Technology
Apple to pay $95 million to settle lawsuit accusing Siri of eavesdropping
By The Associated Press Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the privacy-minded company of deploying its virtual assistant Siri to eavesdrop on people using its iPhone and other trendy devices. The proposed settlement filed Tuesday in an Oakland, California, federal court would resolve a 5-year-old lawsuit revolving around allegations…
Ukrainian soldiers and shopkeepers hold on as Russia’s siege of Pokrovsk tightens
Brian Mann POKROVSK, Ukraine — In the final hours of 2024, the embattled Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk suddenly went dark. Its electric grid, long battered by Russian drones and artillery, failed on Monday for what the city’s military administration said would be the last time. “The past year has been extremely difficult,” local officials said…
UK electricity cleanest ever in 2024, with record 58% from low-carbon sources
UK has more than halved amount of electricity generated from fossil fuels but gas still had largest share at 28% The UK’s electricity was the cleanest it has ever been in 2024, with wind and solar generation hitting all-time highs, according to a report. The analysis by Carbon Brief found that in the past decade…
Elon Musk’s calls for Tommy Robinson release anger Labour MPs
Billionaire ally of Donald Trump also accuses Keir Starmer on X of failing to prosecute child rapists in Oldham Elon Musk has caused anger by calling for the release of Tommy Robinson and accusing Keir Starmer of failing to prosecute child rapists in Oldham in Greater Manchester. The billionaire ally of Donald Trump pinned a…
Nanotech Scientists Build on an Insect’s Odd Soccer Ball-Like Excretions to Design Ingenious Camouflage
Nanotech Scientists Build on an Insect’s Odd Soccer Ball-Like Excretions to Design Ingenious Camouflage Artificial versions of nanoscale soccer-ball-like structures called brochosomes might be used to make new forms of military camouflage, self-cleaning surfaces or hydrogen fuel By Ivan Amato edited by Gary Stix Brochosomes “Our group first became intrigued by brochosomes around 2015, drawn…
UK’s biggest ever dinosaur footprint site unearthed
The UK’s biggest ever dinosaur trackway site has been discovered in a quarry in Oxfordshire. About 200 huge footprints, which were made 166 million years ago, criss-cross the limestone floor. They reveal the comings and goings of two different types of dinosaurs that are thought to be a long-necked sauropod called Cetiosaurus and the smaller…
UK needs to ban full hybrid cars by 2030 or face net zero ‘catastrophe’
Motoring body says hybrids without a plug should be banned or else confidence in electric cars will be damaged Britain needs to press ahead with a ban on the sale of new hybrid cars with no plug from 2030 or risk taking “a catastrophic misstep” on the road to net zero, ministers have been warned.…
Spectacular aurora australis thrills sky gazers across south-east Australia
The green and purple southern lights show was so strong it appeared over Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and NSW South-eastern Australia was treated to a dazzling natural light show to begin 2025. A vibrant aurora australis was visible to the naked eye on New Year’s Day in Tasmania and parts of Victoria, South…
Quadrantids: How to watch the first meteor shower of 2025
Stargazers are in for a New Year treat as the first meteor shower of 2025 graces our night sky in early January. If you have already found yourself looking upwards over the past few nights you might have been lucky enough to have spotted some of the Quadrantid meteors shoot across the sky. This shower…
Early cancer diagnosis in England at record level, NHS figures show
The proportion of patients diagnosed with cancer at an early stage has risen to its highest level on record, NHS figures in England show. Data for the 13 most common cancers show 58.7% of those diagnosed between September 2023 and August 2024 were identified at stages one and two, which increases the chances of survival.…
Prisons in England and Wales record rapid rise in drones delivering drugs
Prisons will need more money to combat the rapid rise in drones delivering drugs, the head of an influential Commons committee has said, as figures showed the number of aerial incursions predicted to have tripled in two years. A freedom of information request by the Guardian found there were 1,296 drone incidents at prisons in…
MrBeast Engaged to Influencer Thea Booysen
YouTuber MrBeast celebrated New Year’s Day by revealing that he and longtime girlfriend Thea Booysen are engaged after he proposed to her on Christmas Day surrounded by her family. Beast mode has quite literally been engaged for MrBeast’s love life. The YouTuber rang in the New Year by announcing on X (formerly Twitter) that he…
New bone test could rewrite British history, say scientists
From the end of the Roman occupation through the Anglo-Saxon and Viking invasions – a new way of testing DNA in ancient bones could force a rethink of key moments in Britain’s early history, say researchers. Scientists could already track big alterations in DNA that occur over thousands or millions of years, helping us learn,…
Nearly Forgotten ‘Phage Therapy’ Fights Antibiotic Resistance
Nearly Forgotten ‘Phage Therapy’ Fights Antibiotic Resistance In a new book, a science journalist recounts the story of a lifesaving treatment for infection that scientists broadly dismissed until recently By Saima S. Iqbal edited by Tanya Lewis Bacteriophages infecting bacterial cells. Imagine that the next time you catch a stomach bug and antibiotics fail to…
Jeff Koons on why he has drawn a red line on AI in art: ‘I don’t want to be lazy’
His hands-off approach to the production of his famous balloon dogs and stainless steel rabbits has been criticised in the past but Jeff Koons, the world’s most expensive artist, has drawn a red-line: “I wouldn’t – for my own base work – be looking at AI to be developing my work.” The potential and the…
Do We Live in a Special Part of the Universe?
