Air pollution linked to DNA changes in sperm, research shows
Study of more than 2,000 men identifies epigenetic changes linked to exposure to common outdoor pollutants
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Scientists just created the most lifelike cell ever made in a lab — here’s what it could accomplish
SpudCell is a new cell-like platform that can feed, grow and divide like a normal cell — but it's not yet a perfect re-creation of the real thing.
Neanderthals and modern humans may have shared culture 59,000 years ago in Turkey, study finds
Fossils, stone tools and seashells in Turkey show that Neanderthals and the Homo sapiens who moved in later had the same hunting strategies and symbolic traditions even without overlapping at the site, suggesting they may have shared information.
These 11 Wildlife Images From the Ocean Conservancy’s Photography Contest Showcase the Wonder of Earth’s Waters
Seals, penguins and fish are featured in the nonprofit’s annual competition to inspire care for the world’s oceans
Neanderthals and Modern Humans May Have Shared a Shell-Collecting Tradition in Türkiye for 20,000 Years
Learn how shells found in a Turkish cave may show Neanderthals and modern humans shared culture, tools, and symbolic habits.
Heart Function May Predict Early Brain Changes Linked to Memory Decline
Learn how even subtle declines in heart function may affect the brain years later, potentially increasing the risk of memory problems and cognitive decline.
Osteoarthritis Could One Day Be Treated With a Single Regenerative Shot
The research is still in the early stages, but phase one has proved successful, and scientists are moving on to phase 2. Learn how this could impact patients with osteoarthritis in the future.
Ancient Mantle Waves Inside Earth May Have Lifted Antarctica's Mountains Before It Froze Over
Learn how slow-moving mantle waves inside Earth may have lifted Antarctica’s ancient mountains, creating cold highlands where the Antarctic ice sheet could begin forming.
Heart issues tied to ‘microdamage’ in the brain might raise risk of memory loss, study hints
When the heart's pumping function gets weaker, areas of the brain linked to memory show early signs of damage, a study finds.
Sun Allergies Can Cause More Than a Sunburn, From Itchy Rashes to Severe Reactions
Learn how sunlight can trigger skin reactions that go beyond a simple sunburn, and why identifying the type is key to finding the right treatment.
Akasha? 24 Years Later, ‘The Vampire Lestat’ Reboots Anne Rice’s Most Crucial Villain
'The Vampire Lestat' finally introduces us to Queen Akasha, and Sheila Atim breaks down her awakening and all the fury that comes with it.
Blue Origin continues work on lunar landers during recovery from New Glenn explosion
Blue Origin is continuing to develop its Blue Moon lunar landers while recovering from the New Glenn pad explosion more than a month ago.
31 Years Later, ‘Andor’ Almost Brought Back A Forgotten Alien Race
Andor changed the game of Star Wars. In the middle of a strange era for the franchise, where anything seemed possible after the sequel trilogy, Tony Gilroy made a twisting spy thriller focused on the story of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) as he became one of the first operatives for the Rebellion. It became an instant hit, garnering Emmy nominations and instantly launching Star Wars TV into a new era.
See the Space Shuttle ‘Endeavour’ in a Unique Vertical Display Before Its New Exhibition Launches at the California Science Center
This November, visitors to the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center in Los Angeles will get to see the "ready-to-launch" "Endeavour" complete with rocket boosters and a fuel tank
5 Years Later, A Hugely Anticipated Superhero Sequel Is Finally Around The Corner
Matt Reeves' sequel to the 2022 Batman reboot that took the world by storm arrives next year; here's what we know so far.
Mediterranean Diet Boosts Psychological Well-Being Over Age 50
A new study demonstrates that adherence to a Mediterranean diet significantly boosts positive psychological well-being (autonomy, purpose, and self-realization) in people over 50. The research proved this protective nutritional effect is completely independent of socioeconomic status and successfully cushioned individuals against emotional decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Early Flowering Plants May Have Relied on Dinosaurs to Eat Their Fleshy Fruits and Spread Their Seeds
According to fossils preserved by volcanic ash, the plants, known as angiosperms, began producing relatively large,
Testosterone Therapy Comes With Major Warning Labels, and the FDA Wants That to Change
Learn why the FDA is asking to update testosterone replacement therapy labels after a major review of new evidence.
Iridium folds Aireon aviation safety service into Rocket Lab-bound business
Iridium Communications has completed its takeover of Aireon, bringing the aircraft-tracking venture fully in-house ahead of the satellite operator’s planned $8 billion sale to Rocket Lab.
Exoskeleton Reads Faint Muscle Signals to Overcome Hand Paralysis
A new study introduces an affordable, soft pneumatic exoskeleton glove that restores grasping function in individuals with hand paralysis. Driven by the eXprt innovation network, the system uses machine learning to decode forearm EMG signals with 97% reliability, allowing an ALS patient to grasp objects and hold a fork for the first time in four years.
‘What we found was striking’: Physicists take the closest-ever look at a black hole’s mysterious event horizon
Physicists isolated the ‘last sound’ of a black hole collision, providing an unprecedented glimpse of the region right next to the event horizon — the black hole’s mysterious point of no return.
Invisible Tire Dust Hijacks Alzheimer’s Predictor Genes
A new study links the tire rubber pollutant 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-Q) to Alzheimer's disease pathways. Using machine learning and network pharmacology, the team discovered that 6PPD-Q binds to three core predictor genes in the brain, inducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and synaptic disruption.
