T/science

How a Gecko From Africa Crossed the Atlantic Ocean

The African house gecko, one of the most widely distributed invasive reptiles in the world, may have moved with the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

NASA and Boeing Postpone Launch of Starliner Spacecraft

After a flawed trip to orbit in 2019, the company hopes to take another crack at an uncrewed test flight of its spacecraft for NASA astronauts.

Touring Trinity, the Birthplace of Nuclear Dread

A recent visit to the site of the first atomic bomb explosion offered desert vistas, (mildly) radioactive pebbles and troubling reflections.

Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker

A look at all the vaccines that have reached trials in humans.

It Was His Day Off. Then the Space Station Went for a Spin.

Zebulon Scoville and others at NASA’s mission control in Houston spent Thursday righting the International Space Station after a new Russian module unexpectedly fired its thrusters.

No creerás cómo camina este escarabajo en el agua

Un científico se topó con un insecto que caminaba panza arriba sobre la superficie inferior de un charco. Y tuvo muchas preguntas.

A Plant That ‘Cannot Die’ Reveals Its Genetic Secrets

Events in the genome of Welwitschia have given it the ability to survive in an unforgiving desert for thousands of years.

Bezos’ Rocket Company Loses Challenge to NASA SpaceX Moon Contract

The Government Accountability Office said a $2.9 billion award to SpaceX to build the next lunar lander for astronauts would stand.

A third of white-tailed deer tested in a survey were exposed to the coronavirus.

Those Virus Sequences That Were Suddenly Deleted? They’re Back

Chinese researchers have uploaded genetic sequences of coronaviruses to a scientific database more than a year after they took them offline.

Vaccinated people may spread the virus, though rarely, the C.D.C. says.

Albert Bandura, Leading Psychologist of Aggression, Dies at 95

He was most known for his Bobo doll experiment, in which children mimicked adults in attacking an inflatable doll. The work challenged basic tenets of psychology.

Some Are Chasing Extra Vaccine Shots, While Scientists Debate

Boosters may not be necessary yet, many experts say, and the pursuit of additional shots raises ethical questions.

What Animals See in the Stars, and What They Stand to Lose

Humans aren’t the only species that navigate by starlight. Animals from birds to dung beetles may do it, too — and might become disoriented as our city lights drown out the heavens.

After Docking, Russia’s New 23-Ton Module Tilted the Space Station

The Nauka module met up with the orbiting outpost on Thursday morning, and later unexpectedly fired its thrusters.

2 Red Objects Were Found in the Asteroid Belt. They Shouldn’t Be There.

The space rocks may have come from beyond Neptune, and potentially offer hints at the chaos of the early solar system.

New Policy Aims to Help Transgender Researchers Update Names on Old Work

A group of laboratories and scientific journals is trying to simplify the process of attaching authors’ new names to their previously published papers.

Dr. J. Allan Hobson, Who Studied the Dreaming Brain, Dies at 88

He disputed the Freudian view that dreams held encrypted codes of meaning, believing instead that they resulted from random firings of neurons in the brain.

The Unappreciated Importance of Cats, (to Medical Science)

Researchers who work on the genomes of domestic and wild cats say their DNA holds clues to human as well as feline health.

These Could Be the Oldest Animal Fossils Ever Found, or Just Squiggles

Critics challenged a study’s claim that a netlike structure found in rocks in a Canadian mountain range could be an 890-million-year-old sponge fossil.

Watch the Southern Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower Peak in Night Skies

Meteor showers can light up night skies from dusk to dawn, and if you’re lucky you might be able to catch a glimpse.

Ever Feel Your Skin Crawling? Maybe You Can Thank Evolution.

A new study suggests that humans have a distinct, itchy defense response to ticks and other ectoparasites.

50 Years Ago, NASA Put a Car on the Moon

The lunar rovers of Apollo 15, 16 and 17 parked American automotive culture on the lunar surface, and expanded the scientific range of the missions’ astronaut explorers.

She Changed Astronomy Forever. He Won the Nobel Prize for It.

In 1967, Jocelyn Bell Burnell made an astounding discovery. But as a young woman in science, her role was overlooked.

The Silent Pulse of the Universe

In 1967, Jocelyn Bell Burnell made a breakthrough in astronomy. But as a woman in science, her role was overlooked.

Is Jeff Bezos Really an Astronaut?

