Science & Discovery News Today — September 16, 2026

The natural world is full of intricate systems and complex interactions, and today's headlines highlight some of the fascinating ways in which human activity and scientific discovery are influencing our understanding of the planet. In the polar regions, speeding glaciers are driving significant ice loss over the past half century, with far-reaching implications for sea levels and global climate patterns. Meanwhile, researchers are making progress in understanding the social behaviors of chimpanzees, who have been observed teaching young ones the techniques they need to thrive in their environments.

In other news, scientists are developing new technologies to help mitigate the impact of human activity on the planet. For example, a new process using plasma and electricity has been shown to convert CO2 into useful chemicals like methanol and butane, while an adaptive crystal has been developed that can selectively capture CO2 and recognize similar molecules. However, a more sobering picture emerges from a study of seabirds, which have been found to contain record-breaking levels of plastic - with one bird found to have ingested almost 900 pieces. As we explore the intersection of human behavior and scientific discovery, we also examine the claims behind a growing trend: can "pheromone maxxing" really be backed up by science?

Today's signal:
• Speeding glaciers drive half a century of polar ice loss (phys.org)
• Chimpanzees give youngsters the tools to learn tricky techniques (phys.org)
• Plasma and electricity convert CO₂ into methanol, butane and other useful chemicals (phys.org)
• Skipping showers is the latest trend. But is there any science to 'pheromone' maxxing? (phys.org)
• Adaptive crystal can selectively capture CO₂ and recognize similar molecules (phys.org)
• Record-breaking levels of plastic found in seabirds, with almost 900 pieces found in one bird alone (phys.org)