Do We Live in a Special Part of the Universe? By Sarah Scoles edited by Lee Billings & Jeanna Bryner An illustration of the cosmic web, the universe’s large-scale structure of composed of galaxy-rich clumps and filaments alongside giant intergalactic voids mostly bereft of matter. At even larger scales, cosmic structure seems to smooth out…
Norovirus outbreaks are on the rise around the country and on cruise ships
Yuki Noguchi Nearly 900 people aboard cruise ships were sickened from gastrointestinal disease in December amid an escalation in both the frequency and severity of outbreaks, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far this year, there have been 16 outbreaks on cruise ships, from norovirus, salmonella, e. coli or…
Look up! Here’s what’s to watch for in space in 2025
By Chandelis Duster After a spectacular 2024, which featured a year of wonder in the skies, including a total solar eclipse and rare sightings of the northern lights, 2025 is set to bring even more astronomical events. The year is expected to kick off with a meteor shower and forecast for the potential aurora in…
A total eclipse of the Moon, Saturn’s rings ‘disappear’, meteors and more: your guide to the southern sky in 2025
These nocturnal events are more spectacular from dark country sky, but they can still be seen from a light-polluted city – and for many, no telescope is needed Total eclipses of the moon are more common than those of the Sun. They can be seen from all the regions on Earth where it is night.…
‘Heck of a light show’: spectacular bloom of bioluminescence returns to Tasmania’s coastline
Phenomenon known as ‘sea sparkles’ or ‘red tide’ is caused by masses of noctiluca scintillans, a pink-coloured algae Masses of glittering algae have returned to Tasmania’s coastline in a spectacular bloom of bioluminescence that experts say is the largest seen in years. The phenomenon, known as “sea sparkles” or “red tide”, was caused by masses…
Ohio police solve 43-year-old murder of woman with help of DNA technology
Debra Lee Miller, 26, was killed in her apartment in 1981 by James Vanest, who was shot dead by police last month The murder of an 18-year-old woman in Ohio 43 years ago has been solved with the help of DNA technology, authorities announced on Monday. Jason Bammann, the Mansfield police chief, said the cold…
Thousands to count down to 2025 in online worlds
How’s this for a New Year’s Eve party? Fireworks, unlimited free drinks, and it’s open all night long. But first, you’ll need to grab some key items on a quest through the fantasy world of Azeroth. Thousands around the world will spend their New Year’s Eve inside World of Warcraft, just one of the hugely…
Northern lights may brighten some New Year’s skies over the U.S.
By Chandelis Duster Fireworks may not be the only thing lighting up the skies as the clock strikes midnight ringing in the new year. The northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, are forecast to be visible across parts of North America starting Tuesday night, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather…
What was ‘Disease X’ and what can we learn from it?
