US science

The Trump administration is seeking to prevent the restoration of climate change and diversity-related information at US historical sites. The move suggests an effort to keep such material removed from exhibits or signage at federally maintained locations. The news has drawn attention amid broader debates over how climate science and diversity topics are handled across government institutions.

Peter Barrett, a leading figure in Antarctic science in New Zealand and internationally, has died. Colleagues describe him as a legend in the field, noting that even in death he left behind a list of tasks and challenges, reflecting his lifelong commitment to Antarctic research and climate issues. Tributes have come from across Aotearoa and the wider scientific community.

Germany is creating a digital repository, described as a 'Noah's Ark', to back up American climate data amid fears the Trump administration could alter or delete federal scientific records. The initiative would safeguard datasets from US agencies so researchers worldwide can continue accessing them. Observers say the move reflects growing international concern about the reliability of US government climate science and a broader effort to protect open scientific data.

The US National Institutes of Health has launched Linked Discoveries, an experimental new PubMed tool aimed at strengthening research replication and reproducibility. The announcement is circulating among science and technology communities, with observers highlighting the effort to help researchers verify and build on published findings more easily.

Political science experts at Old Dominion University are analyzing Donald Trump's new political messages five weeks ahead of the US midterm elections. Their commentary, published by WAVY.com, examines how Trump's messaging may shape the campaigns and voter turnout. With the elections approaching, observers are watching closely to see which issues Trump emphasizes and how his involvement affects races nationwide.

US Senators Ted Budd and Lisa Blunt Rochester have introduced legislation to establish a Biometrology Laboratory Program aimed at accelerating development in the biotech industry. The bill would create a federal program to advance measurement science in biotechnology. The bipartisan pairing has drawn attention as Congress weighs support for the US biotech sector.

A piece published by Physics Today argues that US physics is facing what it calls its last crisis, pointing to pressures on funding, workforce and leadership in the field. The article is drawing attention among scientists and science-policy observers debating the future of American research.

Metro's Games Inbox is asking readers whether Naughty Dog will ever return to the Uncharted series, inviting speculation about the future of the PlayStation adventure franchise. The studio has not released a new mainline Uncharted game since Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and its spin-off The Lost Legacy, with recent focus on The Last of Us Part II and its upcoming science fiction game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Readers are debating whether a revival, remake, or handover to another studio is more likely.

A civil engineer has written a science fiction thriller exploring society's vulnerabilities in the age of artificial intelligence. The book draws on the author's engineering background to examine what happens when the infrastructure people depend on comes under threat from AI systems. It is being covered by US media as part of wider public debate over the risks of rapidly advancing AI technology.

NPR's weekly science roundup highlights three stories: unusually loud birds, research on how eating with company affects us, and new findings from asteroid samples. The roundup gathers recent developments in nature, behavior, and space research into a single digest for general readers.

A lawsuit filed on behalf of Adam Kalkstein, a former professor at the US Military Academy at West Point, alleges he was fired after objecting to directives barring faculty from teaching that humans contribute to climate change. The case alleges academic freedom violations at the Army academy and has drawn attention to reported restrictions on climate science instruction for future military officers.

A representative of the Union of Concerned Scientists has delivered congressional testimony describing attacks on science in the United States, who is behind them, and the harm they cause. The organisation published the testimony on its blog, framing the discussion around threats to scientific integrity and their consequences for public policy.

People are sharing a line from Iain M. Banks's 1988 science fiction novel The Player of Games: "A guilty system recognizes no innocents." The quote, from the chapter "Imperium," is being circulated in discussions of US politics, with readers suggesting it captures how corrupt institutions implicate everyone within them. It is being used as a pointed commentary on American political life.

The IK Foundation is marking the last day of its fundraising campaign for the iBook Spitsbergen science expeditions, saying its goal is nearly met and appealing for donations to cover the final 10%. The campaign supports research and documentation work in the Arctic, with the appeal reaching audiences interested in science, Svalbard, Greenland and polar exploration.

Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Michigan, spoke with Scientific American about how his scientific background informs his political positions and approach to policy. The interview comes as he campaigns for the Senate seat, and it is drawing attention among readers interested in the intersection of science and politics.

The US National Cancer Institute has opened a search for a new Deputy Director of its Division of Cancer Biology. The division funds and coordinates basic research into how cancer develops, so the appointment will shape priorities in fundamental cancer science. The vacancy was flagged by oncology news outlets, drawing attention from researchers and job seekers in the cancer research community.

The US National Science Foundation is moving forward with a plan to build what would be the world's most powerful laser, a project that UC Irvine researchers are involved in advancing. The facility would push the frontiers of high-intensity laser science, enabling experiments in fundamental physics that are currently beyond reach. Details on timeline and funding remain limited.

NYU Stern professor Deepak Hegde argues in a new opinion piece that current tax policy penalizes the skilled workers and innovators who drive American scientific research. He contends that taxing this talent heavily undermines the workforce that builds US science leadership, and urges policymakers to reconsider how tax rules affect researchers and high-skilled immigrants in the innovation economy.

NASA has announced its selection of projects designed to engage communities across the United States with NASA science. The selections are intended to broaden public participation in the agency's scientific work nationwide. Details on the individual projects, funding amounts, and partner organizations have not been provided, and public reaction so far appears limited.

Tamil-language discussions are circulating about a woman whose case has been described as a mystery that raises questions about science, with her medical reports said to have confused scientists in the United States. No verified details about the woman, her condition, or the specific findings have been confirmed.

A new article argues that even the most powerful telescopes have blind spots that limit our maps of the universe, and describes a proposed fix that could help astronomers chart cosmic structures more accurately. Science communicators are sharing the piece widely, with readers discussing how correcting these observational gaps could improve our understanding of the universe's large-scale structure.

The US Department of Energy has announced a funding call of up to $400 million for its Office of Science for fiscal year 2027. The allocation will support scientific research programs under the office, which funds work in areas such as physics, computing, and energy sciences. The announcement signals the department's research funding priorities ahead of the 2027 fiscal year.

Commercial fishing groups are petitioning NOAA to downgrade the protected status of the Atlantic sturgeon, a large, long-lived fish that has been listed as endangered or threatened along the US East Coast since 2012. The request sets fishing interests against conservationists, who argue the species has not yet recovered from historic overfishing, habitat loss and bycatch. The outcome could affect how much protection the fish's spawning rivers and coastal waters receive.