Heat waves are taking a big toll on chickens
The birds are particularly vulnerable to high temperatures, and France’s torrid June took a heavy toll.
Multilingualism Subtracts Up to 13 Years from Brain Age
Multilingualism slows brain aging along a definitive gradient. Utilizing a machine-learning "brain aging clock" driven by magnetoencephalography data, the study demonstrated that speaking two, three, or four languages correlates with brains appearing 6, 7, and 13 years younger than a participant's chronological age, respectively.
Heavy Metals Like Lead and Arsenic May Explain Why the Water in This Austin Neighborhood Turned Brown
Learn how buildup and erosion of containment are discoloring the water in this Texas neighborhood.
TB Vaccine Flushes Alzheimer’s Amyloid
The BCG vaccine remodels the human brain’s immune environment via trained immunity. Tracking older adults over one year, researchers demonstrated that BCG enhances central nervous system immune cell responsiveness and lowers amyloid-beta levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of healthy individuals, offering an early preventative pathway against Alzheimer's disease.
Will this heatwave feel as hot and sticky as the last one?
The UK's next heatwave is here, but will it feel as hot and sticky as the last one?
Your family’s $300 stake in OpenAI
This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s oft-discussed promise that Americans will share in the wealth AI creates was in the news again last week.
How to turn down 'food noise' and take back control of your cravings
‘Food noise’ means persistent, intrusive thoughts about eating – but could we turn down the volume control?
'Remarkable': Archaeologists find 3,000 objects in Dutch valley from Stone Age to WWII
A discovery of over 3,000 archaeological objects spanning the Stone Age to the Second World War in a stream valley in the Netherlands has highlighted how humans have been drawn to water throughout history.
NRC is (sort of) getting rid of “as low as reasonably achievable” standard
Last week, just before the US started its break for the July Fourth holiday, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposed a new rule that would change how it regulated exposure to radiation. The Trump administration has been pushing to restart construction of nuclear power plants in the US, and many pro-nuclear advocates had been complaining about the US's existing regulations, portraying them as the main barrier to the flourishing of the industry. So, it had seemed likely that major revisions were coming.
A New Expedition Will Create 3D Digital Twins of Polar Shipwrecks Tied to Voyages of Rival Explorers Who Raced to the South Pole
Robert Falcon Scott led an expedition aboard the ship ‘Terra Nova’ and Ernest Shackleton led one from the ship ‘Quest’—but neither explorer got to plant the first flag in the heart of Antarctica
The Brain Prioritizes Spite Over Friendship
A new study demonstrates that the human brain constructs multidimensional social maps from narrative experiences using rivalries as primary anchors.
Tumbleton? ‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 3 Just Changed A Major Battle From The Books
Westeros is a big realm, and fans of Game of Thrones aren’t expected to know every city that factors into the plot. Sure, the major landmarks are shown in the opening sequence like Winterfell, King’s Landing, and The Wall, but often smaller towns like Pennytree, Acorn Hall, or the Stepstones can fall through the cracks.
Early Pregnancy Hormones Predict IQ
A new study proves that maternal estrogen levels at 6–8 weeks of pregnancy directly predict a newborn's head circumference, with a stronger effect in boys. The findings support the "estrogenized ape hypothesis," suggesting that human brain expansion is evolutionarily linked to prenatal estrogenization, carrying an evolutionary trade-off of reduced male health and fertility.
Katalyst’s satellite rescue mission is now in pursuit of NASA’s Swift
High above the remote Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and the northernmost part of Australia, an air-launched rocket fired into space on Independence Day weekend to kick off a weekslong pursuit of a NASA astronomy satellite perilously close to falling out of orbit.
Mild Cardiac Issues Trigger Long-Term Memory Loss
A new study demonstrates that subclinical cardiac dysfunction predicts microscopic tissue degradation in Alzheimer’s-linked brain regions.
Bill Frist Wants to Take Politics Out of Climate Change
Bill Frist, a surgeon who also served as Senate majority leader, has emerged as an outspoken advocate for environmental health. “A healthier planet means healthier people,” he said.
Biomarkers Boost Antidepressant Success Rates by 67%
A new study demonstrates that combining fMRI brain connectivity, cognitive reward testing, and clinical markers to guide antidepressant selection increases patient response rates by nearly 67%.
Why Flesh-Eating Vibrio Bacteria Is Becoming a Bigger Threat Along U.S. Coasts
Learn how climate change and changes to public health policy may be behind the increase of flesh-eating bacteria in U.S. coastal waters.
Scientists solve a 30-year rye pollen mystery that could transform cancer research
Scientists have finally solved a nearly 30-year-old mystery surrounding two unusual molecules found in rye pollen that once showed an intriguing ability to help animals fight tumors. By determining their exact 3D structures, researchers have unlocked the blueprint needed to investigate how these natural compounds interact with the immune system and which parts may be responsible for their cancer-fighting effects.
Diagnostic dilemma: Huge mass in woman’s stomach was likely caused by Ozempic-style drug — and dissolved with diet soda
A woman's abdominal discomfort turned out to be caused by a build up of food in her stomach. And the treatment involved diet soda.
Did you solve it? This TV show is flipping brilliant!
The answer to today’s puzzle Earlier today I set you this puzzle about an imaginary game show. At the end of the show two people will be chosen and each placed in a separate booth.
‘Strange New Worlds’ Season 4 Cast Might Break A Modern Star Trek TV Record
Could we have even more TOS folks than ever before? Here's why 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Season 4 could break a strange cast record.