By Gabrielle Emanuel In early December, international alarm bells went off because of a mysterious disease circulating in a remote part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dubbed it “Disease X.” Once the medical experts arrived, they quickly gathered samples from the sick to take back to…
NEW TECHNOLOGY GIVES HOPE TO SAVE ENDANGERED RIGHT WHALE
From By Emily Jones Most winter days off Georgia’s coast, scientists criss-cross the waves looking for North Atlantic right whales. Those in a boat stay in constant contact with colleagues in a small plane – all scanning the water for whales and, hopefully, newborn calves. But the surveys in the sky and on the water…
Meet Pearl Young, Who ‘Raised Hell’ at NASA’s Predecessor
Meet Pearl Young, Who ‘Raised Hell’ at NASA’s Predecessor Pearl Young joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in 1922, working across departments before becoming a technical editor By Caitlin Milera & The Conversation US Pearl I. Young. The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research.…
Beijing denies involvement in US treasury cyber-attack
The breach was orchestrated via a third-party cybersecurity service provider. Hackers were able to gain access to a key used by the vendor to override certain parts of the system, according to a letter the treasury department sent to lawmakers on Monday that was reviewed by the Guardian. According to the treasury, the incident happened…
Treasury says Chinese hackers remotely accessed documents in ‘major’ cyber incident
By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Chinese hackers remotely accessed several U.S. Treasury Department workstations and unclassified documents after compromising a third-party software service provider, the agency said Monday. The department did not provide details on how many workstations had been accessed or what sort of documents the hackers may have obtained, but it said…
Could AI robots replace human astronauts in space?
On Christmas Eve, an autonomous spacecraft flew past the Sun, closer than any human-made object before it. Swooping through the atmosphere, Nasa’s Parker Solar Probe was on a mission to discover more about the Sun, including how it affects space weather at Earth. This was a landmark moment for humanity – but one without any…
Israel orders remaining residents of Beit Hanoun to leave
Order triggers new wave of displacement and there are reports of damage to two more Gaza hospitals Israel has issued new evacuation orders for all remaining civilians to leave Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza as part of a blistering three-month-old campaign that Israel denies is aimed at depopulating a third of the Palestinian territory, amid…
UK and EU look to 2025 for reset, but with little room for trade-offs
Early in 2025, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been invited to an informal summit of EU leaders. It’s the first such invitation for the UK since the bitter days of the Brexit negotiations. The focus of the February meeting is future security and defence co-operation. The backdrop: the volatile state of the world from…
Ocean gives up hundreds of rare Lego treasures
Hundreds of pieces of Lego lost at sea off a cargo ship 27 years ago have been found this year, including the first ever shark. A freak wave swept 62 shipping containers of Lego off the Tokio Express cargo ship 20 miles (32km) off Land’s End on 13 February 1997, one of which held 4,756,940…
At least 15 men in Gisèle Pelicot rape and assault trial appeal against convictions
Court found 51 men guilty including Dominique Pelicot, who was given a 20-year prison sentence At least 15 of the men found guilty of raping or sexually abusing Gisèle Pelicot have appealed against their convictions and will be given a second trial. All 51 men, including her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, were convicted and given prison…
Elon Musk pens German newspaper opinion piece supporting far-right AfD party
Billionaire Trump adviser said his ‘significant investments’ in the country justify his wading into German politics The tech entrepreneur and close adviser to Donald Trump Elon Musk has taken a stunning new public step in his support for the far-right German political party Alternative for Germany (AfD), publishing a supportive guest opinion piece for the…
Playing to Win: How a First Nation Turned Around Its Fortunes
Newsletter Steered by an entrepreneurial chief, Membertou First Nation in Nova Scotia led the largest investment by Indigenous people in Canada’s seafood industry. By Vjosa Isai The trip through Cape Breton Island, on the northeastern tip of Nova Scotia, promised scenic driving views. The island regularly appears in travel guides for the world’s best road…
Your Best Advice of 2024
Newsletter As we start to look ahead, here’s the best advice that readers of The Morning received this year. By Melissa Kirsch The piece of wisdom I repeated the most this year came from a reader of The Morning who answered my call for advice last December: “We are all juggling so many balls. Differentiate…
Three migrants die attempting to cross Channel
Three people have died attempting to cross the English Channel in a small boat on Sunday morning, the French coastguard says. People ended up in the water after trying to board a boat off the coast of Sangatte, near Calais, at about 06:00 local time (05:00 GMT). The three people later declared dead were recovered…
Three people die and 48 rescued near Calais attempting to cross Channel
