US scientists

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 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 report that roughly one in eight new cancer cases is likely caused by infections, such as viruses and bacteria. The message drawing attention is that many of these cases may be preventable, with straightforward protective measures like vaccination and screening available. The finding is being discussed widely in the US, Canada and Australia as a reminder that infection-related cancer risk can be reduced through simple, accessible health steps.

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.

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.

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.

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.