Farmers ‘vindicated’ after ruling to Green Gen Cymru pylon firm
Groups representing landowners claimed they were "frightened" by agents turning up on their farms.
Efforts to Help Smokers Quit Stall Under Trump
The C.D.C.’s tobacco control office has been shut for more than a year. After its most prominent antismoking campaign went off the air, calls to 1-800-QUIT-NOW lines have plummeted.
Pickles glow when you plug them in. Science explains why
A scientist, a jar of pickles and a power strip walk into a room. The punchline involves physics, glowing condiments and a scientific party trick.
The Science Behind Why Soccer Players at the 2026 World Cup Are Cutting Their Socks
Holes in socks have become a curious sight at this year’s World Cup. The reasons why are a weird mix of biomechanics, perception, and player habits.
See Ten Spectacular Images From This Year’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year Contest That Capture the Wonders of the Universe
The pictures, on the competition’s shortlist, reveal the remarkable celestial objects that lie above our heads,
Research Universities Are Admitting Fewer Ph.D.s, a Bad Sign for Science
Some of the nation’s top research universities are shrinking doctoral programs because of uncertain federal funding.
Restoration of river bank saltmarshes begins
Groundwork North East and Cumbria says the scheme will improve water quality and biodiversity
Wildfire in southern France forces evacuation of 10,000 people
Tour de France organisers ban spectators from stage three as a wildfire hits the Pyrénées-Orientales region.
The Download: South Korea’s hottest bachelors, and advancing eye transplants
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. South Korea’s hottest new bachelors are chip workers Baek, a 35-year-old manager at the South Korean semiconductor titan SK Hynix, was enrolled in a matchmaking company a year ago.
‘Hobbits’ likely scavenged dragons’ kills
Homo floresiensis may have scavenged Komodo dragon leftovers instead of hunting small elephant relatives.
The term ‘dual-use’ is misleading and dangerous
There is only technology. How it is employed is a question of intent, context and political will, not of the technology itself.
20 Years Ago, A Disney Sequel Pushed The Modern Adventure Movie To Its Peak
In our age of conveyor belt IP adaptations, 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' reminds us what that kind of film could be.
How Shrimp Shells Are Being Turned Into ‘Carbon Negative’ Fuel, Food and Construction Materials
Engineers in Singapore have developed a new, multistep chemical process that transforms organic waste into useful,
Bentley Torcal EV: Price, Specs, Availability
The 300-mile Torcal arrives in September, but considering what's come before with Ferrari, Porsche and Mercedes, has the company timed its EV entry right?
9 Best Keyboards (2025), Tested and Reviewed
Whether you’re looking to boost your productivity or your Fortnite stats, these are the top keyboards for the job.
Sony Bravia 7 Mark II: Midrange but Priced High (2026)
This midrange mini RGB LED television has a high-end price but doesn’t match the brightness and contrast of more advanced models.
Good News! Turns Out the Earth Will Never Be Swallowed by the Sun
A new study suggests that when our star becomes unstable in 5 billion years or so, Earth may avoid being engulfed by its fiery demise.
James Webb telescope’s largest-ever map of the universe unmasks hidden corners
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have created the most detailed map of the cosmic web ever.
‘Flight originated from the imagination’: how artists have captured space travel
As the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum turns 50, an expansive exhibition celebrates how art has coincided with space
The Stargazer: A 5,000-year-old marble statuette of a Stone Age woman looking skyward
Only a handful of these small, sleek, marble figurines carved by enigmatic Stone Age people are known to exist.
ICE’s Internal Watchdog Is Now Investigating Online Critics
The Office of Professional Responsibility has opened more than 100 cases over what ICE officials call “incidents of doxing and threats” against ICE employees.
First experiment to thicken Arctic ice with seawater shows promise — but there’s a big catch
Researchers recently performed the first scientific test of sea ice thickening in the field, but there remains a big question mark over how scalable this method is.
What if the Universe Isn’t as Uniform as Scientists Think?
A study based on 47 million galaxies found that the cosmic web retains patterns on enormous scales, which could force a reevaluation of a pillar of cosmology.
Tianwen-2 arrives at asteroid Kamo’oalewa, first image revealed
Tianwen-2 arrives at asteroid Kamo’oalewa, first image revealed China’s Tianwen-2 sample return spacecraft has arrived at Kamoʻoalewa, revealing the near Earth asteroid to be a small, elongated rocky body.
Millions may be getting the wrong cholesterol test
A new study suggests that apoB, a blood test that measures harmful cholesterol particles, is better than standard LDL cholesterol testing for deciding who needs more intensive treatment. Researchers found it could prevent more heart attacks and strokes while remaining cost-effective for the U.S. healthcare system.
For Families With Nonspeaking Autistic Children, a Fierce Debate Over Assisted Spelling
Popular communication methods for nonspeaking autistic people have ignited a fierce debate over what counts as evidence of hidden cognitive abilities.
South Korea’s hottest new bachelors are chip workers
Baek, a 35-year-old manager at the South Korean semiconductor titan SK Hynix, was enrolled in Sunoo, a matchmaking company based in Seoul, a year ago. In a move typical of anxious South Korean parents, his mother signed him up, hoping to find a good wife for her son.
How Palestinians Are Building a Digital Archive That Can’t Be Erased
Distributed backups, cyber resilience, and a half-million records are preserving Palestinian history beyond any single building or border.