The deaths make 2024 the deadliest year on record for small boat Channel crossings Three people have died after falling from an overcrowded small boat trying to cross from France to the UK, as 2024 became the deadliest year on record for perilous sea crossings. The boat ran into trouble at about 6am on Sunday…
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Have Prostate Removal Surgery
Middle East Crisis The prime minister was diagnosed with an infection from a “benign enlargement of his prostate.” By Eve Sampson Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel will undergo surgery to have his prostate removed Sunday after he was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection earlier in the week, his office said in a statement…
Youth pastor identified as man who died after shark bite off Queensland coast
The 40-year-old school chaplain was bitten by the shark while fishing with family in waters off Keppel Islands on Saturday A youth pastor and school chaplain described as an inspirational leader has been identified as the man who died after being bitten by a shark while on holiday with his family in Queensland. Emergency services…
South Korea’s Acting President Has Only Been in Office Since Friday
South Korea Plane Crash After two impeachments of leaders in two weeks, the country is deep into a political crisis. By Choe Sang-Hun The plane crash is the first major test for South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, who was appointed the interim leader only on Friday, as the country grapples with a political crisis…
Notes from the field: Protecting forests to benefit people
It’s easy to feel discouraged about the state of the planet. Though the headlines seem bleak, the fight to protect nature and the climate is being won in the field — through small triumphs that don’t make the news. Here are three conservation successes you should know about. In the Indonesian province of West Java,…
Concerning Bird Flu Virus Mutations Found in Severely Ill Patient
Concerning Bird Flu Virus Mutations Found in Severely Ill Patient Samples from a hospitalized patient in Louisiana show changes that could make the H5N1 virus spread more easily between humans By Tanya Lewis edited by Dean Visser Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Viral samples from a patient in Louisiana who was hospitalized with severe…
Renewed bushfire warnings for NSW, Victoria and WA as heat forecast to return for new year
BoM says light winds are expected to temper the fire danger despite high temperatures, especially inland Scorching temperatures and elevated fire dangers are forecast for the coming week as Australia rings in the new year – but light winds could protect towns from blazes becoming too severe. Perth was the first hit by the heatwave,…
Jimmy Carter, Who Died at Age 100, Spared Millions of People from Guinea Worm, a Debilitating Parasite
Jimmy Carter, Who Has Died at Age 100, Spared Millions of People from Guinea Worm Former president Jimmy Carter’s charity has helped transform Guinea worm from a disease that used to infect millions to one that infects fewer than a dozen By Charles Schmidt edited by Tanya Lewis Former president Jimmy Carter was touring villages…
Matthew Gaudreau’s Wife Welcomes Their First Baby After His Death
The wife of late hockey player Matthew Gaudreau, brother of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, has given birth to her and her husband’s first baby four months after the siblings died in a road accident. The wife of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau‘s brother Matthew Gaudreau has given birth to their first baby, four months after the siblings…
Maggie Smith, Liam Payne and the other famous people who died in 2024
The producer of the world’s bestselling LP, an Oscar-winning British actress who conquered screen and stage, a fearless Russian opposition politician and one of Ireland’s greatest novelists – here are some of the well-known faces no longer with us. Among those we remember are acting legend Dame Maggie Smith, former teen star Shannen Doherty, and…
The Public Distrusts Scientists’ Morals, Not Their Science
Opinion The Public Distrusts Scientists’ Morals, Not Their Science Reaction to a recent Pew survey on the public’s trust in science shows that the scientific community is not ready to address the real problem By John H. Evans edited by Daniel Vergano Our overlapping Trump and COVID eras have seen a fairly sharp downturn in…
Inside a Syrian ‘reconciliation centre’ where Assad’s soldiers give up their weapons
On the night of 6 December, Mohammed el-Nadaf, a soldier in the Syrian army, was at his position in Homs. As rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) pushed into the city, days after they had seized control of Aleppo and Hama in a lightning offensive, Mohammed decided he didn’t want to fight. “We had…
Plane That Crashed in South Korea Was a Boeing 737-800, a Precursor to the 737 Max
South Korea Plane Crash Nearly 200 airlines use the 737-800, which makes up about 15 percent of the world’s fleet of aircraft. By Niraj Chokshi and River Akira Davis The Jeju Air plane that crashed in southwestern South Korea was a Boeing 737-800, a model that is used widely around the world. There are about…
‘Protecting nature, building peace’: Indigenous activist wins prestigious award
From the deserts of Chad to the halls of the United Nations, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim has been a tireless advocate for indigenous peoples in the fight to solve the climate crisis. In recognition of her unrelenting efforts, Ibrahim, Conservation International’s Senior Indigenous Fellow, was recently awarded the 2019 Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award presented by…
