Science News
Robert Trivers, Eccentric Scientist Who Probed Human Nature, Dies at 83
A visionary evolutionary biologist, he drew comparisons to Charles Darwin with his theories on the genetic roots of seemingly detrimental behaviors like self-deception.
Japan and the U.S. Agree to Team Up on Seabed Mining
The arrangement could signal a fracture in the decades-long effort among nations to reach consensus on how to mine the ocean floor while protecting ecosystems.
Jesse Roth, Who Advanced the Understanding of Diabetes, Dies at 91
His research showed that Type 2 diabetes was caused by insulin resistance at the cellular level, a controversial idea that initially met with disbelief.
Did Scientists Just Detect an Exploding Black Hole?
An underwater observatory recently detected a startlingly energetic cosmic neutrino. One possible cause involves a phenomenon that so far exists only in theory.
As Kennedy Takes on Food Policy, Companies Push Back
Though the health secretary falsely claimed a victory in a recent podcast, a federal proposal to review all new food ingredients is still in the early stages and drawing fierce opposition.
An Invisible Bottleneck: A Helium Shortage Threatens the Chip Industry
With a third of the global supply offline because of the war in Iran, gas companies are scrambling to assure critical A.I. chip makers there will be no disruptions.
Scientists Filmed a Whale Birth. The Surprise: Mom Had Many Helpers.
The episode, involving a group of sperm whales, adds to evidence that humans aren’t the only species that gets some form of assistance during and after delivery.
Winter Sea Ice in the Arctic Ties a Record Low
Ice plays a vital role in reflecting away planet-warming sunlight. The Arctic is warming much faster than most other parts of the world.
Glass Threads Spun From a Volcano’s Bubbly Magma
A volcanic formation known as Pele’s hair is produced when air-filled magma is stretched, according to a new study by a team of scientists and glass artists.
How to Turn a Chicken Egg Into a Drug Factory
A biotech start-up is testing a novel way of efficiently producing pharmaceutical drugs.
Wealthy Investors Target Foes of Clean Energy, Seeking Revenge
Renewable energy leaders said their industry got “rolled” in President Trump’s tax bill. Now they’re fighting back, starting in Texas.
Schumer Pledges Democrats Will Restore Clean Energy Tax Credits
Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, said Democrats would pursue an agenda to reduce energy costs if they win back control of Congress.
Trump to Delay Nominating New C.D.C. Director
The administration has yet to find a candidate who aligns with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s agenda while avoiding his unpopular stance on vaccines.
Heisuke Hironaka, Groundbreaking Mathematician, Is Dead at 94
A recipient of his profession’s prestigious Fields Medal, he devised an algorithm that helps solve mathematical “singularities.” It now permeates the field.
E.P.A. Waives Smog Rules on Summer Gasoline in Bid to Ease Prices
The moves will allow expanded sales of a higher-ethanol blend known as E15, which is often restricted in the summer.
Humans Had Dogs Before They Had Farming, Ancient DNA Confirms
New research pushes the first genetic evidence of dogs back by 5,000 years and suggests that hunter-gatherer groups may have acquired dogs from one another.
Maryland’s Supreme Court Strikes Down Baltimore’s Climate Lawsuit
The decision represents a setback to other local governments around the country that have sued oil companies to recoup the mounting costs of climate change.
Ancient Grapes Reveal Long History of Modern Wines
Genetic material preserved in ancient grape seeds reveals when, and how, humans meddled with wine grapes.
NASA Adds Moon Base and Nuclear-Powered Mars Spacecraft to Road Map
The agency announced the more specific plans and timelines after years of suggesting it may build a lunar outpost.
How Do You Measure Snow From Space? First, Climb a Mountain.
A new satellite could transform how water is studied worldwide. But to help unlock its capabilities, scientists first needed to take critical measurements on a mountaintop.