The Guardian Science

Starwatch: Lunar eclipse to reward early risers in UK and Europe

Shadow of Earth likely to make moon glow red before dawn on 28 AugustThe early hours of Friday 28 August will reward very early risers in the UK, Europe and Africa with a fine lunar eclipse. Though not quite a total eclipse, it will transform the moon into a dramatic sight as dawn approaches.The partial eclipse begins at 3.33am BST, when the moon’s familiar full disc begins to disappear behind the shadow of the Earth. By the time the eclipse reaches its greatest extent, shortly after 5.10am, onl

science  Aug 24, 2026

Science Daily

NASA is about to launch a powerful new eye on the universe

NASA’s Roman Space Telescope has been cleared for final launch preparations ahead of a targeted August 30 liftoff aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy. The powerful new observatory will probe cosmic expansion, the history of the universe, and distant exoplanets.

science  Aug 24, 2026

Science Daily

Trump to award Congressional Space Medal of Honor to Artemis II astronauts

The Artemis II crew will receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor after becoming the first humans in more than 50 years to travel beyond the Moon. Their 10-day Orion mission also carried them farther into space than anyone in history.

science  Aug 24, 2026

NASA News

APOD: 2026 August 24 – Comet 220P in Outburst

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 August 24 – Comet… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Comet 220P […]

science  Aug 24, 2026

NASA News

What Lake Bonneville Left Behind

The drying of the massive lake exposed playas that became the setting for feats of engineering and technological ingenuity, as well as epic tales of exploration and desperation.

science  Aug 24, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists discover a real-life “dragon” and name it after Syrax

Scientists discovered a small, yellowish mountain horned dragon in Thailand and named it Acanthosaura syrax after a dragon from House of the Dragon. Found only in a narrow band of high-elevation forest, the distinctive new species could become a flagship for protecting its rare mountain habitat.

science  Aug 24, 2026

Science Daily

Gut bacteria may unlock a hidden benefit of vegetables

Gut bacteria can transform nitrate and plant-based iron from vegetables and other foods into protective molecules that may benefit the heart and metabolism. In experimental models, higher levels of these compounds were linked to lower blood pressure, better blood sugar control, healthier blood vessels, and less liver fat.

science  Aug 24, 2026

The Guardian Science

Eight-year-old dies after contracting rare brain-eating amoeba in Louisiana

Lillian Smart of Ruston infected with fatal Naegleria fowleri, likely after swimming in Lake Claiborne, health officials sayAn eight-year-old Louisiana girl has died after contracting a rare, typically fatal brain-eating amoeba after a swim in Lake Claiborne.Lillian Smart, of Ruston, died on Saturday, one day after celebrating her birthday, her family announced in a public Facebook post on the “Love for Lillian” page. Continue reading...

science  Aug 23, 2026

The Guardian Science

Is this why close encounters with intelligent aliens have so far eluded us? | Letters

Readers offer their explanations for the absence of hard evidence for extraterrestrial civilisations, in response to an article by Adam KirschWhen thinking about why we have not encountered intelligent aliens yet, as Adam Kirsch does (The long read, 11 August), it seems to me that one factor gets neglected: fossil fuels. Alien life could develop intelligence on myriad planets, but to develop advanced technology that would enable them to get off‑world, they need to go through an equivalent o

science  Aug 23, 2026

Science Daily

A major Alzheimer’s risk gene may shrink brain cells years before symptoms

Researchers have uncovered a possible reason why the Alzheimer’s risk gene APOE4 can disrupt the brain long before memory problems begin. In mice, APOE4 increased a protein called Nell2, shrinking neurons and making memory circuits unusually active. That early hyperactivity predicted worse memory later in life. Reducing Nell2 in adult mice reversed the abnormal changes, raising hopes for a new way to intervene before Alzheimer’s progresses.

science  Aug 23, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists left this farm field alone. Thousands of orchids appeared

An abandoned farm field became a flourishing wildflower meadow within little more than a decade, with plant diversity doubling and thousands of orchids appearing naturally. The discovery suggests that simply giving nature time to recover could be a powerful and inexpensive tool for restoring biodiversity.

science  Aug 23, 2026

Science Daily

The dental crown of the future could be 3D-printed while you wait

Researchers have found a way to slash the processing time for 3D-printed zirconia crowns from as much as 100 hours to under 30 minutes. The advance could eventually let dentists print strong, customized permanent crowns for patients within a single appointment.

science  Aug 23, 2026

Science Daily

Physicists create a tiny “Big Bang” with surprisingly small atomic nuclei

Researchers at CERN have created microscopic versions of the early Universe by colliding surprisingly small atomic nuclei at nearly the speed of light. The collisions produced quark-gluon plasma, the ultra-hot matter believed to have filled the cosmos shortly after the Big Bang. Even more intriguingly, the particles left behind reveal the shape of the nuclei that created them, offering a new way to probe both nuclear physics and the Universe’s earliest moments.

science  Aug 23, 2026

Science Daily

A hidden “on switch” in human DNA has finally been decoded

Researchers have used AI to uncover the DNA signature of a key genetic “switch” involved in turning genes on. After analyzing about 500,000 DNA sequences, the model identified the initiator in roughly 60% of human genes. The breakthrough could help predict the effects of harmful mutations and eventually contribute to decoding the broader genetic instructions that control gene activity throughout the body.

science  Aug 23, 2026

Science Daily

Experimental compound helps burn fat without muscle loss

A decades-old compound may point to a new way of treating obesity by making the body burn more energy rather than simply reducing appetite. In mice, TOFA increased energy use by as much as 18%, reduced body fat without significant muscle loss, and improved blood sugar, triglycerides, and fatty liver disease. It also produced stronger results when combined with GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound.

science  Aug 23, 2026

The Guardian Science

Artemis II crew to receive top US space medal for historic lunar journey

Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen broke record for farthest distance traveled from EarthThe crew of the historic Artemis II lunar flyby mission have earned the US’s top space medal, officials have announced.Cmdr Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are set to receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor on 28 August, the US space agency Nasa said. Continue reading...

science  Aug 23, 2026

NASA News

Curiosity Blog, Sols 4982–4987: Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

By Allison Dries-Padilla, Missions Operations Specialist at Malin Space Science Systems Earth planning date: Friday, Aug. 14, 2026 This week of Curiosity Mars rover operations takes us back to our “regularly scheduled programming.” After taking a slight detour to investigate the “erosional surface” we are back on course to ascend Mount Sharp. As we transition […]

science  Aug 23, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists turn tiny “defects” into a 5.5x heat transfer boost

Scientists have developed an ultrathin coating that could dramatically improve how efficiently heat is transferred during condensation. By turning tiny polymer structures once considered “defects” into places where water droplets can form, then helping those droplets detach quickly, the new surface keeps exposing fresh areas for condensation. In tests on copper tubes, it transferred heat up to 5.5 times more effectively than conventional copper and more than 50% better than a standard water-repe

science  Aug 23, 2026

Science Daily

Cannabis use linked to 37% higher stroke risk in massive study

A massive analysis involving more than 100 million people has found strong links between recreational drug use and stroke, including among younger adults. Cocaine was associated with nearly double the risk of stroke, amphetamines with more than double the risk, and cannabis with a 37% increase.

science  Aug 23, 2026

Science Daily

This common vitamin was linked to 13% better cognitive scores

Older adults with mild cognitive impairment and sleep problems who took at least 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily scored more than 13% higher on a cognitive test than those taking none. The preliminary findings suggest vitamin D could be worth studying as a potentially modifiable factor during an early window of cognitive decline.

science  Aug 23, 2026