Blue Origin pinned custom astronaut wings to his flight suit. The Federal Aviation Administration may disagree. Or it may not even matter.

You Won’t Believe How This Beetle Walks on Water

Scientists observed a beetle walking upside-down on the undersurface of a pool of water.

Steven Weinberg, Groundbreaking Nobelist in Physics, Dies at 88

His discoveries deepened understanding of the basic forces at play in the universe, and he took general readers back to its dawn in his book “The First Three Minutes.”

Bob Moses, Crusader for Civil Rights and Math Education, Dies at 86

Mr. Moses developed a reputation for extraordinary calm in the face of violence as he helped to register thousands of voters and trained a generation of activists in Mississippi in the early 1960s.

Why Do Parents Keep Hearing About the Microbiome?

Some companies are marketing baby soaps, lotions, supplements and more as being ‘biome-friendly.’ But there’s reason to be skeptical.

Star Search

Chandi Deitmer’s dazzling debut goes right over our heads.

Purnell Choppin, 91, Dies; Researcher Laid Groundwork for Pandemic Fight

He explored how viruses multiply. An accomplished administrator, he also turned the Howard Hughes Medical Institute into a global biomedical powerhouse.

Israeli Data Suggests Possible Waning in Effectiveness of Pfizer Vaccine

The new numbers still show overwhelmingly strong protection against severe disease but diminished effectiveness against infection.

When Euphemisms (but Never Sharks) Attack

Plus, orphaned grizzlies, baby deer in the shower, hoot-owl restrictions and more in the Friday edition of the Science Times newsletter.

Pfizer’s shot remains strong against disease, but Israeli data raise the prospect of it waning against infection.

Because of a small sample size and other factors, a large range of uncertainties flank the new findings. The vaccine’s strength against severe disease remains high.

It’s a Grizzly Bear Survival Program. For Grizzly Bears.

In British Columbia, researchers have undertaken a unique challenge: tracking orphan grizzly cubs, reared in a shelter, to see whether they can thrive back in the wild.

Montana’s Famed Trout Under Threat as Drought Intensifies

The state is imposing more restrictions on fishing this year as the combination of extreme conditions, including low river levels, fish die-offs and the crush of anglers, poses long-term problems.

Astronomers See Moons Forming in Disk Around Distant Exoplanet

Scientists have never before gotten such a clear view of moons in the making.

Scientists Finish the Human Genome at Last

The complete genome uncovered more than 100 new genes that are probably functional, and many new variants that may be linked to diseases.

La inteligencia artificial predice las formas de las moléculas del futuro

Determinar las formas de las moléculas es vital para el diseño de fármacos, y los científicos pueden demorar años en hacerlo. DeepMind y AlphaFold son capaces de resolver este tipo de tareas en horas.

NASA Releases First Detailed Map of the Insides of Mars

NASA’s InSight mission revealed Mars’s inner workings down to its core, highlighting great differences of the red planet from our blue world.

Here’s why even vaccinated people are getting ‘breakthrough’ infections.

A.I. Predicts the Shapes of Molecules to Come

DeepMind has given 3-D structure to 350,000 proteins, including every one made by humans, promising a boon for medicine and drug design.

This Is as Close to a Shark’s Intestines as You’ll Ever Hope to Get

Scientists produced 3-D looks at shark’s guts.

The Amazonification of Space Begins in Earnest

With the suborbital flights made by Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson this month, the privatization of the space industry has crossed the point of no return.

Are You a Bezos?

When Jeff Bezos flew off in his rocket, he became the international (interstellar?) symbol of the male in midlife crisis.

This Butterfly Was the First in North America That People Made Extinct

New research suggests the iconic Xerces blue butterfly may have been its own species.

Bezos Launches to Space, Aiming to Reignite His Rocket Company’s Ambitions

The Amazon founder and three others lifted off in Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft, fulfilling a goal more than 20 years in the making.

Bezos thanks Amazon workers and customers for his vast wealth, prompting backlash.

The world’s richest man thanked Amazon employees and customers for making his flight to space possible.

Don’t Call Them ‘Shark Attacks,’ Scientists Say

In recent years, researchers and wildlife officials in Australia and the United States have adopted terms like “bites,” “incidents” and “encounters.” They wish the public would, too.

What Jeff Bezos and crew wore to space.

