The Guardian Science

The hill I will die on: If Hollywood blockbusters must dabble in science, can’t they get the small stuff right? | Helen Pilcher

Project Hail Mary, Jurassic Park: from dino-mosquitoes to a spaceship’s roar, pointless mistakes on the scientific details make me winceOn the advice of my teenage son, I recently went to the cinema to see Project Hail Mary. The film has science in it. I am a science writer and so he was convinced I would like it.Imagine my surprise partway through, however, when I found myself seething so hard I thought I would combust. Ryland Grace – the main character and a molecular biologist who should have

science  May 24, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists discover atoms suddenly spinning backward in quantum experiment

Scientists have directly watched angular momentum move through a crystal for the very first time — and discovered a bizarre twist along the way. Using ultra-powerful terahertz laser pulses, researchers triggered tiny atomic rotations inside a quantum material and found that the direction of rotation can unexpectedly flip as momentum is transferred. The strange reversal happens because of the crystal’s underlying symmetry, creating an almost impossible-sounding effect where two rotations combine

science  May 24, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists discover hidden driver of aging — Simple supplement reversed brain decline

A newly identified brain protein may play a major role in how the body ages. Researchers discovered that declining levels of Menin in the hypothalamus triggered inflammation, memory problems, bone loss, and other aging-related changes in mice. Restoring Menin reversed several of these effects, while a simple amino acid supplement called D-serine boosted cognition. The discovery opens a surprising new path for fighting age-related decline.

science  May 24, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists warn popular vitamin D supplement may have a “previously unknown” downside

A surprising study suggests vitamin D2 supplements may reduce the body’s levels of vitamin D3 — the more effective form of vitamin D. Researchers found D3 not only boosts vitamin D status more efficiently, but may also play a unique role in helping the immune system fight off viruses and bacteria. The discovery is prompting scientists to rethink whether D3 should become the preferred choice for supplementation.

science  May 23, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists discover the perfect temperature to keep mangoes fresh much longer

Scientists found that storing mangoes at 54°F dramatically slows ripening and keeps the fruit fresh far longer than typical tropical temperatures. The cooler conditions helped mangoes stay firm, retain moisture, and preserve important antioxidants while reducing cellular damage. Researchers also uncovered the internal defense systems that switch on during cold storage, protecting the fruit from stress and decay.

science  May 23, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists just found a faster, cleaner way to extract lithium for EV batteries

A breakthrough lithium-extraction method could help solve one of clean energy’s dirtiest problems. Researchers at Columbia Engineering have developed a fast new technique that pulls lithium directly from salty underground brines using a temperature-sensitive solvent, avoiding the giant evaporation ponds that can take years and drain precious water supplies. Even better, the method works on low-quality lithium sources that current technologies struggle to use.

science  May 23, 2026

Science Daily

Wegovy linked to rare “eye stroke” that can cause sudden blindness

A new analysis is raising concerns about Wegovy, the blockbuster weight-loss drug, after researchers found it may carry the highest risk of a rare “eye stroke” that can cause sudden vision loss. The study, based on millions of FDA side-effect reports, found the risk signal was nearly five times stronger for Wegovy than for Ozempic, despite both containing semaglutide.

science  May 23, 2026

Science Daily

New AI body map reveals obesity’s hidden attack on facial nerves

Scientists have created an AI-powered system that can scan and map an entire mouse body in extraordinary detail — and it just uncovered a surprising new effect of obesity. Beyond disrupting metabolism, obesity appears to damage facial sensory nerves linked to touch and sensation, while also triggering widespread inflammation across the body.

science  May 23, 2026

Science Daily

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft captures stunning Mars images during high-speed flyby

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft skimmed past Mars in a precision flyby that helped catapult it deeper into space toward its ultimate target: the bizarre metal-rich asteroid Psyche. During the encounter, it snapped detailed images of heavily cratered Martian terrain, including the striking double-ring Huygens crater. The flyby gave the spacecraft a critical gravity boost without using extra fuel.

science  May 23, 2026

Science Daily

NASA stunned as strange solar radio burst lasts 19 days

NASA scientists were stunned when a strange radio signal from the Sun refused to fade away. Instead of lasting a few hours or days like normal solar radio bursts, this one persisted for an astonishing 19 days — shattering the previous record. Using a fleet of spacecraft spread across the solar system, researchers tracked the mysterious signal to a massive magnetic structure on the Sun called a helmet streamer.

