Science

America’s new era of private science

Updated on Oct 20, 2026 04:42 pm IST

Now there are signs the innovation machine is breaking down.

In 1977, Saudi Arabia dreamed of towing Antarctic icebergs; a chunk of Alaskan ice ended up in Iowa

In the 1970s, Saudi Prince Mohammed al Faisal proposed towing icebergs from Antarctica to address Saudi Arabia's water scarcity.

science

Published on Oct 15, 2026 06:30 am IST

In 2011, Fukushima’s abandoned pigs bred with wild boar, leaving a genetic legacy

A 2026 study found domestic pig ancestry in some Fukushima wild boar generations after the 2011 nuclear disaster. Researchers identified 31 admixed animals and found differing levels of domestic nuclear DNA linked to maternal lineages. The findings complement earlier research documenting where hybridization occurred.

science

Published on Oct 10, 2026 02:39 pm IST

The plague may have escaped from a lab in Siberia

This undated photo released in 2019 by the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and Far East, shows the institute workers in a lab.

science

Published on Oct 08, 2026 02:18 pm IST

A Nobel for illuminating life’s asymmetry

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Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai are awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry during a press conference at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden, October 7

science

Published on Oct 08, 2026 09:08 am IST

China wants to get inside your head

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A BrainCo technician has electrodes attached to his head for a demonstration at the exhibition of the World Robot Conference in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.

science

Published on Oct 07, 2026 10:43 am IST

A Nobel for the discovery of high-energy neutrinos

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The IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica

science

Updated on Oct 07, 2026 10:40 am IST

A Kent woodland planted on old farmland is still shaped by its farming past, 25 years on

A former farmland in Kent, England, transformed into a young woodland over 25 years, while its soil continued to retain traces of its agricultural past.

science

Published on Oct 06, 2026 10:00 am IST

Letting wild plants grow between vines left this Spanish vineyard with richer soil

Before and after: A semi-arid Spanish vineyard under conventional tillage (left) and long-term spontaneous ground cover (right).

science

Published on Oct 06, 2026 09:44 am IST

In 2024, 42 sponges were left in a Spanish marina; 455 days later, only one species survived

In a Spanish marina study, the chicken kidney sponge outperformed others, surviving 455 days in pollution-heavy waters.

science

Updated on Oct 04, 2026 10:35 am IST

A boy's fossil find in South Africa revealed a new human relative

Nine-year-old Matthew Berger discovered a unique clavicle in South Africa's Malapa in 2008, later identified as Australopithecus sediba.

science

Published on Oct 01, 2026 08:37 pm IST

Five cats became 2,000 on Marion Island and threatened its seabirds

In 1949, five cats were introduced to Marion Island to control mice, leading to a feral population that devastated seabird numbers. Eradication efforts began, culminating in 1991, but seabird recovery was limited due to residual mouse predation, complicating the island's ecological balance.

science

Published on Sept 30, 2026 08:50 pm IST

In 2023, researchers tested used diapers as a building material

A study suggests recycled diapers could help build low-cost housing in Indonesia.

science

Published on Sept 30, 2026 08:10 pm IST

In 2026, scientists found China's planted forests grow 66% faster in leaf cover

China has planted about 66 billion trees since 1978 to slow the spread of deserts.

science

Published on Sept 30, 2026 07:50 pm IST

In 2005, two lizards were left on 7 islands; their descendants had shorter legs

Brown anoles (Anolis sagrei) were released on seven empty Bahamian islands in 2005.

science

Published on Sept 30, 2026 07:30 pm IST

Floating solar changed conditions beneath panels in a Dutch lake

Research highlights potential environmental impacts of floating solar panels, focusing on shading and hydrodynamics. A Dutch study of Bomhofsplas shows minor water quality changes, underscoring the need for specific monitoring to understand ecological responses as floating solar technology expands in aquatic environments.

