T/science

She Is Breaking Glass Ceilings in Space, but Facing Sexism on Earth

Sanitary pads and makeup: A Chinese astronaut’s six-month stay aboard the country’s space station has revealed conflicted cultural values toward gender.

Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker

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

NASA Plans February Moon Launch With Giant Rocket

A flight of the Space Launch System and Orion capsule without astronauts aboard is planned for early next year, a first, long-delayed step toward returning astronauts to the moon’s surface.

Here’s Why Developing Countries Can Make mRNA Covid Vaccines

Pfizer and Moderna are skeptical, but we found 10 companies in Africa, Asia and South America well-positioned to produce the gold-standard mRNA shots.

A Future for People With Disabilities in Outer Space Takes Flight

People with different types of disabilities tested their skills and technologies on a zero-gravity research flight with the goal of proving that they can safely go to space.

Lesson of the Day: ‘How Humans Lost Their Tails’

In this lesson students will learn why monkeys have tails, while apes and humans don’t — and imagine what life would be like if we had kept ours.

Dinosaurs May Have Been Socializing Nearly 200 Million Years Ago

A trove of fossilized eggs and skeletons in Argentina revealed that some dinosaurs likely traveled in herds and socialized by age.

Dying Satellite, Not U.F.O. or Meteor, Likely Caused Midwest Fireball

The fiery trail astonished viewers in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana, but a Russian military spacecraft was the probable source.

A bat research group failed to submit virus studies promptly, the N.I.H. says.

Bat Research Group Failed to Submit Virus Studies Promptly, N.I.H. Says

The federal agency told a G.O.P. House member that it had notified EcoHealth Alliance, a group criticized for its U.S.-funded work with Wuhan scientists, to file data within five days.

Tuskless Elephants Escape Poachers, but May Evolve New Problems

Scientists identified the genes that played a role in many female elephants of Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park being born without tusks.

Object Streaks Across Midwestern Skies

During pre-dawn hours on Wednesday, the object — possibly a Russian military satellite — flew over Ohio, Michigan and Indiana, leaving a fiery trail and breaking apart into smaller pieces during its descent.

Here’s a closer look at the science behind mixing and matching Covid vaccines.

Fearsome Dinosaur That Stalked Australia Was a Timid Plant Eater

A new analysis of fossilized footprints corrects what earlier scientists mistook for a very early carnivore in the dinosaur era.

South Korea’s First Homemade Rocket Lifts Off but Is ‘One Step Short’

The country aspires to be a leader in space technology, with plans to land an uncrewed craft on the moon by 2030. President Moon Jae-in said the initial launch was excellent “for a first try.”

Boeing Deepens Probe Into Astronaut Capsule Woes, Prompting More Delays

The Starliner capsule for NASA crews is now unlikely to have another orbital flight test until the middle of next year.

If China Tested a New Orbital Weapon, It’s Not Much of a Surprise

Experts report that similar technologies were developed by Russia and the United States starting more than a half century ago.

If you unraveled the DNA contained in just one of your body’s cells, how long would it stretch?

Test your science knowledge.

Can Skeletons Have a Racial Identity?

A growing number of forensic researchers are questioning how the field interprets the geographic ancestry of human remains.

A Taste for Pangolin Meat and the Fall of an African Wildlife Cartel

Yunhua Lin and associates had turned Malawi into an ivory, rhino horn and pangolin scale trafficking hub. His prison sentence could aid the fight against poaching.

How a Nuclear Bomb Could Save Earth From a Stealthy Asteroid

An atomic blast is not the preferred solution for planetary defense, but 3-D models are helping scientists prepare for a worst-case scenario.

Anni Bergman, Therapist Who Listened to Children, Dies at 102

She was part of a groundbreaking study that observed how very young children separated from their mothers. Late in life, she became a photographer’s muse.

Will new Covid treatments be as elusive for poor countries as vaccines?

Russian Film Crew Wraps Space Station Shoot and Returns to Earth

A Russian actress and film director landed near Russia’s spaceflight base in Kazakhstan after 12 days in orbit.

Short on staff, some U.S. hospices are asking new patients to wait.

To Learn Bees’ Secrets, Count Them One by One

The decline of bee populations is a looming crisis, but there is a dearth of scientific data. Hyperlocal researchers, with nets and notebooks, could be key.

