Top News – Science
Press review · Tuesday, 27 October 2026
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arstechnica.com
Europe will go it alone on Venus mission after NASA yanks radar instrument
Europe is looking inward, and perhaps to China, as the White House tries to cancel some NASA partnerships.
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pbs.org
Where have all the Atlantic hurricanes gone? El Niño might bring record slow storm season
On Saturday, 2026 set a record for the longest a season has begun without a storm that has reached winds of 74 mph to qualify as a hurricane — at least in the satellite era, said Nick Novella, a meteorologist at the government's Weather Prediction Center.
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futurism.com
China Deploys Rare Type of Space Junk That Pollutes Orbit for Hundreds of Years
A Chinese spacecraft that failed in a very rare Earth orbit is going to be up there for an extremely long time.
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popsci.com
Humans experimented with mind-altering drugs 25,000 years ago
Betel nut use among hunter-gatherers may turn back the clock.
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kcur.org
A ‘super El Niño’ is on the way. What that means for fall and winter weather in the central U.S.
Warmer-than-normal-temperatures in the Pacific Ocean are driving what could be the strongest El Niño on record. Here’s how that’s likely to impact weather across the central U.S this year.
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foxweather.com
Tsunami Warning issued after massive magnitude 7.7 earthquake rocks Indonesia along the Pacific Ring of Fire
A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake and several strong aftershocks struck Indonesia’s Flores region, prompting tsunami warnings for parts of four provinces.
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kqed.org
Strong El Niño May Bring Record Sea Level and Coastal Flooding to Bay Area | KQED
El Niño conditions temporarily layer tomorrow’s Bay Area sea levels onto today’s and offer a glimpse of a wetter future.
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Tropical Storm Lala forms in the Pacific and hurricane watch is issued for the Big Island of Hawaii
The storm is forecast to bring rain to the Hawaiian Islands starting late Friday as well as high winds and dangerous surf, the National Hurricane Center said.
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nbcnews.com
Solar eclipse highlights: Path of totality crosses parts of Europe, with a partial eclipse in U.S.
A total solar eclipse was visible Wednesday from Spain and other parts of Europe for the first time since 1999 Parts of the northern U.S. saw a partial solar eclipse.
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indystar.com
Flash flooding wreaks havoc on New Castle, Indiana, on Aug. 12, 2026
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space.com
SpaceX wants to put 1 million AI satellites in orbit. What would that do to Earth's climate?
"There seems, in my opinion, to be very little consideration for the environment."
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theguardian.com
Cruise ships, quiet towns and an all-day festival: millions flock to eclipse viewing spots across Europe
Beginning in Russia’s remote Arctic north, the eclipse traced an arc over much of western Europe – with the best views in Spain, Iceland and Greenland
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Astronomers discover a new kind of cosmic object – a black hole ‘star’
The body is the size of the entire solar system and glows with a brilliant red light billions of light years from Earth
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sltrib.com
‘Pain and suffering’: What the feds’ Lake Powell proposal means for Utah and other Colorado River states
The federal government is set to move forward with a new plan for the Colorado River — and it could mean changes for Utah, Lake Powell and millions of people who depend on the shrinking river. Here’s what you need to know.
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WATCH: Total solar eclipse darkens skies over Spain, Iceland
Across a swath of northern and central Spain, millions of people will have some of mainland Europe's best views of the celestial spectacle.
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Solar eclipse 2026 across Europe: in pictures
A total solar eclipse swept across parts of Europe and the North Atlantic on 12 August, with the path of totality moving through Greenland, Iceland, Spain and a small section of north-eastern Portugal, while surrounding areas across Europe experienced a partial solar eclipse, according to the European Space Agency
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Want to catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse from North America? Here's where and when
If you’re far enough north in the U.S. and Canada, you might savor a partial eclipse as the moon nibbles away at the sun.
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Share your photos and experiences of the solar eclipse
Perhaps you are travelling to see the celestial rarity? Or maybe you are making an event of it at home?
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‘Like an alien invasion’: the neon flying squid that can fly in formation above the ocean
Smart, sociable squid use funnel-like organ to force water to jet propel themselves along in and out of sea
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indystar.com
NOAA says likely derecho hit northern Indiana. What is it?
Early reports show northern parts of Indiana weathered a derecho, a chain of storms similar to tornados and hurricanes, on Aug. 11, 2026.
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nbcnews.com
The most dramatic meteor shower of the summer peaks the day of a solar eclipse
A new moon will keep skies dark, making shooting star sightings more likely during the Perseids’ most active phase.