science

Published on Sept 29, 2026 08:22 pm IST

Coffee waste turned a Costa Rican pasture into a small forest in two years

Research in Costa Rica highlights coffee pulp's role in aiding forest regeneration by changing soil environments and reducing grass competition. While promising, the study emphasizes the need for broader testing to evaluate effectiveness and environmental implications before large-scale implementation.

science

Published on Sept 29, 2026 08:06 pm IST

Where did Biosphere 2's missing oxygen go? Concrete held the answer

Biosphere 2, sealed in 1991, experienced oxygen depletion attributed to microbes and concrete reactions. Studies indicated that respiratory processes exceeded plant oxygen production, revealing complexities in closed ecosystems and the significant role of the building itself in atmospheric changes.

science

Published on Sept 29, 2026 07:45 pm IST

Why Spain's eucalyptus plantations are so much quieter than native forests

From above, native forest and eucalyptus plantations in northwest Spain can look equally green, though the 2025 study found they support very different bird life.

science

Published on Sept 29, 2026 06:55 pm IST

Scientists poured pink lye into the ocean, and the water soaked up more carbon

A scientific trial in August 2025 involved releasing sodium hydroxide into the Gulf of Maine to enhance ocean alkalinity.

science

Published on Sept 29, 2026 06:36 pm IST

Why does a day have 24 hours and an hour 60 minutes?

The familiar divisions of hours, minutes and seconds trace their origins to ancient systems of astronomy and timekeeping

science

Published on Sept 29, 2026 11:22 am IST

A cave cleanup in 1856 accidentally launched human paleontology

Neanderthal 1 or Feldhofer 1, considered the first artistic reconstruction of a Neanderthal, created by Hermann Schaaffhausen, who along with Johann Carl Fuhlrott, announced the discovery of the first Homo neanderthalensis.

science

Published on Sept 29, 2026 07:53 am IST

Penguin feathers inspire a smart building skin for heating and cooling

Inspired by penguin feathers, a new VO₂-based film manages heat by both absorbing and reflecting solar radiation. While showing promise for energy efficiency, further research is needed to evaluate long-term use and manufacturing at scale.

science

Published on Sept 29, 2026 07:37 am IST

A simple dye trick exposed Mammoth Cave's secret water network

Mammoth Cave highlights groundwater interconnectivity through dye tracing.

science

Updated on Sept 28, 2026 11:19 am IST

An Army radar test hit the Moon in 1946, and it changed space history

Project Diana, initiated in 1946, marked the first successful radar signal bounce from the Moon, proving that radio waves could travel through the ionosphere.

science

Updated on Sept 28, 2026 10:46 am IST

Scientists used traitor pigs to wipe out an entire island's wild herd

A large-scale pig eradication on Santa Cruz Island removed 5,036 pigs in 411 days, utilizing radio-collared pigs to locate survivors. This project serves as a model for efficient conservation efforts, restoring the island's ecosystem.

science

Updated on Sept 28, 2026 01:19 pm IST

Rats vanished from this California island, and seabird nests quadrupled

The eradication of black rats on Anacapa Island boosted Scripps's murrelet populations, with nests increasing significantly and hatching success soaring from 30% to 85%. This highlights the positive ecological effects of removing invasive species on island ecosystems.

science

Updated on Sept 28, 2026 12:48 pm IST

Why coyotes thrive in cities despite the risks

Coyotes have adapted to urban life in cities like Seattle, exhibiting a population density 9.3 times higher than in rural areas, suggesting they can thrive near humans by exploiting resources while facing fewer natural predators.

science

Updated on Sept 28, 2026 12:18 pm IST

Sperm whale birth at sea: How the pod helped the newborn survive

A rare sperm whale birth was observed near Dominica, where the newborn calf was assisted by its pod members to surface. This unprecedented documentation highlights the social structures and protective behavior among sperm whales, informing conservation strategies for these vulnerable animals.

science

Updated on Sept 28, 2026 12:48 pm IST

How a wall of trees helped the US survive its worst environmental disaster

A historic tree-planting initiative from the 1930s continues to protect farms from wind and soil loss, highlighting long-term environmental strategies.

world news

Updated on Sept 28, 2026 10:17 am IST

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