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Scientists Stunned: Colossal Eggs Discovered 3,500 Meters Beneath an Active Volcano
Beneath an active seafloor volcano off Vancouver Island, researchers have documented a congregation of giant eggs at roughly 3,500 meters, a discovery that reframes how life can flourish under extreme conditions. The eggs belong to the Pacific white skate, an elusive deep‑sea species adapted to cold, crushing pressure and perpetual darkness. What seemed an unlikely nursery is actually a geothermally warmed refuge, where subtle heat helps embryos survive a marathon incubation. The finding links volcanic energy to a quiet engine of biodiversity, turning a hostile landscape into an incubator. A living volcano, a hidden nursery The seamount long assumed dormant now exhales mineral‑rich, shimmering plumes, proof of hydrothermal life at depth. Expedition cameras swept across black basalt and pale bacterial mats, revealing vents that pulse with warmth. That warmth, though modest by human standards, alters the physics of development for cold‑adapted embryos. In a realm where metabolism creeps, even a few degrees can mean faster growth and higher survival. The volcano is not only active; it is ecologically formative, drafting a blueprint for a thriving oasis. Giant eggs and a skate built for the abyss The Pacific white skate, Bathyraja spinosissima, is built for the abyss: broad wings, armored spines, and a life history that trades speed for endurance. Females lay outsized, rectangular “mermaid’s purses,” often 46–50 centimeters long, packed with rich yolk to fuel years of growth. In the frigid deep, embryos can require around four years to hatch, a timeline that magnifies every energetic advantage. The scale is striking—large eggs, large adults, and a textbook case of deep‑sea gigantism. The volcano’s gentle heat may literally shave months or years from the wait. Why heat matters at the bottom of the sea Hydrothermal circulation delivers low‑level warmth without the turbulence that would scatter fragile egg‑cases. Slightly elevated temperatures accelerate enzyme kinetics, nudging development along while keeping embryos within a safe range. Mineral‑laden fluids likely shape local microbiomes, which, in turn, can influence biofilms on egg surfaces. The environment acts like a slow, steady incubator, countering the deep sea’s tyrannies of cold and scarcity. For a species with long maturation and few offspring, every incremental boost compounds across generations. An ecosystem sculpted by fire and water Seafloor volcanoes create steep environmental gradients, stitching together hot vents, cool eddies, and mineral gardens into mosaic habitats. Microbes harvest chemical energy, seeding food webs that support crustaceans, fishes, and skates. Cameras documented egg‑cases nestled among rocky ledges, near communities nourished by vent‑driven chemistry. These islands of productivity behave like deep‑sea oases, sustaining life far beyond the vent orifice’s flickering light. The nursery’s success underscores how geological forces engineer biological opportunity. “Finding a cradle of life tucked beneath a breathing volcano reminds us that the planet’s harshest places can be profoundly generous.” What the discovery could change The nursery reframes conservation priorities in regions where volcanism quietly underwrites reproduction. Protecting hydrothermal corridors could safeguard entire lifecycles, not just charismatic adults spotted during occasional surveys. It also sharpens questions about how climate‑driven shifts in ocean circulation might influence vent activity, temperature fields, and embryo survival. With methodical mapping, time‑series cameras, and environmental DNA, scientists can track whether nurseries remain stable or drift with geologic rhythms. Key implications include: Enhanced understanding of deep‑sea reproduction at hydrothermal sites. New conservation targets centered on geothermal nurseries. Comparative studies with other volcanic regions, from the Galápagos to rift zones. Biotechnological insights from organisms adapted to long, cold development. Better models of how seafloor heat shapes regional biodiversity. Methods behind the revelation Remotely operated vehicles threaded through chimney fields, gathering video, temperatures, and mineral signatures. High‑definition imagery captured the distinctive, horned egg cases, their edges dusted with fine volcanic silt. Geochemical profiles mapped how heat and chemicals disperse, outlining the “thermal lanes” where eggs most cluster. Combined, these datasets reveal a nursery organized by geothermal topography, with egg‑cases concentrated in pockets of gentle, sustained warmth. A fragile boon in a changing ocean Deep‑sea environments feel remote, yet they intersect with global pressures: mining proposals, cable routes, and shifting oxygen levels. The nursery’s resilience hinges on stable heat flow, intact substrates, and minimal disturbance from noise or sediment. Safeguarding such places is not just about protecting novelty; it preserves a slow, ancient strategy that lets large, long‑lived animals endure in the coldest reaches of the Pacific. Where geology and biology meet, the planet’s deep time still writes living stories. This volcano‑warmed nursery adds a vital chapter to that story, revealing how subtle thermal gifts can tip the scales toward life in the abyss. With each dive, researchers trace the contours of an unseen world, where fire feeds water, and water—against all odds—feeds the future.
Release Engineer Completes Data Science Online Courses
This spring a release engineer completed three Coursera Data Science courses from Johns Hopkins and the Software Carpentry instructor training, each roughly four weeks long. The courses covered The Data Scientist's Toolbox, R Programming, and Getting and Cleaning Data, and required substantial external reading to finish programming assignments. The training emphasized R, GitHub, reproducible research, and evidence-based teaching methods applicable to managing distributed systems.
Scientists say the evidence is clear: E-cigarettes beat patches and gum in helping smokers quit
Nicotine e-cigarettes may be one of the most effective tools yet for quitting smoking, according to a sweeping review of global research. By analyzing findings from 14 major reviews spanning nearly a decade, researchers found consistent, high-quality evidence showing that nicotine vapes outperform traditional methods like patches, gum, and even behavioral support. While some lower-quality studies produced mixed results, the strongest data clearly favored nicotine e-cigarettes.
University Park officials say SMU crosswalk doesn't violate state order
University Park officials say an intersection featuring the Southern Methodist University mascot is not in violation of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s order prohibiting decorative markings on state roads.