Streetlights are trapping thousands of pill bugs in giant “death spirals”
Researchers discovered that artificial streetlights can trap thousands of woodlice in mesmerizing circular "death spirals" never before seen in the wild. The surprising finding suggests that light pollution may be unintentionally altering the behavior of even the smallest ground-dwelling animals.
Astronomers witness the birth of a magnetar for the first time
A strange "chirping" signal from a distant supernova has revealed the birth of a magnetar, confirming that these incredibly magnetic neutron stars can power the universe's brightest stellar explosions. The discovery also marks the first time Einstein's general relativity has been used to explain the mechanics of a supernova.
Cybersecurity training is becoming more like gaming. Here’s why
Pursuing a career in cybersecurity can seem intimidating, particularly for those without a traditional IT or mathematics background. It’s a challenging field where responding to threats not only requires an understanding of complex solutions, but also patience and practice. Video games have emerged as a way of making the act of learning these complex solutions accessible for anyone with ambitions to become a cybersecurity professional.
Chinese Tianwen-2 space probe reaches asteroid for sampling
After a yearlong flight of a billion kilometers, a Chinese space probe is set to take samples from an asteroid. The mission is part of what President Xi Jinping calls the country's "space dream."
European space telescope Euclid spots oldest quasars yet
Think of quasars as time machines. Rare but revealing. They are light from the beginnings of the universe that let astronomers investigate how early galaxies formed.
Can you solve it? This TV show is flipping brilliant!
A probability puzzle Today’s puzzle imagines a TV game show. The compere announces that at the end of the show two people will be chosen and each placed in a separate booth.
Mink numbers to be cut by 90% in Kent
Conservationists hope to dramatically reduce mink numbers across Kent.
Farnham backs public ownership of golf course site
Campaigners want Les Mielles to be bought by the government and returned to nature.
Starwatch: Waning crescent moon pairs up with the Seven Sisters
Cluster might look like a mini version of the Plough unless you grab your binoculars In the early hours of 11 July, the waning crescent moon will be gliding past the beautiful Pleiades star cluster, which is also known as M45 or the Seven Sisters. The chart shows the view looking east-north-east from London at 3am BST. By then, the sky will getting ready to start brightening for the coming day, so a clear, low horizon will be essential to see the pairing.
Philosophers call for their journals to require conflict of interest disclosures
A new petition urges greater transparency amid growing ties to AI and other companies
Learning another language appears to slow brain ageing, scientists say
Study finds those who speak two languages have brains that appear around six years younger than those who speak one
Where Is Daeron? The Missing Targaryen May Have Already Appeared In ‘House Of The Dragon’
House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3 is all about how getting the Iron Throne doesn’t give you victory. Rhaenyra may control King’s Landing now, but she still doesn’t have any money to keep her court running, any respect from the lords who sided with the Greens, or any rapport with the common folk.
NASA and Small Business Administration partner on funding key space technologies
NASA is partnering with the U.S. Small Business Administration on an effort to attract capital to invest in companies producing critical space components.
Scientists may have finally found how Alzheimer's kills brain cells
Researchers have identified a previously overlooked mechanism of brain cell death that appears to play a major role in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. The finding could lead to new treatments aimed at slowing neuron loss by interrupting the process before cells are destroyed.
5,000-year-old wolves found on remote island rewrite what we know about domestication
Scientists discovered ancient wolves on a tiny Baltic island where they could only have been brought by humans, suggesting an unexpectedly close relationship between people and wolves thousands of years ago. Evidence indicates the wolves were fed, possibly cared for, and may even have been managed or selectively bred long before modern ideas of domestication.
60 Off-The-Wall Things Skyrocketing In Popularity On Amazon Now
From strange miniatures to glow-in-the-dark accessories to animal-shaped everything, these off-the-wall things are selling out and selling fast on Amazon and it’s not hard to see why.
Record-breaking ocean drilling reveals why Japan's 2011 tsunami was so deadly
Scientists have uncovered a hidden weakness beneath the Pacific Ocean that helps explain why Japan’s catastrophic 2011 earthquake and tsunami became so devastating. By drilling deeper into the seafloor than ever before, researchers discovered a thin, slippery layer of ancient clay that allowed the massive rupture to race all the way to the ocean floor, triggering enormous seafloor movement and a powerful tsunami.
Ancient bees turned tooth sockets into tiny nurseries 20,000 years ago
A stunning fossil discovery shows that ancient bees used the empty tooth sockets of mammal bones as tiny nests after owls scattered the bones across a cave floor 20,000 years ago. It's the first known evidence of bees nesting inside animal bones, revealing an astonishingly creative survival strategy.
Psychedelic Trips Can Halt Political Hate
The collective cultural mood surrounding a psychedelic experience shapes its psychological aftermath. Participants whose most intense trips occurred on the Fourth of July reported a long-term decrease in support for partisan violence, while those whose experiences coincided with national party conventions or election season demonstrated an increase in violent partisan support.
Quantum mechanics once baffled scientists. Now it's changing the world
Quantum mechanics has journeyed from a strange and controversial idea to the foundation of some of humanity’s most advanced technologies. Now researchers are pushing its boundaries even further, with potential breakthroughs in energy, medicine, computing, and our understanding of the universe.
The Guardian view on gene-edited humans: darker uses must be acknowledged alongside medical ones | Editorial
Editorial: Polling shows that the public supports this new technology,
I tried Ferrari's most hated car yet – and came away impressed
From its patents to its dashboard,
Airbus to build Aeolus-2 wind-monitoring satellite
The European Space Agency has selected Airbus Defence and Space to start work on the successor to a wind-monitoring satellite.
