Science News
Wordle’s Hard Mode Is Actually Easier, 730 Million Games Show
As the game turns 5 years old, the data reveals that while standard-mode players have much more freedom, they’re not making the most of it.
In Ancient Pits Near Stonehenge, Scientists See Hints of Solstice Ritual
British archaeologists may have found the remains of a site where people celebrated the solstice thousands of years ago, a few miles from the famed stone circle.
New Plan Scales Back C.D.C.’s Work on Diseases Abroad
The State Department is taking over much of the control of global health initiatives, for which critics say the department does not have the expertise.
Trump Administration to Pay $765 Million to Cancel 4 More Wind Projects
It’s the third such deal the Interior Department has struck to pay firms to abandon plans for offshore turbines.
Richard Tapia, Mathematician Who Pushed to Diversify His Field, Dies at 88
A math whiz as a young man, he later blazed trails, both with his theoretical advances and his advocacy for minority students.
Trump’s FEMA Nominee Calls Staff Cuts a ‘Challenge’ for Disaster Agency
Cameron Hamilton, who briefly led the agency on an acting basis last year but was fired for contradicting the president, also said he would get money out to states faster.
A Deadly Outbreak of Plague, Nearly 5,000 Years Before the Black Death
The oldest known cases, discovered among hunter-gatherers in Siberian graves, contradict the theory that the disease once was mild.
D.O.J. Seeks to Halt Pollution Lawsuit Against Elon Musk’s Data Center
The department cited national security concerns, saying Elon Musk’s company had played a crucial role in the Iran war. It also argued it has the authority to stop environmental lawsuits brought by citizens.
New Coral Study Identifies Areas Where Reefs Are Hanging On
New research has identified areas around the world where cooler currents and other favorable conditions are helping to protect coral from the worst effects of global warming.
How an Addictive Gas Station Drug Found Allies in Trump’s Cabinet
With support from Markwayne Mullin and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the kratom industry is pursuing a potentially lucrative policy. Mr. Mullin owns equity in a company that could benefit.
Algae Is Turning the Reflecting Pool Green. Again.
Algal blooms have hit the site, between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, after a $14.2 million repair project.
How Does One Brain Speak Two Languages?
A new study of bilingual speakers suggests that a single “grammatical engine” in the brain can power multiple languages at once.
Kennedy Seeks to Expedite Appeal of Ruling That Blocked His Vaccine Policies
The health secretary is trying to restart the work of a panel that advises the government on vaccines, after a judge froze its decisions and prevented it from meeting.
Tensions Are Rising Between States That Rely on the Colorado River
A prolonged drought means the nation’s largest reservoirs are dwindling, and litigation over access to water could lie ahead.
The Secrets of a Soccer-Turf Master
John Sorochan, a turf scientist at the University of Tennessee, has led the yearslong, multimillion-dollar effort to develop perfect playing fields for the 2026 World Cup.
What NASA Needs to Stay on Track for the Moon
The agency gave a rosy update on Artemis III, a test flight for its goal to return humans to the moon, but experts say the timeline is ambitious.
What NASA Needs to Stay on Track for the Moon
The agency gave a rosy update on Artemis III, a test flight for its goal to return humans to the moon, but experts say the timeline is ambitious.
The Scientific Quest for Perfect World Cup Pitch
Every match must be played on natural grass that gives players as consistent a surface as possible, no matter the venue. Cue the years of sod studies.
Can the Artemis III Mission Go on as Planned?
NASA has chosen four astronauts for the Artemis III mission, but there has been a major setback: the destruction of a Blue Origin rocket and its only launchpad. Our science reporter Katrina Miller describes what this event might mean for the U.S. goal of landing on the moon by 2028.
NASA Leader Responds to Criticism Over All-Male Artemis III Crew
NASA’s missions these days rarely feature all-male crews. Jared Isaacman, its administrator, said women play prominent roles throughout the space agency.