The strange story of how one researcher’s photo made it onto a banknote
Everyone has a hobby. Trond Larsen’s is photography. As the Rapid Assessment Program director at Conservation International, Larsen spends his days organizing international teams of scientists to find and document wildlife in far-flung locales. His camera goes with him to the wild, and his photos — predominantly of the animals he encounters in the field…
How are race, environment linked? Start here
The protests that swept across America — and the globe — in recent weeks laid bare the deep racial inequality permeating society. And as Conservation International CEO M. Sanjayan said recently, “the conservation community is not exempt from this legacy.” With that in mind, here is a list of books, podcasts and more recommended by…
How are gender, environment linked? Start here
Environmental issues and the climate crisis affect women disproportionately: They’re 14 times more likely to die during a disaster and constitute 80 percent of all climate refugees. But women are also powerful forces in the fight to halt climate change and prevent environmental collapse. With that in mind, here is a list of books, podcasts…
New science: protecting high seas hotspots, wildlife and more
Protecting nature starts with science. Here’s a roundup of recent scientific research published by Conservation International experts. More than 60 percent of the world’s oceans lie beyond the jurisdiction of any nation — an area commonly known as the “high seas.” However, only about 1 percent of this vast and largely unexplored expanse is protected. …
For these women, sustainable business is buzzing
Industrious and indispensable, bees are nature’s “essential workers.” Their pollination powers entire ecosystems and food systems — with more than 75 percent of the world’s flowering plants and a third of all crops relying on bees and other pollinators to reproduce. Yet bees are declining at alarming rates. Mass die-offs have been linked to pesticides,…
Monday Briefing: A Plane Crash in South Korea killed 179
Plus, Falun Gong’s money engine. By Gaya Gupta A Boeing 737-800 plane operated by Jeju Air crashed while landing at an airport in South Korea yesterday, killing 179 of the 181 people on board. It was the worst aviation disaster involving a South Korean airline in almost three decades, officials said. The flight, which had…
Cause of South Korea plane crash unclear as officials focus on bird strikes
Experts say bird strikes are relatively common and should not have been enough to cause landing gear failure No one knows for certain what caused Jeju Air flight 2216 to crash, killing all but two of its 181 passengers and crew. As darkness fell at Muan international airport in South Korea and officials fielded questions…
Defending champion Luke Humphries knocked out of World Darts Championship
Luke Humphries was number one seed but the bookmakers’ second favourite for the tournament behind teenager Luke Littler Defending champion Luke Humphries is out of the PDC World Darts Championship in the fourth round after an astonishing performance from former winner Peter Wright. Humphries was far from his fluent best and was eventually beaten 4-1…
How to Manage Holiday Grief in Yourself and Others
How to Manage Holiday Grief in Yourself and Others The holidays can be a difficult time for people who are grieving. Here’s how to get through it or support a loved one By J. Kim Penberthy & The Conversation US The holidays can be an especially difficult time for those grieving a loss. The following…
Please Don’t Take Moral Advice from ChatGPT
Opinion Please Don’t Take Moral Advice from ChatGPT Before turning to a large language model for ethical counsel, consider what makes for good advice By Ana Gantman edited by Daisy Yuhas Should I tell my friend their boyfriend is cheating on them? Should I intervene when I hear an off-color joke? When faced with moral…
Lost city found by accident and a fly’s brain mapped: 2024’s scientific wins
A total solar eclipse seen by millions, a lost jungle city discovered by accident and hope for the almost extinct northern white rhino – science has given us a lot to get excited about this year. One of the biggest news stories was about making space travel cheaper and easier, with Elon Musk’s Starship making…
Report issues ‘sobering reality check’ for world’s oceans
As global leaders head to the U.N. Biodiversity Conference next week, a new report issued a stark warning: The world is falling short of its pledge to protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030. Despite ambitious goals set two years ago at the last biodiversity conference, only 8.3 percent of marine areas are currently…
Caught on camera: New study reveals a refuge for rare wildlife
“Before, we were working blind”: A new Conservation International study gives scientists an unprecedented view into a remote tropical forest. The Central Cardamom Mountains are some of Southeast Asia’s most pristine expanses of wilderness — long considered a refuge for rare species. Now, a new study from Conservation International and the Cambodian government provides an…
Amid a vanishing savanna, new corridor a ‘big win’ for wildlife
Conservation International is helping recover a savanna habitat nearly twice the size of Manhattan. Brazil is home to a vast, but overlooked, tropical savanna called the Cerrado. This sprawling patchwork of open grassland and scattered woodlands covers almost a quarter of the country — an area about the size of Greenland — providing habitat for…
In Kenya, global crisis sparked ‘a new way to do conservation’
