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LIGO observatory kicks off new year with Science Saturday
LIVINGSTON - The LIGO observatory kicked off the new year with its first Science Saturday of the year.
The hidden timing system that shapes how you think
The brain constantly blends split-second reactions with slower, more thoughtful processing, and new research shows how it pulls this off. Scientists discovered that brain regions operate on different internal clocks and rely on white matter connections to share information across these timescales. The way this timing is organized affects how efficiently the brain switches between activity patterns tied to behavior. Differences in this system may help explain why people vary in cognitive ability.
Beyond silicon: These shape-shifting molecules could be the future of AI hardware
Scientists have developed molecular devices that can switch roles, behaving as memory, logic, or learning elements within the same structure. The breakthrough comes from precise chemical design that lets electrons and ions reorganize dynamically. Unlike conventional electronics, these devices do not just imitate intelligence but physically encode it. This approach could reshape how future AI hardware is built.
This Week in Science: Reversing Alzheimer's, Solving a Tapestry Mystery, And More!
Our weekly science news roundup.
Weekend reads: Evaluating the benefits of open science, a misconduct investigation in Korea, and what we lose in outsourcing reviews to AI
Happy 2026! We’re excited to bring you the first Weekend Reads of the new year. The week at Retraction Watch featured: The BMJ retracts clinical trial for ‘severe’ discrepancies in rand…
The Year in Neanderthal Discoveries
They drew with crayons, possibly fed on maggots and maybe even kissed us: Forty millenniums later, our ancient human cousins continued to make news.
Donald Trump’s attacks on American academia hurt Europe’s scientists, says official
‘Science in the US being curtailed has an effect on all of us,’ says EU research funding chief Maria Leptin
They cook organic, distrust science and oppose vaccines: America's 'crunchy moms' shift toward Trump
In the 1960s, the 'crunchy mom' was typically an American hippie trying to stay connected to nature. Today, she claims total freedom over health decisions, sometimes flirting with conspiracy theories.
What is the mysterious humming noise in New Mexico that scientists still cannot explain | - The Times of India
Science News: Since the early 1990s, residents in and around Taos, New Mexico, have reported hearing a persistent low-frequency sound with no visible or measurable .
2026 is a big year for Nevada politics and elections
TMCC Political Science Professor Fred Lokken explains why 2026 is a big year in politics here in Nevada.
High-efficiency broadband active metasurfaces via reversible metal electrodeposition
Light: Science & Applications - This work presents active metasurfaces enabled by reversible metal electrodeposition with exceptional optical tunability, spanning from visible to near- and...
Fossilized bones are revealing secrets from a lost world
Researchers have uncovered thousands of preserved metabolic molecules inside fossilized bones millions of years old, offering a surprising new window into prehistoric life. The findings reveal animals’ diets, diseases, and even their surrounding climate, including evidence of warmer, wetter environments. One fossil even showed signs of a parasite still known today. This approach could transform how scientists reconstruct ancient ecosystems.
Scientists tested intermittent fasting without eating less and found no metabolic benefit
Time-restricted eating has been widely promoted as a simple way to boost metabolic health, but new research paints a more complicated picture. When calorie intake stayed the same, an eight-hour eating window did not improve insulin sensitivity or cardiovascular markers. What did change was the body’s internal clock, which shifted based on meal timing and altered sleep patterns. The results suggest calorie reduction, not the eating window itself, may be the real driver of health benefits.
A hidden brain problem may be an early warning for Alzheimer’s
Researchers discovered that clogged brain “drains” show up early in people at risk of Alzheimer’s disease. These blockages, easily seen on standard MRI scans, are tied to toxic protein buildup linked to memory loss and cognitive decline. In some cases, they may signal Alzheimer’s earlier than other commonly used brain markers. This could help physicians detect the disease earlier, before irreversible damage sets in.
Two unstable atoms are rewriting neutron star explosions
Scientists have precisely measured two unstable atomic nuclei that play a crucial role in explosive X-ray bursts on neutron stars. The results reveal faster nuclear reactions than previously thought, reshaping how we understand element formation in extreme cosmic environments.
Dynamic tuning of Bloch modes in anisotropic phonon polaritonic crystals
Light: Science & Applications - This work demonstrates actively controlled, low-loss phonon-polaritonic Bloch modes in a graphene-gated α-MoO3 polaritonic crystal, which enables enhanced...