The Blue Origin flight suits are blue, of course.

What will these suborbital flights mean for the space industry?

What else is Blue Origin building for spaceflight?

Caring for the Wildlife That Stray Into the Suburbs

It’s baby-animal season in the towns north of New York. But with many of the mothers gone missing, humans are stepping in to help out.

What will it cost to fly on New Shepard?

Jeff Bezos' company says demand has been strong for launches to the edge of space.

Why did Jeff Bezos take this risk?

How I Let Go of My Time-Management Anxiety

I constantly worry I’m forgetting a deadline, that I’ll be late, that my life is slipping through my fingers. Thinking about geologic time gives me perspective.

Wally Funk’s long wait for a trip to space.

Is New Shepard safe?

Who else was aboard the flight?

Jeff Bezos brought three other passengers to space with him.

Jeff Bezos and his fellow passengers are back on the ground after completing their short flight to space.

Here's what you need to know about the first Blue Origin New Shepard rocket flight with passengers on board.

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Rocket Launch: How to Watch

The Amazon founder’s spaceflight company will carry people to space for the first time on Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know.

Wally Funk Is Defying Gravity and 60 Years of Exclusion From Space

Ms. Funk’s trip to space with Jeff Bezos is reason to celebrate. But the launch this week, decades after she was denied the opportunity, also raises questions about whom space is for.

You’re Missing Microbes. But Is ‘Rewilding’ the Way to Get Them Back?

The science behind the idea of restoring the intestinal microbiome to an ancestral state is shaky, skeptics say, and in some cases unethical.

Cats Are Better Than Dogs (at Catching the Coronavirus)

Cats and dogs can be infected by the coronavirus — but cats are more susceptible to infection, a new study suggests.

Where Does Weed Come From? A New Study Suggests East Asia.

A group of biologists and other scientists said humans began growing cannabis about 12,000 years ago not just for food, but also for hemp and, yes, probably to get high.

Más Margulis, menos Darwin

El auge de populismos y autoritarismos y la destrucción medioambiental del planeta nos lleva a preguntarnos si no entendimos a medias la evolución: más que la competencia, sobrevivimos por la cooperación.

Measuring the Cost of Racial Abuse in Soccer

Plus, fluorescent flying squirrels, aging golfers and more feats of athleticism in the Friday edition of the Science Times Newsletter.

How the Moon ‘Wobble’ Affects Rising Tides

Scientists say it’s less like a wobble and more like a slow, predictable cycle. And while the phenomenon will contribute to rising tides caused by climate change, it is just one of many factors.

Jeff Bezos Picks 18-Year-Old Dutch Student for Blue Origin Rocket Launch

Oliver Daemen will fly to the edge of space after another passenger who paid $28 million for the seat had a scheduling conflict.

Jeff Bezos Gives $200 Million to National Air and Space Museum

The donation will finance renovations and a new learning center at the Smithsonian museum on the National Mall.

This Insect Drinks Your Milkshake

The froghopper has amazing powers of suction, scientists found. It also produces astonishing amounts of urine.

How Do You Solve an Extinction Mystery? Put a Tiny Computer on a Snail.

An unlikely collaboration has solved a longstanding snail survival mystery in the Society Islands in French Polynesia.

W.H.O. Experts Seek Limits on Human Gene-Editing Experiments

The panel also called on countries to ensure that beneficial forms of genetic alteration be shared equitably.

Branson Completes Virgin Galactic Flight, Aiming to Open Up Space Tourism

The successful trip was the first in a series to the edge of space and beyond by billionaire entrepreneurs that seek to make human spaceflight more routine.

What will it cost to fly Virgin Galactic to space?

A short suborbital jaunt to the edge of space for most people requires having a lot of spare cash on hand, for now.

Richard Branson Launches Into Space on Virgin Galactic Flight

The 70-year-old British billionaire and crew members of Virgin Galactic launched the commercial space plane Unity from New Mexico, reached the edge of space and landed safely back at the spaceport on Sunday.

When is Jeff Bezos’ flight, and how is it different?

Stephen Colbert added a dash of comedy as Branson and crew headed toward space.

The talk show host, the R&B singer Khalid and others added glitz to an event full of rocket science.

Why do all of these passengers get to be called astronauts?

Is Virgin Galactic’s space plane safe?

Who were the crew members aboard the flight?