NASA’s Lucy Launches on 12-Year Mission to Jupiter’s Trojan Asteroids

The elaborate journey of the robotic spacecraft will offer close encounters with some of the solar system’s least understood objects.

Surprise Russian Thruster Firing Prompts Space Station Emergency

While the astronauts were said to not be in any danger, it was the second such incident since July.

Why NASA Is Launching a Robotic Archaeologist Named Lucy

In a vast odyssey across the solar system, the mission will study asteroids known as Trojans that may contain secrets of how the planets ended up in their current orbits.

Dr. Eric Cassell, Bioethicist Who Put the Patient First, Dies at 93

A professor and prolific author, he cautioned that doctors too often focus on the disease instead of the overall well-being of the sufferer.

Un meteorito atraviesa el techo y cae en la cama de una mujer en Canadá

Una bola de fuego surcó el cielo y, poco después, una roca de 1,27 kilos cayó en la almohada de Ruth Hamilton, vecina de Columbia Británica.

How Hungry Sea Otters Affect the Sex Lives of Sea Grass

A habit that appeared damaging at first glance seems to make oceanic ecosystems more resilient, scientists found.

Weekly Health Quiz: Salt, Covid Tests and Your Microbiome

Test your knowledge of this week’s health news.

Viruses newly found in bats can hook human cells the way Covid does, scientists say.

Newly Discovered Bat Viruses Give Hints to Covid’s Origins

Coronaviruses discovered in Laotian bats are surprisingly adept at infecting human cells, showing that such deadly features can indeed evolve outside of a lab.

Meteorite Crashes Through Ceiling and Lands on Woman’s Bed

After a fireball streaked through the Canadian sky, Ruth Hamilton, of British Columbia, found a 2.8-pound rock the size of a large man’s fist near her pillow.

Henrietta Lacks, Whose Cells Were Taken Without Her Consent, Is Honored by W.H.O.

In a ceremony in Geneva, the World Health Organization presented an award to the family of Ms. Lacks, whose cancer cells led to world-changing advances in medical and scientific research.

In a Blue Origin Rocket, William Shatner Finally Goes to Space

The actor who played Captain Kirk played the role of pitchman for Jeff Bezos’ spaceflight company at a time that it is facing a number of workplace and business difficulties.

2021 Has Been a Bad Year for Manatees

Manatees in Florida have been dying at an alarming rate, with the state losing about 10 percent of its population in just a year.

Myriam Sarachik, Physicist Who Plumbed Magnetism, Dies at 88

She overcame bias against women in science and personal tragedy to perform groundbreaking work. She earned recognition for her achievements last year.

A slew of private spaceflights are planned for the months ahead.

Bezos has ambitious plans for Blue Origin beyond tourism.

Back on Earth, Shatner and Bezos have a Kirk-Spock moment.

After the Blue Origin crew set down, science fiction met reality.

Should You Get a Microbiome Test?

Companies can tell you the kinds of microbes that live in your gut, but the results may not help you lose weight or fend off disease.

Astronauts and space agencies congratulate William Shatner on his trip to space.

How many tourists have made it to space?

The W.H.O. names an advisory group to study the origins of the pandemic.

The group includes scientists from 26 countries, a reflection of the W.H.O.’s effort to amass widespread international support for the work.

Blue Origin says its passengers are astronauts. The F.A.A. is not sure.

How much does a ticket to space on New Shepard cost? Blue Origin isn’t saying.

The company said in July it had nearly $100 million in sales, but not how many tickets that included.

At 90, William Shatner becomes the oldest person to reach ‘the final frontier.’

The previous record holder was Wally Funk, 82, who flew on Blue Origin in July.

Blue Origin faces competition for space tourism flights.

How safe is the New Shepard spacecraft?

Many ‘Star Trek’ fans are eager to see William Shatner boldly go to space.

The series’ longtime viewers said they were excited to see the man who played Captain Kirk make science fiction seem a bit more real.

A backdrop of turmoil at Blue Origin.

What is New Shepard and where will it fly?

The spacecraft is the centerpiece rocket of Blue Origin’s space tourism business.

William Shatner adds “space tourist” to his long and varied career.

When is the launch and how can I watch it?

Who are William Shatner’s crewmates?

Three other passengers are on the flight, two of them paying to be there.

He Stayed Grounded by Writing a Thriller Set in Outer Space

Chris Hadfield went viral as an astronaut singing David Bowie in orbit. Now he has written a Cold War thriller packed with cosmic action.

