All Science
US back on moon, with difficult landing for first private-sector craftThe first lunar spacecraft landing by a private company – Houston-based Intuitive Machines – is a milestone. But technical challenges highlight the difficulty of space exploration.
First LookCharlotte the stingray swims alone. So how is she suddenly pregnant?A North Carolina aquarium announced that a stingray who has not been around a male companion in eight years is pregnant. Parthenogenesis, or asexual reproduction, is a rare phenomenon that can occur in some birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Humans and the moon: A closer look at an evolving relationshipA science journalist offers perspective on how humans can wisely steward the new phase of lunar exploration.
First Look‘The little helicopter that could’: Ingenuity takes final Mars flightOriginally slated for a 30-day mission, NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter shouldered three years of discovery, achieving the first controlled flights on another planet and helping engineers push the limits of space exploration.
First LookOut in the cold: Frigid temps stall commute for EV driversSubzero temperatures across the central U.S. are taking a toll on drivers – and their electric vehicles. Though reduced battery capacity and impaired charging can make for a tricky commute, there are short-term fixes and systemic solutions in the works.
Why NASA’s latest mission targets a metal-rich asteroidBy sending a spacecraft on a journey of 2 billion miles, scientists hope to learn something about the core of our own planet. NASA’s mission to a metal-rich asteroid is about curiosity and creativity.
First LookSpacecraft sends sample from asteroid 50 million miles awayAfter traveling for seven years and 4 billion miles, NASA's spacecraft returns a capsule to earth with a sample of rubble from the asteroid Bennu.
If you map it, they will come: The effort to chart the seafloorJournalist Laura Trethewey plunges into the intense race to map the oceans – and the potential for exploitation of one of the planet’s few remaining frontiers.
The ExplainerTastes like chicken? ‘Cultured meat’ arrives on menus.“Cultured chicken” is approved for sale in the U.S. Supporters tout environmental benefits, and critics raise concerns over cost and practicality.
In with a bang: The James Webb Space Telescope after one yearIt’s pretty pictures – and so much more. The range and precision of the James Webb Space Telescope are transforming cosmological research.
First LookIn Brazil, a scientist’s quest to save endangered ‘hippie monkey’The northern muriqui, a highly endangered monkey species of Brazil, are known as peaceful gardeners who spread seeds through the Amazon forest and collaborate more than they compete. How one scientist has been working for four decades to save it.
First LookUSDA approves lab-made chicken. But will people eat it?The USDA approved the sale of lab-made, or “cultivated,” chicken in the U.S., which could greatly reduce its environmental impact and animal harm. Though experts say it’s safe, many consumers remain wary of the product.
First LookFlying taxis? Paris takes a green fleet to new heights.Paris is rolling out a small fleet of electrically powered flying taxis. The pilot program will test an innovative, climate-conscious form of transportation and could open the door to wider commercial use.
Can 50 tons of dinosaur fossils help hatch paleontology in Niger?Landlocked Niger is home to stunning dinosaur fossils. Scientists aim not only to find them but also to build homegrown research expertise.
First LookUS surgeon general urges action to protect children from social mediaU.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy calls for immediate action to protect young people from social media’s risks to their well-being, saying steps by tech companies so far are “simply not enough.”
First LookSpaceX sends first Saudi Arabian astronauts to spaceSaudi Arabia’s first astronauts in decades are headed to the International Space Station. SpaceX launched the first Saudi female astronaut Sunday along with a Saudi Air Force fighter pilot.
First LookMontana bans TikTok. But how will the law be enforced?With rising concerns over China’s overreach, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed a first-of-its-kind law banning TikTok. The state has 200,000 TikTok users and 6,000 businesses that use the platform for video sharing in Montana.
First LookEurope’s first AI rules: Could they set a global standard?The European Union is finalizing the Western world’s first legislation around artificial intelligence. The AI Act could become the global standard as regulators worldwide scramble to figure out how to control the rapidly evolving technology.
First LookHeed the warning signs? ‘Godfather’ of AI cautions misuse of AI.Geoffrey Hinton, the man widely considered the “Godfather” of artificial intelligence, has left Google. He’s now saying some of the potential dangers stemming from the same technology he helped build are “quite scary.”
So many satellites. Can we clean up space?As the amount of human-created debris in space grows, so does a search for solutions. A first step, some experts say, is to think of space not as an infinite junkyard but as a shared area that calls for agreed-on norms of behavior.
