoors under low light for prolonged periods of time.

Human accommodative visuomotor function is driven by contrast through ON and OFF pathways and is enhanced in myopia, Cell Reports (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2026.116938. www.cell.com/cell-reports/full … 2211-1247(26)00016-1

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 18, 2026 at 3:12pm

Myopia is driven by how we use our eyes indoors, new research suggests

For years, rising rates of myopia—or nearsightedness—have been widely attributed to increased screen time, especially among children and young adults. But new research by scientists suggests the story may be more complicated—and more human.

In a new study published in Cell Reports, researchers propose that myopia may be driven less by screens themselves and more by a common indoor visual habit: prolonged close-up focus in low-light environments, which limits how much light reaches the retina.

Myopia (nearsightedness) is a visual disease that blurs vision at far distance and is becoming a world epidemic, affecting nearly 50% of young adults in the United States and Europe and close to 90% in parts of East Asia. While genetics play an important role, rapid increases over just a few generations suggest environmental factors are also critical.

The findings suggest that a common underlying factor may be how much light reaches the retina during sustained near work—particularly indoors.

Myopia progression is linked to prolonged near work in dim indoor lighting, which reduces retinal illumination due to excessive pupil constriction. This mechanism may unify how various factors—such as time outdoors, lens use, and atropine—affect myopia. Effective control likely requires bright light exposure and limiting accommodative pupil constriction during near tasks.

The disease can be induced in animal models with visual deprivation or negative lenses, and the two induction processes are thought to involve different neuronal mechanisms.

Clinicians also control myopia progression with a variety of approaches that are thought to engage multiple mechanisms (multifocal lenses, ophthalmic atropine, contrast-reduction, promoting time outdoors, and others). Scientists at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry propose a unifying neuronal mechanism in their article to explain all current approaches to myopia induction and control.

The research offers a new hypothesis that could help explain a long-standing puzzle in vision science—why so many seemingly different factors, from near work and dim indoor lighting to treatments like atropine drops, multifocal lenses, and time spent outdoors, all appear to influence myopia progression.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 18, 2026 at 3:08pm

 Rescuing Antibiotics?

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 18, 2026 at 3:01pm

Not all humans are 'super-scary' to wildlife, animal behaviour study suggests
Humans have climbed to the top of the food chain by skillfully hunting, trapping, and fishing for other animals at scales that far exceed other predators, altering how the animals behave and earning the tag of a "super-predator." But a new study led by the Center for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), suggests that there is a bit more nuance to this idea. While animals clearly respond with fear to humans who hunt or kill, they are far less consistent in how they react to non-lethal human presence.

Zoos and eco-tourist spots? YES!

Wild animals show strong fear responses to lethal human activities like hunting, becoming more vigilant and reducing foraging, but react less consistently to non-lethal human presence. Human structures can sometimes decrease animal vigilance by providing perceived refuges. These behavioural changes influence survival, reproduction, and ecosystem dynamics, highlighting the need for nuanced conservation strategies.
A comprehensive meta-analysis, published in Ecology Letters, analyzes three decades of research on how wild animals change their behavior in response to different types of human interactions. The study examined behavioural shifts in foraging, vigilance, and movement across species and ecosystems to look into whether humans are always super-scary.

"The short answer is: no, not always"
Researchers found strong evidence that lethal humans such as hunters and fishers are indeed perceived as threatening. Animals in areas exposed to lethal humans tend to be more vigilant and spend less time foraging. In contrast, responses to non-lethal humans such as tourists or researchers are weaker and more variable.
The study's findings broadly support the "risk allocation hypothesis," which suggests that animals adjust their behaviour based on how intense and predictable a threat is. When danger is high and consistent, animals stay cautious. When risk is low or predictable, they can afford to relax.
Beyond individual behaviour, the researchers point to a bigger picture. Changes in fear and behaviour can cascade through ecosystems, altering grazing, predation, and ecological balance.

Shawn Dsouza et al, Are Human Super‐Predators Always Super‐Scary? A Meta‐Analysis of Wild Animal Behavioural Responses to Human Interactions, Ecology Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1111/ele.70287

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on February 18, 2026 at 2:57pm

There is a real benefit to having a fuller picture of natural selection, particularly in medicine and agriculture. The role that widespread antibiotic use plays in shaping a bacterial arms race is a well-known example.

Another example involves chickens. In one famous study, the agricultural scientist William Muir focused on selecting for egg productivity of hens housed in battery cages. In one experiment, he selected the most productive hen within each cage to breed the next generation of hens (within-group selection). The result? A hyper-aggressive strain of hens that achieved their productivity at the expense of others, resulting in a decline in productivity at the cage level.

In a parallel experiment, Muir selected the most productive cages and used all the hens within the cages to breed the next generation of hens (group-level selection). The result? A docile strain of hens that didn't interfere with each other and achieved a 160% increase in productivity at the cage level in five generations. Based on this and other experiments, group-level selection has become standard practice in animal and plant breeding.

We can also apply the theory to ourselves, keeping Muir's chicken experiments in mind: Are we creating situations that reward competitive or even selfish behaviors? Consider a classroom that grades students on how many questions they ask, penalizing those who are quiet or slow to raise their hands. In that case, the class has selected for rapid responders rather than innovators or deep thinkers

Abundant empirical evidence of multilevel selection revealed by a bibliometric review, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (2026). doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2026.1752597

Part 3

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