Warfare

Despite decades of damage, the Persian Gulf’s ecological marvels remain—for now

Flecks of minerals captured in diamonds show hidden connections between Earth’s surface and its deep interior

After winning a Breakthrough Prize, the world’s most lucrative science award, theoretical physicist David Gross is using the moment to warn of nuclear war’s existential threat—and how we can escape it

Recently uncovered damage to walls in Pompeii displays patterns that may have been made by an ancient “machine gun” called a polybolos

Military strategists use game theory to evaluate possible strategies—but there are limits to what this approach to decision-making can achieve

Strikes to Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant could release long-lasting radioactive cesium 137 into the Persian Gulf, causing environmental calamity and threatening drinking-water supplies for millions

Ghost Murmur was described as a futuristic CIA tool that could detect a heartbeat from vast distances. Physicists say the public story clashes with the basic limits of magnetic sensing

Security feeds and traffic cameras have helped guide some of the most audacious targeted killings in modern history. Security researchers say the underlying vulnerabilities cover the planet and are easy to exploit

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has trapped a third of the world’s commercial helium, threatening the irreplaceable coolant that makes MRI scanners and advanced microchips possible

A Rhode Island start-up is working to recycle spent nuclear fuel into long-lasting power systems for the military

From emergency oil reserves to nuclear scrutiny, bigger hail, and research on a connection between the aging gut and the brain

GPS spoofing is distorting vessel positions and deepening the risk in one of the world’s most important shipping lanes