Science in the News
- Animals
AI-powered whale-spotting tech may help save San Francisco Bay’s gray whales
An AI trained to use thermal images to detect whale body heat could help warn ships at risk of colliding with the marine mammals.
- Health & Medicine
Hantavirus questions grow in the wake of a cruise ship outbreak
Scientists still don’t know why Andes hantavirus is the only one shown to spread from person to person.
- Health & Medicine
Some South American rodent-borne viruses may spread as climate warms
Some rodents in South America carry arenaviruses and hantaviruses. Climate change may bring both to regions where neither is currently a threat.
- Health & Medicine
What to know about a rare hantavirus outbreak at sea
Public health officials are racing to find out how the sometimes deadly hantavirus got aboard a cruise ship and if there has been human-to-human spread.
- Health & Medicine
Peptides are unproven as health aids. FDA may unleash them anyway
Rather than reining in the compounds, the FDA may be poised to broaden access, perhapas even adding peptides to supplements. Experts say “buyer beware.”
- Climate
Emperor penguins are marching toward extinction. Antarctica fur seals too
Conservationists now list the penguins and seals as “Endangered.” Climate change in Antarctica has led to plunging populations.
- Health & Medicine
Supreme Court ruling on ‘conversion therapy’ puts medical talk in the hot seat
In Chiles v. Salazar, the court ruled that a therapist has First Amendment protections. That could impact how talk therapy is regulated.
- Artificial Intelligence
Welcome to the weird world of AI agent teams
AI agents are starting to work in teams, but without careful organization, groups of bots can easily fall into chaos.
- Science & Society
Social media can be addictive, a jury finds. Research hints at a link
Instagram and YouTube intentionally designed social media platforms to hook users, a landmark court case found. A pediatrician explains the ruling’s impact.
- Science & Society
Federal cuts put help for mental health and drug addiction in peril
SAMHSA’s work is crucial to suicide and drug overdose prevention and mental health care. It may fall victim to changes to public health infrastructure.
- Genetics
What 23andMe’s bankruptcy means for your genetic data
As 23andMe prepares to be sold, Science News spoke with two experts about what’s at stake and whether consumers should delete their genetic data.
- Climate
California wildfire season should be over. So why is L.A. burning?
In some parts of California, fire season is now year-round due to rising heat and little rain. High winds and dry conditions are fueling L.A.’s infernos.
