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Latest news
James Webb telescope discovers earliest Type II supernova in the known universe
An extremely early Type II supernova explosion, named after the Titan goddess of dawn in Greek mythology, occurred just 1 billion years after the Big Bang.
Earth hit by biggest 'solar radiation storm' in 23 years, triggering Northern Lights as far as Southern California
Earth's magnetic field was struck by a "severe" solar storm yesterday (Jan. 19), triggering vibrant auroras in the U.S. and large parts of Europe. The storm broke a record that had stood for more than two decades.
Color blindness linked to lower bladder cancer survival, early study hints
People with color blindness may be less able to spot an early sign of bladder cancer, making them likelier to be diagnosed later, a study suggests.
Medieval 'super ship' found wrecked off Denmark is largest vessel of its kind
Divers have unearthed the largest cog shipwreck ever discovered in a strait off Denmark, signalling a period of economic development in medieval Europe.
1,700-year-old Roman marching camps discovered in Germany — along with a multitude of artifacts like coins and the remnants of shoes
Archaeologists in Germany have discovered four Roman marching camps and around 1,500 artifacts, including coins and shoe nails, dating to the third century.
Ever watched a pet cow pick up a broom and scratch herself with it? You have now
A pet cow in Austria started using a broom to scratch herself — the first ever documented case of bovine tool use.
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.
