Top House Democrats split on funding vote

Discovery of a photophobic response in Apusomonads reveals insights into Opisthokont origins

Researchers at University of Tsukuba have identified a photophobic response (light avoidance) in the unicellular apusomonad Podomonas kaiyoae. The study provides critical insight into the evolution of complex flagellar and ciliary motility and the evolutionary origins of

Distinct isotopes of combustion-derived water vapor identified

Water vapor (H2Ov) is an essential component of Earth's atmosphere, playing critical roles in climate regulation, weather patterns, and the water cycle. Its sources primarily come from natural processes such as ocean evaporation and terrestrial evapotranspiration. However,

Automating microfluidic chip design: Hybrid approach combines machine learning with fluid mechanics

Researchers led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Savaş Taşoğlu from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Koç University have developed a new, open-access and machine learning-assisted design tool aimed at automating microfluidic chip design. The research is published in Science

Identifying mechanisms that support nanoparticle therapy for autoimmune diseases

Northwestern Medicine scientists in the laboratory of Stephen Miller, Ph.D., professor emeritus of Microbiology–Immunology, have identified the cellular and molecular mechanisms required for the antigen-specific tolerance inducing abilities of a novel nanoparticle therapy for

Jeff Koons Attended Dinner Party at Jeffrey Epstein’s House

The artist confirmed to Hyperallergic that he was present at a 2013 dinner but said that he “did not have a relationship with Epstein” beyond that event.

Johnson not asking Trump to call GOP holdouts on funding package

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday expressed optimism about the House approving a funding package to end the partial government shutdown despite demands from conservatives, saying that he is not asking President Trump to call those Republican holdouts to get the deal over

Sean Spicer sounds alarm over Texas special election: 'This is a big deal'

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer sounded the alarm for the GOP over a recent Texas special election, saying, “this is a problem.” “I've always said that special elections are special, so I texted a bunch of Texas folks, elected officials, etcetera, and said,

Nate Bargatze’s Debut Movie ‘The Breadwinner’ Shifts Release to May

Mandy Moore and Colin Jost also star in the Sony comedy from filmmaker Eric Appel.

The Art Crossword: Renaissance Edition

What do you call the artistic technique that creates contrasts of light and dark?

Swarm of earthquakes jolts California's San Ramon area—largest so far is 4.2

An ongoing string of more than a dozen earthquakes in less than 90 minutes early Monday ended what had been some recent calm from recent weeks of shaking ground in the region, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

NFL 'looking into' reported connection between Epstein, Giants co-owner Steve Tisch

The NFL says it is looking into documents showing New York Giants owner Steve Tisch's communications with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “The league is aware of the reports and Steve’s response," the league said in a statement given to multiple media outlets. "Our

Poverty intervention program in Bangladesh may reinforce gender gaps, study shows

In Bangladesh, programs targeting ultra-poor, rural households can help families escape extreme poverty. However, the programs may have the unintended consequence of reinforcing gender gaps, a new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign finds. The paper, "How

Trump says talks with Iran ongoing

Feb 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that talks with Iran were ongoing amid high tensions. "We have ships heading to Iran right now, big ones ... and we have talks going on with Iran," Trump told reporters at the White House. "We'll see how it works out."

Web-based tool visualizes catalyst 'gene' profiles to speed materials design

Modern industry relies heavily on catalysts, which are substances that speed up chemical reactions. They're vital in everything from manufacturing household chemicals to generating clean energy or recycling waste. However, designing new catalysts is challenging because their

‘It’s the uncertainty’: Indonesia market rout rattles retail investors as government aims to calm sentiments

Experts warn that the episode marks a critical test of Indonesia’s ability to restore investor trust amid growing scrutiny of transparency, enforcement, and political influence in its financial markets.

Thailand Election 2026: Why the Shinawatras face stern test after 25 years as political force

For more than two decades, the Shinawatra family has defined Thai electoral politics. Will their Pheu Thai Party continue to hold sway as voters cast their ballots on Sunday (Feb 8)?