Augmenting citizen science with computer vision for fish monitoring
Monitoring river herring migration is essential for conservation and fisheries management. Researchers have now demonstrated a method using video and computer vision to supplement traditional methods and volunteer-based programs.
Trump casts Florida mail ballot as he pushes Congress to severely limit that voting option
President Donald Trump has cast another mail ballot in Florida as he continues to publicly bash the voting method as a source of fraud and push Congress to curtail the practice
Trump, Who Calls Mail-in Voting ‘Cheating,’ Just Voted by Mail
President Trump has long fixated on mail-in-voting to bolster his baseless claims of widespread voter fraud. But he recently used the method in a Florida special election.
Trump casts mail ballot in Florida even as he calls the method 'cheating'
The president cast a mail ballot in an upcoming Florida special election, according to county records.
Causal Inference Is Eating Machine Learning
Your ML model predicts perfectly but recommends wrong actions. Learn the 5-question diagnostic, method comparison matrix, and Python workflow to fix it with causal inference.
Reddit is weighing identity verification methods to combat its bot problem
Steve Huffman, Reddit's CEO, said that using biometrics is the "most lightweight way" to verify that it's a human.
Physicists created an electron 'catapult' that moves particles at 'extraordinary' speed
Using a new method, physicists found a way to 'catapult' electrons across solar materials in quadrillionths of a second.
David Botstein, Gene-Mapping Pioneer, Dies at 83
His method of locating genes in human DNA allowed researchers to find disease-causing genes, and later to map the entire, sprawling human genome.
Cracking the human simulation code: Aaru co-founders on refining the science of prediction
Cameron Fink, Aaru co-founder and CEO, Ned Koh, Aaru co-founder and president, and John Kessler, Aaru co-founder and CTO, join 'Squawk Box' to discuss the origins of the company, using AI to predict human behavior with higher accuracy and speed than traditional methods, and more.
10 tried-and-true methods to stay off your phone, according to our readers
We asked our audience to share the creative ways they limit their own phone use. They range from the practical (keep your phone in another room) to the creative (pair your phone with a fun paperback).
Earthquake scientists reveal how overplowing weakens soil at experimental farm
Plowing, or tilling, is an age-old agricultural practice that readies the soil for planting by turning over the top layer to expose fresh earth. The method—intended to improve water and nutrient circulation—remains ...
This Google Maps update could change how you share your location
The new method is simpler and more obvious.
Scientists recreated a dinosaur nest to solve a 70-million-year-old mystery
Scientists recreated a life-size oviraptor nest to understand how these dinosaurs hatched their eggs. Their experiments showed the parent likely couldn’t heat all the eggs directly, meaning sunlight played a key role. This uneven heating could cause eggs in the same nest to hatch at different times. The results suggest oviraptors used a hybrid incubation method unlike modern birds.
Georgia was going to dump voting machines that Trump hates. But then things got complicated
A Georgia effort to dump voting machines that Donald Trump hates may get derailed by fear of a chaotic last-minute shift in election methods.
iOS 26.4 lets Family Sharing members use their own payment methods
With the iOS 26.4 RC released earlier today, Apple solved one of the longest-standing limitations of Family Sharing. Here’s what’s new.
Family Sharing in iOS 26.4 No Longer Forces Adults to Share a Payment Method
With iOS 26.4, Apple has made a small but useful change to the way that Family Sharing works. Each adult member of the family can now use their own payment method for purchases, rather than being forced to share a payment method. Apple has long required all of the members of a Family Sharing group to use a single shared payment method for app and content purchases when purchase sharing is turned on, with no option for family members to use separate payment methods.
China targets measurement science in tech race with U.S. - Futura-Sciences
The invisible backbone of modern technology Behind every electronic chip, satellite, and medical device sits a system of measurement. Without extreme precision in units, standards, and calibration methods, no technology operates reliably. Metrology ensures that a nanometer is actually a nanometer, that a processor performs exactly as intended at atomic...
Scientists used 7,000 GPUs to simulate a tiny quantum chip in extreme detail
Researchers have pushed quantum chip design into a new era by simulating every physical detail before fabrication. Using a supercomputer with nearly 7,000 GPUs, they modeled how signals travel and interact inside an ultra-tiny chip. Unlike earlier “black box” approaches, this method captures real materials, layouts, and qubit behavior. The result is a powerful new way to spot problems early and build better quantum hardware faster.
Characterising terpenic plant resins, wood tars and pitches in heritage science: analytical methods and applications
npj Heritage Science - Characterising terpenic plant resins, wood tars and pitches in heritage science: analytical methods and applications
Live Whole Health #309: Natural pain relief
Experts recommend non-drug methods of managing low back pain as a first line of treatment, and yoga is on the list of safe and effective ways to manage pain.
Scientists unlock a powerful new way to turn sunlight into fuel
Scientists have developed a powerful new computational method that could accelerate the search for next-generation materials capable of turning sunlight into useful chemical energy. The work focuses on polyheptazine imides, a promising class of carbon nitride materials that absorb visible light and can drive reactions such as hydrogen production, carbon dioxide conversion, and hydrogen peroxide synthesis. By analyzing how 53 different metal ions influence the structure and electronic behavior of these materials, researchers created a framework that predicts which combinations will perform best.
Scientists just discovered a tiny signal that volcanoes send before they erupt
A new detection method called “Jerk” could dramatically improve how scientists forecast volcanic eruptions. By using a single broadband seismometer, the system can detect extremely subtle ground movements caused by magma pushing underground—often hours before an eruption begins. Tested for more than a decade at the Piton de la Fournaise volcano on La Réunion, the tool successfully predicted 92% of eruptions between 2014 and 2023, sometimes giving up to eight hours of warning.