EDITOR’S NOTE: Few places on Earth are as evocative — or as imperiled — as the vast grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa. In a new Conservation News series, “Saving the Savanna,” we look at how communities are working to protect these places — and the wildlife within. MARA NORTH CONSERVANCY, Kenya — Under a fading sun, Kenya’s…
How cool are forests? A hot new study has answers
A new study from a Conservation International scientist measures the cooling effects of forests against extreme heat — with eye-opening results. The shade of a tree can offer instant relief from the heat. But how much can forests buffer scorching temperatures during an extreme heat wave? A lot, according to a new study. During the…
Climate change charts a dangerous course for the world’s largest fish
A Conservation International scientist shares what can be done to prevent an ‘outright alarming’ future for whale sharks. Warmer oceans are putting two giants of the sea on a collision course. Even at the size of a school bus, whale sharks — the world’s largest fish — are no match for cargo ships in busy shipping…
New study reveals seaweed’s hidden climate benefits
Humble seaweed is having a moment. It’s been heralded as a sustainable superfood, a biodegradable replacement for plastic packaging and a feed supplement to cut cows’ methane emissions. Now, new research shows that seaweed forests — such as massive underwater towers of kelp — may play a bigger role in fighting climate change than previously…
Amid Israel-Hezbollah Crossfire, Fish Farmers Stay Put
Middle East Crisis Israel dispatch The war with Hezbollah has cleared out the north of the country — save for a hardy few and their thousands of prized fish. By Jack Nicas Jack Nicas traveled to the Israel-Lebanon border to speak with caviar producers. He also joined them in taking shelter from Hezbollah fire. Shrapnel…
In climate fight, ‘nature vs tech’ a false debate
How much can — or should — humanity rely on nature to help solve the climate crisis? That’s the question at the center of a new study, and the study’s conclusions have some scientists scratching their heads. As the United Nations climate talks recently concluded (with disappointing results), the study calls for a focus on…
Doctors without biodiversity? New plan prescribes actions linking human health, nature
If you read only the news headlines, you’d have learned that last month’s global summit on biodiversity — known as “COP16” — was not a success: “COP16 fizzles out as rich countries block global nature fund” “The COP16 biodiversity summit was a big flop for protecting nature” “COP16 ends in disarray and indecision despite biodiversity breakthroughs”…
Upon reflection: Study gauges grasslands’ climate-fighting powers
Plant more trees, cool the climate: It’s a message that readers of this website know well. But new research confirms that this “rule” doesn’t apply everywhere. Take southern Africa: In some places, grasses are far more effective climate allies than trees. Why? Grasses better reflect the sun’s radiation than darker, woody vegetation. This effect, called…
Meet the scientist helping women find their voice
In a community center in rural Madagascar, Kame Westerman noticed something that changed her career. As the men debated the closure of an octopus fishery, the women — who stood to gain or lose the most from the decision — were silent. “They either weren’t included in the decision-making or didn’t feel comfortable engaging in…
2024 in review: Amid hottest year on record, nature takes center stage
As 2024 comes to a close, global temperatures are at an all-time high — topping the previous hottest-year on record: 2023. As the rising temperatures fuel extreme weather around the world, communities are left to grapple with catastrophic floods, severe droughts and devastating wildfires. Yet amid this backdrop, new research consistently shows nature is a…
2024 in review: Turning the tide for the world’s oceans
It was a year of rough seas for the world’s oceans. Despite some progress on both fronts, overfishing and pollution persisted, while waters continued to warm at a rate that scientists “cannot fully explain,” according to Johan Rockström, chief scientist at Conservation International. But that didn’t stop conservationists and communities from working to protect the…
2024 in review: Amid crisis, victories for nature emerge
Alarm bells screamed for nature in 2024. Each week seemed to bring fresh warnings of the loss of wildlife, habitat destruction and the escalating impacts of climate change. But amid the gloom, quiet victories emerged, as ordinary people made extraordinary progress for nature. This year, Conservation News highlighted unlikely partnerships bringing wildlife back from the…
Los incendios forestales amenazan la astronomía y lo peor está por venir
Opinion Wildfires Are Threatening Astronomy, and the Worst Is Yet to Come As wildfires grow in severity and frequency, they’re not only threatening lives but also our visual connection to the cosmos By Peter McMahon edited by Lee Billings & Daniel Vergano An aerial photo shows wildfire smoke rising over Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada…
Did bird strike contribute to South Korea plane crash? What we know so far
More than 170 people have died after a plane crashed as it was landing in South Korea on Sunday morning. The Jeju Air plane came off the runway before colliding with a wall at Muan International Airport in the south west of the country. The plane, which was returning from Bangkok, in Thailand, was carrying…
Should You Throw Out Your Black Plastic Spatula?
