NYT > Science

1. Tree Rings Reveal Origins of Some of the World’s Best Violins
   A study of over 275 violins suggests that Antonio Stradivari used wood from high-altitude forests in northern Italy to craft some of his most renowned instruments.
2. Chimpanzees Are Really Into Crystals
   In an attempt to understand our own fascination with the shiny minerals, researchers gave some to chimps.
3. Experiment Shows Possibility of Martian Microbes Hitching a Ride to Earth
   Hardy bacteria in a lab survived pressures comparable to an asteroid strike on the red planet, suggesting a hypothetical scenario in which our planet was seeded with life.
4. Your Closest Forest Gets Lit Up by a Hidden Purple Glow
   Research shows that a phenomenon called St. Elmo’s Fire, which occurs during thunderstorms, may be much more common than previously understood.
5. Photos: Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse 2026
   Earth’s shadow temporarily draped the moon in a copper hue before sunrise on Tuesday.
6. A Critical Nuclear Site in Iran Is Spared During U.S.-Israeli Airstrikes, for Now
   The Isfahan facility, suspected of storing a cache of enriched uranium, was smashed during the 12-day campaign last June.
7. NASA Shakes Up Artemis Schedule, Aiming for 2 Moon Landings in 2028
   A “back to basics” approach resembles the Apollo program of the 1960s, with more missions launching more often. NASA officials said that it would be safer and faster.
8. What Your DNA Reveals About the Sex Life of Neanderthals
   Most people alive today carry fragments of Neanderthal DNA in their genome. Now scientists are gaining a more intimate understanding of the ancient encounters that put it there.
9. Bird Flu Strikes California Elephant Seals for the First Time
   Thirty seals, primarily weaned pups, have died since late last week, scientists said.
10. Trump’s High-Profile Oil and Gas Lease Sale in Alaska Has No Takers
    No companies bid for the chance to drill in more than 1 million acres of water off Alaska’s Cook Inlet, the Interior Department said Wednesday.
11. Most Patients Keep Weight Off With Fewer GLP-1 Shots, Study Finds
    In a recent review, a small group of patients received the injections less frequently but still maintained weight loss and health benefits.
12. Why Data Center Firms Are Working With Trump on Energy Costs
    The White House has floated a new plan to try to ease voter concerns over the A.I. boom’s effect on electric bills. But it won’t be easy to put into practice.
13. TerraPower Nuclear Reactor in Wyoming Gets Federal Permit
    TerraPower’s project in Wyoming, which uses novel technology, is the first new commercial reactor to receive federal approval in nearly a decade.
14. Sea Levels Are Already Higher Than Many Scientists Think, New Study Shows
    Researchers found that a majority of studies on coastal sea levels underestimated how high water levels are, and hundreds of millions of people are closer to peril than previously thought.
15. Kristi Noem Review Delayed FEMA Aid by Weeks, Senate Finds
    A report by Senate Democrats found that scrutiny of large FEMA expenditures slowed housing and employment assistance for victims of fires and storms.
16. Potomac River Reopens for Some Uses After Sewer Collapse
    Contamination levels in the waterway have declined, but health advisories remain in place for boaters downstream.
17. A Danish Program Takes On the Stigma of Mental Illness
    One of Us, run by Denmark’s health ministry, works with people with mental health conditions to share their stories in schools, hospitals and police stations, helping turn fear into understanding.
18. As Kennedy Turns From Vaccines, MAHA Allies See a ‘Betrayal’
    As the midterm elections approach, the health secretary is focusing on “real food.” Anger is rising among some of his supporters.
19. Scientists Decry ‘Political Attack’ on the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence
    More than two dozen contributors to the manual criticized the deletion of a chapter on climate science by the Federal Judicial Center.
20. How the Psychedelic Drug Ibogaine Changed Me Forever
    Veterans and others who have suffered trauma and injuries are flocking to clinics around the world to take ibogaine. My own reason was deeply personal.
21. Can Nations Agree How to Mine the Sea? This Is the Year, She Says.
    Leticia Carvalho heads a global authority that’s been struggling to set rules for a decade. President Trump’s aggressive push on ocean mining makes her task more urgent.
22. Caesar Rodney statue to get place of honor in Washington
    Caesar Rodney, whose statue was placed in storage amid racial injustice protests in 2020, will be honored in Washington this summer.
23. Judge Approves $345 Million Verdict Against Greenpeace in Dakota Access Pipeline Suit
    Greenpeace has said the verdict could bankrupt it. The lawsuit was over the group’s role in protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline.
24. Fighting Wildfires Could Soon Get Harder
    Simultaneous emergencies in different parts of the world could stop countries from sharing ground crews and equipment, new research warns.
25. Edward L. Deci, 83, Dies; Found Self-Determination as a Key to Happiness
    His work with his colleague Richard Ryan changed how psychologists understand human motivation and what people require to flourish.
26. Vanguard Settles Case Claiming It Tried to Kill the Coal Industry
    Republican-led states had accused financial firms of colluding against coal producers. Vanguard also agreed not to push for action to fight climate change.
27. C.D.C.’s New Acting Director Draws Unexpected Praise From Agency Staff
    Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who was appointed to the role last week, has offered to publicly endorse vaccination, in particular the measles vaccine, winning over some agency employees.
28. Bird Losses Are Accelerating, New Study Finds
    Scientists studying data collected over more than three decades found accelerating losses. Their research offers clues about the causes.
29. Space X Wants to Launch 1 Million Satellites, but Is There Room?
    Elon Musk wants to launch a million satellites, but researchers say global warming is changing the upper atmosphere in ways that makes space junk linger.
30. New A.C.A. Plans Could Increase Family Deductibles to $31,000
    The Trump administration is proposing Obamacare plans that it says will lower health insurance premiums. But critics warn they would make care unaffordable.