Highlights of the day from 16 to 22 February 2026

 
22.02.2026
Meanwhile, at the centre of the Milky Way, a black hole is eating stars and shooting beams of light. Its behaviour is puzzling astronomers and making a dazzling spectacle for years and years to come.

21.02.2026
Language is more than just words and grammar, it is a cultural identity. Celebrating International Mother Language Day is celebrating multilingualism and cultural diversity. Check the 2026 theme – Youth voices on multilingual education.

20.02.2026
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution was created last year and had their first meeting this February. This is an independent body of scientists aiming to advise on solutions regarding consequences of pollution and chemicals.

19.02.2026
Due to natural disasters and war, dates, a typically desert fruit, nearly vanished in Iraq. Now, a group of scientists are bringing them to life and flourishing through lab work.

18.02.2026
After people have massively shifted to the cities for centuries, it is time now for nature and agriculture to shift to cities as well. Impossible? Not to Marcia Mikai, an innovation-driven urban architect.

17.02.2026
Tourism can be a nightmare when it becomes out of control, but it can also be a source of development for a region, as long as it is sustainable. Today is Global Tourism Resilience Day, to promote solutions to face crises and disasters.

16.02.2026
Online services are only possible due to 1.7 million kilometres of submarine cables connecting countries around the world. A global and joint effort is necessary to maintain them in good shape. Challenges are diverse and multiple.

There are so many places to travel to, where to start? Let’s follow the tips of journalists around the word. Here are the tips for this month:

• Khiva, Uzbekistan: This Silk Road city is stepping out of the shadows in 2026, by Sophie Ibbotson (National Geographic)