Science News
Scary Ghost Stories From New York Times Archives
From haunted zoo cages to ghostly bar owners, here are five stories from our archives that will make you shiver, or maybe chuckle.
The New DNA Technology That Linked Ted Bundy to a 52-Year-Old Cold Case
Software known as STRmix was instrumental in identifying Mr. Bundy’s DNA in a decades-old sample.
A Marathon Runner’s Hard Lesson
Racing in Chicago showed your newsletter host firsthand how warming is disrupting the sport.
These Patients Struggle With Runaway Bones. Finally There’s Hope.
F.O.P., a rare genetic condition, causes uncontrolled explosions of bone. A new drug may slow or halt the process.
After Reinventing Mathematics, Can A.I. Eradicate Computer Bugs?
Using the same techniques that allowed A.I. technologies to crack a million-dollar math problem, researchers are building new systems that aim to solve the world’s cybersecurity crisis.
Three Stone Age Caves Reveal Continual Cannibalism
A tour of the three caves in southern Spain reveals that people in the area cannibalized one another as funerary practice over many generations.
New Batteries That Store Blistering Heat Are Taking Off
Large batteries that store electricity have revolutionized power grids and car markets. Now some start-ups are betting that “heat batteries” could be just as transformative.
After Flying Past the Moon, an Artemis II Astronaut Lands in California
Reid Wiseman, now a retired emeritus astronaut, will become deputy director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA’s premier center for deep-space robotic missions.
U.S. Restricts Trade With Chinese Genomics Company
The move will block shipments from BGI, a major Chinese firm that U.S. officials allege is associated with forced labor and the abuse of minority groups.
RFK Jr. to Allow Broad Use of Unapproved Peptide Injections
In a unilateral declaration by the health secretary, several injections promoted by online influencers will become widely available. The F.D.A. had advised against the move.
Brain Disease Is Pervasive in N.F.L., New Estimate Suggests
Using statistical techniques, a new study has arrived at a harrowing estimate: Three of four retired pro football players most likely had C.T.E. at death.
Can Scientists Make Football Safer?
Researchers are exploring novel ways to treat, even prevent, the brain disease C.T.E. One of the most surprising: near-infrared light.
Trump Administration Backs Down on an Opioid Ban After Kratom Industry Lobbying
Health officials will now allow some levels of a powerful substance to remain in products marketed as natural. The change could help a G.O.P. donor facing wrongful death lawsuits.
A New Dwarf Planet (Probably) Spotted Beyond Pluto
The object, known for now as 2026 ED138, is one of the first discoveries by the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile.
E.P.A. to Loosen Methane Rules for Oil Firms
The Biden administration had sought to crack down on methane leaks, a big driver of climate change. Those rules are now being scaled back.
Skeleton of Nanotyrannus ‘Jodi,’ T. Rex’s Cousin, Is Auctioned for $47.3 Million
The Nanotyrannus specimen is the latest dinosaur fossil to fetch a high price at a private auction, this time at Sotheby’s.
Did the Hardest A.I. Problem Just Get Much Easier?
A prominent researcher claims to have a revolutionary approach to “interpretability,” or the science of why A.I. models do what they do. Other experts aren’t so sure.
Antidepressants Don’t Correct A Chemical Imbalance. How, Then, Do They Work?
Here’s how psychiatrists like me think about the most promising hypotheses.
It’s Docktober. Do You Know Where the Sea Slugs Are?
Where there are floating docks, there are often communities of colorful marine organisms just below — and a community of curious people just above.
The Science Behind Your Reaction to Art
The Honolulu Museum of Art is showing how art can influence thinking, perspective and mood, in an exhibition that is part of a trend by museums to mix science and art.