Science 26 November 2025 - 11 March 2026

Chernobyl Fungus Back in Focus as DARPA and Space Claims Revive Radiation-Eating Debate
···

Chernobyl Fungus Back in Focus as DARPA and Space Claims Revive Radiation-Eating Debate

ScienceAlert and other outlets revived coverage of Chernobyl’s black fungus, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, but researchers have not shown it can convert radiation into usable energy. The fungus, first documented in Chernobyl in 2000, grows faster under radiation and may help shield against it, as seen in ISS experiments. DARPA is moving forward with space manufacturing tests, but links to the fungus remain speculative.
March 28, 2026
NASA Satellite Re-entry Alert: Van Allen Probe A’s Final Descent Carries Low Risk
···

NASA Satellite Re-entry Alert: Van Allen Probe A’s Final Descent Carries Low Risk

The U.S. Space Force now projects NASA’s retired Van Allen Probe A will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere around 12:03 a.m. ET Wednesday, later than NASA’s earlier estimate. Most of the 1,323-pound spacecraft is expected to burn up, with a 1 in 4,200 chance of causing harm on the ground. The probe is falling years early due to increased solar activity. Precise re-entry timing remains uncertain.
March 11, 2026
NASA Satellite Crash Alert: Van Allen Probe A Set for Earth Re-Entry With Low Risk to People
···

NASA Satellite Crash Alert: Van Allen Probe A Set for Earth Re-Entry With Low Risk to People

NASA said its defunct Van Allen Probe A satellite, weighing 1,323 pounds, is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere around 7:45 p.m. EDT Tuesday, with some debris likely to survive. Officials say there is no targeted landing area and the exact timing remains uncertain. The mission ended in 2019, years earlier than planned, after increased solar activity accelerated the craft’s descent. NASA maintains the risk to the public is low.
March 10, 2026
Haleon PLC’s Centrum Silver May Slow Biological Aging, Nature Medicine Study Finds
···

Haleon PLC’s Centrum Silver May Slow Biological Aging, Nature Medicine Study Finds

A Nature Medicine study found Haleon’s Centrum Silver slowed biological aging markers by about four months over two years in older adults, based on analysis of 958 participants. The effect was statistically significant but small, with authors urging more research. Haleon, facing weak U.S. demand and heavy competition, welcomed the findings but did not influence the trial. The company reported U.S. multivitamin sales rebounded in late 2025.
March 9, 2026
AI tool aims to match dinosaur footprints to the animals that made them, study says
···

AI tool aims to match dinosaur footprints to the animals that made them, study says

Researchers unveiled an AI system that analyzes dinosaur footprints, using eight recurring shape traits from 1,974 track silhouettes spanning 150 million years. The method reached up to 93% agreement with expert identifications and aims to reduce subjectivity in matching tracks to specific dinosaur groups. The team released their code and an app called DinoTracker.
February 6, 2026
This black hole ate a star — and it’s still belching a brighter jet years later
···

This black hole ate a star — and it’s still belching a brighter jet years later

A supermassive black hole 665 million light-years away is blasting an unusually persistent, bright radio jet years after shredding a red dwarf star, astronomers reported Thursday. The jet, monitored by telescopes in New Mexico and South Africa, continues to intensify and may peak in late 2026 or 2027. Researchers say the delayed, powerful outburst defies typical patterns seen after such stellar disruptions.
February 5, 2026
Robot Dog Climbs Mount Etna to Sniff Volcanic Gases — Here’s What It Found
···

Robot Dog Climbs Mount Etna to Sniff Volcanic Gases — Here’s What It Found

ETH Zurich researchers sent a four-legged robot equipped with a mass spectrometer onto Mount Etna to autonomously sample volcanic gases in hazardous areas. The robot achieved up to 100% autonomy in some missions but struggled with wind and rough terrain, which scattered gas plumes and sometimes required manual control. The system detected sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and five out of eight helium sources.
February 4, 2026
Methane spotted on interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as new studies pin down its size
···

Methane spotted on interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as new studies pin down its size

Scientists have directly detected methane in interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, using data from the James Webb and Hubble telescopes collected in December. The comet’s nucleus is estimated at 2.6 km wide, larger than expected. Both findings are detailed in new arXiv preprints as the comet dims and leaves the inner solar system. Only three interstellar objects have been confirmed in the solar system to date.
February 2, 2026
NASA’s Artemis II Countdown Hits Critical Stage With Key Fueling Rehearsal Set for Monday
···