How to Watch William Shatner Launch to Space on Blue Origin

Jeff Bezos’ rocket company will launch the man who played Captain Kirk along with three other passengers on a short up and down flight to the edge of space.

Did a Meteor Explode Over New Hampshire? That May Explain the Boom.

Meteorologists said that a bolide, a type of large meteor explosion in the atmosphere, might have been the source of a disturbance that was widely reported on Sunday.

Martin Sherwin, Prize-winning Biographer of Oppenheimer, Dies at 84

A historian of the nuclear age, he and his co-author, Kai Bird, won a 2006 Pulitzer for their book about the scientist behind the atom bomb.

Merck applies for emergency authorization for what would be the first pill to treat Covid.

The company is seeking federal sign-off for the pill to be given to high-risk people sick with Covid. Tens of millions of Americans could be eligible.

Boosters are most likely on the way for recipients of the Moderna and J. &. J. vaccines.

‘Go out there and enjoy Halloween,’ Dr. Fauci says.

Some towns have canceled celebrations, but Dr. Fauci says outdoor trick-or-treating is perfectly safe.

First, Impressive Vaccines for Covid. Next Up: The Flu.

Vaccine makers are betting that the mRNA technology powering two successful Covid vaccines will help curb the tragic global death toll from the flu.

4 Things to Know About the Microbiome

These microorganisms play a crucial role in our health.

Paula J. Clayton Dies at 86; Helped Destigmatize Depression and Suicide

A clinical psychiatrist, she showed that suicide was often a result of mental illness, and that it could be avoided with the right treatment and public education.

Bezos Reaches for a Star

Next week, in a thoroughly modern blurring of reality and fiction, William Shatner will soar to space with Blue Origin. Do you care?

This Chemist’s Pandemic Hobby? Firing Medieval Cannonballs.

Gunpowder used in cannons helped change the nature of warfare, but it took a while to get the recipe just right.

Pfizer asks the F.D.A. to authorize its Covid-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11.

How Maori Arrival in New Zealand Was Frozen in Antarctic Ice

Ice cores drilled from the southern continent preserved a signal of the peopling of islands thousands of miles away.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry Awarded to Scientists for Tool That Builds Better Catalysts

Benjamin List and David W.C. MacMillan were honored for work that spurred research into new drugs and reduced the effect of chemistry on the environment.

Russia Launches a Film Crew Into Space

The Russian crew — an actress, a director and their professional astronaut guide — arrived at the International Space Station with a mission to shoot scenes for the first feature-length film in space.

Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded for Study of Humanity’s Role in Changing Climate

The work of Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann and Giorgio Parisi “demonstrate that our knowledge about the climate rests on a solid scientific foundation,” the committee said.

‘Detendremos la mina’: los habitantes de Groenlandia desconfían de los proyectos de explotación

La isla es rica en materiales muy escasos necesarios para los autos eléctricos y las turbinas eólicas, pero una minera enfrenta la resistencia de activistas y manifestantes.

Russian Actress and Director to Start Making First Movie on Space Station

The pair arrived at the International Space Station on Tuesday, aiming to shoot scenes for the first feature film made in orbit.

Pfizer vaccine provides 90 percent protection against hospitalization for six months, study finds.

The findings, which also document a waning of protection against infection, come as officials debate the necessity and timing of booster shots.

Like Captain Kirk, William Shatner Will Travel to Space (Almost)

It’s only the edge of space, but the man who played the “Star Trek” captain is heading there with three other people for Blue Origin’s second flight with passengers.

Did Death Cheat Stephen Hawking of a Nobel Prize?

A recent study of black holes confirmed a fundamental prediction that the theoretical physicist made nearly five decades ago. But the ultimate award is beyond his reach.

How Old Is the Maltese, Really?

Many dog fanciers like to trace their favorite breed to antiquity, but the researchers who study the modern and ancient DNA of dogs have a different perspective.

A Dispatch From an Endangered Bird’s ‘Garden of Eden’

Immerse yourself in the visual splendor of a tiny volcanic island in the northern Andaman Sea, the only home of the little-known Narcondam hornbill.

R. Allen Gardner, 91, Dies; Taught Sign Language to a Chimp Named Washoe

He and his wife and collaborator made headlines with their finding that they could communicate with a young ape using the language of the deaf.

