T/science

A Megaraptor Emerges From Footprint Fossils

A series of foot tracks in southeastern China points to the discovery of a giant velociraptor relative, paleontologists suggest in a new study.

Un poquito de tierra es bueno para tu salud

Coge un puñado de tierra o haz senderismo en un camino enlodado: puede beneficiarte en mucho, desde tu ánimo hasta tu microbioma.

Cicadas Are Emerging Now. How Do They Know When to Come Out?

Scientists are making computer models to better understand how the mysterious insects emerge collectively after more than a decade underground.

In Coral Fossils, Searching for the First Glow of Bioluminescence

A new study resets the timing for the emergence of bioluminescence back to millions of years earlier than previously thought.

Yellowstone’s Wolves: A Debate Over Their Role in the Park’s Ecosystem

New research questions the long-held theory that reintroduction of such a predator caused a trophic cascade, spawning renewal of vegetation and spurring biodiversity.

We Regulate a Tiny Fraction of the 12,000 ‘Forever Chemicals.’ There’s a Better Way.

To reduce the risk PFAS pose, we need far more comprehensive mandates that test, monitor and limit the entire class of chemicals.

Daniel C. Dennett, Widely Read and Fiercely Debated Philosopher, 82, Dies

Espousing his ideas in best sellers, he insisted that religion was an illusion, free will was a fantasy and evolution could only be explained by natural selection.

Like Moths to a Flame? We May Need a New Phrase.

Over time researchers have found fewer of the insects turning up in light traps, suggesting they may be less attracted to some kinds of light than they once were.

Watch the Lyrid Meteor Shower Reach Its Peak

A nearly full moon could interfere with the shower during its peak. It is forecast to be active until near the end of the month.

The Magnetic Heart of the Milky Way

A new map of the center of the Milky Way galaxy reveals details of its magnetic fields

4 formas inesperadas de salvar a los koalas (que quizá funcionen)

Un grupo de científicos en Australia prueba distintas estrategias para proteger a uno de los animales más entrañables de su país.

Anne Innis Dagg, Who Studied Giraffes in the Wild, Dies at 91

She was believed to be the first Western scientist to study the animals in their natural habitat, but she struggled to overcome sexism in academia.

Your Brain Waves Are Up for Sale. A New Law Wants to Change That.

In a first, a Colorado law extends privacy rights to the neural data increasingly coveted by technology companies.

An 11-Year-Old Girl’s Fossil Find Is the Largest Known Ocean Reptile

When Ruby Reynolds and her father found a fossil on an English beach, they didn’t know it belonged to an 82-foot ichthyosaur that swam during the days of the dinosaurs.

This Lava Tube in Saudi Arabia Has Been a Human Refuge for 7,000 Years

Ancient humans left behind numerous archaeological traces in the cavern, and scientists say there may be thousands more like it on the Arabian Peninsula to study.

A Little Bit of Dirt Is Good for You

Go on, grab a handful of soil or hike a muddy trail: It can benefit everything from your mood to your microbiome.

Comet Pons-Brooks Is Having Its Last Hurrah

Soon, this devil-horned comet won’t be visible for another seven decades.

In Australia, ‘Cats Are Just Catastrophic’

Feral cats take a heavy toll on the world’s wildlife, especially Down Under. The solution? Smarter traps, sharpshooters, survival camp for prey species, and the “Felixer.”

NASA Seeks ‘Hail Mary’ for Its Mars Rocks Return Mission

The agency will seek new ideas for its Mars Sample Return program, expected to be billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule.

James Dean, Founding Director of NASA Art Program, Dies at 92

He arranged for artists to have access to astronauts, launchpads and more. “Their imaginations enable them to venture beyond a scientific explanation,” he once said.

A Surprising Shadow Was Created by the Total Solar Eclipse

An ascending jet’s contrail over Montreal added to the wonder of last Monday’s eclipse.

Four Wild Ways to Save the Koala (That Just Might Work)

To protect Australia’s iconic animals, scientists are experimenting with vaccine implants, probiotics, tree-planting drones and solar-powered tracking tags.

Should We Change Species to Save Them?

When traditional conservation fails, science is using “assisted evolution” to give vulnerable wildlife a chance.

