Science
Dogs may use blinking as a subtle social signal
Blinking keeps eyes moist, sweeps away bits of dirt and dust, and helps the brain rest when processing visual information. But in dogs, it may also serve another function as a sub…
Contractor to Civil Servant: NASA Welcomes Jeret Howard
At 17, Jeret Howard raised his right hand to serve his country as a United States Army combat medic in Iraq. This past summer, he raised his right hand again at NASA’s Stennis Spa…
'Star Wars: Zero Company' review: XCOM-like strategically recaptures the magic of your favorite Star Wars films
Bitreactor's blend of XCOM combat and a smaller-stakes story nails what makes the Star Wars franchise so special.
‘You can taste the ash’: surviving in America’s wildfire smoke capital
A magical corner of Oregon has the highest US rate of wildfire smoke deaths. How do residents live with the haze – and grief?Driving into the county, you can’t miss the sign.“IT’S…
Hyperdoped silicon photodiode advances short-wave infrared detection at room temperature
Detecting short-wave infrared (SWIR) light, a region of the electromagnetic spectrum just beyond the light visible to the human eye, could be advantageous for many real-world appl…
SpaceX's final Falcon 9 Starlink launch from Florida creates gorgeous 'jellyfish' over New York City (video)
SpaceX's last planned Falcon 9 Starlink launch from Florida created a memorable sight for folks hundreds of miles away — a glowing "jellyfish" high in the sky.
Researchers map tick habitat to strengthen African swine fever preparedness
A small, nest-dwelling tick found across large parts of Texas could play an outsized role in how the United States responds to African swine fever (ASF) should the virus reach dom…
SpaceX sends Starlink satellites to orbit on predawn launch from California
SpaceX launched 27 more of its Starlink broadband satellites to orbit today (Aug. 26), in a predawn liftoff from California's central coast.
New quantum computing method broadens spectroscopy of hard-to-model matter
Scientists could have a new way to explore the hidden behavior of matter, thanks to research involving Queen Mary University of London that uses a quantum computer to carry out a …
‘132F’: meet the man calling out NYC’s infernally hot subway stations
Jack Klein takes heat readings, gives fans to overheated passengers and lugs big jugs of water into the stationsOn a recent August day in the subterranean furnace of New York City…
Inside the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, NASA's next great observatory
Here's a rundown of all the major parts of NASA's Roman Space Telescope launching Aug. 30.
Extreme heat linked to deaths of over 40,000 people in England between 1988 and 2025
ONS data shows rising toll of climate crisis, with officials warning this summer on track to set further recordsOver 40,000 more people died on the hottest days in England between…
Shingles vaccine linked to lower risk of heart attack and stroke, study finds
Researchers say benefits of two-dose Shingrix vaccine could be comparable to taking daily blood pressure medicationThe current shingles vaccine appears to significantly lower the …
Clean Air Policies Help Kids Breathe and Think Better
Growing up with dirty air harms kids’ health. But reducing pollution can help reverse the damage. In London, an effort to combat traffic emissions led to measured improvements in…
New York’s Power Grid Struggles to Handle the Heat
NEW YORK—When nearly 10,000 people in Southeast Queens lost power during a July heatwave, Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on residents to keep their air conditioners at 78 degrees to …
A Florida Community Aimed to Address a Legacy of Pollution. The Trump Administration Cancelled Its Funding.
TAMPA, Fla.—Ross Fabian’s low-slung apartment building sits beside a pond that sometimes smells of dead fish. He has seen dead dogs in the pond. For many years the pond has served…
Too small for fries: Drought shrinks Belgian potatoes
Mathieu Comijn inspected rows of potatoes in a field of cracked earth and browned leaves, pulling from the ground tubers barely the size of pingpong balls.
Plant-like chemical gardens show how simple reactions build complex structures
The famous quote by Cicero, "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need," reminds us that the beauty of life lies in the harmony between nature and knowledge…
Heatwaves show UK must do more to promote cycling and walking, campaigners say
Civil society groups argue climate crisis means transport sector needs to urgently reduce its carbon emissionsDozens of civil society groups have demanded the UK government do mor…
Watch the partial lunar eclipse online Aug. 27-28 with these free livestreams
You can catch the partial lunar eclipse live online here with these free livestreams starting at 9:23 p.m. EDT (0123 GMT).
Sand overextraction weakening riverbanks as concrete demand soars
Research finds demand has more than doubled since 2000 and 80% of current demand comes from AsiaA booming demand for concrete has resulted in sand and gravel being extracted from …
Around the world, people are rejecting divisive and dangerous politics. We can – and must – build on that | Gordon Brown
The vast majority of the global public wants international cooperation on human rights, climate and AI. Like-minded countries must stand together to deliverBritain’s new prime min…
APOD: 2026 August 26 – JWST Images The Lion’s Head Nebula
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 August 26 – JWST… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the …
From nuisance to new resource: Prickly pear could support fuels, foods and rural growers
Texans often view prickly pear cactus as a nuisance, but researchers with Texas A&M AgriLife Research are seeking opportunity. Susanne Talcott, Ph.D., a molecular researcher and p…