A Strange Comet Erupted 4 Times in a ‘Super Outburst’

Comet 29P is already known as one of the solar system’s oddest icy objects, but the light show it put on in recent days has surprised astronomers.

Este podría ser el primer planeta que orbita alrededor de tres estrellas

Se le llama planeta circumtriple, y las pruebas sugieren que la formación de planetas es un fenómeno más frecuente de lo que se creía.

The World’s Deadliest Bird Was Raised by People 18,000 Years Ago

Researchers studying ancient cassowary egg shells in New Guinea found signs that the sharp-taloned bird was being domesticated.

This Fjord Shows Even Small Populations Create Giant Microfiber Pollution

Researchers found that one tiny Arctic village’s unfiltered sewage produces as much microplastic as the treated waste of more than a million people.

Volcanic Eruptions Helped Dinosaurs Dominate Planet Earth

Massive eruptions transformed the climate in the Triassic era, creating the conditions in which dinosaurs diversified into many more species.

The Secret War Over Pentagon Aid in Fighting Wildfires

The military’s satellites excel at spotting new blazes, but for decades they have been mostly off limits to civilian firefighters.

A Tour of China’s Future Tiangong Space Station

An illustrated guide to the different sections of China’s new space station.

See How Vaccines Can Make the Difference in Delta Variant’s Impact

In a Times simulation, we modeled Delta-driven Covid outbreaks in two communities, one with a high vaccination rate and another with a low rate. Their levels of serious illness and death were starkly different.

Charles Loeb on the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima

Mr. Loeb’s article was published in the Atlanta Daily World on Oct. 5, 1945.

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.

Bad News Wrapped in Protein: Inside the Coronavirus Genome

The virus injects a tiny but remarkably complex strand of RNA into infected cells.

Así secuestra tus células el coronavirus

El intrincado viaje que sigue en el cuerpo el virus que causa COVID-19.

Así secuestra tus células el coronavirus

El intrincado viaje que sigue en el cuerpo el virus que causa COVID-19.

How Coronavirus Hijacks Your Cells

The intricate journey of the virus that causes Covid-19.

Dr. Heather Ashton, 90, Dies; Helped People Quit Anxiety Drugs

Her “Ashton Manual,” published in 1999, has become a cornerstone for people all over the world dealing with benzodiazepine dependence.

Art by the Numbers

At the National Museum of Mathematics, origami helps bridge the gap between art and math and finds the beauty in both.

Quantum Computing Is Coming, Bit by Qubit

With transmons and entanglement, scientists strive to put subatomic weirdness to work on the human scale.

Border Collie Trained to Recognize 1,022 Nouns Dies

Chaser, often described as “the world’s smartest dog,” made headlines worldwide for being able to identify objects by their names.

Apollo 11: As They Shot It - Returning Home

Apollo 11’s return to Earth, in the astronauts’ words and photos.

Apollo 11: As They Shot It

From the Earth to the moon, in the astronauts’ words and photographs.

Why Crocodiles Are Not Just Living Fossils

They’ve changed remarkably over millions of years, and at one point may even have been warmblooded.

A Summertime Quandary: The Cooler Is Full of Melted Ice

If you want to keep the contents cool, better to leave the water in the ice chest if you can.

Geraldyn M. Cobb, 88, Who Found a Glass Ceiling in Space, Dies

She was as qualified as any man to be an astronaut and passed all the tests, but NASA wasn’t interested in sending women into space in 1961.

He Listed a T. Rex Fossil on eBay for $2.95 Million. Scientists Weren’t Thrilled.

“I own this thing,” Alan Detrich recalled telling a museum director. “It is mine. I can do whatever I want.”

Stratolaunch, World’s Largest Airplane by Wingspan, Takes Its First Flight

The crew said it was a smooth maiden voyage for the Stratolaunch, which is designed to carry rockets to blast commercial satellites into space.

Should That Minor Planet Be Named Gonggong? Astronomers Want the Public’s Help

Astronomers discovered the minor planet 2007 OR10 more than a decade ago. Now they’re asking the public to vote on what to submit as its official name.

Moon Landing by Israel’s Beresheet Spacecraft Ends in Crash

The spacecraft’s orbit of the moon was a first for a private effort, but the landing failure highlighted the risks of fast and cheap approaches to space exploration.

An Ancient Human Species Is Discovered in a Philippine Cave

Archaeologists in Luzon Island have turned up the bones of a distantly related species, Homo luzonensis, further expanding the human family tree.