How Brain-Scanning Earbuds Could Build the Perfect Playlist

The scientific quest for a playlist that’s all killer, no filler The post How Brain-Scanning Earbuds Could Build the Perfect Playlist appeared first on Nautilus .

Commentary: Why US tech firms are investing billions in India

American firms have an early advantage in shaping how Indian consumers use AI tools, says Amit Joshi of IMD Business School.

Climate enters the overshoot era—science and policy need to react

The International Court of Justice reiterated in 2025 that the 1.5°C limit is the countries' primary agreed target under the Paris Agreement. With record-high global temperatures in recent years, the world is firmly on track to exceed the limit in a decade or less, signaling

Catalonia's climate was wetter 10 million years ago

A study by the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP-CERCA) with the involvement of the UAB indicates that between 12.5 and 9 million years ago, in the Vallès-Penedès basin, rainfall was twice as high as it is today, and the climate was subtropical. The

Sustainable polyurethane production without toxic isocyanate

Chemical compounds like isocyanate are toxic and trigger allergies or asthma. However, they remain indispensable for the chemical industry. They are needed especially in the production of PUR. These plastics are highly versatile and are therefore used in many products. Although

Hybrid AI-physics method developed for accurate aerosol remote sensing

A research team from the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (AIRCAS) has developed a new method combining deep learning with physical radiative transfer modeling to improve the retrieval of atmospheric aerosol properties from complex

Podracing Confirmed For 2026’s Coolest-Looking Star Wars Game

Sebulba won't be driving around in a land speeder in Star Wars: Galactic Racer later this year The post Podracing Confirmed For 2026’s Coolest-Looking Star Wars Game appeared first on Kotaku .

Real-time single-event position detection using high-radiation-tolerance GaN

Silicon semiconductors are widely used as particle detectors; however, their long-term operation is constrained by performance degradation in high-radiation environments. Researchers at University of Tsukuba have demonstrated real-time, two-dimensional position detection of

Eddie Bauer stores could close amid possible bankruptcy filing: Reports

Roughly 180 Eddie Bauer stores remain across the U.S. and Canada.

Researchers identify key gene for enhancing oil yield and quality in Jatropha

Jatropha curcas is a perennial woody plant species of the Euphorbiaceae family. This drought-resistant shrub is widely recognized for its potential to produce biodiesel and bio-jet fuel on marginal lands, avoiding competition with food production. However, its naturally low

10 Art Shows to See in Upstate New York This February

A seminal Vito Acconci performance, Nona Faustine and Ocean Vuong’s explorations of identity, Sita Gómez’s celebrations of womanhood, and more.

Scientists uncover dual role of sulfate-reducing bacteria in pipeline steel corrosion

A collaborative research team from the Institute of Metal Research (IMR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore has revealed the dual and dynamic role that sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) play in both accelerating and later

Newly identified RNA molecule may drive cancer patient survival

In a recent study, researchers at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health) identify a novel RNA molecule that plays a crucial role in preserving the integrity of a key cellular structure, the nucleolus . Their findings also suggest this molecule may

Jeffrey Epstein boasted about ‘wild’ dinner with Mark Zuckerberg, Reid Hoffman in unsealed 2015 email

Jeffrey Epstein once boasted about meeting Mark Zuckerberg, Reid Hoffman, Elon Musk and Peter Thiel at what he described as a “wild” dinner,” an email released by the Justice Department showed.

Florida congresswoman to plead not guilty to charges of stealing $5M

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) will plead not guilty Monday to federal charges of conspiring to steal $5 million in federal disaster funds amid the COVID-19 pandemic and funneling some of it into her congressional campaign. Her attorney, William Barzee, notified the

Can Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh avoid becoming Arthur Burns?

In the end, the US president chose the man many on Wall Street favored to chair the Federal Reserve Board. Kevin Warsh, who served as a Fed governor from 2006 to 2011, is well-connected on Wall Street and in international banking circles. Warsh put those connections to good use

Real-time view inside microreactor reveals 2D semiconductor growth secrets

As the miniaturization of silicon-based semiconductor devices approaches fundamental physical limits, the electronics industry faces an urgent need for alternative materials that can deliver higher integration and lower power consumption. Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors,

Archival Art Will Not Save Us

Archival work has a place in historical recovery and cultural self-understanding. But not every artwork must be archival, and our politics shouldn’t end with presence rather than action.

