The Age

A new update on next-generation Covid vaccines highlights that the first combined flu and Covid vaccine has been approved for people aged 50 and over. A large effectiveness trial is beginning in Denmark and Spain, and phase 2 results have been released for a so-called variant-proof vaccine designed to work against multiple strains at once.

Stephen Wolfram has published a long-form essay examining what artificial intelligence means for pure mathematics research. He explores whether AI systems can generate genuine mathematical insight, how they might assist with proofs and discovery, and what role human mathematicians will play as these tools improve. Readers are debating his arguments about the limits of machine-driven mathematics and the changing nature of mathematical work.

Scientists report that as the Pacific Ocean warms, its water-age structure is behaving counterintuitively: young water at the surface appears to be aging, while older deep water is getting younger, a reversal of established circulation patterns. The finding suggests climate change may be disrupting the ocean's overturning circulation, with potential consequences for heat and carbon storage. Researchers say the shift warrants closer monitoring of how the Pacific redistributes heat as global temperatures rise.

Matthew Perry's sister says the late Friends actor spent $7 million trying to get sober, adding that the figure shows how seriously he took his addiction. Perry, who died in October 2023 at age 54, had long spoken openly about his struggles with substance abuse and his efforts toward recovery. The remark has renewed discussion of his legacy and the cost of battling addiction.

Dennis Haskins, the actor best known for playing Principal Richard Belding on the sitcom 'Saved by the Bell,' has died at the age of 75. His death is being reported widely in entertainment news, with fans remembering his iconic role from the 1990s series.

Actor Dennis Haskins has died at the age of 75. He was best known for playing Principal Richard Belding, the well-meaning but often hapless school administrator on the hit sitcom 'Saved by the Bell,' a role that made him a familiar face to a generation of viewers. Details about the cause of death or his family's statements were not immediately available.

The European Commission has put forward a plan encouraging member states to offer citizens regular cardiovascular screenings starting at age 35, in response to heart disease remaining a leading cause of death in Europe. The proposal, discussed on French radio RMC's health programme, has sparked debate in France about prevention policies, access to free consultations, and how such exams would be organised in practice.

Thomas Muller has signed a contract extension with Vancouver Whitecaps at the age of 37. The former Bayern Munich midfielder joined the MLS club in 2025 and his previous deal had been due to expire at the end of the 2026 campaign. The extension keeps the veteran German international with the Whitecaps beyond next season, a notable boost for a side that has built its attack around him since his arrival.

A new dinosaur species with four wings has been discovered in China, according to BBC Wildlife Magazine. Details about the fossil, its age, and the species name have not yet been widely reported. The find adds to China's rich record of feathered dinosaurs and is drawing attention from palaeontology enthusiasts and science media worldwide.

Wood Mackenzie forecasts that replacing old solar capacity through decommissioning and repowering will account for around 23% of solar buildout in the 2040s. As early installations reach the end of their lifespans, analysts say the market will shift increasingly toward renewing existing sites rather than adding entirely new capacity, reshaping demand for developers and equipment suppliers.

A Tu-95 strategic bomber has crashed in Russia's Amur region, according to Vedomosti. The Soviet-era aircraft, a mainstay of Russia's long-range aviation, went down in the country's far east, though details on casualties or the cause have not been confirmed. The incident is drawing wide attention in Russia, where crashes involving the aging bomber fleet are closely watched amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

New research reported by Nature suggests transplanted hearts reverse their biological age after surgery, adjusting to the recipient's body rather than retaining the donor's. The finding indicates organ ageing is driven more by the host's internal environment than by the organ's own history. Scientists say it could reshape how donor organs are matched and how ageing of tissues is understood.

A new report from Universe Today suggests that older alien planets may never have progressed beyond simple microbial life, remaining stuck in what researchers call a 'slime age'. The idea is that on worlds with long-lived, stable conditions, life may have arisen early but never evolved into complex organisms, leaving planets covered in microbes and slime for billions of years. The claim has drawn attention as a sobering counterpoint to hopes of finding advanced civilizations among older exoplanets.

Longevity biotech company Junevity is moving its gene-network reset approach into the skincare market. The company, which works on reprogramming gene networks linked to ageing, is applying its science to consumer skin health products. The move reflects a wider trend of longevity research firms commercialising their science through skincare and wellness lines.