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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has controversially repealed the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, allowing coal and oil power plants to emit more harmful pollutants like mercury and soot. This decision, which critics warn will significantly increase public health risks by avoiding critical safety standards, is projected by the EPA to save $670 million, though opponents argue it disregards crucial health benefits.
Scientists at Stanford University have achieved a significant breakthrough by creating the first global map of rare earthquakes occurring deep within Earth's mantle, a phenomenon long debated and difficult to confirm. This groundbreaking research, which identified 459 such events since 1990, offers crucial insights into the crust-mantle boundary and the upper mantle's role in seismic activity, particularly in regions like the Himalayas.
In a landmark decision on February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down former President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs, which were originally implemented under a law typically reserved for national emergencies. This ruling, marking a major setback for a key aspect of Trump's economic policy with significant global implications, surprisingly saw U.S. stocks remain relatively steady despite broader economic concerns.
Ukrainian authorities successfully thwarted a sophisticated Russian plot to assassinate high-ranking officials, including a strategic communications coordinator, which offered $100,000 bounties for their deaths. This cross-border operation, involving arrests and the seizure of weapons and explosives, highlights the persistent and complex security threats Ukraine faces.
A newly discovered giant virus, ushikuvirus, found in Japan, is challenging long-held theories about the origin of complex life. This amoeba-infecting virus offers unique insights by connecting different giant DNA virus families and suggesting how viruses might have influenced the evolution of the cell nucleus.
A devastating avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada has claimed eight lives, marking it as one of the deadliest in the state's history and the worst in the U.S. since 1981. While six individuals were successfully rescued, the search for a ninth missing skier has tragically transitioned to a recovery operation after the incident involving a group of 15 backcountry enthusiasts.
A devastating gas explosion ripped through a residential building in Karachi, Pakistan, killing at least 16 people and injuring many more as it collapsed during the early hours of Ramadan. Authorities are now investigating the cause of the blast, which tragically struck residents preparing for their pre-dawn meal, adding a somber dimension to the holy month.
NASA is conducting a crucial second wet dress rehearsal for its Artemis 2 mission, a high-stakes fueling test designed to resolve persistent hydrogen leaks and other issues that plagued a previous attempt. This intensive 50-hour countdown, involving over 700,000 gallons of supercold propellants, is a vital step toward the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 and will determine the feasibility of a March launch for the four astronauts.
Peru's Congress has elected 83-year-old leftist Jose Balcazar as the nation's eighth president in eight years, underscoring a period of profound political instability. Balcazar, who replaces a leader ousted by scandal, now faces the challenge of overseeing transparent elections despite his own controversial past comments defending child marriage.
Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was reportedly arrested on his 66th birthday, February 19, 2026, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. This dramatic development, confirmed by Thames Valley Police, follows intensifying scrutiny over his Jeffrey Epstein connections and allegations he sent confidential trade reports to the convicted sex offender.
Scientists at the University of New Hampshire have leveraged artificial intelligence to discover dozens of high-temperature magnetic materials, including 25 previously unknown compounds, aiming to replace expensive rare earth elements. This groundbreaking AI-driven innovation promises more sustainable and affordable solutions for critical technologies like electric vehicles and renewable energy systems by reducing reliance on costly imported materials.
Indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, held in Geneva through Omani intermediaries, have reportedly made progress. An agreement on general guiding principles has been reached, setting the stage for Iran to constrain its nuclear program under United Nations supervision, with further discussions expected to finalize the deal.