Biotech Exec Gets 7 Years in Prison for False Claims About Rapid Covid-19 Test

Prosecutors said Keith Berman falsely claimed he had invented a blood test that could detect Covid-19 in 15 seconds. His lawyer said he had put “genuine effort” into developing such a test.

What Makes Tiny Tardigrades Nearly Radiation Proof

New research finds that the microscopic “water bears" are remarkably good at repairing their DNA after a huge blast of radiation.

No ‘Hippie Ape’: Bonobos Are Often Aggressive, Study Finds

Despite their peaceful reputation, bonobos act aggressively more often than their chimpanzee cousins, a new study found.

Computer Theorist Wins $1 Million Turing Award

This year’s honor will go to Avi Wigderson, an Israeli-born mathematician and theoretical computer scientist who specializes in randomness.

Peter Higgs, físico que descubrió la ‘partícula de Dios’, muere a los 94 años

El bosón de Higgs lleva su nombre. Es un elemento clave del modelo estándar, que encapsulaba todo el conocimiento humano hasta el momento sobre las partículas elementales.

She Dreams of Pink Planets and Alien Dinosaurs

Lisa Kaltenegger, director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University, hunts for aliens in space by studying Earth across time.

Ancient Foxes Lived and Died Alongside Humans

Extinct foxes and other animals were an important part of early South American communities, a new study has found.

How the Solar Eclipse Affected Eid Timing

Some Muslim communities rely on a centuries-old method to determine when Ramadan ends: a crescent moon. That method was harder to follow this year.

Peter Higgs, Nobelist Who Predicted the ‘God Particle,’ Dies at 94

The Higgs boson was named for him. It was a key element of the Standard Model, which encapsulated all human knowledge so far about elementary particles.

Herbert Kroemer, 95, Dies; Laid Groundwork for Modern Technologies

He shared a Nobel Prize in Physics for discoveries that paved the way for high-speed internet communication, mobile phones and bar-code readers.

Algún día, la Tierra tendrá un último eclipse solar total

La Luna se alejará lo suficiente de la Tierra como para dejar de obstruir completamente el Sol. Pero predecir cuándo ocurrirá plantea numerosos desafíos.

¿Fiordos, faraones o koalas? Es hora de planificar tu próximo eclipse

Si necesitas más trayectorias de totalidad, o te perdiste el evento en esta ocasión, tienes tres oportunidades en los próximos cuatro años en destinos como Islandia, España, Egipto y Australia.

Looking Up, Together

We cover the solar eclipse that captivated the U.S.

These Scientists Rock. Literally.

The Pasteur Institute in Paris, known for its world-altering scientific research, has been making advancements in another field: the musical arts.

Someday, Earth Will Have a Final Total Solar Eclipse

The moon will drift far enough from Earth that it no longer fully obstructs the sun. But predicting when this will happen poses numerous challenges.

New Method That Pinpoints Wood’s Origin May Curb Illegal Timber

The study could help identify wood from Russia, which has been banned by many countries because of the war.

Couples exchange wedding rings, and then don eclipse glasses.

The second time was the charm for a college town at the eclipse crossroads.

This retiree wanted to be first in line in Canada.

Canadians and visitors alike share in the experience in Newfoundland and Montreal.

Unseasonable warmth arrives just in time in New England.

Disappointment on the eclipse train in western New York.

After nearly a century of life, my father saw his first eclipse.

Staring down bad eclipse weather on a lawn in Dallas.

In Indiana, the sun and moon may not be the biggest stars as Purdue eyes a national championship.

Clouds parted just in time in a small Texas town.

‘The animals definitely could feel that something was different,’ a zookeeper says.

A Moment of Unity, on Earth as in Space

As totality approached, it felt, for a change, as if we were all rooting for the same team.

There was cloud cover in Buffalo, but still exaltation.

In a migrant shelter in Piedras Negras, children find the magic of the eclipse.

A small town in Mexico enjoys a long stretch in the eclipse’s darkness.

‘A day I will never forget.’ More than 100,000 visitors witness the eclipse on Mexico’s coast.

As crowds gathered around New York City, there was a quiet spot.

Once a prison, an island becomes a haven under the eclipse’s darkness.

In Austin, thousands watched the eclipse during a Vampire Weekend concert.

NASA’s watching the eclipse from Cleveland.

The Economic Luminary Who Loved Solar Eclipses

Inspired by science, William Stanley Jevons strove to make economics a more rigorous field.