Flame Retardants in Black Plastic Spatulas Concern Scientists The scientists behind a popular study on the health effects of flame retardants in black plastic cooking utensils and toys made a calculation error but still say their revised findings are alarming By Lauren J. Young edited by Dean Visser Should you throw out your black plastic…
Inside a Sinaloa Cartel Fentanyl Lab in Mexico
Mexico Dispatch New York Times reporters witnessed the dangerous fentanyl production process inside a secret lab in Culiacán run by Mexico’s most powerful criminal syndicate. Mexico Dispatch New York Times reporters witnessed the dangerous fentanyl production process inside a secret lab in Culiacán run by Mexico’s most powerful criminal syndicate. A Sinaloa cartel cook working…
Ignoring Warnings, a Growing Band of Tourists Venture to Afghanistan
With the war now over, the Taliban are welcoming foreign travelers, even as governments advise their citizens to stay away. With the war now over, the Taliban are welcoming foreign travelers, even as governments advise their citizens to stay away. Yi-Pin Lin, a tourist from the United States, and his Afghan guide, Hijrat Ullah Sahak,…
Teen Mom’s Kailyn Lowry Undergoes Breast Reduction Surgery
Teen Mom 2 star Kailyn Lowry shared she underwent breast reduction surgery, more than a year after welcoming her twins, her sixth and seventh child. For Kailyn Lowry, the holidays marked the most wonderful time for a body transformation. The Teen Mom 2 star has announced that she has undergone breast reduction surgery. In an Instagram…
What were the biggest life lessons in 2024? Here’s what NPR listeners learned
By Brittney Melton In almost a blink of an eye, 2024 came and went. A lot of people are reflecting on the past 12 months. They may be thinking about what they accomplished – or didn’t – and what they learned along the way. Regardless of how big or small life’s lessons are, they can…
78 Books Scientific American Recommends in 2024
Opinion 78 Books Scientific American Recommends in 2024 A collection of nonfiction and fiction books Scientific American editorial staff and contributors read and recommend in 2024 By Brianne Kane edited by Daniel Vergano Every story is a science story, even the ones that sound more like science fiction. This year Scientific American introduced readers to…
Jimmy Carter, former U.S. president and peace activist, dies at 100
By Kathy Lohr Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter takes questions from the media during a news conference at the Carter Center in Atlanta on Aug. 20, 2015. Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, died Sunday at age 100. The Carter Center announced he died in his hometown of Plains, Ga. Carter was…
New elections could take up to four years, Syria rebel leader says
Holding new elections in Syria could take up to four years, rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has said in a broadcast interview. This is the first time he has given a timeline for possible elections in Syria since his group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led a rebel offensive that ousted former President Bashar al-Assad. In the…
Georgia Inaugurates Mikheil Kavelashvili as President Amid Anti-Western Drift
Even though a figurehead, Mikheil Kavelashvili occupies a symbolic role as the country moves further from the West and toward Russia and China. By Ivan Nechepurenko Reporting from Tbilisi, Georgia A former soccer star and conservative critic of the West was sworn in on Sunday as the new president of Georgia, a strategically important republic…
Will the World’s First Nuclear Fusion Power Plant Be Built in Virginia? Here’s Why We’re Skeptical
Will the World’s First Nuclear Fusion Power Plant Be Built in Virginia? Here’s Why We’re Skeptical A fusion power plant will go live in the next decade and produce 400 megawatts of electricity, Commonwealth Fusion Systems says By Ben Guarino edited by Dean Visser Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ new fusion power plant is expected to come…
