Science News
James Barnard, a Global Force in Wastewater Treatment, Dies at 90
An environmental engineer, he invented a biological method to remove nitrogen and phosphorous from wastewater, an advance that transformed the industry worldwide.
As a Meningitis Outbreak Spreads in Kent, UK, Here’s What to Know
At least 20 young adults are believed to be infected, and two have died, in an outbreak of meningococcal disease in the county of Kent, in southeast England.
Women Who Undergo Menopause Before 40 Face Higher Heart Attack Risk
A new study found that women who went through so-called premature menopause had 40 percent more fatal and nonfatal heart attacks over the course of their lives.
Why Some Birds Seem to Be Developing a Cigarette Habit
Research from Poland adds to evidence from Latin American countries that compounds in used cigarette butts ward off parasites in bird nests.
A ‘Hail Mary’ for Earth, Built on Solid Science
Andy Weir discusses his science-fueled novel “Project Hail Mary,” which has been adapted into a film that opens in theaters on Friday.
A Meteor Streaks Across the U.S. and Rattles Ohio With an Explosive Boom
NASA confirmed that the loud boom heard and felt by people in northern Ohio was indeed caused by a meteor.
Democrats Hammer Trump on ‘Energy Affordability’
A new Senate report argues the Trump administration has also pushed costs up by stifling clean energy.
An ‘Unprecedented’ Outbreak of Meningitis Raises Alarm in Britain
Two people have died in an outbreak of meningococcal disease. Many cases were traced to a nightclub in Canterbury that is popular with students at the University of Kent.
How To Bring a Bird’s Song Back from the Edge of Extinction
In a new study, wild regent honeyeaters became vocal tutors, teaching their disappearing song to birds in a captive breeding program.
Judge Strikes Down RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Policies in Blow to Trump’s Health Agenda
Ruling on a lawsuit brought by several prominent medical organizations, a district court said the federal government had not based its decisions on science in limiting Covid shots and revising the childhood immunization schedule.
Administration to Convene ‘God Squad’ With Power to Override Environmental Law
The meeting, planned for this month, will focus on oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
No H.I.V. Aid Without More Access to Minerals: U.S. Ponders ‘Sticks’ Against Zambia
A draft State Department memo outlines ways the Trump administration may ratchet up pressure on the African country by ending health support “on a massive scale.”
What Displays Get Scrapped at America’s Parks? It Looks Like Anyone’s Guess.
President Trump ordered officials to remove information deemed disparaging to the United States. A review of government documents shows little guidance and striking inconsistencies.
Spaceflight Started 100 Years Ago in a Massachusetts Cabbage Patch
Before humanity sent satellites, telescopes, humans and weapons into space, Robert Goddard experimented with the first liquid-fueled rocket on his aunt’s farm.
In Ski Towns, a Bad Snow Year Is Worsening Wildfire Fears
A record-breaking snow drought has residents worried about much more than slushy slopes.
Iceland’s Chief ‘Lava Cooler’ Is Bracing for the Next Volcanic Eruption
Helgi Hjorleifsson, a firefighter, is a leader in a national experiment to steer rivers of lava away from important sites. Some called it crazy, but it worked.
‘How Low Can You Go?’ The Shifting Guidelines for Blood Pressure Control
The number doctors use to demarcate hypertension keeps going down, a trend applauded by many experts, who point to studies linking high blood pressure and dementia.
How My Trip to Antarctica Unlocked a Family Discovery
An eight-week voyage to the bottom of the Earth helped the photojournalist Chang W. Lee better understand his late father.
Earlier Cholesterol Testing Can Reduce Heart Attacks and Strokes, New Guideline Says
Eleven medical organizations advised changes to preventive cardiac care that it says could markedly reduce heart attacks and strokes.
E.P.A. Moves to Weaken Limits on Ethylene Oxide
The gas, ethylene oxide, plays a crucial role in sterilizing medical devices. But long-term exposure is linked to several types of cancer and other ailments.