Open-access, multidisciplinary science journal published by AAAS since 2015
A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has found that trees in cities like New York and Philadelphia start pollen production earlier and finish later due to light pollution, potentially extending the allergy season by up to 130 days; the effect is linked to plants using day length cues for flowering and leaf-out.
A mounting body of studies shows climate hazards are increasingly disrupting data centers worldwide, raising costs and threatening reliability. Insurers warn of higher premiums; operators push for water-efficient cooling and location strategies. With heat waves intensifying, a systemic rethink of cooling, water use, and siting is underway.
Scientists have found macromolecular carbon in Martian mudstones, suggesting habitable conditions billions of years ago. The carbon could be biogenic or abiotic; samples will return to Earth for definitive testing, with timelines running 2035–2039. This marks multiple robust organic detections across Jezero crater and Gale crater.
A meteorite named Hillsborough, which crashed through a New Jersey home in July 2024, has yielded pristine fragments rich in amino acids and salts. Scientists say the sample, preserved by a quick-thinking homeowner, offers new insights into how brine-rich water could have seeded life on Earth. The finding appears in a Science Advances study published this week.
Independent reports that a theoretical model suggests median human lifespan could reach 146–194 years if all ageing factors are eliminated except somatic mutations, while Alzheimer’s breakthroughs explore seeds of amyloid beta and SORLA’s role in tau tangles.