65 Years Ago, One Cursed Sci-fi Movie Predicted A Huge Genre Shift
Why 'The Most Dangerous Man Alive' predicted an interesting genre, including The Incredible Hulk.
Superintelligent AI in space could explain the Fermi Paradox
Why haven't we found evidence of advanced aliens? It could be that they've outsourced cosmic exploration to superintelligent AI, a new paper suggests.
Why the US may be unprepared for a deadly storm season
As storm season begins,
Chemical accidents rise as Trump administration proposes weakening safety rules
Physicist Ronald Koopman appeared at a Southern California Air District meeting in 2018 to talk about what seemed like an arcane scientific topic: hydrofluoric acid dispersion and water mitigation testing.
British swallowtail split from European cousins much earlier than thought, study finds
Finding that Norfolk butterfly has been distinct subspecies for 200,000 years could transform conservation approach
65 Expensive-Looking Things Under $20 on Amazon That Are Utterly Brilliant
There's something deeply satisfying about finding products that make people assume you spent way more than you actually did.
Best Wi-Fi Routers (2026): My Honest Picks After Testing 40+
Don’t suffer the buffer. These WIRED-tested home routers will deliver reliable internet across your home, whatever your needs or budget.
Prediction Markets Let You Bet on Whether a Wildfire Will Burn Down Your Town
Wildfire survivors call fire-prediction markets “morally reprehensible” and worry they could increase the risk of arson.
The missing 500 million: Cosmic bombardment melted Earth’s first crust
Earth is the only planet we know of with buoyant, silica-rich continents. But, despite decades of research, geologists still don't agree on how they formed. "The continents started appearing around about four billion years ago—that's the oldest continental rock we know about,” said Tim Johnson, a geologist at Curtin University in Perth, Australia. “The Earth is four and a half billion years old, so why they started appearing then is unknown, as is the mechanism to make that continental crust."
Review: TCL RM9L RGB-Mini LED (2026)
This massive 85-inch model is highly customizable but jaw-droppingly expensive.
Eight Sleep Pod 5 Review: The Smartest, Nosiest Bed You Can Buy
Eight Sleep’s Pod 5 is great at its job, but its job is also watching you sleep.
NASA celebrates America’s 250th birthday with red, white and blue snaps of the cosmos — Space photo of the week
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory celebrates the Fourth of July with a dazzling array of red, white and blue space phenomena.
What Are Fish Oil Supplements Good For? Here’s Your Crash Course
A large-scale clinical trial has shown that even long-term consumption of DHA—an omega-3 fatty acid found in abundance in oily fish—may not lead to improvements in cognitive function.
Why your knees ache more with age – and the simple ways to protect them
There are many ways you can improve the strength of your knees, to reduce stiffness, aches and pains as you get older.
How science solved the Bermuda Triangle mystery
The patch of sea between Florida, Puerto Rico and Bermuda is a place of myth and mystery. Can science explain the strange happenings?
There’s a Global Network of Fungi Under Your Feet. This Is the First Complete Map
A new study has succeeded in mapping, on a global scale, the fungal network that supports plant life and helps regulate our planet’s climate.
Evacuations in Guam as super typhoon Bavi approaches
The storm is forecast to hit the region at about 08:00 (22:00 GMT), bringing “catastrophic” damage, according to forecasts.
A Bird’s Brain Holds Clues to the Sounds of Music
The neurobiologist Erich Jarvis studies the few species capable of speech. He has long hoped to genetically engineer an animal that can make new calls.
Has there ever been a period in human history without war?
Humans have fought countless wars over the millennia. Has there ever been a time when we weren't fighting?
How to Avoid Spoilers Online and in Chats
You can minimize the risk of films and shows being spoiled for you by muting comments, conversations, and keywords on various platforms.
Scientists discover the deep sleep circuit that builds muscle, burns fat, and boosts the brain
Researchers have identified the brain circuitry that links deep sleep with the release of growth hormone, revealing how the two regulate each other. The newly discovered feedback loop helps explain why poor sleep can interfere with growth, muscle repair, fat metabolism, and brain function. Understanding this system could pave the way for new therapies for sleep disorders and diseases tied to metabolism and the brain, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
NASA's Hubble spots a stellar sparkler for the Fourth of July
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured a spectacular red, white, and blue view of one of the Milky Way's oldest star clusters to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. Hidden within the ancient cluster are clues to how exploding stars helped transform the young universe into one capable of forming planets and, eventually, life.
NASA's Hubble captures a crimson stellar nursery sparkling with blue and white stars
Hubble has captured a spectacular view of LH 95, where about 2,500 young stars are still on their journey to becoming full-fledged stars. Scientists discovered these growing stars can keep pulling in gas and dust for millions of years, extending an important stage of stellar development. The region also contains multiple generations of stars living side by side, offering fresh clues about how star formation unfolds over time.
NASA's Hubble captures a star-spangled sea of 500,000 stars
Celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary, NASA released a stunning Hubble portrait of Messier 3, an ancient globular cluster with more than 500,000 stars. The remarkable cluster is helping scientists unravel the Milky Way's past thanks to its rare stars and possible origins in a long ago cosmic merger.
The secret to healthy aging may be hidden in your blood
Some people live past 100 with remarkable health, and researchers may have uncovered one reason why. A new study found that centenarians have a unique chemical "fingerprint" in their blood that sets them apart from normal aging, including unusual patterns of bile acids and steroids linked to longer survival.
