Science World

A new explainer from science channel Veritasium examines the remarkable engineering that keeps the internet running, focusing on the physical infrastructure that carries global data traffic. The piece details the extreme measures involved in building and maintaining the systems that connect the world, and viewers have responded enthusiastically, sending it to the top of trending charts within days of release.

A new examination of planetary science argues that some worlds, possibly even planets in our own solar system, could be more habitable than Earth. The piece points to factors such as thicker atmospheres, warmer oceans and more stable climates that could make certain planets friendlier to life. Readers are debating how scientists define habitability and what this means in the search for life beyond our planet.

Research into the extinct Haast's eagle of New Zealand shows the world's largest eagle hunted in a way unlike any other bird of prey. Weighing up to 15 kg, it is thought to have swooped onto giant flightless birds such as moa, striking at high speed and using its massive talons to kill. The findings highlight how its size and hunting style set it apart from all living raptors.

Scientists have developed a chemistry-based technique that allows tattoos to be toggled on and off, according to a Live Science report on the technology. The trick relies on a chemical process that changes the visibility of the ink, suggesting body art that could be temporary or reversible. Details of how it works and whether it will reach real-world use are limited in the coverage.

President Trump has presented the National Medal of Science to a group of tech leaders including Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Google co-founder Sergey Brin, honoring their contributions to science and technology. The awards to some of the world's most prominent and politically active tech figures are drawing wide attention and debate about the intersection of science policy and politics.

Attention is turning to the role oxidative stress plays in cardiovascular health. A Nutrition Outlook piece highlights the topic, reflecting wider interest in how cellular damage from free radicals contributes to heart disease and whether nutrition and antioxidant strategies can help protect cardiovascular function. Discussions in the health and nutrition world continue to examine the science behind these links.

An argument is being made that scientific achievement cannot flourish without international researchers and open movement of talent. The piece contends that attempts to restrict or shrink global scientific exchange would undermine the quality and reach of research, and that leading science depends on drawing in expertise from around the world rather than closing it off.

CERN and French AI company Mistral are planning to develop a foundation model for physics, applying large-scale AI methods to scientific research at the European physics lab. The collaboration would aim to give researchers new tools for analyzing complex data from particle physics experiments. Details of the project's scope, funding and timeline have not been widely reported yet.

Political science professor Emanuele Diodato, author of 'Che cos'è la geopolitica', told Adnkronos that the world has already entered a post-American era, arguing that without Europe's support Vladimir Putin would have won the war in Ukraine. He also said China aims to set new standards of civilisation. His remarks feed into a wider debate about Europe's security role as US commitment wavers.