Along with Mr. Branson, three crew and two pilots are aboard the Unity.

Why did Richard Branson take this risk?

Virgin Galactic is one among a long line of flashy upstart businesses promoted by the English entrepreneur.

What is Virgin Galactic’s space plane, and what did it do?

The V.S.S. Unity is making its fourth trip to space.

Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Space Plane Flight: How to Watch

The V.S.S. Unity will lift off from New Mexico on Sunday morning as billionaire entrepreneurs race to make spaceflight unexceptional.

Is It Art? You May Have to Ask a Neanderthal Critic.

A bone to pick from Germany’s Unicorn Cave. Plus fireflies in sync, peer review in crisis and China’s astronauts at work in their spacesuits.

This Moth’s Name Is a Slur. Scientists Won’t Use It Anymore.

The Entomological Society of America will no longer refer to common species of insects as “gypsy moths” and “gypsy ants,” because their names are derogatory to the Romani people.

A Group of Scientists Presses a Case Against the Lab Leak Theory of Covid

In a review of recent studies and comparisons to other outbreaks, a group of virologists contends that there is more evidence to support a natural spillover from animals to humans.

Like in ‘Postapocalyptic Movies’: Heat Wave Killed Marine Wildlife en Masse

An early estimate points to a huge die-off along the Pacific Coast, and scientists say rivers farther inland are warming to levels that could be lethal for some kinds of salmon.

Variante Lambda: ¿qué sugieren los primeros estudios?

De avance veloz por Sudamérica, la variante sigue siendo un misterio. Nadie sabe si es más contagiosa que otras o si afecta a las vacunas.

Did a Cuttlefish Write This?

Octopuses and squid are full of cephalopod character. But more scientists are making the case that cuttlefish hold the key to unlocking evolutionary secrets about intelligence.

It’s Cold in the Ocean but It’s Hotter Inside Sea Otters

To stay warm in frigid seas, the marine mammals rely on an unexpected use of the powerhouses of their cells.

A New Kind of Ice That Bends Like a Noodle Without Breaking

Perfect crystals of ice microfiber showed the flexibility of a material we usually assume to be rather brittle.

Covid’s Lambda Variant: Worth Watching, but No Cause for Alarm

Spreading fast in South America, the variant is still a mystery. No one knows whether it is more contagious than other variants or if it affects vaccines.

‘The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52’ Review: Sea Hunt

The documentary filmmaker Joshua Zeman assembles a team to look for a solitary whale who calls out at a particular frequency.

Richard C. Lewontin, Eminent Geneticist With a Sharp Pen, Dies at 92

He demonstrated that differences in DNA between groups of people were far smaller than originally believed. He was also a noted opponent of aspects of sociobiology.

How Swarms of Fireflies Sync Their Flashes

You can believe your eyes because lightning bugs really are coordinating their nightly glows.

¿Cuál es la forma adecuada de lavar frutas y verduras?

Una especialista en alimentos ofrece recomendaciones de higiene y seguridad.

Start-Ups Aim Beyond Earth

Advancements in space technology and new means of financing are driving a flurry of investor interest.

The world is worried about the Delta virus variant. Studies show vaccines are effective against it.

Israel reported that the Pfizer vaccine was 64 percent effective against the Delta variant. Other studies suggest a higher rate.

Inked Mummies, Linking Tattoo Artists With Their Ancestors

As scientists find more tattoos on preserved remains from Indigenous cultures, artists living today are drawing from them to revive cultural traditions.

Visitors on Mars Send New Views to Earth

Three spacecraft reached Mars in February, starting a busy year of new exploration. Here's what they're showing us from the red planet.

An Invitation to the Cicada Party

This spring, billions of cicadas will emerge from underground tunnels to sing, mate and die across the eastern United States. Here’s what to expect.

‘Out of the Void’: Teenagers Eager for Vaccination

Ready for a return to pep rallies and proms, these youngsters were quick to roll up their sleeves.

The Flu Vanished During Covid. What Will Its Return Look Like?

The latest flu season, which normally would have run until next month, essentially never happened.

A Helicopter Flies on Mars

NASA on Monday hailed its “Wright brothers moment” when a small robotic helicopter named Ingenuity took off on Mars. Here’s what to know.

Neil deGrasse Tyson Thinks Science Can Reign Supreme Again

“In the 1960s, while we’re going to the moon, you didn’t need special programs to get people interested.”