Scientists on a boat in the Pacific Ocean got an early view of the total solar eclipse.

Scientists studying underwater volcanoes aboard a research vessel were caught in the path of totality and experienced the event before it reached land in Mexico.

This is a prediction of what the sun’s corona will look like during the eclipse.

What you can see during totality.

Solar Eclipse Could Make Some Clouds Perform a Disappearing Act

A recent study found that cumulus clouds, the small cotton ball-like ones typical for a sunny day, can dissipate once an eclipse begins. But if the skies are overcast, your view could still be obstructed.

The eclipse will shine light on Harriet Tubman’s connection to astronomy.

Gridlock eclipse traffic has yet to emerge.

See the Total Solar Eclipse’s Shadow From Space

An American weather satellite is capturing the movement of the moon’s shadow across North America during the total eclipse of the sun on Monday.

Eclipse, the Musical, stages its final performance.

¿No encuentras gafas para el eclipse? Esto es lo que hay que hacer

Es posible ver una proyección del eclipse usando artículos domésticos como papel, cartulina o cajas.

Arkansas Braces for Flood of Tourists During Total Solar Eclipse

The state has miles of rugged terrain and an array of state parks, but it does not have a major professional sports team. Officials have struggled to think of an event comparable to the eclipse.

Arkansas has never seen anything like the tourist flood it’s expecting for the eclipse.

The forecast is cloudy and may veil the eclipse.

Paying Off People’s Medical Debt Has Little Impact on Their Lives, Study Finds

A nonprofit group called R.I.P. Medical Debt has relieved Americans of $11 billion in hospital bills. But that did not improve their mental health or their credit scores, a study found.

Across the country, viewing the eclipse becomes part of some school days.

Catch up on what you should understand about total solar eclipses.

What Solar Eclipse-Gazing Has Looked Like for the Past 2 Centuries

Millions of people on Monday will continue the tradition of experiencing and capturing solar eclipses, a pursuit that has spawned a lot of unusual gear.

The Two Men Who Wanted to Categorize ‘Every Living Thing’ on Earth

Jason Roberts tells the story of the scholars who tried to taxonomize the world.

7 years ago, Americans looked up in unison.

Even a quick glance at the sun can cause lasting damage to your eyes.

Can’t Find Eclipse Glasses? Here’s What to Do.

You can watch a projection of the eclipse using some common household items.

My Faith Forbade Eclipse Gazing. Now It Inspires My Art.

An artist ponders how his religious childhood affects the art he now creates around eclipse imagery.

Anticipation and Anxiety Build Ahead of the Total Solar Eclipse

Across parts of the United States, Mexico and Canada, would-be eclipse-gazers are on the move for what could be a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Prestigious Medical Journal Ignored Nazi Atrocities, Historians Find

The New England Journal of Medicine published an article condemning its own record during World War II.

Eclipse Mania

There’s still reason to get excited, even if you’re not convinced by the hype.

The Eclipse That Ended a War and Shook the Gods Forever

Thales, a Greek philosopher 2,600 years ago, is celebrated for predicting a famous solar eclipse and founding what came to be known as science.

Un tentador ‘indicio’ de que los astrónomos se equivocaron con la energía oscura

Los científicos podrían haber descubierto un fallo importante en su comprensión de esa misteriosa fuerza cósmica. Podrían ser buenas noticias para el destino del universo.

Will There Be Another Earthquake? Here’s the Forecast for Aftershocks.

So far, seismologists have not identified any distinguishing characteristics of a given quake that would warn of an impending larger one.

Scientists expressed doubts about linking Friday’s earthquake to the coming solar eclipse.

Was Today’s Earthquake Connected to the Solar Eclipse?

The tidal forces on Earth grow as the sun, moon and Earth begin to align, a configuration that can lead to a solar eclipse. But the results of several studies of the relationship between earthquakes and tides are inconclusive, a geophysicist said.

Friday’s earthquake brings attention to the region’s fault lines.

In 2008, researchers highlighted the seismic hazards faced by New York.

A Look at How Earthquakes Are Measured

Earthquake strength is registered on the moment magnitude scale, which measures how much energy was released when the rocks along a fault moved during the quake.

In New York City, earthquakes are generally tiny, and unnoticed.

The magnitude-4.8 earthquake recorded in Whitehouse Station, N.J., that shook buildings across the New York City region on Friday morning, though, was an unsettling reminder of the fault lines that run through the area.

