Science News
A Mathematical Tribute to the Soccer Ball
As the World Cup final approaches, take a moment to appreciate the beautiful symmetries of humanity’s favorite truncated icosahedron.
Rare Pair of Improbably Light ‘Super-Puff’ Planets Is Discovered
They’re less dense than cotton candy, and they will help astrophysicists better understand the most unusual ways giant planets can form.
Why Does Wildfire Smoke Turn the Sky Orange?
It’s about how light scatters in our atmosphere.
Burning Houses to Save Houses
We visited researchers seeking ways to make homes safer. They set a lot of fires.
Astronomers Find an Atmosphere on a Nearby Earthlike Planet
It’s the first potentially habitable world known to host an atmosphere, making it a lead contender in the search for life beyond our solar system.
Mary-Dell Chilton Dies at 87; Helped Create First Genetically Modified Plant
In 1982, she led the research team that figured out how to genetically alter plants, a discovery that would eventually transform global agriculture.
National Academies Report Backs Climate Change Attribution Science
Attribution science is advancing quickly, researchers said. That could support lawsuits seeking damages for severe events worsened by global warming.
Will SpaceX’s 13th Test Flight of Starship Be Lucky?
The objectives remain largely the same as the last launch in May. The biggest difference is that the gargantuan rocket will deploy 20 functioning, next-generation Starlink internet satellites.
The F.D.A. Approves a New Pill to Slash Cholesterol Levels
The new pills can lower cholesterol levels far below what can be achieved with statins, clinical trials have shown.
Door-to-Door Search for Grapevines Sold at Costco Begins in California’s Santa Clara County
Officials in Santa Clara County began knocking on doors on Monday to collect potentially infested plants sold at some Costco stores.
Canada Wildfire Air Pollution and Heat Wave Combo Pose Heightened Health Risks
Days that are both extremely hot and polluted come with higher risks of respiratory ailments and other health risks.
New Jersey Couple Aids Meteorite Discovery After it Crashes Through Their Roof
A New Jersey couple helped scientists uncover the makeup of an unusual asteroid after it fell into their bedroom.
Meet Earth’s Newest Monkey. (And Check Out Its Orange Lips.)
It is only the fifth new African monkey identified as a new species in the past 75 years.
Traffic Deaths Spike After Deadly Mass Shootings, Study Suggests
Some gun violence experts are skeptical. But the research raises questions of whether there’s a cause-and-effect relationship and if so, what’s behind it.
Archaeologists Unearth a 2,400-Year-Old Sanctuary for the Worship of Odysseus
The ruins of a 2,400-year-old complex suggest that, to the Greeks of antiquity, Homer’s protagonist was not just a character in a poem but a figure of genuine devotion.
Climate: An extraordinary White House meeting
A new book sheds light on President Trump’s affinity for fossil fuels.
Public Health Groups Sue F.D.A. Over Flavored E-Cigarette Policy
Executives unhappy with the agency donated and lobbied President Trump directly. Major companies have already begun to prepare and ship new products.
New Winged Robot Can Fly and Swim Like a Puffin
Inspired by the physical feats of diving birds, researchers have created a robot that can plunge into the water and flap back into the air.
Roger Worthington Is Suing Over a Heat Wave
Roger Worthington is helping to lead a $50 billion lawsuit against oil producers. This week he’ll face powerful critics in Congress.
Researchers Claim to Have Solved the Perplexing ‘Reverse Sprinkler’ Problem That Stumped Feynman
For more than a century, physicists have argued about which way a submerged sprinkler sucking in water would spin. Careful experiments provide a clear answer.