The Doomsday Clock Is Now 85 Seconds to Midnight. Here’s What That Means
Catastrophic risks are increasing, cooperation is declining, and swift action is needed from global leaders to correct course.
A North Atlantic Right Whale Baby Boom Is On—but the Species Remains at Risk
Researchers have documented the births of nearly two dozen North Atlantic right whale calves this season. It’s an encouraging sign for a species whose population is estimated to be below 400.
No One Is Quite Sure Why Ice Is Slippery
A thin, watery layer coating the surface of ice is what makes it slick. Despite a great deal of theorizing over the centuries, though, it isn't entirely clear why that layer forms.
The US Is In For Another Bad Year of Measles Cases
A growing measles outbreak in South Carolina has infected more than 600 people since October, with hundreds more being potentially exposed.
What We Know About the Winter Storm About to Hit the US—and What We Don’t
A huge portion of the United States is going to be hit with snow or freezing rain this weekend. Exactly where, what, and how much remains uncertain.
The AI Boom Will Increase US Carbon Emissions—but It Doesn’t Have To
A new analysis finds that data centers’ energy demands will drastically increase power plant emissions over the next decade. Renewables, though, could cut them while helping keep prices from rising.
‘Veronika’ Is the First Cow Known to Use a Tool
This is the first recorded instance of a bovine using tools from her environment to relieve an itch—leaving scientists astonished.
He Went to Prison for Gene-Editing Babies. Now He’s Planning to Do It Again
Chinese scientist He Jiankui wants to end Alzheimer’s and thinks Silicon Valley is conducting a “Nazi eugenic experiment.”
The Search for Alien Artifacts Is Coming Into Focus
From surveys of the pre-Sputnik skies to analysis of interstellar visitors, scientists are rethinking how and where to look for physical traces of alien technology.
Capturing the Moment a White Dwarf Exploded
A research team has successfully imaged a nova in high resolution—and the images suggest that the nova was not a single, impulsive explosion.