Your Thoughts on Muons Upending Physics

A story this week that involved wobbling muons, particle colliders, a Costco parking lot and the possible rewriting of the laws of physics drew an array of enthusiastic comments.

Calls for Further Inquiries Into Coronavirus Origins

In addition to outside calls for new inquiries, the W.H.O. team of scientists also suggested pursuit of other avenues including reviews of samples from blood banks.

Ouvrir les fenêtres, essentiel à la réouverture des écoles

Une simulation des flux d’air dans une vraie salle de classe à New York montre que des mesures simples de ventilation peuvent réduire le risque d’exposition au coronavirus.

In 100 Years, People Will Say …

We asked scientists, community leaders and public health experts to predict what might be said a century from now.

What Do Vaccine Efficacy Numbers Actually Mean?

All of the F.D.A.-authorized vaccines offer strong protection against Covid-19, and assessing their efficacy isn’t as simple as a head-to-head comparison.

Para reabrir las escuelas hay que abrir las ventanas

Una simulación del flujo de aire en un aula real de la ciudad de Nueva York muestra que la simple ventilación y la filtración pueden reducir la probabilidad de exposición al coronavirus.

Why Opening Windows Is a Key to Reopening Schools

A simulation of airflow in a real New York City classroom shows how simple ventilation and filtration can reduce the probability of coronavirus exposure.

It’s Been a Busy Month on Mars

When NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on the red planet on Thursday, it was the end of a bustling cycle of activity.

Sync your calendar with the solar system

Never miss an eclipse, a meteor shower, a rocket launch or any other astronomical and space event that's out of this world.

How the Novavax Vaccine Works

Using a coronavirus protein to train the immune system.

The Year in Spaceflight

It started with a literal bang.

Which Animal Best Embodies 2020?

It was a rough year for Homo sapiens.

How Chuck Yeager’s ‘Right Stuff’ Hit the Screen

The test pilot, who died Monday at 97, inspired generations after he was featured in the book and film “The Right Stuff.” Here’s how it came about.

Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker

A look at all the vaccines that have reached trials in humans.

How Moderna’s Vaccine Works

Two shots can prime the immune system to fight the coronavirus.

How Pfizer’s Vaccine Works

Two shots can prime the immune system to fight the coronavirus.

The Social Life of Forests

Trees appear to communicate and cooperate through subterranean networks of fungi. What are they sharing with one another?

Designed to Deceive: Do These People Look Real to You?

The people in this story may look familiar, like ones you’ve seen on Facebook or Twitter or Tinder. But they don’t exist. They were born from the mind of a computer, and the technology behind them is improving at a startling pace.

20 Years Aboard the International Space Station

Twenty years ago today, three astronauts stepped aboard the International Space Station. Since then, the I.S.S. has hosted hundreds of residents from many countries. This is a history of our first 20 years of living aboard.

5 Strange Facts About Quokkas

They are curious, bold and known for their adorable grins. They follow tourists around and even “pose” for photos.

Can You Spot One of These Migrating Birds?

More than 500 bird species in North America migrate in the fall, so it’s a great time to whip out the binoculars.

What’s Behind Those Colorful Leaves?

It may seem like magic, but each leaf’s new look comes from chemical changes happening within.

Exploring the Solar System

A guide to the spacecraft beyond Earth’s orbit.

Meet the 3 Spacecraft Heading to Mars This Summer

Three missions are headed to Mars this summer. They carry a wide array of instruments to explore the red planet.

Tratamientos y medicamentos para el coronavirus: monitoreo de efectividad

Una lista actualizada de tratamientos potenciales para la COVID-19.

SpaceX Postpones Launch of Two NASA Astronauts

The Crew Dragon launch is now scheduled for Saturday at 3:22 p.m. Eastern time.

Following Comet SWAN

A newly discovered comet is swinging around the sun.

Así muta y se propaga el coronavirus

El virus ha mutado. Pero eso no significa que se esté volviendo más mortal.

This 3-D Simulation Shows Why Social Distancing Is So Important

We visualized a cough to show how far respiratory droplets can spread. If you haven’t been keeping your distance to fight the coronavirus, this may persuade you.

Apollo 13: As They Shot It

Surviving disaster, in the astronauts’ words and photographs.