Scientists Unveil Cheaper and Faster Way To Extract Lithium From Massive Untouched Reserves
A new solvent-based technique could change how lithium is extracted from brines, potentially making the process faster, cheaper, and viable in places where conventional methods fail. Few elements are as key to the clean energy transition as lithium, and global demand for it is soaring. The metal
New environmental justice track brings new perspectives and methods to environmental science
KINGSTON, R.I. – March 12, 2026 – With a world facing numerous challenges that affect not only the environment but the people within it, there is a growing need for innovative, interdisciplinary, and collaborative approaches to addressing global crises. However, there remains a gap between the scientists and the communities they aim to help, who […]
Scientists Just Used Some of Earth’s Worst Chemicals to Produce Battery-Grade Lithium
A new method transforms a "persistent environmental liability" into a much-desired resource, the researchers say.
Laying the Foundations for an Americas Mental Health Policy Innovation Hub | Johns Hopkins Center for Global Mental Health
The project “Laying the Foundations for an Americas Mental Health Policy Innovation Hub,” led by Dr. María Cecilia Dedios and colleagues at the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Mental Health, aims to establish a regional platform that connects academics, policymakers, and civil society to advance collaborative mental health policymaking across the Americas. The initiative focuses on strengthening intersectoral approaches to population mental health and embedding meaningful community participation and lived experience into policy processes. Through a pilot consensus-building effort with decision-makers in Bogotá, Colombia, the project has begun testing methods for cross-sector collaboration to address shared priorities such as loneliness and underage substance use. Ultimately, the Hub seeks to foster regional learning and develop more participatory, coordinated, and socially responsive mental health policies.
High School Students Advance from State Science and Engineering Fair to International Competition
Charleston, W.Va. - The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) is pleased to announce that Pavan Subramani from Morgantown High School (Monongalia County), Iqraa Zaman from George Washington High School (Kanawha County) and the team of Jaxon Milam and Joseph Nodurft from the Linsly School (Ohio County) have advanced from the 72nd annual West Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair (WVSSEF) to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). The state-level fair serves as the qualifier for the ISEF, and these four students will represent the Mountain State in Phoenix in May.To compete in the WVSSEF, students in Grades 3-12 had to win their local, county and regional science and engineering fairs. Today’s competition resulted in 48 first place winners, 53 second place winners and 46 third place winners. For the full detailed list, view the 2026 WVSSEF Official Results.The WVSSEF challenges students to think critically about the world around them, encouraging them to find answers to unsolved questions and address problems by introducing proactive solutions. Students are also provided the opportunity to present their projects to judges—industry professionals and university professors—to discuss the research findings, scientific methodologies and hypotheses involved in their work.“The West Virginia Science and Engineering Fair is a highlight of every school year, as it brings some of the Mountain State's most accomplished students together as a showcase of the immense talent and potential they possess," said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. "These young scholars show time and time again that the future economy of West Virginia is bright. The attention to detail in every project and the passion and joy expressed by our students are truly inspiring."The WVSSEF featured 273 aspiring scientists, chemists and engineers who presented 209 projects featuring material science, animal science, plant science, physics, astronomy, engineering and more.View event photos.
Chicago Divorce Attorneys Molly E. Caesar and Michael Ian Bender Explain Business Valuation Methods in Illinois Divorce Cases
CHICAGO, IL - Business owners facing divorce in Illinois must navigate complex valuation issues to determine how
Want better sleep? The Dutch method is counterintuitive—but science says it works
Many Americans just lost an hour of sleep this weekend thanks to daylight saving time. Here's how Europeans get a good night's rest.
Without Science, America’s Prosperity Is At Risk
From vaccines to semiconductors, the scientific method made the U.S. a superpower. Abandoning it could reverse decades of progress.
This Overlooked Health Condition Could Raise Your Risk of Death by 83%
A study following more than 5,000 participants for 12 years found that straightforward clinical measurements can help identify sarcopenic obesity without relying on complex imaging methods such as MRI and CT scans. Researchers from the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) in Brazil, working
Mick Cronin's controversial criticisms aren't rattling UCLA players
UCLA coach Mick Cronin's courtside demeanor and postgame bluntness make him no stranger to controversy, but his players say they are fine with his methods.
How a Brazilian botanist uses Taylor Swift to teach plant science
A Brazilian researcher is using Taylor Swift's music videos to teach plant science, helping students overcome \
Scientists build a “periodic table” for AI
Choosing the right method for multimodal AI—systems that combine text, images, and more—has long been trial and error. Emory physicists created a unifying mathematical framework that shows many AI techniques rely on the same core idea: compress data while preserving what’s most predictive. Their “control knob” approach helps researchers design better algorithms, use less data, and avoid wasted computing power. The team believes it could pave the way for more accurate, efficient, and environmentally friendly AI.
SVG in Indy: Pacers Sports & Entertainment Remotely Produces Broadcasts of G League’s Noblesville Boom
The production method, which spans a distance of 36.2 miles, was designed and implemented by the Pacers’ in-house engineers When the Noblesville Boom became an official franchise in spring 2025,...
The Science-Backed Method to Hit Perfect Pickleball Drops Every Time
The third shot drop isn't magic; it's mechanics. Get the science right, and suddenly that impossible shot becomes far more manageable.