Por qué los gatos se obsesionan con el árbol de Navidad
Compartir ¡Especial Navidad! Suscríbete a National Geographic por solo 1€/mes Nuevos packs de libros y ediciones especiales de National Geographic a un precio especial. No es ningún secreto que los gatos sienten una fascinación malsana por los árboles de Navidad. Evitar que muerdan el árbol o sus adornos o, aún peor, que lo tiren, puede…
U.S. Has First Case of Severe Bird Flu, CDC Confirms in H5N1 Update
U.S. Has First Case of Severe Bird Flu, CDC Confirms in H5N1 Update Louisiana reported a person hospitalized with a severe case of H5N1, and the USDA has begun bulk milk testing By Tanya Lewis edited by Dean Visser A person in Louisiana has been hospitalized with severe H5N1 influenza after having contact with sick…
9 Space Images from NASA and Beyond That Stunned in 2024
Behold! 2024’s Most Stunning Space Photos See the year’s most striking images from the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes, NASA’s Mars rover and the best sky watching on offer By Meghan Bartels edited by Lee Billings A James Webb Space Telescope image of the star-forming region NGC 604. The end of 2024 is approaching,…
Genetic Testing Is a Gift. But It Shouldn’t be a Present
Opinion Genetic Testing Is a Gift. But It Shouldn’t be a Present Think twice before giving direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits to friends and loved ones By Adina Wise edited by Daniel Vergano When the results came in, she opened them eagerly and was immediately confronted, not with information about her heritage, but with an offer:…
Mysterious Constant That Makes Mathematicians Despair
Mysterious Constant That Makes Mathematicians Despair The proof that the Apéry constant is irrational remains one of the most bizarre events in the history of mathematics By Manon Bischoff edited by Daisy Yuhas Mathematicians attended Roger Apéry’s lecture at a French National Center for Scientific Research conference in June 1978 with a great deal of…
Earth Life Found inside Ryugu Asteroid Samples
Scientists Discover Earth Life inside an Asteroid Sample Material from asteroid Ryugu riddled with earthly microbes provides a cautionary tale for scientists seeking signs of alien life By Sharmila Kuthunur edited by Lee Billings An artist’s concept of microbes floating in deep space. In November 2022 Matthew Genge was peering through a scanning electron microscope…
Most Expensive Dinosaur Fossil Ever Could Reveal Stegosaurus Secrets
Most Expensive Dinosaur Fossil Ever Could Reveal Stegosaurus Secrets The huge Stegosaurus fossil Apex, bought at auction for $44.6 million, has debuted on loan at the American Museum of Natural History By Zane Wolf edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier A new stegosaurus fossil named Apex which was bought by billionaire Kenneth C. Griffin is unveiled…
This Year’s Nobel Prizes Are a Warning about AI
Opinion This Year’s Nobel Prizes Are a Warning about AI Unless we pursue AI carefully, the Nobel committee will one day give a Peace Prize to the people cleaning up its terrible consequences, just as it did with nuclear physics By Y Cooper A man wheels his bicycle thorough Hiroshima, Japan, days after the city…
The Human Brainwaves Centennial Exposes a Darker Science History
Opinion The Forgotten History of the Discovery of Human Brainwaves The centennial of the discovery of brain waves in humans exposes a chilling tale involving Nazis, war between Russia and Ukraine, suicide and the vicissitudes of history By R. Douglas Fields edited by Daniel Vergano This year is the centennial of the discovery of human…
The Winter Solstice Is Here. How Dark Days Affect the Human Body
Our Bodies Are So Ready to Celebrate the Rebirth of the Sun The winter solstice is the culmination of a period every year when each cell in our body literally craves more light By Gary Stix edited by Dean Visser Winter solstice in snowy forest. These changes relate to circadian rhythms. The word circadian derives…