A seismograph near New York City captured the moment of the earthquake.

Our Mom Is 75. We’re Moving Heaven and Earth for This Eclipse.

A total eclipse is worth moving heaven and earth to experience.

The Next Frontier? Philosophy in Space.

STEM can’t solve all our problems.

Up to a Trillion Cicadas Are About to Emerge in the U.S.

Two periodical cicada broods are appearing in a 16-state area in the Midwest and Southeast for the first time in centuries. Can you get rid of them? Do they bite you? We answer your questions.

Biden Takes Aim at SpaceX’s Tax-Free Ride in American Airspace

President Biden wants companies that use American airspace for rocket launches to start paying taxes into a federal fund that finances the work of air traffic controllers.

Hopes for a Very Sunny, and Dark, Wedding

A number of couples are choosing to marry during the upcoming total solar eclipse. Several cities in the path of totality are holding mass weddings.

NASA Picks 3 Companies to Help Astronauts Drive Around the Moon

The agency’s future moon buggies will reach speeds of 9.3 miles per hour and will be capable of self-driving.

Psychedelic Rock and Tammy’s Lunch Box: A Small City’s Big Eclipse Plans

Let the big cities have their eclipse mega-events. In Plattsburgh, N.Y., success looks different for everyone stopping to look up.

A Cruel Way to Control Bird Flu? Poultry Giants Cull and Cash In.

Big poultry farms have received millions of dollars for their losses. Animal welfare groups contend that aid reinforces inhumane cullings of birds exposed to the virus.

A Lifetime Under the Moon’s Shadow

The late Jay Pasachoff inspired generations of students to become astronomers by dragging them to the ends of the Earth for a few precarious moments of ecstasy.

A Solar Eclipse Means Big Science

To study an eclipse you need cameras, rockets, giant balloons and beehives.

The Eclipse Was So Nice, They’re Doing It Twice

The rendezvous between the sun and the moon in 2017 captivated a small region in the Midwest. Lucky for Americans at the eclipse crossroads, they get to see it again.

They Can’t See the Eclipse, but This Device Will Help Them Hear It

A device called LightSound is being distributed to help the blind and visually impaired experience this year’s event.

Los científicos acaban de darle un golpe de realidad a la humanidad. Y el mundo será mejor por ello

De cara al futuro, deberíamos seguir el ejemplo de los geólogos y mantener un sano escepticismo ante la palabra Antropoceno.

Vernor Vinge, Innovative Science Fiction Novelist, Dies at 79

He conceived an early version of cyberspace and predicted the “technological singularity,” a tipping point at which machines would become smarter than humans.

A Fiery Finale for a Rocket That Brings the Heat

The Delta IV Heavy, a rocket that briefly bursts into flame just before it lifts off, is set to launch for the last time soon.

One Satellite Signal Rules Modern Life. What if Someone Knocks It Out?

Threats are mounting in space. GPS signals are vulnerable to attack. Their time-keeping is essential for stock trading, power transmission and more.

Overlooked No More: Henrietta Leavitt, Who Unraveled Mysteries of the Stars

The portrait that emerged from her discovery, called Leavitt’s Law, showed that the universe was hundreds of times bigger than astronomers had imagined.

Ice Skating and the Brain

How do champion skaters accomplish their extraordinary jumps and spins? Brain science is uncovering clues.

Jane Goodall Is More of a Dog Person, Actually

Dr. Goodall, who is best known for her work with chimpanzees, recently celebrated her forthcoming 90th birthday with as many dogs and explained why she isn’t slowing down.

Ancient ‘Dune’-like Sandworm Existed Far Longer Than Thought

Researchers examined fossils of the predatory worm and found a new species that persisted for 25 million years after it was believed to have become extinct.

All Orcas Are Classified as a Single Species. Should They Be?

A new study suggests that two killer whale populations in the North Pacific are distinct enough to be considered separate species.

Do Birds Dream?

What new research on the avian brain and REM sleep in birds might reveal about our own dream lives.

Bird Flu Spreads to Dairy Cows

U.S. regulators confirmed that sick cattle in Texas, Kansas and possibly in New Mexico contracted avian influenza. They stressed that the nation’s milk supply is safe.

¿Cuál es la siguiente fase del coronavirus?

