Science
Discoveries, climate and the natural world
Europe Created Heat-Wave Protections. Now Comes the ‘Crash Test.’
Searing temperatures in Western Europe are drawing comparisons to 2003, when a deadly heat wave sparked a reckoning.
X-Ray Specs for the World’s Oldest, Sealed Letters
A team of historians, scientists and engineers has developed a portable X-ray scanner to study 4,000-year-old letters encased in clay envelopes.
Seabed damaged by fishing showing signs of recovery
Campaigners say improvements to the area trashed by illegal dredging show that marine protection works.
Justice Department Makes It Easier to Bypass Pollution Controls on Pickups
It has stopped criminal prosecutions of people who install “defeat devices,” which make diesel trucks faster and more efficient but also dirtier.
What are UV levels and how can you protect yourself?
Some UV exposure is essential for our wellbeing, but too much is damaging and can cause skin cancer.
Six ways to keep your home and yourself cool in hot weather
Six simple things you can do to help keep your house cool when temperatures rise.
California Needs Water and Clean Power. It Might Have a Fix for Both.
A pilot program is building solar panels over irrigation canals to generate electricity. As a bonus, the shade prevents water from evaporating.
Is Climate Change Supercharging El Niño?
As a new, potentially record-breaking El Niño begins, researchers are vigorously debating whether climate change is driving the phenomenon’s intensity.
François Englert, Nobelist Who Helped Predict the ‘God Particle,’ Dies at 93
His work paved the way for the discovery of the Higgs boson, which explained how particles acquire mass, solving one of the deepest mysteries in physics.
Buildings May Soon Have ‘Immune Systems’ That Fight Airborne Disease
Following the pandemic, the federal government is spending $150 million on new technology to ensure clean indoor air. Here’s what scientists are pursuing.
In Ancient Pits Near Stonehenge, Scientists See Hints of Solstice Ritual
British archaeologists may have found the remains of a site where people celebrated the solstice thousands of years ago, a few miles from the famed stone circle.
Simpler, older version of Stonehenge found three miles from famous site
The structure consisted of two posts that lined up with the solstices 5,000 years ago.
A Deadly Outbreak of Plague, Nearly 5,000 Years Before the Black Death
The oldest known cases, discovered among hunter-gatherers in Siberian graves, contradict the theory that the disease once was mild.
New Coral Study Identifies Areas Where Reefs Are Hanging On
New research has identified areas around the world where cooler currents and other favorable conditions are helping to protect coral from the worst effects of global warming.
D.O.J. Seeks to Halt Pollution Lawsuit Against Elon Musk’s Data Center
The department cited national security concerns, saying Elon Musk’s company had played a crucial role in the Iran war. It also argued it has the authority to stop environmental lawsuits brought by citizens.
How Does One Brain Speak Two Languages?
A new study of bilingual speakers suggests that a single “grammatical engine” in the brain can power multiple languages at once.
What is El Niño and why could it mean record temperatures?
Global temperatures are expected to rise in the coming months as El Niño begins.
El Niño under way and threatens weather extremes, scientists say
An El Niño event has officially started, say US scientists, raising fears of extreme weather and higher temperatures.
Nasa names next astronauts for Artemis Moon programme
Nasa names its next Artemis crew, though they will not be walking on the Moon or even going anywhere near it.
Nasa has named the Artemis III crew - what is their mission?
Artemis III will help test crucial systems needed for the planned Artemis IV Moon landing in 2028.
Rare footage captured of Great White shark in Mediterranean Sea
A volunteer diver has described shaking as he filmed his encounter with an endangered Great White shark between Tunisia and Sicily.
Astronauts return to ISS after sheltering during air leak repair attempt
Russian attempt to repair tunnel area sparks safe-haven procedure for five other astronauts onboard.