Actor and Cancer Advocate Patrick Dempsey Partners with Guardant Health to Raise Awareness about Colorectal Cancer Screening and Shield Blood Test, Sharing His Experience Getting Screened
1 in 3 eligible Americans avoid colorectal cancer (CRC) screenings because traditional methods are viewed as unpleasant and inconvenient Guardant's FDA-approved Shield blood test offers an easier, more convenient way to screen with a blood draw from any prescribing healthcare provider for adults 45+ at average risk for CRC Motivated by his mother’s cancer fight, Dempsey is calling on Americans to prioritize getting screened this CRC Awareness Month Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GH), a leading precision oncology company, today announced its partnership with actor and cancer advocate Patrick Dempsey to increase awareness about colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and the Shield® blood test. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2024 and recommended in national guidelines , Shield offers an easier way to screen for colorectal cancer (CRC) with just a blood draw for eligible individuals 45 and over at average risk for the disease. Patrick Dempsey, actor and cancer
The science of structures: FSU chemist synthesizes complex molecule with potential for medicine, pharmaceutical applications
A Florida State University chemist has developed a method to rapidly assemble significantly complex natural molecules with potential in biomedical
UX Roundup: AI is the Computer | Disrupting Filmed Entertainment | UX Trends | GOMS | Nano Banana 2
Summary: The AI is the computer | AI is disrupting the filmed entertainment industry | UX trends for 2026 | AI can use the GOMS UI analysis method | New image model: Nano Banana 2 | New music model: Lyria 3
U.S. and Israel strike Iran. Here's what we know
From the NPR podcast Sources and Methods:Overnight, the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran.The strikes targeted Iran’s top leaders, Supreme Leader Khamanei and President Masoud Pezeshkian — trying to kill them, according to a person briefed on Israel’s operation who spoke to NPR. Iran has responded by lobbing missiles at Israel and other countries in the region that host U.S. troops.Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Greg Myre, NPR national security correspondent, and Daniel Estrin, NPR international correspondent based in Tel Aviv, about what they know and what could come next.
March 2026
March’s issue focused on healthcare, with our list of the state’s top hospitals based on analysis of reports from both public and private agencies. We also featured a Q&A with Dr. Hershey Bell, founding dean of Methodist University School of Medicine, which welcomes its first cohort in July. Another feature was on a Triad nonprofit’s […]
Pulpit to Politics: Church of the Resurrection’s Adam Hamilton considers run for US Senate
Kansas Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton explores Independent run for U.S. Senate.
Business News: Swatch Group Publishes Open Letter To Morgan Stanley Management Saying Longines Is Profitable And Tissot Sales Grew
Swatch takes aim at the numbers and methods of the widely read Morgan Stanley 'Swiss Watcher' industry report.
Science Policy Education Should Start on Campus
Although modern science has only been around for a few centuries, we’ve become quite adept at training students in the scientific method
Water supplies in rural Nepal could be cleaned by harnessing the power of the sun, scientists claim
A new method for cleaning household water supplies in rural communities in Nepal is being developed by an international team of scientists. The solution removes harmful bacteria from the water by inserting ...
Driving large-scale hearing and balance research through data science investments, and an update on NIDCD’s January Advisory Council meeting
Enabling access to large-scale multimodal databases is essential to advancing science across all institutes at NIH. As both datasets and analytical methods become more complex, proper data infrastructure can enable multidisciplinary research efforts at a scale greater than that of individual studies alone. In line with NIH-wide strategic plans, NIDCD is making investments in data science that address long-standing research gaps, provide important resources for the research community, and preserve and protect participant privacy and data security.
First Army embraces Holistic Health and Fitness program
The Army has changed how it approaches fitness and now embraces a method that includes physical aspects, as well as nutrition, mental health, sleep, and...
Editorial: Sausalito’s Rose was strong, independent presence in Marin politics
Ms. Rose marched to her own drummer. She was studiously well-formed and methodically careful, practical and caring.
Designing a systemic intervention for student loneliness and social connectedness using a mixed-methods, co-creation approach
npj Mental Health Research - Designing a systemic intervention for student loneliness and social connectedness using a mixed-methods, co-creation approach
Scientists Shot Lasers at Charles Darwin’s Preserved Specimens. For Real.
A new method is giving researchers a better understanding of what’s been in those jars all these years.
Trump lashes out at Supreme Court justices who struck down his tariffs
A 6-3 majority struck down one of President Donald Trump's favored methods to impose tariffs.
Quantum computer breakthrough tracks qubit fluctuations in real time
Qubits, the heart of quantum computers, can change performance in fractions of a second — but until now, scientists couldn’t see it happening. Researchers at NBI have built a real-time monitoring system that tracks these rapid fluctuations about 100 times faster than previous methods. Using fast FPGA-based control hardware, they can instantly identify when a qubit shifts from “good” to “bad.” The discovery opens a new path toward stabilizing and scaling future quantum processors.
Scientists just mapped mysterious earthquakes deep inside Earth
Scientists at Stanford have unveiled the first-ever global map of rare earthquakes that rumble deep within Earth’s mantle rather than its crust. Long debated and notoriously difficult to confirm, these elusive quakes turn out to cluster in regions like the Himalayas and near the Bering Strait. By developing a breakthrough method that distinguishes mantle quakes using subtle differences in seismic waves, researchers identified hundreds of these hidden tremors worldwide.
Replacing animals in science: what the UK’s new strategy means
Find out how the UK is leading the way in replacing animals in science with strategies that promote non-animal research methods.
