
How the war in Iran could endanger one of Earth’s most unique ecosystems
Despite decades of damage, the Persian Gulf’s ecological marvels remain—for now

How the war in Iran could endanger one of Earth’s most unique ecosystems
Despite decades of damage, the Persian Gulf’s ecological marvels remain—for now

Deep-Earth diamonds reveal trove of never-before-seen minerals
Flecks of minerals captured in diamonds show hidden connections between Earth’s surface and its deep interior

Depression scales may not work the same for highly intelligent people
Research suggests depression assessment questionnaires can’t reliably compare people with differing intelligence

2026 FIFA World Cup players and fans at risk of extreme heat, climate scientists warn
Heat conditions could exceed dangerous levels at a quarter of the planned 2026 World Cup soccer matches, including the final in New Jersey on July 19

Almost half of the objects in Earth’s orbit are junk—and that’s only the stuff we know about
Debris is a growing threat to orbital infrastructure, and it’s only going to get worse as the number of launches increases

Can hantavirus spread through the air? What we do and don’t know
The Andes type of the hantavirus is spread by “close contact,” but it’s unclear how much of that transmission occurs by inhaling airborne droplets or other means

Americans are increasingly open to using psychedelics for medical reasons
A survey found that more than 60 percent of respondents “strongly support” making psychedelics easier to study, reflecting a growing consensus that some could have therapeutic use

Were the first dentists Neanderthals?
Archaeologists analyzed a Neanderthal molar that seems like it was intentionally drilled, but some experts are skeptical

Radar picks up on bird migration. But how do we tell birds and storms apart?
Flock shape, speed and structure are key in deciphering whether radar readouts are birds, bats, insects or weather

How to recover your shrinking attention span
Digital distractions can undermine our focus, but research suggests that our inherent capacity to pay attention hasn’t diminished

This baby galaxy is a ‘missing link’ in the quest to glimpse the universe’s first stars
Seen just 800 million years after the big bang, an object called LAP1-B is a galactic building block that seems to hold some of the first stars to ever shine

Tiny robot drones learn to navigate the world like honeybees
Mapping their starting point like bees do helps autonomous drones find their way