Science & Earth

Researchers report nine unusual objects found in archival James Webb Space Telescope data that are small and compact but lack clear signs of bright quasars or active supermassive black holes. The objects show narrow spectral lines indicating slower gas motions, and the team says more examples and follow-up data are needed to determine their nature.

NASA said it will bring Crew 11 home next week after an unidentified crew member experienced a medical issue, and officials reported the crew member is stable. NASA is targeting undocking no earlier than Jan. 14 with a splashdown off California around Jan. 15, subject to weather and recovery checks.

The Great Barrier Reef still supports abundant marine life in parts, but it has suffered repeated mass bleaching and other pressures; scientists, island research programs, and some tourism operations are involved in restoration and monitoring efforts.

A scientific report found global ocean heat content rose by about 23 zettajoules in 2025, marking the ninth consecutive year of record marine warming; the authors link the trend mainly to rising greenhouse gas emissions.

The National Weather Service says widespread rain will impact New Jersey today with totals up to about 1 to 1.5 inches in places; a strong cold front may bring isolated rain or snow showers and gusts up to 40–45 mph on Sunday.

The moose has long symbolized Maine and was placed on the state seal in 1820 and named the state animal in 1987; its population fell in the 18th–19th centuries and later rebounded after hunting regulations and forest regeneration. Recent concerns about parasites, warming temperatures, and habitat shifts have renewed attention to moose health.

A study published in Earth's Future outlines several worst‑case climate scenarios that could affect the U.K., and researchers say decision‑makers lack the tools to test those outcomes.

NASA postponed the Expedition 74 spacewalk scheduled for Jan. 8 because of a medical concern involving one crew member; officials say the crew member is stable and the agency is reviewing options, including advancing Crew‑11's return date.

In a 12-person clinical study, applying arginine to dental biofilms raised pH after sugar exposure and altered biofilm carbohydrate composition and the mix of bacteria.

Rubin Observatory data identified 2025 MN45, a roughly 710-meter main-belt asteroid that rotates every 1.88 minutes, and a peer-reviewed paper reports 76 measured asteroid rotation periods including 19 new super- and ultra-fast rotators.

The Bureau of Reclamation released a 1,600-page draft environmental impact statement presenting five alternatives for post-2026 Colorado River operations, and a public comment period is scheduled for Jan. 16–Mar. 2, 2026.

Storm Goretti brought very strong winds, heavy rain and snow to parts of the UK and left more than 65,000 homes without power; a red wind warning was issued for the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall.

Satellite images show Antarctic iceberg A-23A has large surface pools of meltwater that tint it blue, and scientists say the berg may disintegrate within days to weeks.

State health officials reported bird flu in a backyard flock in Dukes County and said the birds were safely depopulated and disposed of; no human cases were reported and officials found no evidence that contaminated products were distributed.

The Supreme Court will consider whether oil companies can move coastal erosion lawsuits from state courts to federal courts; the dispute follows a Louisiana jury's more-than-$740 million verdict against Chevron and could affect dozens of related claims.

The EPA partially disapproved Colorado's regional haze state implementation plan, saying the state did not properly address planned coal-plant retirements and related takings concerns; Colorado must submit a revised SIP to the agency.

A simulation study of 32 Local Group galaxies within ΛCDM estimates the Local Group mass as 4.33 (+0.37/−0.32) × 10^12 solar masses, with the Milky Way containing about 14% ± 7% of that mass, and reports that observed radial velocities exceed model predictions by a typical ~45 km s−1.

The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that California has 0% abnormal dryness for the first time since December 2000 after a series of strong winter storms; officials say reservoirs are largely refilled and near-term wildfire risk is low.

A standing-room session at CES’s Foundry paired fusion researchers Dr. Tammy Ma and Dr. Alex Creeley with comedians Randy and Jason Sklar to discuss recent fusion milestones and the technology’s long-term potential.

A total solar eclipse will pass over parts of Spain on August 12, 2026, with the path of totality crossing northwest to southeast and including several cities and the Balearic Islands. The article reports this will be the first total eclipse visible in Spain since 1905 and that local authorities expect increased visitor interest.

Storm Goretti crossed the United Kingdom and France, producing measured wind gusts above 120 mph and widespread power outages that affected nearly half a million customers.

President Trump issued a presidential memorandum withdrawing the United States from 66 international organizations and treaties, including the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

China's EAST tokamak held plasma stably at about 1.3–1.65 times the Greenwald Limit, and the results were published Jan. 1 in Science Advances as evidence for a plasma‑wall self‑organization pathway to higher densities.

Eric and Wendy Schmidt announced funding for four telescopes called the Schmidt Observatory System, including a 3.1-meter space telescope named Lazuli slated to begin operations around 2029. The package also includes three ground-based, modular arrays — Argus, a large radio array (DSA), and LFAST — with an open-data plan.

A PLOS One study compared 24 teeth from three individuals at Dmanisi with 559 teeth from other hominins and found dental variation that groups into two sets, which the authors say could indicate more than one species lived at the site about 1.8 million years ago.

Researchers report chemical traces of plant-derived poisons on quartz arrow tips from Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in a layer dated to about 60,000 years ago, and identify alkaloids consistent with plants in the Amaryllidaceae family. The finding, published in Science Advances, pushes back confirmed evidence of poison weapons by tens of thousands of years.

James Ward found a 2.09-carat brown diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas on Dec. 30 while visiting with his wife and two sons; park officials said crater diamonds form in the upper mantle and are brought to the surface by ancient volcanic pipes.

SpaceX is targeting a Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral today between 1:29 p.m. and 5:29 p.m. to deploy 29 Starlink satellites, and weather services report highly favorable conditions.

A nearly 10,000-year-old purpose-built pyre was found at Hora 1 beneath Mount Hora in northern Malawi and identified as Africa's oldest known intentional human cremation. Archaeologists recovered about 170 bone fragments believed to belong to an adult woman and report cut marks and the absence of skull fragments consistent with ritualized treatment.

Juneau has nearly 40 inches of snow on the ground and declared an emergency while crews and volunteers work to remove snow ahead of rain expected Thursday.