Five Berkeley Lab Scientists Receive DOE Early Career Research Awards
Five scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have received Early Career Research Program (ECRP) awards from the Department of Energy. The ECRP program, now in its 16th year, was established to bolster the nation’s scientific workforce by supporting exceptional researchers at the outset of their careers, when many scientists do their most formative work. Recipients use the funding to pursue projects that have the potential to solve scientific challenges and advance the country’s STEM capabilities. To be eligible for the program, a researcher must be an untenured, tenure-track assistant or associate professor at a U.S. academic institution, or a full-time employee at a DOE national laboratory or Office of Science user facility, who is within 10 years of having earned their doctorate. Awards to an institution of higher education will be approximately $875,000 over five years, and awards to a DOE national laboratory or Office of Science user facility will be approximately $2,750,000 over five years. This year’s Berkeley Lab awardees and their projects are listed below: Timon Heim: Better detectors for more powerful particle colliders Timon Heim is a staff scientist in the Physics Division. His ECRP project will develop a new type of detector that can track the particles generated by collisions in particle colliders with high spatial and temporal resolution. Current detectors in use at high-energy colliders, like the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, can track the trajectory and measure momentum of particles, but they can’t track a particle’s time of arrival with sufficient precision to discern from which of the many particle interactions they originate. Heim’s proposed technology — called a 4D tracking detector, because it captures data about particles’ positions in space and time — aims to solve this challenge, allowing researchers to glean more precise data from collision experiments to uncover new insights into fundamental forces and potentially discover new particles. The enhanced capabilities of 4D detectors will be a necessity for experiments at future colliders, such as the Muon Collider or Future Circular Collider. The project will develop custom microelectronics that process the signal of a pixelated silicon sensor that can register charged particles passing through it in an extreme radiation environment that these colliders produce during operation. The goal is to measure individual particles’ position with 50-micro-meter spatial and 50 pico-second (one trillionth of a second) temporal precision, for an incoming flux of around 1 billion particles per second per square centimeter. Harrison Lisabeth: Studying underground processes to unleash abundant energy Harrison Lisabeth is a research scientist in the Energy Geoscience Division focused on combining real-world experiments and AI to guide development of geothermal energy systems. His project will explore how deep underground rock formations – where geothermal wells are dug – are stressed by chemical reactions of the minerals and mechanical strain from movements in the Earth. A better understanding of subsurface stresses is essential to engineer safe and reliable geothermal wells that access the heat of deep rocks to produce electricity. It is estimated that the U.S. could generate ten times the amount of energy needed to power the grid using geothermal sources. Lisabeth plans to simulate how minerals grow, dissolve, and influence the behavior of surrounding rock in geothermal reservoirs by tracking chemical changes in rock samples under pressure in the lab. The project will also develop machine learning models to predict geologic strain based on field measurements and refine existing models that describe how common rock types deform under stress. Combining these approaches, Lisabeth hopes to develop a framework to predict stress to improve stability and longevity of geothermal wells. Daniel Carney: Pushing the quantum boundaries of particle measurement Daniel Carney is a staff scientist in the Physics Division who uses quantum information science to study particle physics and gravity. At very small scales, “quantum noise” — random fluctuations from the act of measurement — can drown out faint signals from rare processes. Carney’s ECRP project, “Fundamental Physics at the Quantum Limits of Measurement,” aims to build a new mechanical quantum sensor that can measure extremely small particle interactions below the limits of that quantum noise. The approach uses lasers to hold a tiny bead containing radioactive atoms; when one decays, the system measures the bead’s motion and the energy of any particles emitted. The experiment’s initial goal is to search for heavy sterile neutrinos, hypothetical particles predicted by some extensions of the Standard Model. The system could also help measure the mass of the neutrino, study the way particles interact through the electromagnetic and weak forces, and hunt for low-mass dark matter — all unsolved mysteries in particle physics. Callum Wilkinson: Using machine learning to demystify neutrinos Callum Wilkinson is a staff scientist in the Physics Division and part of the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) hosted by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. DUNE will create an intense beam of neutrinos that interact in detectors in Illinois and, after an 800-mile journey through the earth, in massive detectors in South Dakota. By precisely measuring neutrinos and how they change, researchers will get a better understanding of their fundamental properties and whether they are responsible for why there is so much more matter than antimatter in our universe. Wilkinson’s ECRP project will apply two machine learning techniques to improve the analysis of DUNE’s data and enhance the experiment’s precision. One approach will look for hidden patterns in how neutrinos interact and produce low-energy particles, while the other will help correct for distortions in what the detectors record. The methods will be tested on one of DUNE’s prototype detectors and could be used in other neutrino experiments, improving their measurements and helping scientists build better models. Aditi Krishnapriyan: Machine learning methods that scale as datasets grow Aditi Krishnapriyan is a faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Applied Mathematics and Computational Research Division (AMCR) and assistant professor at UC Berkeley. Her project, awarded through UC Berkeley, will develop machine learning methods that scale with dataset size for modeling complex, multi-scale phenomena. The resulting tools can be applied in a wide range of research, including the study of new electrolytes for batteries or the examination of molecular interactions. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
iOS 26.4 Enables Stolen Device Protection by Default for All iPhones
Starting with iOS 26.4, Stolen Device Protection will be enabled by default and turned on for all iPhone users. Stolen Device Protection adds extra security in case of physical iPhone theft. Apple implemented Stolen Device Protection back in 2023 after reports about a new iPhone theft method. Thieves would spy on an intended victim to learn their passcode, then steal the target's iPhone. With the passcode, criminals were able to empty bank accounts, access passwords, and turn off Find My.
Scientists Have Made Light Speed Visible. The Images Will Break Your Brain.
The method involves stitching together many thin “slices” of light reflecting off an object.
Weekend reads: CDC’s ‘unethical’ vaccine trial; The Lancet ‘refuses to retract’ letter; on the methods used to correct science
If your week flew by — we know ours did — catch up here with what you might have missed. The week at Retraction Watch featured: Journal tags ‘impossible’ case report with short erratum Guest post: …
5 Simple Ways To Find Out What’s Stopping You (And Win Big In Business)
A founder who sold his company for 8 figures reveals 5 strange tactics to uncover what's really stopping you. His methods are unconventional but they work.
Advancing AI for science: extracting and fusing cross-disciplinary expert knowledge with data to accelerate alloy discovery
High-entropy alloys are promising advanced materials for demanding applications, but discovering useful compositions is difficult and expensive due to the vast number of possible element combinations. Now, researchers have developed a novel AI-driven framework that integrates experimental data, computational modeling, and cross-disciplinary expert knowledge extracted from scientific literature. By combining these sources in a way that accounts for uncertainty, their approach can make reliable predictions even for poorly studied alloy compositions, outperforming conventional data-driven machine learning methods that rely on training data alone.
Science policy education should start on campus, say researchers
Although modern science has only been around for a few centuries, we've become quite adept at training students in the scientific method. But learning how to translate research insights into practical ...
