Science

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.

Reports say scientists plan to bring back the woolly mammoth with the help of artificial intelligence. The claim, picked up in headlines including the New York Post, suggests AI tools are being used to support de-extinction research aimed at recreating the Ice Age species. Details of the project, its timeline and its scientific credibility remain limited in the available reporting.

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.

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.

Anthropic reports that its Claude AI helped identify a previously unknown gene-editing enzyme. The company presented the discovery as a milestone for AI in biology, but the finding has not yet been independently confirmed by scientists, so it remains unverified. Observers are weighing the claim's significance for gene editing and for AI's role in scientific research while awaiting peer review or replication.

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.

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.

A new study from Stanford, reported by the university in September 2026, concludes that the human brain should be understood as two separate organs rather than a single unified structure. The finding challenges long-standing assumptions in neuroscience about how the brain's hemispheres function together and is drawing attention across science and technology communities.

Scientists are revisiting slime molds, single-celled organisms that can solve mazes and optimize networks despite having no brain. Their abilities are fueling a growing controversy over how intelligence should be defined, with researchers divided on whether such problem-solving behavior in brainless creatures counts as genuine cognition or something else entirely.

Oncologist Ilyas Sahin has drawn attention to a newly published study examining how colorectal cancer spreads to the liver, one of the most common and serious sites of metastasis for patients with the disease. The findings are being circulated among oncology professionals tracking advances in treatment and prognosis for metastatic colorectal cancer.

A civil engineer has published a science fiction thriller that examines how artificial intelligence could expose weaknesses in modern infrastructure and society. The book uses the thriller format to explore what happens when the systems people rely on become vulnerable to AI-driven failure or attack. The story has drawn attention for coming from an engineer's perspective rather than a novelist's, lending technical weight to its warnings about the age of AI.

A Chinese street vendor's grilled ice cubes snack has left internet users puzzled. The dish, apparently sold in China, involves treating ice cubes in ways typically associated with cooked street food, prompting amused and confused reactions online, with some calling the idea a challenge to science.

Commentators are arguing that media coverage of artificial intelligence focuses too much on speculative, science-fiction-style scenarios while ignoring the concrete harm generative AI is already causing to people today. The piece says society should not waste time fantasizing about distant risks and should instead address the real, present-day damage. The argument is fueling debate about how AI dangers should be framed.

Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has reportedly withdrawn from the national squad, with reports linking the decision to his conscience over the situation in Gaza. The claim is circulating widely on social media, drawing debate about players taking a stand on political and humanitarian issues and what it means for Ireland's upcoming fixtures.

This headline is from the Christian Science Monitor and addresses the ongoing debate over how to end the war in Ukraine. It frames a tension in current diplomacy: the United States is promoting peace negotiations, while Russia appears confident that continuing its military campaign serves its goals better. The article examines why Moscow may prefer battlefield gains to talks, and what that means for Western diplomatic efforts. Engagement figures are not visible, so reader reaction is unclear from the available evidence.

Researchers are studying whether detonating a nuclear device could deflect a large asteroid on a collision course with Earth, an idea once confined to Hollywood films. French science media are revisiting the concept as planetary defence gains serious attention, with scientists weighing nuclear options against slower alternatives like kinetic impactors.