Science & Earth

A Hubble image captures a protostar and other young stellar objects in the star-forming region NGC 1333 in the Perseus molecular cloud, about 950 light-years away. The image shows a reflection nebula and features identified as a protoplanetary disk and its shadow within the surrounding envelope.

Scientists reconstructed a complete genome of a 14,400‑year‑old woolly rhinoceros from muscle tissue found in the stomach of a mummified wolf pup discovered in northeastern Siberia; the work was published in Genome Biology and Evolution.

Hubble's image of the Lupus 3 cloud, about 500 light-years away in Scorpius, shows T Tauri stars and wisps of gas in an active star-forming region.

Researchers excavated seven mummified cheetahs and the bones of 54 others from caves near Arar in northern Saudi Arabia, with remains dated between about 130 and 1,800 years old.

Stanford researchers report that a 3-nanometer silver treatment diffused into LLZO solid electrolyte surfaces and made them about five times more resistant to cracking; so far the experiments used small samples rather than full commercial battery cells.

Computer simulations published in ACS Central Science found that frozen hydrogen cyanide crystals can have reactive surfaces that convert HCN into hydrogen isocyanide, a change that the researchers report could help form more complex prebiotic molecules.

A new paper by Abraham 'Avi' Loeb and Toni Scarmato reports that the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS has a rotation period of 7.1 hours after perihelion, based on jet position angle analysis and photometric time series, and that the jet's periodic wobble did not change during perihelion.

A long-term experiment across 76 Central American plots found that adequate soil nitrogen can double tropical forest regrowth during the first decade of recovery; the study was published January 13 in Nature Communications.

Four astronauts returned to Earth after a controlled medical evacuation from the International Space Station, and NASA said the affected crew member was stable; all were taken to a nearby hospital for further tests.

Researchers combined satellite measurements and models of ice flow to produce a new, higher-resolution map of Antarctica's bed, reporting tens of thousands of previously undiscovered hills and ridges and a long channel in the Maud Subglacial Basin.

Researchers used Ice Flow Perturbation Analysis with satellite ice-surface data and ice-thickness observations to produce the most detailed map yet of Antarctica's subglacial topography, revealing mesoscale valleys and steep-sided channels and indicating where future geophysical surveys could focus.

Crew-11 is scheduled to undock from the ISS on Jan. 14 at 5:05 p.m. EST and is reported to spend about 11 hours in transit before a splashdown off Southern California at 3:40 a.m. EST.

Astronomers are using China's FAST radio telescope to reobserve 100 candidate narrowband signals flagged by SETI@home; the team expects many may prove to be local radio interference and analysis is ongoing.

Recent reviews and expert critiques have challenged several high-profile studies reporting microplastics in human tissues, leaving the extent of microplastics in people uncertain.

Kaiser Permanente has agreed to a $46 million settlement in a lawsuit alleging that patient data from its websites was shared with third parties; the settlement is pending court approval and claims must be filed by March 12, 2026.

A study published in Science used swarms of very small (about magnitude 0) earthquakes to map the Mendocino Triple Junction and found a complex, five-piece geometry that includes a buried Pioneer fragment and may represent an unaccounted seismic hazard.

A surge of solar energy could produce auroras across parts of the northern U.S. late Jan. 16 into early Jan. 17, and NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center forecasts a minor (G1) geomagnetic storm.

Four astronauts splashed down off the coast of California after leaving the International Space Station about a month early because of a medical issue; NASA said the affected crew member was in stable condition.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavor splashed down off the California coast in the early hours of Jan. 15, returning four crew members; NASA called the shortened, 167-day mission a success.

Four astronauts returned to Earth after an unprecedented medical evacuation from the International Space Station, and NASA said the affected crew member is doing fine.

A CNET piece reports that 'wish‑cycling'—placing doubtful items in recycling—disrupts processing plants, and that many takeout containers that look recyclable are not accepted by most facilities; a Republic Services sustainability ambassador offered guidance and noted local rules vary.

Organisers announced the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes will start in the UK in 2027, with at least 10 million people expected to watch along the routes. Start and finish locations for three UK stages of each race were unveiled at a press conference in Leeds.

NOAA forecasts a G1-level geomagnetic storm overnight Jan. 16–17 that could bring auroras to parts of 15 northern U.S. states, with a chance of stronger activity extending visibility farther south; the near-new moon on Jan. 17 will create darker skies that may make faint displays easier to see.

A change-of-command ceremony on Jan. 12 transferred ISS command from Mike Fincke to Sergey Kud-Sverchkov as NASA prepares to bring Crew-11 home early for an undisclosed medical condition; undocking is scheduled for Jan. 14 with splashdown expected Jan. 15.

A new review examined eight climate intervention approaches and found each could affect ocean chemistry and ecosystems in different ways. The article notes some commercial activity is already underway and that models and data remain incomplete.

Four NASA astronauts splashed down off San Diego after their Crew-11 mission was cut short for medical reasons, and the astronaut who experienced the issue is reported to be in stable condition while all crew members undergo routine medical screenings.

Researchers at TU Wien report that a cerium–ruthenium–tin compound (CeRu4Sn6) shows topological behavior even when electrons lose particle-like character, and experiments at temperatures near absolute zero revealed a spontaneous (anomalous) Hall effect without an external magnetic field.

The National Weather Service in Riverton reported six weather records were broken across Wyoming over two days, including multiple record high temperatures and one rainfall record. Forecasters also noted that the polar vortex could bring Arctic air to parts of the U.S. later this month.

Ciguatera is a neurotoxin produced by reef microalgae that bioaccumulates in fish and can cause lasting neurological symptoms; it cannot be detected by taste or removed by cooking, and researchers are working on screening methods and forecasting models.

Researchers from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington found a black coral in Fiordland more than 13 feet tall and estimated at 300–400 years old; they are working with conservation partners to map protected corals.