Science News
California Sues to Block Trump From Weakening Fuel Economy Rules
The lawsuit is the 97th the state has filed against the Trump administration over the past year and a half.
National Science Foundation Diverted $1.4 Billion in Science Funds Mandated by Congress
The move, affecting about one-fifth of the National Science Foundation’s primary research budget, is the latest sign of how the White House is asserting more control over grants.
Scientists Untangle the Biology of an ‘Undruggable’ Cancer Gene
Found in 70 percent of cancers, the gene is seen as a grand orchestrator but has been surprisingly difficult to stop.
What Is Out There? The Findings So Far of a Trump-Backed U.F.O. Panel.
Uncovering evidence of alien life would be “the biggest discovery ever made by humanity,” one expert said. But so far, there’s a lot of blurry photos and unconfirmed reports.
The MacArthur ‘Genius’ Studying Sea Ice Secrets
A climate scientist was one of 20 recipients of a “no-strings-attached” $800,000 stipend.
How Did Christa Pike Survive Two Lethal Injections of Pentobarbital?
A catheter carrying the drug may not have delivered the doses to Ms. Pike’s bloodstream, experts said. The drug itself may have been degraded.
States Sue Over Trump’s Repeal of Climate Rules for Power Plants
The mostly Democratic-led states say that the E.P.A. acted unlawfully when it erased Biden-era limits on carbon dioxide from coal- and gas-fired plants.
Prosecutors Cannot Revive Reflecting Pool Case Against Ex-Olympian, Judge Rules
A charge against David Hearn was dismissed “with prejudice” because of President Trump’s attempts to influence the case.
Cornell’s Jane Doe Said She Was Given Ketamine. Here’s How the Drug Works.
Ketamine is a short-acting anesthetic that can have hallucinogenic effects. It is becoming more easily available, and some experts fear misuse is increasing.
A Hacking Competition Shows the Power of China’s Approach to A.I.
The winner of a cybersecurity contest prevailed by relying on an ‘open weight’ Chinese model — another sign that available A.I. systems could already be too powerful to easily regulate.
Clues to Why a Breakthrough Pancreatic Cancer Drug Eventually Stops Working
Researchers are asking why patients, like former Senator Ben Sasse, inevitably develop resistance to the drug daraxonrasib.
A Viper That Caused Alarm in California Was A.I.-Generated
A Gaboon viper, a venomous snake native to equatorial regions of Africa, was supposedly photographed in a tree in Santa Ana, Calif. How could that be? Well, it turns out it wasn’t.
See How El Niño Is Washing Ashore in California
An enormous pulse of wave energy will soon reach the coast and continue north, raising sea levels by half a foot and increasing threats from swells and tides.
New Cancer Drugs Are Revolutionary. Why Don’t More Patients Get Them?
Targeted gene therapies are highly effective at stopping cancers, but the very abundance of the treatments, plus cost and sluggish change, are hindering access.
Ukrainian Science Academy, Struck by Drone, Played Key Role in Research
Over 90 percent of Ukraine’s scientific discoveries have been attributed to Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences, including advancements in astronomy and military technology.
Tennessee Valley Authority Gets Approval to Build Small Nuclear Reactor
It’s only the second time that American regulators have approved a next-generation commercial reactor for construction. Big hurdles remain.
Anthropic’s Quest for Humanlike A.I.
Elizabeth Dias, our national religion correspondent, and Cade Metz, one of our technology reporters, discuss Anthropic’s approach for instilling morality into Claude — which has involved consultations with religious leaders, including ones at the Vatican — and why it’s raising questions.
What If A.D.H.D. Isn’t About Attention at All?
Evidence suggests that it really affects what psychiatrists like me call sustained engagement — an important difference in understanding how to think about the condition.
Radio Waves Coming From an Alien Planet May Be a Cosmic First
Beta Pictoris b appears to have an aurora caused by a powerful magnetic field. If confirmed, it would be the first such field known outside our solar system.
V.A. Institutes New Consent Requirements for Some Psychiatric Drugs
Veterans under 30 will have to sign forms before being given antidepressants. Medical groups fear the moves may stigmatize mental health treatment.