Science

Researchers suggest a long-held interpretation of a geological record dating back roughly two billion years may have been mistaken, prompting a re-examination of what it reveals about early Earth conditions. The finding is drawing attention from geoscientists and climate researchers, since reassessing ancient clues can shift understanding of how the planet's atmosphere and surface evolved over deep time.

An astronomer is tracking how Starlink satellites sink in their orbits, using the drift as a 'planetary barometer' to measure changes in Earth's upper atmosphere. Because the satellites' orbits respond to atmospheric drag, their gradual descent can act as a gauge of density variations. The idea is drawing attention among space and science readers interested in whether mega-constellations could double as atmospheric monitoring tools.

AI researcher Andrew Ng has dismissed warnings that artificial intelligence could drive humanity to extinction, describing such fears as 'science fiction'. The comments reignite a familiar divide in the tech world between prominent figures who argue existential risk is overblown and those who treat it as a serious concern. Ng has long argued that focus on distant doomsday scenarios distracts from practical issues like bias, job displacement and regulation of real-world AI systems.

New research indicates the Earth's crust is slowly tearing beneath the Pacific Northwest, drawing attention to geological activity in the Cascadia region of the US West Coast. The finding has sparked discussion among geologists and the public about what the tearing could mean for seismic risk in the area.

New research finds that common cleaning sponges release trillions of microscopic plastic fibers during everyday use, adding a previously underappreciated source of microplastics to household wastewater. The findings raise concerns about how much plastic contamination regular cleaning routines contribute to the environment, and researchers are calling for closer scrutiny of everyday plastic-based household products and their alternatives.

Two NASA astronauts who traveled farther from Earth than any humans before them are moving into new roles at the space agency. The pair set the distance record during their mission, and NASA is now reassigning them to positions where their experience can shape future human spaceflight. Details of their exact new duties have not been fully laid out.

Zepbound and Mounjaro, the popular tirzepatide weight-loss and diabetes drugs from Eli Lilly, may do more than curb appetite. New research suggests they could also switch on the body's brown fat, a tissue that burns calories to generate heat. If confirmed, the finding could help explain part of the drugs' effectiveness and open new angles for obesity treatment research.

Scientists are still waiting for the disclosure of information about unidentified flying objects that President Trump has promised. The report highlights researchers who say that despite political pledges to reveal the truth about UFOs, no substantive evidence or official explanation has been released, leaving the scientific community skeptical about when, or whether, real transparency will come.

The Royal Society of Chemistry's Science Teaching Survey 2026 highlights stark regional disparities in science education provision, with the quality of teaching and resources varying significantly depending on where pupils live. The findings point to unequal access to qualified teachers, equipment and support across the country, prompting fresh debate about funding and the fair distribution of science education opportunities.

A new study finds that more than 70% of coastal areas in the United States are sinking, or subsiding, at a rate faster than one millimeter per year. The land loss affects communities along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts, compounding risks from rising sea levels. Researchers warn the sinking is unevenly distributed, with some hotspots subsiding considerably faster, putting infrastructure, roads and buildings under greater threat of flooding and damage.

The New York Times reports on a scientific discovery said to have been made in an $80-a-night motel room, which could help explain how life first emerged on Earth. The story frames an everyday, low-budget setting as the birthplace of research with major implications for understanding the origins of life. Details of the discovery and the researchers involved are not included in the available material.

Scientists deliberately burned replicas of ancient scrolls as part of an experiment aimed at cracking a mystery roughly 2,000 years old, according to a report carried by ScienceDaily. The unconventional decision to destroy research material is drawing attention, as researchers sought to recreate conditions or gain insights that could shed light on the ancient artefacts and the secrets they contain.

A new study suggests that a simple dietary adjustment could measurably slow a person's biological age in as little as four weeks. The finding, reported by BBC Science Focus, points to the possibility that short-term changes in eating habits can affect how quickly the body ages at a cellular level. It adds to growing interest in how nutrition influences longevity and healthy ageing.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has observed an exotic spiral galaxy that appears to rotate in two directions simultaneously, an unusual configuration that challenges standard models of how galaxies spin. The finding is drawing attention across science news outlets, with readers fascinated by the idea that a single galaxy could counter-rotate, likely the result of a past merger or gas accretion.

New research suggests that during REM sleep, the brain's energy consumption increases even as its fuel supply rises, creating what scientists are calling a paradox. Dreaming appears to be an energetically expensive state, with the brain burning through energy reserves at a time when metabolic resources should theoretically be abundant. The findings could reshape understanding of why sleep and dreaming are biologically essential.

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang is challenging a widely cited figure used in the ongoing debate over artificial intelligence, arguing that the number has no scientific basis. His comments add to a heated public discussion about AI's risks and benefits, in which competing claims about the technology's future are often made without solid evidence behind them.

Scientists suggest fungi could be the answer to producing food on Mars, according to new research reported by ScienceDaily. Fungal species may help future Martian missions grow crops in harsh extraterrestrial conditions, potentially supporting long-term human settlement on the red planet.

Researchers have used a quantum computer to simulate how matter can emerge from pure energy, a process linked to pair production in which energetic particles such as photons convert into particle-antiparticle pairs. The demonstration shows how quantum hardware can model fundamental physics processes that are extremely difficult to capture with classical computers, offering a new tool for studying high-energy phenomena.

NASA's Psyche spacecraft is in the news again. The mission, launched to study the metal-rich asteroid Psyche between Mars and Jupiter, is being highlighted by NASA Science, prompting renewed public interest in the spacecraft and its journey through deep space toward its asteroid target.