Los científicos que estudian la evolución continua del virus y las respuestas inmunitarias del organismo esperan evitar un rebrote y comprender mejor la covid prolongada.

What’s Next for the Coronavirus?

Scientists studying the virus’s continuing evolution, and the body’s immune responses, hope to head off a resurgence and to better understand long Covid.

Where the Wild Things Went During the Pandemic

A new study of camera-trap images complicates the idea that all wildlife thrived during the Covid lockdowns.

A Fern’s ‘Zombie’ Fronds Sprout Unusual Roots

In the Panamanian rainforest, scientists found the first known plant species to transform decaying tissue into a new source of nutrients.

Before the Coronavirus Pandemic, Overlooked Clues From Chinese Scientists

Newly released documents indicate that a U.S. genetic database had received the sequence of the coronavirus two weeks before it was made public by others.

Omicron, Now 2 Years Old, Is Not Done With Us Yet

The dominant variant of the coronavirus has proved to be not only staggeringly infectious, but an evolutionary marvel.

Lab Leak Fight Casts Chill Over Virology Research

Scientists doing “gain-of-function” research said that heightened fears of lab leaks are stalling studies that could thwart the next pandemic virus.

Inside a High-Security Virus Lab

High-security labs, like this one at Penn State, are at the center of a debate over research that alters viruses to make them more dangerous.

The Nation’s Top-Performing Public School System

Schools run by the Defense Department educate 66,000 children of civilian employees and service members.

We Can Fight Learning Loss Only With Accountability and Action

Let’s bring back an era of accountability.

U.S. Students’ Progress Stagnated Last School Year, Study Finds

Despite billions in federal aid, students are not making up ground in reading and math: “We are actually seeing evidence of backsliding.”

What the New, Low Test Scores for 13-Year-Olds Say About U.S. Education Now

The results are the federal government’s last major data release on the academic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wild Mammals Roamed When Covid Kept Humans Home

Strict pandemic lockdowns may have allowed animals to range more widely and spend time closer to roads, a new study suggests.

Schools Received Billions in Stimulus Funds. It May Not Be Doing Enough.

Pandemic aid was supposed to help students recover from learning loss, but results have been mixed.

Many Women Have an Intense Fear of Childbirth, Survey Suggests

Tokophobia, as it’s called, is not often studied in the United States. But a new survey finds that it may be very common, particularly among Black women and in disadvantaged communities.

We Could Easily Make Risky Virological Research Safer

Lab safety doesn’t need to torpedo scientific progress.

It’s Not Just Math and Reading: U.S. History Scores for 8th Graders Plunge

The latest test results continue a nearly decade-long decline. Try a sample quiz to test your knowledge.

Scientist Revisits Data on Raccoon Dogs and Covid, Stressing the Unknowns

After analyzing genetic data swabbed from a Wuhan market in early 2020, a virologist said it was unclear if animals for sale there had been infected.

Can Africa Get Close to Vaccine Independence? Here’s What It Will Take.

Leaders on the continent have vowed that if there is another pandemic, they won’t be shut out of the vaccine market.

China Publishes Data Showing Raccoon Dog DNA at Wuhan Market

Scientists from the Chinese C.D.C. confirmed that DNA from raccoon dogs and other animals susceptible to the coronavirus was found at the market in early 2020.

Wuhan Market Samples Contained Covid and Animal Mixtures, Report Says

In a much-anticipated study, experts described a swab that was positive for the coronavirus and contained loads of genetic material from raccoon dogs.

New Data Links Pandemic’s Origins to Raccoon Dogs at Wuhan Market

Genetic samples from the market were recently uploaded to an international database and then removed after scientists asked China about them.

Biden Proposal Would Ban Online Prescribing of Certain Drugs

Some medications, like Ritalin and Vicodin, would require an in-person doctor’s visit under the new rules, a reaction to the pandemic-era rise of telemedicine.

After Long Delay, Moderna Pays N.I.H. for Covid Vaccine Technique

Moderna has paid $400 million to the government for a chemical technique key to its vaccine. But the parties are still locked in a high-stakes dispute over a different patent.

She Helped Unlock the Science of the Covid Vaccine

Kizzmekia Corbett helped lead a team of scientists contributing to one of the most stunning achievements in the history of immunizations: a highly effective, easily manufactured vaccine against Covid-19.