60 Badass Things for Your Home Under $25 on Amazon
These cool finds have the kind of impact that makes people assume you spent a whole lot more.
We Might Have Already Found The Best New Anime Of The Year
Believe the hype: 'Witch Hat Atelier' is the perfect fantasy series to dive into on a holiday weekend.
Stanley M. Gartler, Pioneer in Cancer Research, Dies at 102
He provided the first convincing evidence that cancerous tumors develop from a single mutated cell and later helped expose contamination by cells taken from Henrietta Lacks.
A hidden weakness in deadly cancers could lead to powerful new treatments
A UCLA study has identified a hidden Achilles' heel in aggressive small cell cancers that have resisted new treatments for decades. Scientists found that tumors lacking the RB gene become critically dependent on the protein E2F3 for survival. Blocking E2F3 shut down tumor growth in laboratory models, and existing FDA-approved drugs may be able to exploit this vulnerability. The discovery could pave the way for faster development of more effective therapies.
Experts ranked 400 jobs by their dementia risk – and were stunned what came out on top
Finding the best route to beat Alzheimer’s.
Submit Your Questions: Inside The World of Online Romance Scams
The Yahoo Boys author Carlos Barragán will join Kate Knibbs to answer your questions about Nigeria's romance scammers.
The hidden way ADHD could be raising your cholesterol levels
People with ADHD should keep a careful eye on their heart health,
The US is hooked on unregulated peptides. But are they effective, or even safe?
The world of peptides has exploded in wellness circles, but the benefits of injecting these gray-market molecules rest on little clinical evidence.
Some Hydrothermal Explosions Can Hurl Water and Rock 600 Feet in the Air — Here's How Yellowstone National Park Monitors Them
Learn more about the monitoring equipment installed at Yellowstone National Park and how it can help keep people safe.
30 Years Ago, I Saw ‘Independence Day’ In The Theater, And You Had To Be There
What was it like when 'Independence Day' first came out? Here's a look back to 1996.
NASA’s Chandra telescope reveals Milky Way’s outer reaches may stretch farther than previously known
Rare gamma-ray bursts detected by powerful X-ray telescopes orbiting the Earth helped astronomers measure Milky Way spiral arms with stunning accuracy.
Why identity theft comes back for the same people
The FTC warns that scammers are keeping "sucker lists" to repeatedly target previous fraud victims with fake recovery offers and upfront fees.
Disney settlement could pay YouTube TV and DirecTV users
Disney's $50 million antitrust settlement lets YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers file a claim form for a cash payment before the deadline.
15 Best MagSafe Wireless Chargers (2026): Power Banks, Stands, Pads, and Travel Chargers
Top up your Qi2 Android phone or MagSafe iPhone with a magnetic wireless charging stand, pad, car charger, or power bank.
When the ability to smell goes away
About 14 years ago, Chrissi Kelly lost her sense of smell. She had traveled to the Czech Republic to visit family and caught some virus. Months later, when she still couldn’t smell, she made the rounds to doctors, including her general practitioner and an ear, nose and throat specialist, trying to find answers.
A martian rock has lots of carbon on it, and it’s not clear why
NASA’s Perseverance rover has spent five years traversing Jezero Crater looking for the chemical leftovers of whatever processes were at work on Mars billions of years ago. The rover has found organic carbon, but it has mostly been inside rocks that had to be drilled or abraded to expose it. But now, at an outcrop on the edge of an ancient river channel named Neretva Vallis, Perseverance detected complex macromolecular carbon sitting right on the rock’s surface.
Alien life on nearby ‘super Earth’ much likelier than we thought, study claims
A recently discovered "super Earth" located around 25 light-years from our planet is not as massive as previously thought, raising the chances that it has the conditions to support life.
Science news this week: James Webb telescope finds a never-before-seen substance, China’s ‘Great Green Wall’ grows faster than natural trees, and a Medici murder mystery is solved
July 4, 2026: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.
Where NASA Posts Its Best Space Photos, and How to Find Them
Explore decades of incredible images and videos of stars, planets, moons, and galaxies—most of which are free to use and share.
Security Roundup: Apple’s Hide My Email Service Fails to Hide Your Email
Plus: Alleged Scattered Spider hacking member extradited, dozens of license plate reader errors, and Indian officials are concerned about WhatsApp’s username rollout.
This Buried Apple Feature Turns an iPhone Into the Perfect Kids’ Dumb Phone
Apple built a tool for people with cognitive disabilities, but I accidentally discovered it’s also the best kids’ phone setup no one is talking about—not even Apple.
GAO flags satellite costs, launch risks in Space Force portfolio
Watchdog cites growing costs for missile-warning satellites,
NASA celebrates America's 250th birthday with incredible views of space
NASA is marking the United States' 250th birthday with four striking red, white, and blue images of deep space from the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The collection features an exploded star, a stellar nursery, a galaxy where stars are rapidly forming, and a galaxy cluster that provides evidence for dark matter.
Food Preservatives May Increase the Risk of High Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Disease
Aa large-scale study demonstrates that preservatives widely used in everyday processed foods may exacerbate common health risks.
The Best Fourth of July Mattress Sales on Beds We Actually Sleep On (2026)
From cooling hybrids to organic latex beds, these are the mattresses WIRED reviewers actually sleep on and recommend.
Are CAPTCHAs obsolete in the age of AI?
How are CAPTCHAs being threatened by AI?
Scientists Have Identified a New Fossil Species of Axolotl in Mexico
Ambystoma quetzalcoatli is the first fossil salamander to be formally identified in Mexico, revealing that axolotls have inhabited the country for millions of years.
