NYT > Science

1. Is Climate Change Supercharging El Niño?
   As a new, potentially record-breaking El Niño begins, researchers are vigorously debating whether climate change is driving the phenomenon’s intensity.
2. Buildings May Soon Have ‘Immune Systems’ That Fight Airborne Disease
   Following the pandemic, the federal government is spending $150 million on new technology to ensure clean indoor air. Here’s what scientists are pursuing.
3. In Ancient Pits Near Stonehenge, Scientists See Hints of Solstice Ritual
   British archaeologists may have found the remains of a site where people celebrated the solstice thousands of years ago, a few miles from the famed stone circle.
4. A Deadly Outbreak of Plague, Nearly 5,000 Years Before the Black Death
   The oldest known cases, discovered among hunter-gatherers in Siberian graves, contradict the theory that the disease once was mild.
5. D.O.J. Seeks to Halt Pollution Lawsuit Against Elon Musk’s Data Center
   The department cited national security concerns, saying Elon Musk’s company had played a crucial role in the Iran war. It also argued it has the authority to stop environmental lawsuits brought by citizens.
6. How Does One Brain Speak Two Languages?
   A new study of bilingual speakers suggests that a single “grammatical engine” in the brain can power multiple languages at once.
7. New Coral Study Identifies Areas Where Reefs Are Hanging On
   New research has identified areas around the world where cooler currents and other favorable conditions are helping to protect coral from the worst effects of global warming.
8. The Secrets of a Soccer-Turf Master
   John Sorochan, a turf scientist at the University of Tennessee, has led the yearslong, multimillion-dollar effort to develop perfect playing fields for the 2026 World Cup.
9. The Scientific Quest for Perfect World Cup Pitch
   Every match must be played on natural grass that gives players as consistent a surface as possible, no matter the venue. Cue the years of sod studies.
10. François Englert, Nobelist Who Helped Predict the ‘God Particle,’ Dies at 93
    His work paved the way for the discovery of the Higgs boson, which explained how particles acquire mass, solving one of the deepest mysteries in physics.
11. Jean Houston, ‘Midwife of Souls’ Who Advised Hillary Clinton, Dies at 89
    The author of books like “The Possible Human,” she held workshops that drew on mythology, psychology and the experiential ethos of Esalen. But she refused to be called a guru.
12. Renato Rosaldo, Anthropologist Who Disrupted His Discipline, Dies at 85
    After his wife’s death while doing fieldwork, he rejected writing as a detached observer, setting off a profound shift in cultural anthropology.
13. Wordle’s Hard Mode Is Actually Easier, 730 Million Games Show
    As the game turns 5 years old, the data reveals that while standard-mode players have much more freedom, they’re not making the most of it.
14. New Plan Scales Back C.D.C.’s Work on Diseases Abroad
    The State Department is taking over much of the control of global health initiatives, for which critics say the department does not have the expertise.
15. Trump Administration to Pay $765 Million to Cancel 4 More Wind Projects
    It’s the third such deal the Interior Department has struck to pay firms to abandon plans for offshore turbines, spending roughly $2.5 billion to get companies to abandon their wind projects.
16. Richard Tapia, Mathematician Who Pushed to Diversify His Field, Dies at 88
    A math whiz as a young man, he later blazed trails, both with his theoretical advances and his advocacy for minority students.
17. Trump’s FEMA Nominee Calls Staff Cuts a ‘Challenge’ for Disaster Agency
    Cameron Hamilton, who briefly led the agency on an acting basis last year but was fired for contradicting the president, also said he would get money out to states faster.
18. How Kratom, an Addictive Gas Station Drug, Found Allies in Trump’s Cabinet
    With support from Markwayne Mullin and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the kratom industry is pursuing a potentially lucrative policy. Mr. Mullin owns equity in a company that could benefit.
19. Algae Is Turning the Reflecting Pool Green. Again.
    Algal blooms have hit the site, between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, after a $14.2 million repair project.
20. Kennedy Seeks to Expedite Appeal of Ruling That Blocked His Vaccine Policies
    The health secretary is trying to restart the work of a panel that advises the government on vaccines, after a judge froze its decisions and prevented it from meeting.
21. Tensions Are Rising Among States That Rely on the Colorado River
    A prolonged drought means the nation’s largest reservoirs are dwindling, and litigation over access to water could lie ahead.