Science News
Science and technology research, biotech advances, space exploration, climate tech, and health innovation.
32 articles
NASA's Artemis II Should Have Been a SpaceX Mission ($100B Waste)
Analysis of NASA's Artemis II lunar mission, comparing costs with SpaceX and exploring the future of lunar exploration and colonization.
NASA launches four astronauts toward the Moon on the Artemis II mission
NASA successfully launches Artemis II, sending four astronauts toward the Moon for the first time in over 50 years aboard the Space Launch System rocket.
Research roundup: 7 cool science stories we almost missed
A roundup of fascinating scientific stories including puzzle-solving raccoons, space sperm research, and the physics of folding crepes.
The Artemis Moon base project is legally dubious
NASA's Artemis II mission raises legal questions about the Moon base project as the agency prepares to launch four astronauts toward lunar exploration.
Polygraphs have major flaws. Are there better options?
Polygraph machines have significant reliability issues in detecting deception. Researchers are exploring alternatives, though true lie detection remains scientifically questionable.
Explanation for why we don't see two-foot-long dragonflies anymore fails
New research challenges the 30-year-old oxygen constraint hypothesis that explained why giant dragonflies no longer exist, suggesting insect breathing capacity could have compensated for lower atmospheric oxygen.
Causality optional? Testing the "indefinite causal order" superposition
Quantum experiment demonstrates that the order of events can exist in superposition, potentially challenging our understanding of causality in quantum mechanics.
A woman’s uterus has been kept alive outside the body for the first time
Scientists in Spain kept a human uterus alive outside the body for 24 hours using a perfusion device, opening new possibilities for studying reproductive biology and gestational technology.
Outbreak linked to raw cheese grows; 9 cases total, one with kidney failure
E. coli outbreak linked to Raw Farm's unpasteurized cheese and milk has sickened 9 people across 3 states, with one case developing kidney failure.
Weekly Dose of Optimism #186
A curated roundup of optimistic scientific breakthroughs including NASA's nuclear initiatives, renewable energy advances, vaccine development, and biotech innovations.
Here’s why some people choose cryonics to store their bodies and brains after death
An exploration of why people choose cryonic preservation despite vanishingly small chances of reanimation, examining the science and psychology behind the practice.
Here is NASA's plan for nuking Gateway and sending it to Mars
NASA plans to repurpose Gateway lunar station hardware for a nuclear-electric propulsion demonstration mission to deep space, marking the first US nuclear reactor launch in over 60 years.
We got an audience with the "Lunar Viceroy" to talk how NASA will build a Moon base
NASA appoints Carlos Garcia-Galan to lead its Moon base initiative, discussing plans and implementation strategies for the ambitious lunar project.
"The last straw"—RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine ally angrily quits CDC panel after spat
Anti-vaccine activist Robert Malone resigns from CDC vaccine advisory panel after disputes with HHS officials over the committee's future.
Final analysis of 2025 Iberian blackout: Policies left Spain at risk
Analysis of Spain's 2025 blackout reveals how voltage oscillations and hardware disconnections caused grid failure across the Iberian Peninsula.
NASA wants to put a $20 billion base on the Moon
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced plans for a $20 billion lunar base and nuclear-powered Mars spacecraft during the agency's Ignition event.
Mining the deep ocean
Policymakers debate the viability and safety of deep ocean mining for critical minerals like cobalt and nickel needed for modern technology.
Weekly Dose of Optimism #185
A curated roundup featuring entrepreneurial ventures, breakthroughs in cancer treatment, and scientific discoveries across multiple domains.
Coal plant forced to stay open due to emergency order isn't even running
A coal plant kept operational by DOE emergency order in Washington state isn't actually running, undermining claims about grid reliability needs.
Never mind Band-Aids, Neanderthals had antiseptic birch tar
Research reveals Neanderthals used birch tar as an antiseptic for wounds and infections, not just as adhesive for tools.
FDA links raw cheese to outbreak; Makers "100% disagree," refuse recall
FDA links raw cheddar cheese to E. coli outbreak affecting 7 people across three states, but maker refuses recall.
NASA officials sidestepped questions on Artemis II risks—there's a reason why
NASA officials avoided detailed discussions about risks for the upcoming Artemis II Moon mission during a press conference, raising questions about transparency.
Woman sneezes out maggots after fly larvae get trapped in her deviated septum
A 58-year-old woman in Greece set a record by hosting sheep bot fly larvae in her nose for an extended period, eventually sneezing out maggots.
Tiny, long-armed dinosaur leads to rethink of dinosaur miniaturization
A newly discovered tiny dinosaur species challenges the theory that miniaturization in alvarezsaurids was directly tied to ant-eating specialization.
Fishing crews in the Atlantic keep accidentally dredging up chemical weapons
Fishing crews in the Atlantic have accidentally dredged up chemical weapons dumped by the US decades ago, exposing workers to mustard agent and severe chemical burns.
Weekly Dose of Optimism #183
Weekly roundup featuring a16z Summit, Pi memory advances, Evo 2, injectable livers, and Ginkgo's Cloud Lab with fundraising updates.
Weekly Dose of Optimism #182
Weekly newsletter covering Form Batteries, Proxima Fusion, biotech breakthroughs, Stripe updates, and industry profiles with optimistic tech insights.
Weekly Dose of Optimism #181
A weekly roundup covering scientific breakthroughs including vaccine developments, reactor technology, and research revival efforts across multiple fields.
Weekly Dose of Optimism #178
Weekly roundup covering breakthroughs in brain-computer interfaces, cancer research, AI genomics, and other optimistic tech developments.
Weekly Dose of Optimism #177
Curated collection of optimistic stories spanning cancer research, vaccines, drone delivery, ocean cleanup, and emerging technologies with industry impact.
Weekly Dose of Optimism #175
Curated roundup covering food science innovations, peptide research, robotics advances, and nuclear fuel developments.
Biotech companies I wish existed
Elad Gil identifies underexplored biotech opportunities including fertility breakthroughs and anti-aging research that could have massive societal impact.