New optical centrifuge unlocks the secrets of frictionless superfluids
Physicists have developed a new optical centrifuge that can precisely spin molecules inside a superfluid for the first time. The advance could help unravel some of the biggest mysteries of quantum liquids and reveal how superfluidity breaks down at the atomic scale.
Turbines turning from wind to sustainable products
Thousands of tonnes of non-recyclable wind turbine blades are coming to the end of their lives.
New research reveals the hidden pollution left behind by fireworks
Scientists have uncovered new evidence that fireworks can pollute both the air and water in ways that extend beyond the visible smoke. The findings show that leftover debris, fine particles, and airborne chemicals may affect ecosystems and increase people's exposure to air pollution during major celebrations.
65 Weird New Things on Amazon Under $25 With Amazing Reviews
Hundreds of bizarre new things land on Amazon every day — the ones here are backed by rave reviews, so you can be sure they’re worth the “Add to cart.”
‘Hotter and hotter and hotter’ - Europe’s new climate in seven charts
Temperature records have tumbled across the UK and Europe as scientists warn it is a sign of things to come.
UK temperatures forecast to exceed 30C as another heatwave imminent
Another heatwave is on its way and set to last significantly longer as Stav Danaos explains.
Drinking to cope with stress may permanently rewire your brain
Using alcohol to cope with stress when young may permanently alter the brain, making it harder to adapt to challenges and increasing the risk of returning to drinking later in life. Researchers also found signs of brain damage associated with early dementia, suggesting the effects can linger long after alcohol use has stopped.
LLMs and Math Combine to Map Human Decision-Making
A new research framework that combines large language models (LLMs) with choice mathematics to evaluate human decision-making. By deploying LLMs to automatically interpret and code thousands of free-text participant thought justifications, the framework provides a scalable, validated methodology demonstrating that human reasoning strategies shift dynamically with a problem's structure.
35 Years Later, ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ Is Still An Unbeatable Action Spectacle
Thanks to its groundbreaking VFX and stunning action sequences, James Cameron's 1991 blockbuster is still the best action sequel of all time.
Scientist restoring Wales’ peatlands in climate change fight
A childhood fascination with bogs led one Welsh scientist to try and help save the planet.
Ancient Boat Carvings Suggest Bronze Age Europe Was More Connected Than We Thought
Learn more about the ancient boat carvings from Iberia and Scandinavia, which suggest Bronze Age Europeans may have shared technologies, trade routes, and cultural beliefs across vast maritime networks.
Pegasus launches Swift reboost mission
A Pegasus XL launched a mission to reboost a NASA astrophysics spacecraft on what may be the final flight of that rocket.
Sleep Apnea’s Main Symptom Is Also its Cause
Snoring vibrations are an active cause of obstructive sleep apnea, directly disrupting mitochondrial function and cellular energy metabolism in upper airway muscles to induce tissue weakness and structural airway collapse.
Zero-Computational Path to High-Resolution Robotic Touch
A new study introduces a soft robotic sensing skin made from mechanochromic materials. The polymer automatically converts mechanical strain into distinct structural color fields, allowing a low-cost camera to map micro-scale pressure variations in real time without computational reconstruction algorithms.
Zebrafish Brain Features Mammalian-Like Sensory Sorting
Larval zebrafish utilize a preglomerular complex (PG) and pallium hierarchy to sort and merge sensory streams, replicating the exact computational logic of the mammalian thalamocortical network and proving that multi-sensory integration runs on universal evolutionary rules.
A Small Pride of Marine Lions Learned to Hunt Seals on the Skeleton Coast, and Their Cubs Are Learning, Too
Learn more about the marine lions of the Skeleton Coast, a pride of 8 lions that live in an unforgiving habitat off of Cape fur seals.
XL20 Crosses Blood-Brain Barrier to Shield ALS Neurons
A new study introduces XL20, an experimental small-molecule drug that crosses the blood-brain barrier to selectively block a toxic region on the TDP-43 protein. This precise mechanism halts neuron death and slows muscle wasting in ALS models while leaving the protein's healthy, vital biological functions completely intact.
Humans and Mice Share Identical Brain Wiring for Smell
Mice and humans share identical underlying neurophysiology and theta rhythms for smell.
Scientists discover why some brains resist Alzheimer's
Some brains appear to fight back against Alzheimer's by helping immature brain cells survive damage instead of succumbing to it. Understanding this natural resilience could point researchers toward entirely new ways to protect memory and slow dementia.
3 Nuclear Startups Hit a Big Milestone. Why It Matters—and Why It Doesn’t
The companies’ Fourth of July plans include celebrating new reactor designs coming online. But there’s still a long way to go before they deliver energy at a meaningful scale.
Elite families ruled nomadic Scythian society 2,500 years ago, DNA analysis reveals
Nomads of the Eurasian steppe were ruled by elite dynastic families, including women, a large-scale genetic analysis reveals.
Diminutive species ‘the Hobbit’ did not hunt or control fire, deepening the mystery of its ancestry, dwarf elephant bones reveal
The extinct human species Homo floresiensis was a scavenger, not a hunter, an analysis of fossil animal bones reveals.
A New Walking Shark Species Has Brown Freckles, White Dashes, and an Uncertain Future
Learn more about the Dudgeon walking shark (Hemiscyllium dudgeonae), what makes it so unique, and why the speices is already threatened.