Jacob Elordi Joked About Going Method to Get ‘Wuthering Heights’ Scars, Then Had a Freak Accident and Was Hospitalized With Second-Degree Burns

Jacob Elordi joked about partly going Method to play Heathcliff in “Wuthering Heights,” only to fall victim to a freak accident that forced him physically to get into character. As he recounted to Esquire magazine, the film’s makeup artist Siân Miller “was designing the scars

The Accidental Winners of the War on Higher Ed ....

The Accidental Winners of the War on Higher Ed . “Well-resourced and prestigious small colleges are less exposed in almost every way to the crises that higher ed faces.” (My kid goes to a liberal arts school & anecdotally can confirm.) 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

Opportunities in February 2026

Residencies, fellowships, grants, open calls, and jobs from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, the Rubin Museum, and more in our monthly list of opportunities for artists, writers, and art workers.

Cells adapt to aging by actively remodeling endoplasmic reticulum, study reveals

Improvements in public health have allowed humankind to survive to older ages than ever before, but, for many people, these added golden years are not spent in good health. Aging is a natural part of life, but it is associated with a greatly increased incidence of most chronic

Everything Continues To Get More Expensive, Including Anime On Crunchyroll

The popular anime streaming service announced a series of price increase that will go live in March The post Everything Continues To Get More Expensive, Including Anime On Crunchyroll appeared first on Kotaku .

Populist conservative Laura Fernández wins Costa Rica's presidential election

Candidate Laura Fernández won a resounding victory, promising to continue the aggressive reorienting of the Central American nation's politics started by her predecessor.

Shutdown will delay January jobs report: BLS

A partial government shutdown will delay several information releases from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), including the January jobs report. Last month’s employment data was scheduled to be released this upcoming Friday, according to the BLS website. BLS is one of the

Bill Maher: Celebrities are 'making independents vote Republican'

Comedian Bill Maher on Friday railed against celebrity political endorsements, suggesting that they're driving independent voters to favor Republicans. “Celebrities, I know it’s very important to you that you feel that you’re making a difference, and you are, you’re making

David Yarnell, Veteran Producer on ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’ and Early TV and Radio Shows, Dies at 96

His credits also include ‘Candid Camera’ specials, 'That’s Incredible,’ Roseanne Barr and Dolly Parton specials and the 'Love, American Style' anthology series.

E! Glambot Producer Axed From Grammys Carpet After Controversies With Jennifer Lopez, Private Wedding Booking

A ubiquitous red carpet producer was benched from Sunday’s Grammy awards following a string of online controversies, Variety has learned. During arrivals for music’s biggest night, social media users and style watchers noticed the absence of Cole Walliser – the field operator

Chaos in Iran would open the door to the worst IS terrorists

Suspicion is building that the United States could soon launch another round of strikes on Iran, this time with the intention of toppling the Ayatollah and the country’s repressive theocratic regime. This comes as US President Donald Trump continues to use his social media

ICE Detention Center Under Lockdown Thanks to Measles Outbreak

An ICE family detention center in Texas is halting “all movement” after finding two cases of measles. The cases were detected Friday, Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement, confirming that two detainees had “active measles

Ed Martin out as DOJ 'weaponization' group head: Reports

Trump ally Ed Martin no longer heads the Justice Department’s “weaponization” initiative focused on reviewing probes into President Trump and his allies, according to multiple reports. A Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson told The Hill he continues to serve as pardon

‘Happy’s Place,’ ‘St. Denis Medical’ Renewed at NBC

Both “Happy’s Place” and “St. Denis Medical” have been renewed for third seasons at NBC, Variety has learned. “Both ‘St. Denis Medical’ and ‘Happy’s Place’ have delivered comedic brilliance over their first two seasons, truly connecting with our audience with hilarious

Karol G, AOC, and More Latin Stars Cheer on Bad Bunny’s Historic Grammy Win

Bad Bunny became the first artist to win Album of the Year for an album entirely in Spanish