Noubar Afeyan And Sally Kornbluth Talk MIT, Science
Davos MIT leaders urge defending scientific method; AI enables polyintelligence, biotech gains, and education.
Experts Warn: The Dangerous Blur Between Science and Wellness in Mental Health Bestsellers
A marketplace where labels blur In many bookstores, titles rooted in clinical science sit inches from glossy self-help guides promising instant serenity. That proximity can make rigorous research look interchangeable with lifestyle advice, especially when everything shares the same bright displays. Readers encounter a single aisle labeled “psychology,” even when the content ranges from peer-reviewed evidence to spiritual rituals. The result is a subtle but pervasive blur, turning a complex health landscape into a grab-bag of mixed claims. Why the shelves can mislead Retail categories are built for convenience, not for methodological clarity or clinical accuracy. When “development personal” or “wellness” becomes the default bin, evidence-based psychology competes with coaching manifestos and mystical manuals. The visual language of covers—calming color palettes, confident subtitles, glowing endorsements—flattens the distinction between randomized trials and anecdotal wisdom. In that aesthetic harmony, a guide on cognitive behavioral therapy may appear no more “serious” than a book on moon manifestation. The stakes for readers and patients Confusion carries real risks, including delayed care when people self-treat serious symptoms with untested routines. Vulnerable readers—facing depression, trauma, or anxiety—may be swayed by charismatic voices over careful data. Some messages frame recovery as pure willpower, which can amplify shame when symptoms persist despite effort. Others overpromise universal solutions, ignoring cultural context, diagnostic nuance, and comorbidity. “Shelving is not neutral; it shapes beliefs, expectations, and choices.” What professionals and retailers are asking Clinicians and public-health experts argue for clear, readable signage that separates science-based mental health from broader wellness. Books by licensed psychiatrists or psychologists that cite peer-reviewed studies could be grouped under “Evidence-Based Mental Health.” Adjacent space might host reflective memoirs, coaching workbooks, or contemplative philosophy—valuable in their way, but clearly labeled as non-clinical guidance. Booksellers emphasize their dual role as cultural curators and commercial actors, noting they respond to demand while striving for quality standards. How clarity could look and feel The goal is not to police ideas, but to help readers navigate with confidence. Transparent categorization respects reader autonomy while lifting the signal of credible practice. Clear tags—such as “scientific references,” “clinical overview,” or “personal narrative”—can work like map legends, turning a maze into a route. And when a book blends modes, hybrid labels can acknowledge both insight and limitation. A practical checklist for choosing wisely Check the author’s credentials: clinical license, academic affiliation, or relevant training. Scan the references: citations to peer-reviewed journals or reputable guidelines. Look for scope limits: clear statements about who the book is and isn’t for, and when to seek care. Seek methods, not miracles: approaches tested across diverse groups, with measurable outcomes. Watch the language: be wary of absolute claims, stigmatizing tones, or one-size-fits-all promises. Cross-verify with trusted bodies: national psychology associations or public-health agencies. The publisher’s responsibility Publishers can raise the bar by standardizing disclosure on methods, sample sizes, and limitations. Editorial policies could require conflict-of-interest statements, transparent citations, and plain-language summaries of evidence. Marketing should avoid medicalized framing for books that lack clinical validation, even when sales incentives press for bold claims. When a manuscript mixes reflection with research, honest jacket copy can prevent false equivalence. Coexisting without confusion Wellness writing can offer genuine comfort, perspective, and daily habits that support well-being. Scientific texts can provide structured tools, validated therapies, and realistic expectations for progress. The aim is to let these strands coexist, while giving readers the navigational cues to tell them apart. With clearer shelves, informed labels, and modest design tweaks, we can protect reader trust—and keep the aisle both inviting and intelligent.
MIT's new brain tool could finally explain consciousness
Scientists still don’t know how the brain turns physical activity into thoughts, feelings, and awareness—but a powerful new tool may help crack the mystery. Researchers at MIT are exploring transcranial focused ultrasound, a noninvasive technology that can precisely stimulate deep regions of the brain that were previously off-limits. In a new “roadmap” paper, they explain how this method could finally let scientists test cause-and-effect in consciousness research, not just observe correlations.
How Israel destroyed Gaza’s health system ‘deliberately and methodically’
Despite 'ceasefire', the health sector in Gaza continues to suffer from shortages, destruction and lack of equipment.
This Breakthrough Lets Scientists See Arctic Ice Loss Coming
Scientists have unveiled a powerful new method for predicting Arctic sea ice months in advance, just as climate change drives rapid ice loss.
Most Baltimore County teachers are ready to teach science of reading. What about yours?
The phonics-forward method backed by brain science is what education leaders hope will bring Maryland back to its heyday.
Opinion | In Science We Trust. Or Do We?
Readers respond to a guest essay about the methods and reliability of science. Also: Opioid addiction; judges and presidents; cursive writing.
Science Fields and Methodology Came from a Christian Worldview
Is Christianity incompatible with real science? The development and history of science answer a resounding “no.”
New Perspectives on EU Climate Politics using Text-as-Data Methods
This Collection invites research on EU climate governance, climate communication, climate policy diffusion within and outside the EU, and climate policy ...
Scientists use AI to crack the code of nature’s most complex patterns 1,000x faster
Order doesn’t always form perfectly—and those imperfections can be surprisingly powerful. In materials like liquid crystals, tiny “defects” emerge when symmetry breaks, shaping everything from cosmic structures to everyday technologies. Now, researchers have developed an AI-powered method that can predict how these defects will form and evolve in milliseconds instead of hours. By learning directly from data, the system accurately maps molecular alignments and complex defect behavior, even in situations where defects merge or split.
Science at risk: Massachusetts must lead the fight for facts
Rejecting evidence threatens lives and innovation. Massachusetts must defend the scientific method.
