Science & Earth

Using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, astronomers detected X-ray emission outlining an astrosphere around HD 61005, a young sun-like star about 120 light-years away; the result is the first clear X-ray view of such a stellar bubble.

The IEA projects about 4,600 GW of additional renewable capacity worldwide from 2025–2030, led by solar and wind; the article profiles Sunrun, Vestas and PPL for their roles in solar, wind and battery storage.

A Zimbabwe court convicted defendants in a lion-poaching case after forensic DNA from seized parts matched genetic data from a known lion killed near Victoria Falls; those involved received 24-month prison sentences.

The Scottish government has rejected plans for a £40m Flamingo Land holiday resort at Loch Lomond, citing flood risk, loss of historic woodland and wider policy conflicts; the decision follows years of local opposition and earlier appeals.

EPA records released Feb. 12 report PFAS detections in public water systems serving about 151 million people, and more than 1,050 systems reported yearly averages above the agency's 4 parts-per-trillion limit.

A Channel 4 drama and the research of two retired campaigners have renewed attention on long-running concerns about water pollution and the finances of England and Wales's water companies; a related class action reached the Court of Appeal shortly after the interview.

On Feb. 24, 2026 the Moon is in its First Quarter phase with about 48% of its face illuminated, and the next Full Moon will be on March 3.

The first official Somaliland delegation arrived in Israel after Israel recognized Somaliland in December 2025 and visited the Shafdan wastewater treatment complex to review water recycling and agricultural technologies.

Speaker Johnson invited the Artemis II crew to attend the State of the Union to highlight Louisiana's role in the program, where a rocket stage was built at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility; Artemis II is scheduled as a 10-day lunar flyby this year.

Six planets will appear together in the western evening sky this weekend; Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn are expected to be visible to the naked eye while Uranus and Neptune require binoculars or a telescope.

Engineers detected an interrupted helium flow to Artemis 2's interim cryogenic propulsion stage after a wet dress rehearsal, and NASA will roll the SLS and Orion back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for inspection, removing the March launch window from consideration.

Organizers say nearly all electricity for the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Games will come from certified renewable sources, with Enel supplying 85 gigawatt‑hours backed by guarantee of origin certificates. Organizers and experts note that indirect emissions from travel and accommodations remain the largest share of the Games' carbon footprint.

Researchers analyzed DNA from 112 ancient individuals from the lowlands of the Netherlands, Belgium and western Germany and found long-lasting hunter-gatherer ancestry that later mixed with Bell Beaker groups, which spread into Britain around 2400–2500 B.C.E.

Researchers report PFAS — persistent synthetic chemicals — have been detected in Great Lakes water, sediments, shoreline foams and fish; sources identified include industrial sites, firefighting foam, wastewater and atmospheric deposition.

On February 20, conservation partners released 158 giant tortoises on Floreana Island, the first time the species has been on the island in more than 150 years; NASA satellite data was used to map habitat and forecast conditions up to 40 years.

NASA added a Mars Global Localization system to the Perseverance rover so it can match panoramic images to orbital maps and determine its location to within about 10 inches (25 cm), allowing it to continue along planned routes without waiting for confirmation from Earth.

Hubble's new picture of the Egg Nebula, the nearest known pre-planetary nebula, shows concentric dust shells and twin polar beams; the image was made by combining new observations with Hubble data from 1997, 2003 and 2012.

A Santa Barbara captain filmed two humpback whales approaching his boat and spending nearly two hours nearby, and the operator reported seeing more than a dozen humpbacks in the Santa Barbara Channel during an earlier-than-usual return from migration.

Punch, a 7-month-old macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo, clings to an Ikea stuffed orangutan as a comfort object, and sales of that toy have surged and sold out in several markets.

Artemis II completed a wet dress rehearsal that met its main goals and a flight readiness review is scheduled for next week; NASA also released a report labeling the 2024 Boeing Starliner test a 'Type-A mishap'.

Three Florida fishermen about 20 miles off Port Canaveral saw and filmed a small pod of humpback whales while keeping a respectful distance, according to reports; officials note humpbacks are native to Florida waters and have faced past population declines.

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope and ALMA identified 70 dusty, star-forming galaxy candidates seen less than 1 billion years after the Big Bang, with some forming about 500 million years after the Big Bang.

Astronomers report a faint galaxy about 300 million light‑years away whose mass is estimated at roughly 99.94–99.98 percent dark matter. The object, tentatively named CDG-2, was detected through four globular clusters and faint residual light seen when combining Hubble, Euclid and Subaru data.

A genomic survey of marine sediments found genes linked to oxygen use in Asgard archaea, including Heimdallarchaeia, suggesting these microbes may have tolerated or used oxygen earlier than previously thought.

An experimental nasal-spray vaccine given to mice activated both innate and adaptive lung immunity and protected against several coronaviruses, two bacterial species and a house-dust-mite allergen for at least three months; the results are from animal tests and human trials are still required.

Forecasters report emerging El Niño conditions may steer more storms to the Colorado River Basin and could raise inflows to Lake Mead; the reservoir's current elevation is about 1,065 feet, roughly 93 percent of its average for this time of year.

NASA satellite data guided the release of 158 giant tortoises on Floreana Island, the first reintroduction there in more than 150 years.

Punch, a rescued Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo, became viral for his attachment to an orange orangutan plush toy; Ikea Japan donated additional toys and an adult monkey named Onsing has been observed caring for him.

Experts say the Trump administration's reversal of the EPA endangerment finding is likely to increase illness and deaths in low-income and minority communities, and a coalition of health and environmental groups has sued the EPA over the revocation.

Household batteries can leak heavy metals and sometimes overheat, creating environmental and safety risks; recycling sends them to centers that break down and recover materials. Experts and the EPA say registered drop-off sites and recycling help manage those risks.