NYT > Science

1. This Pesticide May Be Too Dangerous to Use. Farmers Say They Need It.
   California announced that it’s phasing out paraquat, a pesticide widely used in the United States that is linked to Parkinson’s disease.
2. Telescope Spots Two Black Holes on the Cusp of Merging
   New images from the James Webb telescope show a galaxy with a trio of supermassive black holes. Two of them appear to be locked in a tight tango.
3. The MOTHRA Telescope Captured the Faint Aftermath of a Star’s Death
   During early calibration tests, the MOTHRA telescope’s array of lenses, which will soon number 1,140, captured stellar debris dissolving into space around the Helix Nebula.
4. See the 2026 European Solar Eclipse, in Photos and Videos
   People gathered across the continent to watch the total solar eclipse on Wednesday.
5. How to Catch the ‘Eclipse of the Century’ in 2027, When Spain, Egypt and More Go Dark
   On Aug. 2, Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East will witness a solar blockbuster with extra-long totality. If you want to see it, book soon.
6. Mike Fincke, NASA Astronaut Whose Health Scare Led to I.S.S. Evacuation, Has Retired
   Mike Fincke spent 549 days in space across four missions, the fourth most time of any NASA astronaut.
7. Trump Administration Kills Annual Arctic Report Card
   The top of the world is warming faster than any other region. For 20 years, the Arctic Report Card chronicled the extraordinary transformation.
8. This A.I. Just Created Viruses Not Found in Nature
   Scientists trained artificial intelligence on libraries of DNA and then asked the model to create recipes for viral genomes. Sixteen of them were viable, yielding new viruses.
9. Capybaras Were the Newest Lobbyists in This Brazilian Legislature
   In Mato Grosso, Brazil, capybaras wandered into the building, but they were polite during the incursion.
10. Mining Claims Staked on Land Cut From Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Monuments
    Prospectors are eyeing mineral deposits within the former boundaries of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah.
11. Why Europe Keeps Being Pummeled by Heat Waves
    The whole planet is warming, but changes in weather patterns could help explain why the continent is suffering so many bouts of severe heat.
12. Judge Rejects Suit Against University of Michigan That Sought Emails on Climate Law
    A conservative group had tried to force the University of Michigan to hand over messages from a law professor who worked on “climate superfund” bills.
13. Federal Job Cuts Are Making Wildfires Harder to Fight
    The Trump administration pushed out thousands of veteran U.S. Forest Service staff. An ‘extraordinary’ fire season is testing those who are left.
14. Early-Onset El Niño
    The global weather disrupter appears to be taking a toll, and its peak could still be months away.
15. The Perseids, Summer’s Strongest Meteor Shower, Will Peak Tonight
    Unlike the total solar eclipse that swept across Europe, the Perseids can be seen at night by anyone in the Northern Hemisphere.
16. Trump Wants the M.M.R. Vaccine Split Into Three Separate Shots. Doctors Say It’s a Bad Idea.
    President Trump is calling for immunizations for measles, mumps and rubella to be given in individual jabs in three different appointments instead of the standard combination shot.
17. As Europe Faces Heat Waves and Wildfires, Travelers Are Forced to Adapt
    Soaring temperatures, widespread wildfires and dried-up rivers are transforming tourism across the continent. Here’s how travelers are responding.
18. Effects of Record-Breaking El Niño Are Happening on 3 Continents
    The recurring climate phenomenon is expected to peak later this year, but it is already causing dry spells and crop failures on three continents.
19. An Electric Motorcycle Revolution
    With gas prices high, people in developing countries are lining up to buy battery-powered bikes. We took a spin around Lahore, Pakistan, on a small-but-mighty one.
20. Frenzy for Solar Eclipse Glasses Takes Over London
    Ahead of Wednesday’s rare cosmic event, thousands of people in London are searching for protective eyewear, as prices surge and stocks sell out.
21. A.I. Offers Hope for Men With Infertility, Spotting ‘Hidden’ Sperm
    New technology may make it easier for men with extremely low sperm counts to have biological children.
22. On These Motorcycles, the Thrill Is Truly Electric
    With gas prices high, people in developing countries are lining up to buy battery-powered bikes. The Iran war has made Trump “salesman of the year,” one executive in Pakistan said.
23. The Perseid Meteor Shower Is Peaking. Here’s How to Watch.
    The Perseids will be most active on Wednesday into Thursday morning, on the moonless night after a total solar eclipse.
24. From Nest to Deathbed, Jackie the Eagle Entranced California and Beyond
    The bald eagle and her mate gained fame during the pandemic, as a livestream tracked their nesting attempts. She died while being treated for anemia.
25. Top Science Body Deletes Climate Chapter From Judges’ Manual
    The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine had been under pressure from Republican leaders, including President Trump.
26. What to Know About Europe’s Total Solar Eclipse: Where to See It and How to Watch Safely
    We’re answering some questions about the solar eclipse on Aug. 12, and providing a place for you to ask more of them.
27. Maura L. Gillison, Who Linked Throat Cancers to HPV, Dies at 61
    She challenged the conventional view that most head and neck cancers resulted from cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.