SF changes method to count unhoused; advocate believes it's political, will lead to undercount
For the first time in more than two decades, San Francisco is changing the way it counts the number of unhoused individuals on its streets.
Tiny mammals are sending warning signs scientists can finally read
Small mammals are early warning systems for environmental damage, but many species look almost identical, making them hard to track. Scientists have developed a new footprint-based method that can tell apart nearly indistinguishable species with remarkable accuracy. Tested on two types of sengi, the system correctly identified them up to 96% of the time. It offers a simple, ethical way to monitor ecosystems before they quietly unravel.
Researchers discover hundreds of cosmic anomalies with help from AI
A team of astronomers have used a new AI-assisted method to search for rare astronomical objects in the Hubble Legacy Archive. The team sifted through nearly 100 million image cutouts in just two and a half days, uncovering nearly 1400 anomalous objects, more than 800 of which had never been documented before.
Why concrete is becoming a climate flashpoint for AI
The rapid expansion of U.S. data centers to support artificial intelligence is creating a new climate challenge—one that begins long before servers are powered on, Bloomberg writes. The massive facilities require enormous amounts of concrete, a carbon-intensive material that could generate nearly 2 million metric tons of CO2 through 2030 if built with traditional methods, […]
Bay science: Trying to unlock shrimp biology with baking soda
Burrowing shrimp are a well-documented native pest species in Willapa Bay that have been a nuisance to bottom-culture shellfish farmers for over a century. Methods for controlling shrimp populations have […]
SSH Over USB On A Raspberry Pi
Setting up access to a headless Raspberry Pi is one of those tasks that should take a few minutes, but for some reason always seems to take much longer. The most common method is to configure Wi-Fi…
Washtenaw County health care aid program could close after Trump administration cuts
The program will likely need between $2-4M from various methods of funding to continue providing coverage.
Scientists destroy 99% of cancer cells in the lab using “vibrating molecules” - Futura-Sciences
A groundbreaking advance in the fight against cancer has just been made. Scientists have developed a revolutionary technique that uses vibrating molecules to kill malignant cells. This innovative method showed a remarkable 99 percent success ... Read more
Scientists are building viruses from scratch to fight superbugs
Researchers from New England Biolabs (NEB®) and Yale University describe the first fully synthetic bacteriophage engineering system for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an antibiotic-resistant bacterium of global concern, in a new PNAS study. The system is enabled by NEB’s High-Complexity Golden Gate Assembly (HC-GGA) platform. In this method, researchers engineer bacteriophages synthetically using sequence data rather than bacteriophage isolates.
OnePlus update starts bricking phones when you try to install older software
OnePlus has implemented new anti-rollback methods in OxygenOS, forcing users to stay on the latest software versions with no way...
Analysis: Europe may need to adopt Trump’s brass-knuckle methods to save Greenland
Donald Trump fights as dirty as the UFC cage fighters he’s invited to slug it out on the South Lawn of the White House to mark America’s 250th birthday.
How scientists are turning thyme into precision medicine
Thyme extract is packed with health-promoting compounds, but it is difficult to control and easy to waste. Researchers created a new technique that traps tiny amounts of the extract inside microscopic capsules, preventing evaporation and irritation. The method delivers consistent nanodoses and could eventually be used in medicines or food products. It may also work for many other natural extracts.
Synopsys Enters Definitive Agreement with GlobalFoundries For Sale of Processor IP Solutions Business
Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNPS ) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its Processor IP Solutions business to GlobalFoundries (Nasdaq: GFS) (GF). Synopsys' extensive investment in IP quality, comprehensive technical support and robust IP development methodology enables designers to reduce integration risk and accelerate time-to-market. This transaction enhances the focus of Synopsys' IP business on strengthening its leadership position in interface and foundation IP while pursuing the highest-value, AI-driven opportunities from the cloud to the edge for customers spanning HPC, mobile, automotive and consumer. "We are focusing our IP resources and roadmap to further our leadership in essential interface and foundation IP while winning new, high-value opportunities that advance our position as the leading provider of engineering solutions from silicon to systems," said Sassine Ghazi, president and CEO of Synopsys. "GF will be an excellent future
This new sugar tastes like the real thing without the usual downsides
Scientists at Tufts have found a way to turn common glucose into a rare sugar that tastes almost exactly like table sugar—but with far fewer downsides. Using engineered bacteria as microscopic factories, the team can now produce tagatose efficiently and cheaply, achieving yields far higher than current methods. Tagatose delivers nearly the same sweetness as sugar with significantly fewer calories, minimal impact on blood sugar, and even potential benefits for oral and gut health.
‘An undoing of the scientific method’: Flagship CEO warns of government threats to US biotech industry
The Trump administration spent 2025 taking a sledgehammer to science, obliteratin | The Trump administration spent 2025 taking a sledgehammer to science, obliterating funding and reshaping agencies like the FDA and National Institutes of Health through layoffs and restrictive new policies. In a new letter, Noubar Afeyan, Ph.D., co-founder of Moderna and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, warns that these actions risk undermining the foundations of science itself to the ultimate detriment of health and biotech innovation in America.
Flagship CEO Calls Out Attacks on Science, Warns of China Dominance
In his annual letter, Flagship Pioneering’s Noubar Afeyan lays out a choice between near-term “human-made miracles” and a reversion to the pain and suffering of past diseases due to “growing contempt” in the U.S. for the scientific method.
