Wednesday, February 18

Science

Apple releases iOS 26.3 for iPhone, here’s what’s new
Science

Apple releases iOS 26.3 for iPhone, here’s what’s new

There’s a new software update available for iPhone. Apple has released iOS 26.3, the third big update to Apple’s redesigned operating system and the last before a major improvement to Siri.  iOS 26.3 introduces an easier way to switch between Android and iPhone, tweaks to the Astronomy and Weather wallpaper gallery, and more. The update follows the official release of iOS 26.2 for iPhone in December and iOS 26.2.1 in January. That update introduced new ways to tweak Liquid Glass design elements, more CarPlay customization options, and much more. There’s also a new feature for iPhones and iPads with Apple C1 and C1X modems for limiting precise location using cellular with select service providers. Looking beyond iOS 26.3, we expect iOS 26.4 to be the first version that i...
Texas Science Festival Invites Community to Partake in the Joys of Discovery – UT Austin News
Science

Texas Science Festival Invites Community to Partake in the Joys of Discovery – UT Austin News

The Texas Science Festival, organized by The University of Texas at Austin’s College of Natural Sciences, takes place from February 18-March 5, with experiences on the UT campus and around Central Texas. They include a variety of events including an open house at Brackenridge Field Laboratory, complete with a “citizen-science” training for volunteer researchers; fireside-style chats with world-renowned scientists; an activity fair at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center; and science-inspired film screenings at Austin Film Society, the Texas Union and the Long Center for Performing Arts. Events also include a planetarium event at Austin Nature & Science Center; special themed tours at the Blanton Museum of Art and Texas Science & Natural History Museum; an event at a local vineya...
Mass. school shelters in place as science project mistaken for bomb
Science

Mass. school shelters in place as science project mistaken for bomb

NewsPublished: Feb. 11, 2026, 2:40 p.m.Abington’s middle and high school were ordered to shelter in place Wednesday after police received a report of a suspicious package.Police and firefighters determined the package to be safe, according to Boston 25 News, and school resumed.Abington Police Chief John Bonney told the outlet the incident was a misunderstanding stemming from a science project that included a wire with a timer attached.“There was a reference to it being a bomb,” Bonney told Boston 25 News. “This was simply a STEM project that had no explosives attached to it. It was removed from the school and brought to a field for further review by the MSP Explosives team.”Abington Schools Superintendent Felicia Moschella did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Mike Grimala i...
Qualcomm’s Most Powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro May Get Skipped By Xiaomi Due To Its Expensive Price, A Pitfall Of Switching To TSMC’s 2nm Process
Science

Qualcomm’s Most Powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro May Get Skipped By Xiaomi Due To Its Expensive Price, A Pitfall Of Switching To TSMC’s 2nm Process

0-20%: Unlikely - Lacks credible sources 21-40%: Questionable - Some concerns remain 41-60%: Plausible - Reasonable evidence 61-80%: Probable - Strong evidence 81-100%: Highly Likely - Multiple reliable sources Most smartphone manufacturers would have gladly equipped their flagships with Qualcomm’s pricey Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro had it not been for rising DRAM and NAND flash prices. Xiaomi, which has always announced its premium smartphones sporting the top-end silicon first, is starting to feel this weight on its shoulders. On top of that, the transition to TSMC’s 2nm process for this year’s chipsets isn’t going to be cheap, so in light of all these factors, a new rumor is doing the rounds, claiming that Xiaomi’s entire flagship smartphone lin...
Rockville Science Center faces eviction, searches for new home
Science

Rockville Science Center faces eviction, searches for new home

Neuroscientist Abdeladim Elhamdani teaches students about the intricacies of the human brain. Credit: Jacqueline Kalil On Monday morning at 10 a.m., a group of homeschooled students filed into the Rockville Science Center for a lesson on the intricacies of the human brain. The pupils, all younger than 12, taped together pieces of paper representing parts of the brain—amygdala and all—creating colorful “brain hats” they proudly placed atop their heads. After more than five years, scenes like that one may come to an end at 36C Maryland Ave. Morguard Management Co., which owns and manages the property leased by the center, notified the nonprofit in late January that it would need to vacate the space to make room for another tenant. Although Rockville Science Center has not yet been g...
No Man’s Sky update 6.20 “Remnant” out now
Science