Steubenville High School science program gains research grant
STEUBENVILLE — Steubenville High School science students will utilize a $3,400 grant to review water quality and the presence of microplastics in fish found in local tributaries. Teacher Jessie Clark received the Environmental Stewardship Research Grant from the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio and will begin the project with her class this month. Clark said the […]
January 2, 2026
A look back at the biggest science stories of 2025, and a few you may have missed. Plus, over the past year, most of your body has replaced itself cell by cell. What can we learn from other animals’ dramatic feats of regeneration? And, ultramarathoners can run with what seems like superhuman stamina. But are their bodies much different than the rest of ours?
Best Of: The Science And Stories Of Time Travel : 1A
Have you ever fantasized about going back in time to relive a moment — or change it?Maybe you’re more interested in traveling to the future where cars fly and the code to immortality has been cracked.If the idea of time travel resonates with you, you’re far from alone — particularly during a year of political upheaval.Scientists moved one step closer to understanding time travel, at least hypothetically, this year. Two physicists at the University of Queensland in Australia created a model for studying the phenomenonWe’re not there yet. But when it comes to books, movies and TV shows, that’s a different story. We’ve been thinking about hurtling through history for a very, very long time.Why do we return time and time again to stories about time travel? Will it ever become a reality?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
Winter Wonder Lab at DaVinci Science Center
William Oplinger, 2,of Phoenixville, plays with inflatable penguins Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in the Winter Wonder Lab exhibit at the Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown.
Residents push back on UAF’s plan to sell Bristol Bay’s Applied Science building
UAF presented to the community its intention to sell the secondary campus building at a town hall meeting last month.
The Science Behind Better Visualizing Brain Function
The Science Behind Better Visualizing Brain Function: Fluorescent trackers are helping scientists study the mind in real-time
The Science Behind Better Visualizing Brain Function
Fluorescent trackers are helping scientists study the mind in real-time
Construction of data science buildings to close Wyman Park Drive entrance to vehicles beginning in early January
Pedestrian access will remain open through July, but vehicle traffic will be disrupted beginning in early January as construction begins on JHU's data science buildings
Students working on science
Denton ISD students work on an assignment ahead of the winter break.
Alaska Science Forum: A whale of a mammoth tale
The youngest mammoth fossil ever found in mainland Alaska is from a creature that died 13,000 years ago.
The journal Science positively reviews a book criticizing gender surgery
Is it a sign of the times that this long book review, appearing in the “Science and Society” section of the prestigious journal Science, actually approves of a book questioning the ubiq…
Mamdani’s win is a ‘demonstration of data science,’ Kevin O’Leary says
O’Leary Ventures Chairman Kevin O’Leary discusses New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s leadership as well as whether California’s proposed billionaire tax will pass on 'Varney & Co.'
ANALYSIS | Bob McDonald’s Top 10 Science Stories of 2025
In no particular order, Bob McDonald reviews 10 of the most fascinating accomplishments and noteworthy science news events of 2025.
Harwell scientists beam laser into the sky for 80th birthday
The spectacle, known as The Beam, marked the 80th birthday of Harwell Science Campus in Oxfordshire.
Chemistry Competitiveness: Fueling Innovation and Streamlining Processes to Ensure Safety and Security
The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
These scientific discoveries brought us joy in 2025
Amidst a tough year for science, glimmers of joy burst through in revelations from the silly to the sublime.
This new year, it might be time to leave behind old goals
Science shows that knowing when to quit has a place in our success.
What the colour of your home says about you, according to science
Professor Geoff Beattie, a professor of psychology at Edge Hill University argues that choosing a colour scheme is a 'psychological issue, not just an aesthetic one.'
Off-Beat Careers That Are the Future Of Data
The unconventional career paths you need to explore
A "herculean" genetic study just found a new way to treat ADHD
Attention depends on the brain’s ability to filter out distractions, but new research suggests this works best when background brain activity is quieter. Scientists found that lowering certain versions of the Homer1 gene improved focus in mice by calming neural noise. The effect was strongest during a critical developmental window. This approach could inspire new treatments for ADHD that work by reducing mental clutter instead of increasing stimulation.
The Top Universities For R&D Spending In The Social/Behavioral Sciences
When it comes to R&D spending in the social and behavioral sciences, public universities dominate, according to the latest HERD Survey by the National Science Foundation.
Cicadas, astronauts, measles and jazzy reptiles led 2025 science stories
Woo! Science looks back on a year of science reptiles, including the return of astronauts way too long in space, a ruckus of cicadas, and artistic lizard.
Cicadas, astronauts, measles and jazzy reptiles led 2025 science stories
Woo! Science looks back on a year of science reptiles, including the return of astronauts way too long in space, a ruckus of cicadas, and artistic lizard.
Clyde Butcher's 'Lifeworks in Photography' showing at Bishop Science
A retrospective curated by the famed photographer is on now. Butcher is scheduled to speak at the museum in early January. You can check their website for details on that.