Western Pacific Region achieves milestone: 19 countries complete comprehensive health information system assessments
The Health Information and Digital Health (HID) unit in the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has successfully supported 19 countries, covering 99% of the Region’s population, to conduct comprehensive health information system (HIS) assessments, surpassing the regional target of 15 set for 2025 and advancing efforts toward universal health coverage. Using SCORE, a technical package of essential interventions, recommended actions, tool and resources developed by WHO and partners to address challenges in meeting HIS needs, these assessments systematically assess health data availability and quality, enabling countries to monitor trends, identify and respond to emerging health challenges, and improve policies and programmes for healthier families, communities and societies. The first round of SCORE assessments were conducted between 2019-2021 in 14 countries in the Region and over 130 countries globally. The second round of SCORE assessments were conducted between 2024-2025.SCORE assessments are a key priority identified by Member States and WHO at all levels, including within WHO-Country/Multi-Country Cooperation Strategies, the Regional Vision Weaving Health for Families, Communities and Societies in the Western Pacific Region (2025–2029), and the WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14, 2025–2028). Within the Regional Vision, implementing SCORE assessments is a key action for technology and innovation to advance health equity (strand 5).The SCORE for Health Data technical package is based on five key interventions, represented by the acronym SCORE. Interventions S, C and O focus on strengthening core data sources. Survey (S) covers population-based health surveys, surveillance systems and censuses, including their capacity to monitor health-related SDGs. Count (C) focuses on birth, death and cause of death registration as parts of a functional CRVS system. Optimize (O) addresses routine health service data and key health service inputs such as health financing and health workforce.Interventions R and E focus on data use for action. Review (R) examines regular analytical reviews of health sector progress and performance, together with national analytical capacity. Enable (E) looks at the policy, governance, and digital foundations needed to support effective data use.The Western Pacific Region shows relatively strong performance in the Review (R) and Count (C) interventions. Most countries in the Region demonstrate good analytical reporting and institutional capacity for analysis and learning. More than two-thirds of countries show more mature CRVS systems, driven by improvements in birth and death registration. However, medical certification of cause-of-death remains a key gap, with limited or low coverage in over half of countries in the Region.Performance under the Survey (S) intervention is mixed. While surveillance systems are generally strong, several countries in the Region continue to face challenges in implementing their surveys and censuses. Monitoring health-related SDGs is still a challenge for more than a third of countries in the Region.The greatest challenges are observed in the Optimize (O) and Enable (E) interventions. More than half of countries have lower maturity levels in routine health service and resource systems. Two-thirds of countries also face challenges with effective use of data and evidence for policy and action, largely due to gaps in digital infrastructure, governance and legislation for health data systems, and especially in data and sharing.  As part of the SCORE methodology, multi-stakeholder consultations and validation workshops were conducted in many countries to review findings and plan strategies for HIS strengthening. The HID unit continues to provide targeted support to facilitate dialogue and assist countries in developing HIS improvement plans. These plans guide governments and partners to align investments and coordinate efforts for maximum impact.WHO also assists countries with tailored technical support to address key gaps as requested by countries/national health authorities. SCORE assessments should be conducted periodically to monitor progress in HIS strengthening, although progress across addressing gaps identified in SCORE should be continually tracked as countries implement improvements.Additional countries will be supported to implement SCORE in 2026. The Regional Vision delivery-for-impact target, endorsed by Member States, is for all countries and areas to have implemented SCORE assessments and have an increased SCORE index by 2029 while WHO is aiming for 80% of Member States in the Region to conduct round two assessments. Countries yet to complete assessments are therefore encouraged to contact the HID unit at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific for tailored support.The implementation of SCORE HIS assessments in the Western Pacific Region was supported by The Gates Family Foundation.
Military recruiting in jeopardy as the US teen population shrinks
The military faces a new recruiting crisis as America's teen population shrinks and outreach methods fail. The Pentagon is rethinking its playbook.
'Death by 1,000 cuts': How EPA policy changes will affect Indiana
The Environmental Protection Agency methodically deregulated and rolled back environmental protections this year under the Trump administration. Here's how Hoosiers have been affected.
Philosophy to the Rescue of Science
The pessimistic meta-induction—the argument that since past scientific theories have been shown to be false, we should expect that today’s will turn out false, too—makes the New York Times. . Elay Shech, professor of philosophy at Auburn University, takes up the topic in the context of current political disputes about science and our government’s seemingly increasing disregard of expertise: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of health and human services, made a version of this argument in August when defending his decision to halt hundreds of millions of dollars in mRNA vaccine development despite the objections of vaccine scientists. He said that “science is always evolving” and the experts could not always be trusted. Shech accepts that “many widely accepted [scientific] theories have been discarded” but that the question, “why should we trust the ones we have now?” is misleading. Why? It implies that the only possible attitudes toward science are naïve faith and wholesale pessimism. It assumes that science is a single global entity that rises or falls all at once, when in reality, science is an array of local domains of inquiry, each with its own standards of evidence and degrees of reliability. In place of skepticism, Shech recommends “disciplined trust.” The first step in the direction of disciplined trust is recognizing that “there is no single scientific method used in all of science.” Shech writes: Newton’s deduction from observed phenomena is very different from Darwin’s inference to the best explanation, which in turn differs radically from Einstein’s thought experiments with light beams, trains and elevators. What people call “the scientific method” is really many distinct ways of investigating the world—different strategies for representing, experimenting and classifying. Since different areas of science employ different methods and rely on different kinds of evidence, to make a case for skepticism “you need to look at the evidence and methods in a specific area of inquiry.” And that case will not be “a sweeping claim about all of science” but rather about that particular area of inquiry with, for example, what might turn out to be “well-understood methodological problems.” Shech’s piece is “Science Keeps Changing, So Why Should We Trust It?” (NYT gift link). Discussion welcome (readers are advised to keep in..
Alleged PS5 Jailbreak Method Spikes Prices for Old Star Wars Game on eBay
'Star Wars Racer Revenge' is selling for hundreds of dollars.
PS5 Jailbreak rumors make Star Wars game skyrocket in price
A new PS5 jailbreak method is gaining traction for an unusual reason: it reportedly only works if players own a physical copy of a Star Wars game.
China's DeepSeek kicked off 2026 with a new AI training method that analysts say is a 'breakthrough' for scaling
DeepSeek has released a new AI training method that analysts say is a "breakthrough" for scaling large language models.