Science

Wildlife on the Marshall Islands has exploded just one year after invasive rats were removed from the remote Pacific atolls. Native bird populations, plant species, and marine ecosystems are all showing remarkable recovery in what conservationists are calling a stunning success story for island restoration.

Playing Tetris has been found to reduce traumatic flashbacks in healthcare workers, according to new research. The study suggests the simple puzzle game may serve as a low-cost intervention for PTSD symptoms by disrupting the brain's ability to consolidate traumatic visual memories.

Paleontologists have discovered a previously unknown dinosaur species deep in the Sahara Desert, adding to our understanding of the diverse ecosystems that thrived in what is now one of the world's most inhospitable regions millions of years ago.

Transplanted coral reefs are showing dramatic recovery, with transplanted corals matching the growth rates of healthy reefs in just four years. The breakthrough offers hope that active restoration efforts can reverse decades of reef degradation caused by warming oceans and pollution.

New blood tests for Alzheimer's disease could transform early detection and treatment of the devastating condition. The tests, which can identify biomarkers years before symptoms appear, offer hope for earlier intervention and better outcomes for the millions of Americans at risk.

Archaeologists have unearthed a Viking-era execution pit near Cambridge containing stacked skulls, offering a grim window into the violent justice practices of early medieval England. The discovery adds to our understanding of how Norse and Anglo-Saxon societies dealt with criminals and enemies during a turbulent period of British history.

New research has found that adolescent cannabis use is linked to a doubled risk of developing psychotic and bipolar disorders later in life. The findings add to a growing body of evidence raising concerns about marijuana's impact on developing brains, even as legalization continues to spread across the United States.

Scientists have developed a universal nasal spray vaccine that provides protection against the common cold, influenza, COVID-19, and allergies in a single treatment. If confirmed in human trials, the breakthrough could transform respiratory disease prevention by targeting the nasal passages where most airborne infections begin.

Archaeologists have discovered a 67,000-year-old handprint in an Indonesian cave — the oldest directly dated artwork ever found. The find pushes back the timeline of human artistic expression by thousands of years, suggesting our ancestors were creating symbolic art far earlier than previously believed.

NASA is potentially rolling back the Artemis II rocket and Orion spacecraft to the vehicle assembly building after discovering an interrupted flow of helium during testing. The mission to send astronauts around the far side of the Moon had been targeting a March 6 launch, but engineers need to investigate the issue. Separately, NASA released a scathing report classifying Boeing's Starliner as a 'Type A' mishap.

The Pentagon and Energy Department made history by airlifting a small nuclear reactor from California to Utah, demonstrating U.S. potential to rapidly deploy nuclear power for both military and civilian use. The milestone comes as the Trump administration pushes to expand nuclear energy across defense and domestic applications.

Winter Storm Hernando is forecast to blanket the Northeast with more than a foot of snow beginning Sunday, with blizzard conditions expected for coastal Connecticut, Delaware, the Jersey Shore, Long Island, and New York City. Millions of residents are urged to prepare as the storm threatens significant travel disruptions and power outages across the region.

Cambridge University students have unearthed a likely 1,200-year-old execution pit containing the remains of 10 men, including stacked skulls and partial skeletons. The Viking-era discovery offers a grim window into the brutal violence of early medieval England as experts work to identify the victims.

Nearly 150 years after the last giant tortoises were removed from Floreana Island in Ecuador's Galapagos archipelago, 158 juvenile hybrid tortoises have been released to begin restoring the island's depleted ecosystem. The ambitious conservation project marks one of the most significant species reintroduction efforts in the storied archipelago's history.

A major study of over 463,000 adolescents found that past-year cannabis use during adolescence was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing psychotic disorders (doubled), bipolar disorder (doubled), and elevated rates of depression and anxiety. The findings come as cannabis legalization expands and teen access increases, raising urgent questions about public health messaging.

Paleontologists have unearthed a previously unknown dinosaur species in the remote Sahara Desert, adding to our understanding of the remarkable diversity of life that once roamed ancient North Africa. The discovery sheds light on ecosystems that existed millions of years ago in what is now one of the driest places on Earth.