No Man’s Sky update 6.20 “Remnant” out now

Hello Games has announced and released No Man’s Sky update 6.20 “Remnant”, adding a new gravity gun tool, waste cleanup on planets, and more.Remnant: Introducing Update 6.2 Upgrade your Multi-Tool and harness the power of gravity in update 6.2, Remnant! Magnetise, carry, and launch stacks of industrial waste – and transport your haul in your off-road Colossus. Deck out your vehicle with custom modules and technologies; process salvage; join the community in a cross-country expedition – and much more! Reconfigure Your Colossus An array of different cabins, chassis attachments, running gear and paint finishes allow you to kit out your vehicle for any situation. Design, save, and name a variety of Colossus Exocraft configurations suitable for a range of planetary adventures!  Gravitino Coil M...
Science National Honor Society demo team to perform science night Feb. 12 – The Hawk Eye
Science

Science National Honor Society demo team to perform science night Feb. 12 – The Hawk Eye

Science National Honor Society’s (SNHS) Big Blue Demo Crew will perform a science show at Castle Hills Elementary Feb. 12 from 5-7 p.m. There will be a total of 16 chemistry demonstrations during each performance, with two shows total. Demo team sponsor and science teacher Dr. Kathleen Holley has worked with the team for 34 years. “The whole idea is to get people excited, but also to teach them about science,” Holley said. “The fact that tap water doesn’t burn, so why is this burning? What does it mean when the water disappears? Where did it go?” The performance will begin with acid-base demos, including a welcome poster and a “bloody” hand experiment. 15 student volunteers will take turns going on the stage to perform their part. Senior Henry Liu is the demo team head and leads the rehear...
Despite Low Expectations, Pokémon Pokopia Had Me Grinning From Ear To Ear
Science

Despite Low Expectations, Pokémon Pokopia Had Me Grinning From Ear To Ear

There was a moment quite early into my time with Pokémon Pokopia where I sat back, exhaled, and said, “Oh dear, it’s got me.” See, I’ve not been too hot on Pokémon games for a while now, and initial trailers for Pokopia suggested that this probably wouldn’t be changing anytime soon. After spending 90 minutes with both single-player and multiplayer components at Nintendo of Europe's Frankfurt offices, however, I’m convinced: Pokopia — which has Koei Tecmo's Omega Force of Warriors fame heading up development — is going to absolutely gobble up my time. Not only that, but if it's supported by a steady stream of post-launch content (maybe some cool crossover items or events with other Nintendo properties?), it has the potential to be huge. I could tell you that Pokopia is basically Animal Cros...
New study favors ‘fuzzy’ dark matter as the backbone of the universe — contrary to decades of research
Science

New study favors ‘fuzzy’ dark matter as the backbone of the universe — contrary to decades of research

Physicists' top theory about the nature of the universe may be wrong, a new study of strangely warped light suggests.The new research looked into three leading theories of dark matter, the invisible stuff that makes up most of the universe and provides structure to most galaxies, though we still don't know exactly what it is.For decades, cold dark matter (CDM) has been our leading theory for the universe's invisible scaffolding. It's a neat idea: tiny, slow-moving particles that interact only through gravity. But CDM has its problems. It struggles with explaining galactic anomalies and with describing the strange rotation curves of dwarf galaxies, for example. You may like To further test the nature of dark matter, scientists observe bent starlight from distant galaxies — a process call...
Reanimal Review (Switch 2) | Nintendo Life
Science

Reanimal Review (Switch 2) | Nintendo Life

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked) If you’re a horror fan and you own a Switch 2, you should play Reanimal. From the moment it pulls you into its bleak, nightmarish world, it’s clear that developer Tarsier Studios is building on everything it learned from the Little Nightmares series while pushing its signature horror sensibilities to unnerving new heights. This is an ambitious evolution of the cinematic horror puzzle-platformer formula the studio helped define with Little Nightmares, one that plays out less linearly in larger 3D spaces, with more varied combat and traversal mechanics and bombastic set pieces. It does so with impeccable sound design, gorgeous lighting, and pitch-perfect atmosphere. Reanimal marks a shift from the Tim Burton-esque macabre of the studio’s earlier titles ...