Science News

Forensic investigators have identified a victim of the September 11, 2001 attacks using a first-of-its-kind genetic genealogy technique, marking a breakthrough in the decades-long effort to identify all of the nearly 3,000 victims. The method combines DNA analysis with genealogical research, and news of the identification is drawing attention to both the advance in forensic science and the ongoing remembrance of the attacks.

The Trump administration is seeking to prevent the restoration of climate change and diversity-related information at US historical sites. The move suggests an effort to keep such material removed from exhibits or signage at federally maintained locations. The news has drawn attention amid broader debates over how climate science and diversity topics are handled across government institutions.

Scientists report that as the Pacific Ocean warms, a strange reversal is taking place in its water circulation: younger surface water appears to be ageing while older deep water is becoming younger, a shift in how water masses mix and move. Researchers say the trend could signal wider changes in ocean circulation driven by warming, with possible implications for heat and carbon storage in the Pacific.

A Norwegian science news report describes a study finding that children and teenagers aged 9 to 18 increasingly turn to AI assistants instead of Google for information and answers. Researchers say the shift is happening fast, but the effects on how young people learn, judge sources and handle misinformation are not yet known, prompting calls for closer attention from educators and parents.

The National Institutes of Health has launched Linked Discoveries, an experimental new PubMed tool aimed at strengthening research replication and reproducibility. The announcement is being shared in science and technology circles, with observers noting it as a step toward making published research easier to verify and build upon.

New research reported by Science News suggests that magnetic fields may have played a key role in the formation of the solar system, potentially helping to trigger the collapse of the gas cloud that gave rise to the Sun and planets. The finding could reshape how scientists understand the earliest moments of our cosmic neighbourhood.

Researchers report that artificial intelligence can distinguish between aged and young stem cells, a finding highlighted in a new science news release. If confirmed, the method could help scientists understand how ageing affects regenerative capacity and support therapies that rely on healthy stem cells. Details of the study team and the underlying research remain limited in the available information.

Scientists report new findings on how tidal forces from the Sun and Moon can trigger earthquakes. The research reportedly explains the mechanism by which gravitational stresses from these celestial bodies may nudge faults already under strain, setting off quakes. The claim has drawn attention as a potential step forward in understanding earthquake timing.

Researchers are highlighting efforts to combat infectious diseases and the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, according to a science news release. Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health concern, as bacteria increasingly evade existing drugs, prompting calls for new treatments and better stewardship of current antibiotics.

Researchers have identified a crown-shaped ring made of sulfur atoms inside mammalian cells, according to a report by Chemical & Engineering News. The discovery sheds new light on sulfur chemistry in living organisms, a field where such cyclic structures were not previously known to exist in biological systems, and may open new avenues of study.

China has reportedly reached a new milestone with an advanced super microscope, a development being framed as potentially significant for science and technology. The claim has circulated through physics-focused news outlets, though few details about the instrument, its capabilities, or the research it enables are available. Observers are watching to see what the advance could mean for fields that depend on high-resolution imaging.

Scientific American's latest science roundup covers the rising energy demands of artificial intelligence, ongoing efforts to detect subatomic particles, and research into an amoeba that thrives at extreme temperatures. The episode ties together the environmental cost of the AI boom with fundamental physics and biology discoveries, offering a snapshot of current conversations across science news.

Researchers have developed a new soil test that could show how soil microbes help feed plants, according to a report by ScienceDaily. The method is expected to shed light on nutrient exchanges between microbial communities and crops, potentially informing more sustainable farming practices. Little further detail is available yet, and reaction so far appears limited to science news coverage.

Physicist and broadcaster Jim Al-Khalili will present the 2026 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, taking on the mysteries of time. The announcement, reported by Laboratory News, signals another high-profile scientist delivering the annual lecture series, which has long aimed to bring complex science to young audiences and the wider public.

Most health professionals believe key plant foods are underrepresented in official dietary guidelines, according to a report covered by Plant Based News. The finding suggests that many practitioners see current recommendations as lagging behind evidence on the health benefits of plant-based eating, and are calling for fruits, vegetables, legumes and other plant foods to feature more prominently in public dietary advice.

World News Day 2026 is being marked with the message that the climate crisis cannot be solved without journalism. Campaigners and news organisations argue that independent reporting is essential to hold polluters accountable, explain climate science and inform the public, and they are urging continued support for quality news coverage of environmental issues worldwide.