Science News
Cornell’s Jane Doe Said She Was Given Ketamine. Here’s How the Drug Works.
Ketamine is a short-acting anesthetic that can have hallucinogenic effects. It is becoming more easily available, and some experts fear misuse is increasing.
A Hacking Competition Shows the Power of China’s Approach to A.I.
The winner of a cybersecurity contest prevailed by relying on an ‘open weight’ Chinese model — another sign that available A.I. systems could already be too powerful to easily regulate.
Clues to Why a Breakthrough Pancreatic Cancer Drug Eventually Stops Working
Researchers are asking why patients, like former Senator Ben Sasse, inevitably develop resistance to the drug daraxonrasib.
A Viper That Caused Alarm in California Was A.I.-Generated
A Gaboon viper, a venomous snake native to equatorial regions of Africa, was supposedly photographed in a tree in Santa Ana, Calif. How could that be? Well, it turns out it wasn’t.
See How El Niño Is Washing Ashore in California
An enormous pulse of wave energy will soon reach the coast and continue north, raising sea levels by half a foot and increasing threats from swells and tides.
New Cancer Drugs Are Revolutionary. Why Don’t More Patients Get Them?
Targeted gene therapies are highly effective at stopping cancers, but the very abundance of the treatments, plus cost and sluggish change, are hindering access.
Ukrainian Science Academy, Struck by Drone, Played Key Role in Research
Over 90 percent of Ukraine’s scientific discoveries have been attributed to Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences, including advancements in astronomy and military technology.
Tennessee Valley Authority Gets Approval to Build Small Nuclear Reactor
It’s only the second time that American regulators have approved a next-generation commercial reactor for construction. Big hurdles remain.
Anthropic’s Quest for Humanlike A.I.
Elizabeth Dias, our national religion correspondent, and Cade Metz, one of our technology reporters, discuss Anthropic’s approach for instilling morality into Claude — which has involved consultations with religious leaders, including ones at the Vatican — and why it’s raising questions.
What If A.D.H.D. Isn’t About Attention at All?
Evidence suggests that it really affects what psychiatrists like me call sustained engagement — an important difference in understanding how to think about the condition.
Radio Waves Coming From an Alien Planet May Be a Cosmic First
Beta Pictoris b appears to have an aurora caused by a powerful magnetic field. If confirmed, it would be the first such field known outside our solar system.
V.A. Institutes New Consent Requirements for Some Psychiatric Drugs
Veterans under 30 will have to sign forms before being given antidepressants. Medical groups fear the moves may stigmatize mental health treatment.
Despite Setbacks, NASA Gives Boeing’s Starliner Spacecraft a Boost
A previous mission left two astronauts stuck in space for months. Still, the space agency is investing $359 million to keep the craft flying.
The Coal Industry Asked for a Rescue. Trump Obliged.
In a previously unreported letter, a top lobbyist floated the idea of using emergency powers to keep aging coal plants open.
Judge Blocks FEMA From Tying Antiterrorism Grants to Election Changes
The Trump administration had threatened to withhold some Homeland Security money unless states explored paper balloting and citizenship verification.
Trump Sharply Scales Back Fuel Economy Rules for New Cars
The move marked the final step in the administration’s efforts to dismantle policies aimed at speeding the shift to electric vehicles.
This Virus Stole a Human Gene and Won’t Let Go of It
Scientists have found a human gene lurking in a virus that causes skin infections. It may be using our own DNA to infect us.
SpaceX’s Starship Is Set to Make Its First Orbital Flight
If successful, the 14th test flight will be a crucial milestone toward the company’s ambitions of sending people to the moon and Mars.
Did Anthropic’s A.I. Really Make a Scientific Discovery on Its Own?
An expert at the University of Copenhagen said his team had been sharing its research with the company’s A.I. model, Claude, and that its new finding matched their work.
Dogs Will Fight Bears. But Not Because of the Reason You Might Think.
Scientists analyzed hundreds of encounters between bears and canines. The results raise the suggestion that dogs may not always protect people in the wild.