Researchers ask how gender-diverse people feel about donating their bodies to science
A new study at Western seeks to better understand what sex and gender diverse people think about donating their bodies to science. Researchers say this information can better inform future healthcare professionals on respecting their patients' identities.
Medical Aid in Dying Legislation and the Limits of Prognostic Science
New York’s Medical Aid in Dying is often framed as compassion guided by medical expertise. But is the legislation prescribing a moral choice behind the mask of scientific certainty?
Democratising science, one step at a time
Artifical intelligence is just the latest method to open up chemistry to more people
Science fiction warned AI could end humanity. We may soon learn if it's possible.
Tech companies are claiming machines more intelligent than us and capable of having their own agendas are just around the corner.
Artificial Intelligence Impacts the Art and Science of Dentistry
Dentistry has always been on the cutting edge of science and technology. Now, Artificial Intelligence is transforming dentistry.
Blog: Bridging science and humanitarian action – an internship at the Climate Centre
By Annalena Bacher (The Climate Centre is happy on New Year’s Day to open its coverage for 2026 with a young voice – that of its latest intern, Annalena Bacher, who worked with us from September to December 2025.) I have long been fascinated by climate change and extreme-weather events: their impacts on people, how […]
Research roundup: 7 cool science stories we almost missed
Double-detonating supernova, Roman liquid gypsum burials, biomechanics of kangaroo posture, and more.
Research roundup: 7 cool science stories we almost missed
Double-detonating supernova, Roman liquid gypsum burials, biomechanics of kangaroo posture, and more.
Science Lab: The Unavoidable Facts of a Failed 2025
Welcome to "The Science Lab", a place where football facts and in-depth analysis always triumph over feelings.
Top Science Stories Of 2025
Written by: Nicola Jones for Knowable Magazine 2025 was a year of turmoil for many scientists — particularly in the United States, where job cuts and budget slashing have left […]
How the Science of Photography Can Lead You Astray
I often refer to photography as a blend of art and science. However, our cameras' lack of adherence to scientific principles can lead to confusion. Both
Best Life: Resolution revolution and the science of sticking with it
As the calendar flips to 2026, millions of Americans are making resolutions.
Nathalie Cabrol, astrobiologist: ‘It’s an achievement of science to admit we don’t know what life is’
The French-American scientist heads the Carl Sagan Center and researches the potential for humans to inhabit the extreme environments of our galaxy
Something hidden deep underground supercharged this Chile earthquake
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck northern Chile in July 2024—and it wasn’t supposed to be that strong. Unlike Chile’s infamous shallow “megathrust” quakes, this one ruptured deep inside the Earth, where shaking is usually weaker at the surface. Researchers discovered that the quake broke long-held assumptions by tearing through hotter rock layers than expected, fueled by a rare chain reaction that accelerated the rupture.
This tiny plant is helping solve crimes
Moss may look insignificant, but it can carry a hidden forensic fingerprint. Because different moss species thrive in very specific micro-environments, tiny fragments can reveal exactly where a person has been. Researchers reviewing 150 years of cases found moss has helped solve crimes across multiple countries, including one case where it led investigators directly to a buried child. The study urges law enforcement to pay closer attention to these silent witnesses.
Did an exploding comet wipe out the mammoths?
Scientists are uncovering new clues that a cosmic explosion may have rocked Earth at the end of the last ice age. At major Clovis-era sites, researchers found shocked quartz—evidence of intense heat and pressure consistent with a comet airburst rather than volcanism or human activity. The event could have sparked massive fires, blocked sunlight, and triggered a rapid return to ice-age conditions. These harsh changes may explain the sudden loss of megafauna and the disappearance of the Clovis culture.
Myth busted: Your body isn’t canceling out your workout
Being active boosts your daily calorie burn more than previously thought. Researchers found that increased physical activity raises total energy use without triggering the body to conserve energy elsewhere. Basic functions keep running at full speed, even as movement increases. The result: exercise truly adds to your energy output rather than being metabolically “offset.”
The Surprising Science Behind Why Cold Air Feels So Good—and Where to Breathe the World's Cleanest Air
A new study reveals why crisp winter air smells cleaner, feels fresher, and boosts wellbeing—and it's best experienced in Finland's Santa's Lapland.
NASA’s Webb telescope just discovered one of the weirdest planets ever
A newly discovered exoplanet is rewriting the rules of what planets can be. Orbiting a city-sized neutron star, this Jupiter-mass world has a bizarre carbon-rich atmosphere filled with soot clouds and possibly diamonds at its core. Its extreme gravity stretches it into a lemon shape, and it completes a full orbit in under eight hours. Scientists are stunned — no known theory explains how such a planet could exist.
