NYT > Science

1. Scientists Discover Oldest Poison, on 60,000-Year-Old Arrows
   Residues on arrow tips found in South Africa hint at how far back in history humans have been using poison for survival.
2. Moroccan Cave Fossils Yield a Possible Missing Link in Human Evolution
   Jawbones and other remains, similar to specimens found in Europe, were dated to 773,000 years and help close a gap in Africa’s fossil record of human origins.
3. This Diminutive Reptile Plays Rock-Paper-Scissors
   Side-blotched lizards probably don’t call the game that, but they play a version of it anyway. A new study explains the hidden biology that makes this possible.
4. Brenna Henn Wanted to Improve Genetic Medicine. Then Her N.I.H. Grant Was Cut.
   Brenna Henn had a long-term grant to study the genetic diversity of Africans and people of African descent. Then her N.I.H. funding was cut.
5. The Year in Neanderthal Discoveries
   They drew with crayons, possibly fed on maggots and maybe even kissed us: Forty millenniums later, our ancient human cousins continued to make news.
6. In the Arctic, Drones Help Identify Deadly Virus in Whales
   Scientists took samples from whale blow, identifying possible disease risks for marine mammals in northern seas.
7. New York to Phase In Protections for Horseshoe Crabs
   Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation that will ultimately ban the catch and biomedical use of the crabs.
8. Space Events 2026: NASA’s Artemis II Moon Mission, Summer Eclipse and More
   In 2026, there will be journeys to the moon and Mars, new visions of the cosmos and a solar eclipse that might be worth traveling for.
9. Twins’ Peaks: The Gilbertson Brothers Want to Rewrite Your Country’s Map
   Two brothers, both mechanical engineers, are climbing many of the world’s tall peaks to prove they have been measured incorrectly.
10. Democrats Seek Answers About Oil Companies’ Knowledge of Trump’s Venezuela Operation
    Democrats demanded information from seven top U.S. oil companies about any meetings with the Trump administration regarding plans to control Venezuela’s oil industry.
11. New Dietary Guidelines Abandon Longstanding Advice on Alcohol
    Now the government’s recommendation is to “limit” drinking, without specifying safe amounts for men and women. The guidelines no longer warn of risks like cancer.
12. Venezuela’s ‘Dirty’ Oil and the Environment: Three Things to Know
    Most of the reserves in the country are extra-heavy oil that’s tough to extract and generates more greenhouse gases.
13. The Bat Woman of North London: ‘It’s Like Tuning In to Another World’
    On night walks through Highgate Wood, Cindy Blaney shares the whirling wonder of the often-maligned mammals with the humans below.
14. Vaccines Are Helping Older People More Than We Knew
    Many shots seem to have “off-target” benefits, such as lowering the risk of dementia, studies have found.
15. The Trump Administration Approved a Big Lithium Mine. A Top Official’s Husband Profited.
    Karen Budd-Falen, the No. 3 at the Interior Department, didn’t disclose a $3.5 million water-rights contract between her husband and the developers of a Nevada mine, records show.
16. Offshore Wind Projects Challenge Trump Administration’s Order to Stop Work
    The developers of Revolution Wind off Rhode Island and Empire Wind off New York are the latest to sue the Trump administration.
17. A Study Is Retracted, Renewing Concerns About the Weedkiller Roundup
    Problems with a 25-year-old landmark paper on the safety of Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate, have led to calls for the E.P.A. to reassess the widely used chemical.
18. With Obamacare’s Higher Premiums Come Difficult Decisions
    As enhanced subsidies expire, many Americans covered under the Affordable Care Act are having trouble paying for insurance.
19. Even the Sky May Not Be the Limit for A.I. Data Centers
    Some tech leaders are concerned that the artificial intelligence race will exhaust available land and energy. The solution might lie in orbit.
20. 90 Minutes to Give Baby Luna a New Heart
    After eight years of training, Dr. Maureen McKiernan made her debut as the lead surgeon on an infant heart transplant — an operation on the edge of what’s possible.