A large-scale study published in Nature Communications has found that the recombinant zoster (shingles) vaccine is associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing dementia. The findings add to growing evidence that viral infections and the immune system play a role in neurodegenerative diseases, and suggest that a widely available vaccine could have unexpected benefits for brain health in aging populations.

A breakthrough in particle accelerator technology could transform the nuclear energy landscape by converting long-lived radioactive waste into electricity while reducing its radioactive lifespan by 99.7%. The technology uses accelerator-driven systems to transmute dangerous waste isotopes into shorter-lived or stable elements, potentially solving one of nuclear power's most persistent challenges and opening the door to wider adoption of clean energy.

NASA successfully completed a critical tanking rehearsal for the Artemis 2 mission, bringing the first crewed moon mission in over 50 years closer to launch. The smooth test clears a major hurdle in the program's timeline.

A new study links air pollution directly to Alzheimer's disease risk, with stronger associations found in stroke survivors. Meanwhile, blood tests detecting proteins involved in the disease could revolutionize early detection and make treatment possible before symptoms appear.

Scientists warn of lasting environmental damage from a major sewage spill into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. While drinking water hasn't been contaminated, the ecological impact to river life could be severe.

Wildlife on the Marshall Islands has exploded just one year after invasive rats were successfully removed from the ecosystem. The dramatic recovery demonstrates how removing a single invasive species can unleash a cascade of ecological restoration, with native birds, plants, and marine life rebounding at remarkable speed.

Cambridge University researchers found that Tetris gameplay helps reduce traumatic flashbacks for frontline healthcare workers. The study adds to growing evidence that the visual-spatial demands of the classic puzzle game can disrupt the formation of intrusive memories after traumatic experiences.

Research indicates that transplanted corals can achieve net reef growth comparable to healthy reefs within just four years, offering hope for ocean restoration. Successful restoration projects in Florida, Costa Rica, Seychelles, and the Maldives demonstrate that coral outplanting is a viable strategy to reverse decades of reef decline.

A faint red stencil of a handprint in an Indonesian cave has been officially dated to 67,000 years ago, making it the oldest piece of art ever discovered. The find shatters previous timelines for human creativity and migration in Wallacea, suggesting artistic expression emerged far earlier than previously thought.

Scientists at Stanford have developed a universal vaccine formula delivered intranasally that provides broad protection against a wide range of respiratory viruses, bacteria, and even allergens. The vaccine provides protection in the lungs of mice for several months, representing a potential breakthrough in respiratory disease prevention.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman slammed Boeing for failures with its Starliner spacecraft, classifying the crewed flight test as a 'Type A' mishap — the most serious category. Isaacman said the most troubling failure 'is not hardware' but the institutional failures that allowed an unsafe spacecraft to fly. The Starliner was deemed too unsafe to return its crew of two astronauts from the International Space Station.

The Hubble Space Telescope has identified a near-invisible galaxy that appears to be composed of roughly 99% dark matter. The ultra-diffuse galaxy challenges existing models of galaxy formation and offers a rare laboratory for studying the mysterious substance that makes up most of the universe's mass but has never been directly detected.

The United States is losing top scientific talent to foreign institutions at an alarming rate, according to researchers who say policy uncertainty, funding cuts, and political interference are driving an exodus. The brain drain threatens America's competitive edge in fields from AI to biotech.

Nuclear energy is experiencing an unlikely renaissance, now championed by liberal Democrats and environmentalists who led anti-nuclear protests 50 years ago. Soaring power demand driven by AI, electrification, and manufacturing has made the carbon-free source newly attractive across the political spectrum.

Rising measles cases are forcing universities to rethink their vaccine strategies as the disease — once considered eradicated in the US — stages a comeback. With no standard approach to vaccine requirements, schools face a patchwork of state laws and growing skepticism. The University of Wisconsin-Madison announced new measures as outbreaks spread.

Stanford researchers have developed a breakthrough injectable treatment that can reprogram cells to regenerate damaged tissue, potentially allowing the body to regrow cartilage and other structures. The technology could transform treatment of joint injuries and degenerative conditions.

Thirteen states that did not support Trump in the last election are suing the administration over cancellation of billions in federal climate funding for green projects. The lawsuit alleges the moves violated Congress's spending authority and disproportionately targeted Democrat-leaning states.

Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest is on pace to reach its lowest level on record, according to Brazilian government data. The trend represents a significant reversal from years of accelerating forest loss in the world's largest tropical rainforest.

Scientists have created a three-dimensional 'heart-on-a-chip' that mimics the beating of a real heart, potentially providing a breakthrough in fighting cardiovascular disease — the world's leading cause of death. The technology could accelerate drug testing and reduce reliance on animal trials.

Microsoft has developed a new data storage medium using femtosecond lasers to etch information into glass, creating a remarkably stable archive capable of preserving data for up to 10,000 years. The technology could revolutionize long-term digital preservation.

President Trump is holding onto a speech detailing extraterrestrial life and spaceships, according to his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, who said the president is waiting for the right time to deliver it. The revelation adds to a growing series of disclosures about UFOs and non-human intelligence by current and former officials.

The Food and Drug Administration reversed course on its surprise rejection of Moderna's mRNA-based influenza vaccine, agreeing to consider the company's application just a week after initially refusing it. Reports indicate the Trump administration's vaccine policy chief had overruled FDA scientists to initially reject the shot, raising questions about political interference in public health decisions.

India celebrates the birth of cheetah cubs as part of its ambitious program to reintroduce the big cats to the subcontinent, marking a significant milestone in wildlife conservation efforts decades after the species went locally extinct.

A study finds that people who underwent one specific form of brain training in the 1990s were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with dementia over the following two decades, suggesting lasting cognitive benefits from targeted mental exercises.

Vermont's multimillion-dollar investment in electric buses has hit a wall as the vehicles prove unreliable in the state's harsh cold weather, raising questions about the viability of electric transit in northern climates.

DNA analysis of 5,500-year-old graves on the Swedish island of Gotland has revealed surprising details about how Stone Age hunter-gatherers organized their families. Researchers found a woman buried with two children who were not her own, and two non-sibling children placed together — suggesting these ancient people carefully tracked family lineages and valued extended family bonds beyond the immediate household.

Former President Barack Obama declared that aliens are real during an interview with liberal podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen, making headlines and reigniting public fascination with extraterrestrial life. The candid remark from a former commander-in-chief adds weight to the growing U.S. government disclosure movement around unidentified aerial phenomena.

A major new review found that intermittent fasting may be no more effective than traditional calorie-restricted dieting for weight loss, challenging the popular diet trend's claims of superior results.

Japan will invest $36 billion in US natural gas, oil, and critical mineral projects as part of a broader $550 billion investment deal announced by President Trump. The agreement represents a major energy trade commitment between the two allies.

Bayer and attorneys for cancer patients announced a proposed $7.25 billion settlement to resolve thousands of US lawsuits alleging the company failed to warn that its popular weedkiller Roundup could cause cancer. The settlement is one of the largest product liability deals in history.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and President Trump finalized a rule rescinding the 2009 Endangerment Finding, eliminating all federal greenhouse gas emission standards for motor vehicles and engines. The White House describes it as the single largest deregulatory action in US history.

Archaeologists may have found the first hard evidence that elephants were used in battle during General Hannibal's legendary crossing of the Alps over 2,200 years ago. The ancient bone discovery could confirm one of military history's most iconic but long-debated episodes — the Carthaginian general's audacious march across mountain passes with war elephants to invade Rome in 218 BC.

President Trump directed federal authorities and activated FEMA to address a massive wastewater spill in the Potomac River, calling local Democratic leaders 'incompetent.' The spill, which began January 19 when a section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line in Montgomery County, Maryland collapsed, has discharged an estimated 300 million gallons of sewage into the iconic river — making it the largest such spill in U.S. history. The federal intervention comes nearly a month after the breach began and sets up a political clash between the administration and regional officials over responsibility for aging infrastructure.

The U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense made history by transporting a small nuclear reactor on a cargo plane from California to Utah for the first time. The agencies partnered with California-based Valar Atomics to fly one of the company's Ward microreactors, demonstrating the potential to rapidly deploy nuclear power for both military and civilian use. The successful test marks a significant milestone in the push for portable, clean energy that could transform disaster response, remote military operations, and off-grid communities.