This 100-year-old teaching method is beating modern preschools
A first-of-its-kind national trial shows that public Montessori preschool students enter kindergarten with stronger reading, memory, and executive function skills than their peers. These gains don’t fade — they grow over time, bucking a long-standing trend in early education research. Even better, Montessori programs cost about $13,000 less per child than traditional preschool. The results suggest a powerful, affordable model hiding in plain sight.
Sussex Academy holds science honor society induction
Sussex Academy inducted 12 new members of the Science National Honor Society in a student-led school ceremony Dec. 3. The chapter, which was founded in 2023, is open to juniors, seniors and exceptional sophomores who have demonstrated academic...
Your Cells Are Always Building A Whole New You | Science Friday
In the last year, you’ve basically replaced your body weight in new cells. So yes, it’s a new year, new you. To ring in 2026, we’re talking about starting anew, and drawing inspiratio...
Exercise won’t help you lose much fat. Changing this will | BBC Science Focus Magazine
Groundbreaking research is rewriting the science of how we use energy – and why effort alone won’t shift the scales
Science Says It's Okay to Drink Your First Cup of Coffee Right Away
Research shows no benefit from waiting. (Or not waiting.)
Nine science-backed ways to help you feel better in 2026
From channelling your anger to writing lists and singing more often – here are some science-backed tips to boost your wellbeing.
The Galaxy Next Door
The Large Magellanic Cloud—one of our closest neighboring galaxies—is a hotbed of star formation that is visible to both astronauts and Earth-based stargazers.
Revisited: the real science of weight loss
In this episode from October, the leading nutritional scientist Kevin Hall tells Ian Sample what he wants us all to understand about diet, exercise and weight loss, and what led to his departure from the National Institutes of Health
Virginia business schools ramp up AI education
Virginia business schools are expanding AI programs, blending data science and business education to prepare students for data-driven careers and ethical AI use.
What Stranger Things gets right about wormholes
The final episode of fifth season of the Netflix series Stranger Things is out this week, and the concept of a wormhole figures largely into it. While the show is a work of fiction, theoretical wormholes have making appearances for decades not only in science fiction but in actual science.
Top 10 people in science for 2025, according to Nature
From a CRISPR baby to a young AI disruptor, 2025 has seen some serious leaps in science and technology. It's also seen some people stand up to the growing pressures facing the science community. Now, the world's leading science journal, Nature, has named 10 prominent figures behind the year's standout moments, which stretch from the darkness of the deep sea to the far corners of the universe.
Topological photonics for single-photon sources
Light: Science & Applications - Topological photonics for single-photon sources
Top HIV Science Stories of 2025
Twice-yearly PrEP makes its debut, novel HIV treatments are in the pipeline and metabolic health gets more attention.
In Case You Were Wondering | Sports Science & Nutrition
Case Keenum is back, this time with the Bears' Sports Science and Nutrition teams, to see how the team moves and fuel up. From 3D motion capture mobility training to wellness shots, Keenum gets a first-person look at the small, often overlooked details th
In Case You Were Wondering | Sports Science & Nutrition
Case Keenum is back, this time with the Bears' Sports Science and Nutrition teams, to see how the team moves and fuel up. From 3D motion capture mobility training to wellness shots, Keenum gets a first-person look at the small, often overlooked details th
From gene therapy breakthroughs to preventable disease outbreaks: The health trends that will shape 2026
Live Science's health channel editor makes predictions about the medical breakthroughs and public health shifts to come in 2026.
Nuno F.G. Loureiro, award-winning MIT scientist, remembered as a ‘physicist’s physicist’
His promising work at MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center brought him and the lab global recognition as well as the hope of cheaper, cleaner, and more plentiful energy.
In 1962, A Geologist Went Into A Cave. 2 Months Later, He’d Accidentally Invented A New Field Of Biology.
No biggie.
26 Popular Science stories you loved in 2025
From radioactive water to $25 vintage airplanes to a WWII shipwreck mystery.
Science Forum 12/31/25
It is the last Vox Pop of 2025 and we close out the year in style. The experts are holding off on the New Year's Eve celebration long enough to take your science questions! Ray Graf hosts.
In 2026, resolve to become a citizen scientist
Monitoring nest boxes for Southeastern American kestrels is one example of citizen science.
Teaching faculty power UNC Computer Science’s growth and impact - College of Arts and Sciences
UNC Computer Science fills more than 9,000 course seats every year. So how does it still feel personal? The answer lies with 10 teaching faculty members who have built a culture where students are not just taught — they are seen.
