Humpback Whale Social Learning, Venus Lava Tube Discovery, and the Science of Sleep Deprivation

This is The Lofi Brief: calm beats, clear news for February 19, 2026. A short, low-key look at three stories shaping the moment.

Today’s Stories

1. Canadian Humpback Whales Thrive Through Social Learning
Researchers studying whales in British Columbia’s Kitimat Fjord System found strong evidence that bubble-net feeding — a complex cooperative hunting technique — spread through social networks within the population, helping it rebound at 6–8% growth per year.

🔗 Source: Science News

2. Radar Data Reveals a Massive Underground Lava Tube on Venus
Scientists reanalyzing NASA’s Magellan spacecraft radar data detected the first-ever subsurface structure on Venus — a cavernous lava tube beneath the shield volcano Nyx Mons.

🔗 Source: Reuters

3. What Happens Inside Your Brain When You’re Sleep Deprived
New research shows attention lapses after poor sleep may occur because the brain begins flushing waste during wakefulness — briefly entering sleep-like states to perform essential “housekeeping.”

🔗 Source: The Wall Street Journal

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