US scientists

Scientists and US media are raising alarms about a slow-moving, planetary-scale Kelvin wave in the Pacific making its way toward the California coast. The ocean phenomenon could raise sea levels by up to a foot as El Niño conditions keep warm water trapped along the coastline. Observers warn the combined effect could worsen coastal erosion and flooding risks for communities already exposed to rising seas and winter storms.

Scientists are tracking a slow-moving kelvin wave, a vast pulse of warm ocean water travelling along the equatorial Pacific toward the US West Coast. The phenomenon is closely tied to El Niño-Southern Oscillation dynamics, and observers warn it could shift weather patterns, raise coastal sea levels and influence storm activity for California in the months ahead, sharpening fears of extreme conditions on the West Coast.

Scientists in Germany are preparing to copy and store vast troves of American climate data, fearing the Trump administration could alter, restrict, or remove federal climate records. The effort has been likened to building an ark, preserving scientific information outside the United States in case it becomes unavailable at home, and has drawn attention as researchers weigh risks to publicly funded datasets.

Scientists and weather watchers are tracking a vast, slow-moving Kelvin wave—a planetary-scale ocean or atmospheric pattern—that is heading toward California. The development is drawing attention because such waves can influence coastal conditions and extreme weather, and concern is mounting over what impact it could bring to the US West Coast.

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.

Beam Therapeutics says a scientist took trade secrets and used them to help launch a rival startup in China. The allegation, reported by Bloomberg Law, adds to ongoing tensions between US biotech firms and China over intellectual property. Details of the accused scientist's identity and the specific secrets involved were not disclosed in the available reporting.

Germany is reportedly creating an archive to preserve United States climate data, described as a digital Noah's Ark. The project is understood as a safeguard against the potential loss or removal of federal climate datasets, allowing scientists to keep access to long-term environmental records regardless of what happens to US government databases.

Fortune reports that American scientists are increasingly looking abroad, raising the question of whether European businesses can benefit by attracting research talent. The article points to growing interest among US researchers in opportunities overseas, and asks whether Europe's companies and institutions are positioned to take advantage of this potential brain drain from the United States.

Scientists suggest Saturn's icy moon Enceladus could host microbial life, and that plumes of water erupting from beneath its surface offer a way to detect it. The geysers blast material from a subsurface ocean into space, meaning a spacecraft could potentially sample it without drilling through the ice, keeping hopes alive in the search for life beyond Earth.

Colorado's glaciers are shrinking, and researchers say their retreat is a visible signal of a warming climate. Reporting from Colorado focuses on what the loss of these ice masses means for the state's water supplies, ecosystems and mountain landscapes. Coverage highlights the glaciers as local indicators of broader climate change, drawing attention from residents and scientists alike.

On the SETI Live podcast, SETI Institute executive Bill Diamond speaks with Dr. Lori Marino, recipient of the 2026 Drake Award, about animal intelligence and brain evolution. Marino, a specialist in whale and dolphin cognition, argues that studying non-human minds on Earth can shape how scientists think about intelligence elsewhere in the universe. The conversation covers dolphin and whale brains, what intelligence means beyond humans, and the search for extraterrestrial minds.

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.

A powerful nor'easter battered the US East Coast, and analysis by Climate Central indicates climate change made the coastal flooding worse. Rising sea levels caused by warming oceans mean storm surge and waves pushed water further inland than the same storm would have decades ago. Scientists say such storms increasingly flood communities that once stayed dry, highlighting the growing cost of warming along densely populated Atlantic shorelines.

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.

Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Michigan and a former epidemiologist, explains how his scientific background shapes his political approach. In an interview with Scientific American, he discusses how evidence-based thinking informs his positions on policy issues as he campaigns for the seat.

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.

Scientists are monitoring a slow-moving, planetary-scale Kelvin wave heading toward California. The oceanic phenomenon, which travels along the equator and can carry warm water eastward, is drawing concern over potential effects on coastal conditions and weather patterns. Observers are watching closely as the wave approaches the US West Coast, with experts weighing what its arrival could mean for the region.

Conservation groups have filed a lawsuit against an office within the Trump administration over its handling of deep-sea mining. The legal challenge targets the government's stance on extracting minerals from the ocean floor, an issue that has drawn growing opposition from scientists and environmental organisations concerned about damage to fragile marine ecosystems. Details of the claims and the office's response were not immediately available.

Researchers from Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory are studying fossil corals in the Cook Islands to reconstruct how global sea levels changed in past warm periods. By dating ancient coral reefs, scientists hope to better predict how quickly ice sheets could melt and seas could rise as the climate warms, informing coastal planning worldwide.