Review | 3 utterly brilliant science fiction novels
New books by William Alexander, Claire North and qntm examine new technologies and unexplored worlds with verve.
MIT study shows high-fat diets give liver cancer a dangerous head start
A high-fat diet does more than overload the liver with fat. New research from MIT shows that prolonged exposure to fatty foods can push liver cells into a survival mode that quietly raises the risk of cancer. Faced with ongoing metabolic stress, these cells abandon their normal roles and revert to a more primitive state that helps them endure harsh conditions. Over time, that shift leaves the liver less functional and far more vulnerable to tumor formation, helping explain why fatty liver disease so often precedes liver cancer.
What if AI becomes conscious and we never know
A philosopher at the University of Cambridge says there’s no reliable way to know whether AI is conscious—and that may remain true for the foreseeable future. According to Dr. Tom McClelland, consciousness alone isn’t the ethical tipping point anyway; sentience, the capacity to feel good or bad, is what truly matters. He argues that claims of conscious AI are often more marketing than science, and that believing in machine minds too easily could cause real harm. The safest stance for now, he says, is honest uncertainty.
Researchers find ADHD strengths linked to better mental health
New research reveals a brighter side of ADHD, showing that adults who recognize and use their strengths feel happier, healthier, and less stressed. People with ADHD were more likely to identify traits like creativity, humor, and hyperfocus as personal strengths. Across the board, using these strengths was linked to better quality of life and fewer mental health symptoms. The study suggests that embracing strengths could be a game-changer for ADHD support.
Researchers find ADHD strengths linked to better mental health
New research reveals a brighter side of ADHD, showing that adults who recognize and use their strengths feel happier, healthier, and less stressed. People with ADHD were more likely to identify traits like creativity, humor, and hyperfocus as personal strengths. Across the board, using these strengths was linked to better quality of life and fewer mental health symptoms. The study suggests that embracing strengths could be a game-changer for ADHD support.
Scientists just found the best places to look for ancient life on Mars
Mars once had sprawling river systems that rivaled major watersheds on Earth, and scientists have now identified the biggest ones for the first time. Researchers mapped 16 massive drainage basins where water likely flowed long enough to support life. Even though these areas cover just 5% of ancient Martian terrain, they account for a huge share of erosion and sediment movement. That makes them some of the most promising places to search for ancient life.
A Look Back At 2025 In Science, From Federal Cuts To Space Junk | Science Friday
This has been a busy year in science, from government budget cuts and policy changes affecting research, to the record rise of renewables, to the surge in AI, and everything in betwee...
Inside Trump’s “no data, just vibes” approach to science
8 ways the administration has undermined data collection this year.
The year in science: From a tiny T. rex to interstellar visitors
Triumphs included advances in transplanting animal organs into people, but the growing measles crisis in the U.S. indicates danger.
A Look Back At 2025 In Science, From Federal Cuts To Space Junk
There was major science news in 2025. Plus, underreported developments in geoengineering and a triumph for furniture rearrangement.
Our Favorite Science Stories of 2025
What Earth and space science stories stood out this year?
Save science funding so critical to Ohio’s future: John M. Herbert and Bern Kohler
For decades, federal science funding has enjoyed bipartisan support. We urge readers to contact their elected representatives and encourage them to pay it forward and resist the devastating proposed federal budget cuts, write guest columnists John M. Herbert, a Professor of Chemistry, and Bern Kohler, Ohio Eminent Scholar, both at Ohio State University.
Six ways to improve the taste of your glass of champagne, according to science
From the best way to hold your glass while pouring, to choosing your glass shape and deciding when to drink it.
Science and Technology Daily Releases 2025 Top Sci-tech News
The achievements and discoveries in science and technology have not only profoundly reshaped how we live but also given us the confidence to confront challenges and embrace the future. Science and Technology Daily, in collaboration with a panel of media partners and academicians, has selected the 2025 top 10 science and technology news stories from China and around the world.
The duo kite-skiing 4000 kilometres across Antarctica for science
An explorer and a glaciologist are kite-skiing across Antarctica with a ground-penetrating radar to gather data that will help understand the past and future of the ice sheet
It’s been a difficult year for science. Here’s what researchers say about the future : Short Wave
Science in the United States took some big hits this year. The Trump Administration disrupted federal funding for all kinds of scientific pursuits. Administration officials say those changes were a step towards reinvigorating federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health. But many scientists disagree. NPR health and science correspondents Rob Stein and Katia Riddle chat with host Emily Kwong about what these cuts could mean for the future of science.Interested in more stories on the future of science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.