Earth

Scientists are developing new ways to control mosquitoes as warmer temperatures lengthen mosquito seasons and expand the range of dangerous diseases like malaria and dengue. The mosquito kills more people than any other animal on earth, and researchers warn that longer warm periods give the insects more time to spread illness, prompting renewed efforts in prevention and control.

A new study warns that North Korea's nuclear weapons tests have caused more than 1,000 earthquakes around the country's test site. Researchers link the seismic activity to underground detonations, raising concerns about structural damage, possible leaks of radioactive material, and the stability of the Punggye-ri test area as tremors continue even after testing paused.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission can single-handedly approve massive spaceflight projects, such as large satellite constellations, that could permanently alter the appearance of the night sky for everyone on Earth. Space law experts note that despite growing outcry from astronomers and environmentalists, there is very little other regulatory oversight, leaving the agency with near-total authority over these ventures.

Scientists have captured a subduction zone off Vancouver Island in the process of tearing itself apart, suggesting these massive tectonic systems may die piece by piece rather than all at once. The finding offers new insight into how subduction zones end over geological time, with implications for understanding seismic hazards in the Pacific Northwest, where the Cascadia zone poses earthquake and tsunami risks.

Four environmental organizations filed a petition asking the Federal Communications Commission to reverse its approval of a startup's plan to beam on-demand sunlight from space to Earth. The groups argue the agency ignored the project's potential impacts on wildlife and astronomy, reigniting debate over how satellite and space-based ventures are regulated.

A study published in Science argues that a Mega El Niño pattern, producing extreme and prolonged climate swings, triggered the end-Permian mass extinction around 252 million years ago, the deadliest extinction event in Earth's history. The researchers say runaway warming destabilised ecosystems beyond what species could tolerate. The paper is being shared widely, with an open-access version of the full text available.

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck near New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean on September 26, 2026, prompting a natural disaster alert. The available evidence comes from a US embassy advisory posted for Fiji, warning people in the region about the event. The posts collected do not include eyewitness reactions, damage reports, or details on casualties, and no tsunami warning information is given in the evidence, so the full public response is not yet clear.

An earthquake struck the Los Angeles area, rattling buildings and prompting many residents to report feeling strong shaking. Early reports did not indicate major damage or injuries, but officials urged people in the region to check for hazards and be ready for possible aftershocks. The quake quickly became one of the most discussed topics as locals shared their experiences online.

Google is planning to launch an experimental satellite into orbit, marking Big Tech's first concrete move toward building artificial intelligence data centers in space. The idea is to test whether computing infrastructure can operate off-planet, where solar power is constant and cooling constraints differ from Earth. The announcement has drawn wide attention as tech companies scramble for energy to power the AI boom.

A new report suggests scientists may have misinterpreted evidence dating back some two billion years, with potential implications for how Earth's early history is understood. The finding is drawing attention in science media, as re-evaluating such ancient clues could reshape assumptions about the planet's past conditions and evolution.

Asteroid 2024 YR4, discovered in December 2024, has drawn attention from NASA and space watchers worldwide after early calculations suggested a small but nonzero chance it could hit Earth in December 2032. The roughly 40-metre-wide rock briefly topped impact-risk monitoring lists, and astronomers have been refining its orbit as it moves away from view.

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has started transmitting data to Earth ahead of the start of its regular science observations. The agency tested whether ground stations could handle the incoming data stream once the telescope begins full operations. The trials involved ground stations operated by three agencies, including Japan's JAXA. The telescope's early data transmissions mark a key step toward the start of its planned survey mission.

The New York Times reports on a scientific discovery connected to an $80 motel room that researchers say could shed light on the origins of life. Details of the finding and the scientists involved remain limited, but the story highlights how an ordinary roadside room became tied to research into how life first emerged on Earth.

A spacecraft built to explore icy moons where life could exist is flying close by Earth, using the planet's gravity to adjust its course. The maneuver is part of a long journey toward the outer solar system, where scientists hope to study oceans beneath the moons' surfaces. The flyby has drawn attention as a milestone in the search for conditions suitable for life beyond our planet.

Astronomers report that a dead, 'zombie' star is repeatedly flashing toward Earth because of a giant cloud of gas ejected by the star, described colourfully as a cosmic 'fart'. The wobbling object emits pulses of light at regular intervals as it rotates, and researchers are calling the new observations groundbreaking for what they reveal about the behaviour of stellar remnants.

A new study reports that Earth microbes were able to survive conditions simulating the ocean of Enceladus, Saturn's icy moon, which is thought to hold a subsurface saltwater sea. The finding suggests life could endure in environments similar to those on the moon, fuelling interest in future missions to sample Enceladus and strengthening the case that it may be habitable.

An astronomer is tracking how Starlink satellites gradually sink in their orbits and using that data as a 'planetary barometer' to measure conditions in Earth's upper atmosphere. The idea is that changes in satellite orbital decay reveal atmospheric density, offering a novel scientific use for the thousands of SpaceX satellites in low Earth orbit.

New research indicates that Earth microbes can survive under simulated conditions of the ocean beneath the ice of Saturn's moon Enceladus, suggesting life there is not out of the question. Scientists see the finding as encouraging for the search for life beyond Earth, since Enceladus's subsurface ocean is considered one of the most promising places to look.

Scientists have observed that the amount of dust in Earth's atmosphere has declined, reversing a previous trend. NBC News reports the shift is described as mysterious, with the cause of the reversal not yet explained. Dust in the atmosphere affects climate, air quality and weather patterns, so researchers are paying close attention to what is driving the change.

Scientists report that the Earth's crust beneath Italy is 'unzipping,' a process they say is driving seismic activity along the Apennine mountain range. The finding offers a new explanation for the earthquakes that regularly strike the Italian peninsula and is drawing attention for its striking description of how the crust is gradually pulling apart.

Google has announced Project Suncatcher, an initiative to test its AI chips in space for the first time. The plan points to putting data-processing hardware aboard satellites, a step that could eventually move parts of AI computing off Earth. The announcement is drawing attention across the tech and semiconductor world, with observers weighing the engineering challenges of running chips in orbit and what it could mean for the future of data centers.

Scientists report the discovery of a so-called "fire amoeba", an organism said to survive at temperatures beyond what was thought to be life's upper limit. If confirmed, the find would force a rethink of the thermal boundaries of life on Earth, with implications for the search for life in extreme environments such as deep-sea vents and possibly other planets.

Two earthquakes struck California on Sunday morning with little warning, according to early reports. Details on the magnitude, epicenter and any damage or injuries remain limited, but the back-to-back quakes have drawn attention as residents report feeling the ground shake. Authorities are likely monitoring the area for aftershocks as more information emerges.

DARPA is developing a robotic spacecraft designed to service and repair satellites in geosynchronous orbit, some 36,000 kilometers above Earth. The program aims to extend the life of expensive communications and military satellites that currently cannot be fixed once deployed. Interest is focused on how robotic servicing could reshape satellite operations and reduce costs for both government and commercial operators.