science  May 23, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists discover giant sea predator Tylosaurus rex that terrorized ancient oceans

A colossal new sea predator named Tylosaurus rex has been identified from fossils found in Texas, revealing a brutal 43-foot-long hunter that ruled ancient oceans 80 million years ago. The discovery not only introduces one of the biggest mosasaurs ever known, but also shakes up long-standing ideas about how these marine reptiles evolved.

science  May 23, 2026

The Guardian Science

SpaceX rocket bursts into flames during Indian Ocean landing – video

SpaceX launched its biggest, most powerful Starship yet on a test flight on Friday. It was an upgraded version of the spacecraft Nasa is counting on to land astronauts on the moon. It blasted off from the southern tip of Texas, carrying 20 mock Starlink satellites that were released midway through the hour-long flight that stretched halfway around the world. Despite some engine trouble, the spacecraft reached its final destination in the Indian Ocean where it erupted into flames on impact. The f

science  May 23, 2026

The Guardian Science

Stateside with Kai and Carter: why the fight over abortion pills is only just beginning – podcast

The US supreme court has preserved nationwide access to mail-order abortion pills – for now. As Carter Sherman explains, the fight to protect this medication is far from over, as a nationwide, near-total abortion ban could be on the horizon. Carter speaks with Dr Angel Foster, co-founder of the Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project, who reveals how the legal battle over abortion pills has affected patients across the US – and what could happen nextSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com

science  May 23, 2026

Science Daily

Ordinary WiFi can now identify people with near perfect accuracy

Scientists in Germany have demonstrated a startling new form of surveillance: identifying people using nothing more than ordinary WiFi signals. By analyzing how radio waves bounce around a room, researchers can effectively “see” and recognize individuals — even if they are not carrying a device and even if their phone is turned off.

science  May 23, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists uncover cancer-causing chemicals hidden in everyday foods

Scientists have identified potentially cancer-causing chemicals hiding in many everyday foods, especially those exposed to high heat cooking methods like grilling, roasting, smoking, and frying. The compounds, known as PAHs, can form during cooking or enter foods through contamination, raising concerns about long-term health risks.

science  May 22, 2026

Science Daily

Surprising study finds beef doesn’t worsen blood sugar or diabetes risk

A new clinical trial suggests that eating beef every day may not be as risky for people with prediabetes as many assume. Researchers found that adults who ate 6–7 ounces of beef daily for a month showed no worsening in blood sugar control, insulin function, inflammation, or other key markers linked to type 2 diabetes when compared to people eating poultry instead.

science  May 22, 2026

Science Daily

Einstein’s “wormhole” may actually reveal a hidden mirror of time

What if wormholes were never cosmic tunnels at all? New research suggests Einstein and Rosen’s famous “bridge” may actually reveal something even stranger: time itself could flow in two directions at once. Instead of connecting distant places in space, these bridges may connect mirror versions of time deep inside quantum physics, potentially solving the long-standing black hole information paradox and hinting that our universe existed before the Big Bang.

science  May 22, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists warn that current vitamin B12 guidelines may be putting your brain at risk

Getting enough vitamin B12 to meet current health guidelines may not actually be enough to protect the aging brain. Researchers at UC San Francisco found that older adults with “normal” but lower levels of active B12 showed signs of slower thinking, delayed visual processing, and more damage to the brain’s white matter — the communication highways that help different brain regions work together.

science  May 22, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists discover simple way to relieve arthritis pain without pills or surgery

A surprisingly simple walking tweak may offer new hope for millions living with knee osteoarthritis. In a year-long clinical trial, researchers found that slightly changing the angle of a person’s foot while walking reduced knee pain as effectively as common medications — and even slowed cartilage damage inside the joint.

science  May 22, 2026

Science Daily

Sea level rise is speeding up and scientists now know exactly why

The world’s oceans are rising at an accelerating pace, and scientists now say they can fully explain what’s driving it. Warming seawater is the biggest factor, while melting glaciers and polar ice sheets are increasingly pouring more water into the oceans each year. Researchers also solved a puzzling mismatch in sea level measurements that had lingered for years.

science  May 22, 2026