NASA’s Artemis II Countdown Hits Critical Stage With Key Fueling Rehearsal Set for Monday

NASA began a full countdown and fueling rehearsal for Artemis II at Kennedy Space Center on Monday, loading super-cold propellants into the moon rocket despite freezing temperatures. The test, required before setting a crewed launch date, simulates a launch day without ignition. Any issues could push the first crewed Artemis mission past its February 8–11 window. Four astronauts are slated to fly around the Moon.
February 2, 2026
Hong Kong scientists say this AI can spot storms 4 hours early — why forecasters are watching
···

Hong Kong scientists say this AI can spot storms 4 hours early — why forecasters are watching

Hong Kong scientists say their new AI-based DDMS system can predict thunderstorms and heavy rain up to four hours in advance, extending warning times. The model updates every 15 minutes and improved forecast accuracy by over 15% in tests. China’s Meteorological Administration and the Hong Kong Observatory plan to integrate the system into official forecasts.
January 28, 2026
Northern Lights Tonight? NOAA says aurora could reach New York as solar storm lingers
···

Northern Lights Tonight? NOAA says aurora could reach New York as solar storm lingers

NOAA extended geomagnetic storm warnings Wednesday after a rapid coronal mass ejection triggered by an X-class solar flare caused severe conditions. Auroras may be visible as far south as Alabama and northern California, with rare sightings in northern Italy and the UK. The storm reached G4 and S4 levels, threatening satellites, navigation, and polar flights. Forecasters say such intensity hasn’t been seen in over 20 years.
January 21, 2026
Northern Lights Could Reach Farther South Tonight After NOAA Flags Severe Solar Storm
···

Northern Lights Could Reach Farther South Tonight After NOAA Flags Severe Solar Storm

Severe G4 geomagnetic storm levels were recorded early Tuesday after a coronal mass ejection struck Earth, NOAA said. A rare severe solar radiation storm was also underway, raising risks for polar flights and satellites. Agencies in the U.K. and Australia reported similar conditions and warned of possible G5 intervals. NOAA notified airlines, NASA, and grid operators as the situation developed.
January 20, 2026
Comet 3I/ATLAS suddenly looks “fully active” — and astronomers say the window is closing
···

Comet 3I/ATLAS suddenly looks “fully active” — and astronomers say the window is closing

NASA’s SPHEREx telescope recorded a surge in gas and dust from interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS after its close solar approach. The comet, only the third confirmed interstellar object in the solar system, will reach opposition on Jan. 22, offering extended nighttime viewing. Researchers detected water and carbon monoxide emissions about 20 times higher than earlier readings. 3I/ATLAS is already leaving the solar system.
January 20, 2026
ISS-grown bacteria-killing viruses return to Earth and hit E. coli harder, study finds
···

ISS-grown bacteria-killing viruses return to Earth and hit E. coli harder, study finds

Bacteriophages evolved aboard the International Space Station became more effective at killing certain UTI-causing E. coli strains once returned to Earth, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison reported. Microgravity delayed early infections and led to unique mutations in both the viruses and bacteria. Scientists say scaling up such space-based experiments remains difficult.
January 20, 2026
NASA’s TESS abruptly pivots to watch interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS — what it’s looking for
···

NASA’s TESS abruptly pivots to watch interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS — what it’s looking for

NASA said Friday its TESS satellite will pause regular observations this month to track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, only the third such object ever confirmed. Data from the campaign will be calibrated and released to the public immediately. The comet, discovered in July 2025, passed closest to the sun in October and will remain visible with small telescopes into spring 2026.
January 17, 2026
Tiny Primordial Black Holes and the Human Body: New Study Calculates the Real Risk of a Cosmic “Bullet”
···

Tiny Primordial Black Holes and the Human Body: New Study Calculates the Real Risk of a Cosmic “Bullet”

A new study in International Journal of Modern Physics D finds a tiny primordial black hole passing through a human would cause little or no injury unless it weighed at least 140 billion tons. Even then, the odds of such an event are estimated at one in a quintillion years. The research has drawn widespread media coverage since November 21.
November 26, 2025
1 2 3