Science News
David George Gordon, Apostle for Bugs on the Dinner Plate, Dies at 76
His “The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook” made a case for insects as food, while his boisterous cooking demonstrations brought tarantulas and crickets to TV.
White House Moves to Take Control of N.I.H. Grants
Federal officials are drafting an executive order that would place grants under review by an outside panel, the latest effort to redirect billions of dollars in research spending.
Archaeologists Decode Rules of an Ancient Roman Board Game
They scanned the pattern of microscopic imperfections on an ancient limestone slab, and used A.I. to figure out how a game might have been played.
Two Centuries On, Smithsonian Connects Jefferson’s Hair to Hemings’s Children
A new book describes how cutting-edge genomics techniques yielded “extraordinary proof” that Thomas Jefferson fathered children with Sally Hemings.
Creating a Kill Switch to Shut Down a Rogue A.I. Is Harder Than It Sounds
A bipartisan group in Congress and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California have floated ideas for building a mechanism that would instantly power down an A.I. system. Only no one really knows how.
How Trump Has Disrupted National Parks
Maintenance projects have been put off around the country and resources diverted to the president’s favored projects in Washington.
Video Shows a San Diego Dog Seeming to Greet an Intruder. Why Didn’t He Bark?
Dog behavior experts offered a variety of explanations for why Nash the golden retriever wagged his tail and carried a toy near a man who broke into his owner’s home.
New Species of Cat Discovered for First Time in a Century
The species, called a tilcayo, is smaller than a house cat and lives in the cloud forests of the Andes Mountains in Bolivia.
Will A.I. Kill Us? Can It Hack My Bank Account? Your A.I. Questions Answered
Nearly 1,000 readers sent us their questions about artificial intelligence, its potential and its potential risks.
NASA Telescope Helps Scientists Find a New Type of X-ray Object
The discovery of “hypersoft” X-ray beacons could help solve some mysteries about the universe.
The Next Gene-Editing Technology May Also Be the Oldest
Scientists have discovered a powerful gene-targeting system in viruses. Billions of years old, VIPR seems to predate CRISPR and may be even more effective.
Toxic Fracking Waste Becoming a Political Issue in Ohio
The Democratic candidate for governor backed restrictions on disposal of fracking wastewater around a hard-hit town, and called for a “thorough investigation” of the dangers.
This Rare Gene Drastically Raises Lung Cancer Risk in People Who Never Smoked
The gene is found predominantly in Southern Appalachia and may be one of the most powerful cancer-risk mutations ever found.
What Happens When A.I. Stops Doing What Humans Want?
“Alignment” is the science of teaching A.I. to do what is in line with human preferences, ethics and judgment. But, at times, the systems have gone rogue.
A Feather Found in Dinosaur Poop Might Explain How Birds Beat Extinction
It’s the only example of a dinosaur-era feather found within rock that wasn’t completely flattened through the centuries.
Scientists Overhaul Giant Particle Collider in Search of Universe’s Hidden Building Blocks
The European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, will dismantle the Large Hadron Collider, which helped discover the so-called God Particle, in order to build a more powerful particle accelerator.
Human-Caused Warming Played ‘Very Strong’ Role in Himalayan Floods, Report Finds
Rising temperatures contributed to the disaster by destabilizing the permafrost and ice around the collapsed rock, scientists concluded.
Trump Administration Moves to Gut a Core Endangered Species Protection
An internal memo reinterprets the law so that only the intentional killing of animals, not collateral harm, is illegal.
Fiji Declares a National Emergency as H.I.V. Cases Skyrocket
Surging drug use has contributed to an epidemic in the Pacific island nation, where one in 60 adults is estimated to be living with the virus.
Microscopic Videos That Show the Invisible Wonders Around Us
The winners of this year’s Nikon Small World in Motion competition showcase the wiggly, feathery, undulating beauty of invisible life.