A device that revives eyeballs from dead donors could make eye transplants possible
It’s not easy to transplant a whole human eye. The surgery is difficult. And the eyes themselves start to degenerate as soon as they’ve left the body. When surgeons attempted it a few years ago, the newly-transplanted eye wasn’t able to see.
A popular climate fix could accidentally trigger massive changes to global weather
A new study found that not all geoengineering ideas are created equal. Brightening marine clouds over the eastern Pacific could dramatically weaken the El Niño cycle, triggering major changes to global weather patterns, while stratospheric aerosol injection left the system largely unchanged. Researchers say the results are a reminder that efforts to cool the planet could produce unexpected consequences if they are deployed without a full understanding of how Earth's climate works.
Record-breaking temps in US as 4th July holiday begins
Record-breaking heatwave hits US as Fourth of July holiday weekend gets underway.
Human eyeballs are literally changing shape. And experts are baffled
Myopia is booming, with almost one in three people affected globally. Can we stop the epidemic of short-sightedness?
Google DeepMind Unionization Talks Are Off to a Rocky Start
During negotiations on Wednesday, employees voiced frustrations with what they consider an unwillingness among executives to engage meaningfully with the prospect of unionization.
How little exercise can you get away with?
Even tiny bursts of activity have measurable benefits
5 Years Later, ‘The Ninth Jedi’ Avoids The Modern Star Wars Curse
Since Star Wars made its big comeback in 2015 with The Force Awakens, fan discourse and debate have often centered around how much nostalgia is too much nostalgia, and at what point can Star Wars let this past go. In theory, the sequel trilogy was an accidental and perhaps muddled conversation about that idea, with Kylo Ren trying to reject his heritage and the various writers behind the scenes uncertain if Rey should or shouldn’t be connected to an existing legacy. But is the legacy of Star Wars about characters? Or is it about aesthetics?
A Common Brain Protein May Help Alzheimer’s Disease Spread — and Understanding This Could Lead to New Treatments
Learn about the brain proteins that could be helping Alzheimer's Disease spread but could also point to future treatments.
‘Machine-gun sun’ could bring auroras to more than a dozen states July 4th weekend
The sun launched 10 M-class solar flares over 24 hours, and more could be on the way. Auroras are likely in some US states as a result.
Rocket Report: Indian startup nears first launch; SpaceX’s millenary milestone
Welcome to Edition 9.01 of the Rocket Report! Back in January, I wrote about the 20 launches and landings we were most excited about in 2026. The list included things that were, at the time, officially scheduled to occur this year. I also gave my own view of the probability of each of these events actually happening before December 31. Halfway through the year, we can only count one of the events as completed, and that was NASA's Artemis II mission in April.
Chinese satellite manufacturer Hongqing raises $191 million
Chinese satellite manufacturer Hongqing raises $191 million Hongqing Technology, the satellite manufacturing affiliate of launch firm Landspace, has secured one of the largest single raises for a Chinese commercial satellite maker.
Who Is Charlotte Keene? How The New ‘Silo’ Character Unlocks The Season’s Biggest Mystery
Actress Jessica Brown Findlay reveals the key to Charlotte Keene's character.
Rare Fossilized Teeth Fill a Major Gap in Early Mammal Evolution After the Dinosaur Extinction
Learn more about what fossilized teeth can tell us about the rise of mammals after the extinction of dinosaurs.
Amazon Just Quietly Added One Of The Best — And Most Surprising — Movies Of The Year
'The Sheep Detectives' is shockingly great. No ifs, ands, or baaahs about it.
Here’s Everything We Know So Far About ‘Percy Jackson’ Season 3
Here’s everything we know about 'Percy Jackson' Season 3, from its potential release date to the new characters joining the fray.
The Download: a smoking “endgame” and a new Elizabeth Bear story
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. The UK’s generational tobacco ban might not work. I’m supporting it anyway.
How one (very strange) particle could soon rewrite our laws of gravity
If particles are what carry the force of gravity, those particles should be detectable… in theory.
Best Bone Conduction Headphones (2026): Shokz, Suunto, Mojawa
Everyone needs a safe way to listen to music on outdoor runs. We’ve found the bone conduction headphones to grab on your way out the door.
A Mission to Save NASA’s Swift Telescope Launches to Orbit
A refrigerator-size spacecraft will try to grab onto Swift and nudge it to a higher orbit, enabling it to continue observing powerful cosmic explosions.
All Your Favorite Gadgets Are Getting Way More Expensive … Again
Thanks to the AI-driven chip shortage, prices for phones, computers, and consoles are sky-high—and still climbing.
7 Best Phones You Can’t Buy in the US (2026)
Avoid phone FOMO with our favorite smartphones that aren’t officially sold stateside but are available in markets like the UK and Europe.
The FDA Ruled That ZYN Pouches Are Safer Than Cigarettes. That Doesn’t Mean They’re Safe
ZYN nicotine pouches, the FDA found, can be advertised as a less-harmful option for adult smokers. But quitting all tobacco and nicotine products remains the best idea.
Nasa launches mission to save falling space telescope
A Nasa-funded robot has blasted off to catch a falling telescope in mid-orbit and blast it back to safety before it burns up.
Europe heatwave: France records 2,025 excess deaths as Europe braces for more extreme weather
Forecasters are warning of further extreme temperatures on the continent in the next few days.
The Best Ultralight Backpacking Quilts (2026): Zenbivy, REI
Lighten your pack this summer—skip the sleeping bag and carry one of our favorite ultralight backpacking quilts instead.