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‘Real mummy’s curse’: health warning over growing trade in mummified human remains
Academic paper says often illicit trade exposes enthusiasts – and postal workers handling items – to serious risks
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laist.com
Big Bear’s famous bald eagle Jackie has died
The famous 14-year-old bald eagle had been receiving intensive care at the Ojai Raptor Center in recent weeks.
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kuow.org
‘Overwhelmed’ Spokane wildfire victims start recovery
Monday marks nine days since wildfires broke out in Spokane, sending thousands of people fleeing for safety. For hundreds of victims, recovery will be a long road.
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One of China's workhorse rockets just exploded in flight
If the failure involved the YF-100 engine, there are broader concerns for China's space program.
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Chinese rocket explodes less than 90 seconds after liftoff (photos)
China's space agency has not released a statement on the incident.
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Rush to find solar eclipse glasses as UK high street stocks run short
Some online shoppers may have left it too late for deliveries – but you can still view partial eclipse indirectly without specs
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Peer review is overwhelmed—can it survive in the AI era?
As research and AI-assisted papers surge, volunteer reviewers struggle to keep up.
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Roman shipwreck with 500 amphorae found off coast of Sicily
Discovery of 2,100-year-old vessel hailed as ‘one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years’
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World’s seas have hit hottest temperature on record for July, say scientists
Average sea surface temperature outside polar regions was highest on record for July, beating previous high in 2023
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How to spot the Perseid meteor shower, a summer light show that promises to dazzle
The meteor shower's peak Wednesday night into Thursday morning coincides with a total solar eclipse across Spain, Iceland and Greenland and a six-planet parade — though the best time to view the fireballs will come after totality.
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Perseid meteor shower set to dazzle northern hemisphere this week
Astronomers say viewing conditions promising for this year’s shower, and 50 to 100 meteors an hour may be visible
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The first self-driving vehicle on Mars has proven to be a smashing success
About 90 percent of the distance driven by Perseverance has been autonomous.
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scmp.com
US and Israeli physicists hail China’s glueball discovery as a ‘triumph’
Global experts praise team for solving 50-year-old puzzle, while Chinese social media buzzes with Nobel Prize predictions.
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Mount Toba eruption doesn't seem like it could nearly kill our species
The massive Toba eruption seems to have had little climate impact.
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Italy to place all 27 of its major cities on highest heat alert
Move comes as fourth heatwave of summer intensifies, edging temperatures in some areas close to 40C
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theatlantic.com
The Human-Origin Story Is Being Radically Revised
New secrets from our past have been coming out in droves.
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Little Giant Fire spreads toward cabins, towns in Washington Cascades
More than 650,000 acres have burned in Washington in 2026, making it the state’s worst fire year since 2021, with months still left in the ongoing fire season. The rapidly growing Little Giant Fire more than doubled in size in just five days, burning an area larger than the city of Seattle and Vashon Island combined.
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tech.yahoo.com
Infrared glasses could push the boundaries of human eyesight
The prototype could help us see light that other animals can.
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'Not looking good right now': Starship likely to be lost at sea 2 weeks after epic 13th test flight, Elon Musk says
"Nonetheless, we were able to obtain close-up photos of critical regions of the heat shield and engines for future upgrades."
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'It's apocalyptic.' A look at the aftermath of catastrophic fires in Spokane
In the wake of devastation after wildfires tour through northwest Spokane, some residents are returning to sort through the wreckage.
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nbcnews.com
Environmental groups challenge FCC approval of startup’s plan to beam on-demand sunlight from space
While the FCC approved only a single test mission, the groups argue it could pave the way for a much larger constellation of satellites in the future.
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usatoday.com
Spokane fires burned a path of devastation. Experts say get used to it
Scientists expect more wildfire devastation as people move closer to danger and climate change ups wildfire risk.
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Trump is losing his war on wind power
A court rules that a hold on all wind projects clearly violates the law.
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nbcnews.com
How an act of arson in Washington caused so much destruction
The Spokane wildfires show how extreme heat, dry vegetation, strong winds and expanding development can transform one ignition into a disaster that destroys hundreds of homes.
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WATCH: Scientists release most detailed sun images ever
Researchers were able to peek at its scorching surface with the help of the National Science Foundation's Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, located on the island of Maui in Hawaii.
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Safety fears as scientists make first viruses designed by AI
Researchers say breakthrough offers hope for new medicines but also raises urgent biosecurity questions
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theregister.com
Blue Origin blames New Glenn fireball on engine oxygen valve
Small modifications under way as Bezos's rocket biz races to rebuild pad and fly again this year
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Voyager 2 cheats the power budget for another year
Carefully choreographed shutdown gives probe's three remaining instruments more time
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SpaceX Now Faces a Terrible Peril
SpaceX insiders got their first real opportunity to turn their holdings into cash. Plenty of volatility followed.