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Latest news
Eerie 'sand burials' of elite Anglo-Saxons and their 'sacrificed' horse discovered near UK nuclear power plant
The 1,400 year-old "sand burials" of two people and a horse were found near a nuclear power plant construction site in the U.K.
Last year, the oceans absorbed a record-breaking amount of heat — equivalent to 12 Hiroshima bombs exploding every second
In 2025, the ocean absorbed an extra 23 zettajoules of heat energy in 2025, breaking the ocean heat content record for the ninth consecutive year.
Remnants of spills on Renaissance-era textbook reveal recipes for 'curing' ailments with lizard heads and human feces
A novel biochemical analysis of a Renaissance medical text has successfully recovered centuries-old proteins that might be from lizards and hippos.
James Webb telescope reveals sharpest-ever look at the edge of a supermassive black hole
The James Webb Space Telescope snapped its sharpest image of the area around a black hole, solving a long-standing galactic mystery.
Astronomers confirm earliest Milky Way-like galaxy in the universe, just 2 billion years after the Big Bang
Astronomers have confirmed the earliest barred spiral galaxy in the universe, a Milky-Way-like structure that existed just 2 billion years after the Big Bang.
Viruses that evolved on the space station and were sent back to Earth were more effective at killing bacteria
Near-weightless conditions can mutate genes and alter the physical structures of bacteria and phages, disrupting their normal interactions in ways that could help us treat drug-resistant infections.
Why is flu season so bad this year?
Flu season in the U.S. is particularly bad this year, and a new branch of the flu family tree may be to blame.
How the ancient Romans managed their wealth (it wasn't just by hiding hoards)
How did Romans invest their wealth in ancient times?
Strange discovery offers 'missing link' in planet formation
A decade of observations of four planets around the young planetary system V1298 Tau revealed a rare, long-sought missing link in planet formation.
James Webb telescope spots 'failed stars' in a breathtaking cluster near Earth — Space photo of the week
The James Webb Space Telescope captured a colorful portrait of a nearby stellar cradle, revealing a wealth of insights about countless stars.
This is SPARDA: A self-destruct, self-defense system in bacteria that could be a new biotech tool
A bacterial defense system called SPARDA employs kamikaze-like tactics to protect cells and could be useful in future biotechnologies.
Romans regularly soaked in filthy, lead-contaminated bath water, Pompeii study finds
A study of limescale buildup in an early bathing facility at Pompeii has revealed that the water was replaced only once per day.
Crew-11 emergency return, Mars Sample Return cancellation, shrinking river deltas, and an ancient wolf mystery.
Science news this week Jan. 17, 2026: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.
Watch NASA roll its historic Artemis II moon rocket to the launch pad this weekend
NASA's Artemis 2 rocket will roll out Saturday (Jan. 17) ahead of a possible Feb. 6 launch. Here's how to watch.
Nefertiti's tomb close to discovery, famed archaeologist Zahi Hawaas claims in new documentary
Zahi Hawass says he hopes to discover the tomb of Nefertiti before he retires, and he believes he's getting close.
NASA's Mars Sample Return is dead, leaving China to retrieve signs of life from the Red Planet
NASA's plans for Mars sample return are effectively cancelled as part of a bill approved by the U.S. Congress, ending efforts to collect Perseverance rover samples that could contain evidence of alien life.
'Zombie' cells may drive common form of epilepsy
Scientists are unraveling the role of senescent cells in a common form of epilepsy, and it could point to new treatments.
Forced closure of premier US weather-modeling institute could endanger millions of Americans
From high-wind forecasts and wildfire behavior to floods, aviation hazards, air quality and space weather, science developed at the National Center for Atmospheric Research informs decisions that aim to reduce risk.
