- New study suggests food packaging isn't harmless — about 1 in 12 known food-contact chemicals were flagged as potentially carcinogenic, endocrine-disrupting, or otherwise hazardous.
- Even worse, researchers say most FCCs are under-studied: roughly 13,000 of 15,000 lack clear hazard data, so many risks are simply unknown.
- Fixes can backfire — replacing banned chemicals (like BPA) with lookalikes (e.g., BPS) can lead to "regrettable substitutions" that prove just as harmful.
Latest stories in Science.
- Atlantic bluefin tuna have made a dramatic comeback in UK waters, with scientists and fishermen working together to tag and study them.
- Regulators have raised quotas and doubled commercial licences, creating fresh income and charter opportunities for coastal communities.
- Experts attribute the return to better management and warming seas (more baitfish) — and anglers have even landed a 338kg giant tuna, so training is now required for safe handling.
- NOAA predicts a very strong El Niño (about 2.2°C above normal), raising major concern for the Galápagos' fragile ecosystems.
- Iconic species — Galápagos penguins, blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, sea lions and corals — face food shortages and could see big population drops (scientists warn at least ~20% decline), echoing the severe 1998 losses.
- Local scientists, the government and NGOs are racing to protect species with invasive-plant control, seed banking and nurseries to help vulnerable forests and plants survive the heavy rains.
- Three 2‑month‑old Sumatran tiger cubs at Attica Zoological Park near Athens were microchipped and vaccinated as part of a global effort to build a safety population.
- The Sumatran tiger is critically endangered (about 400 remain) due to aggressive deforestation, so the cubs’ birth offers hope for future reintroductions.
- The trio — two males and a female born to mother Toba (father Argos died of cancer) — are feisty, will get names from Homer’s Odyssey, and require careful, stressful handling by zoo staff.
- An Israeli‑US startup, Stardust Solutions, proposes spraying tiny particles made from common materials — an anti‑caking food additive (amorphous silica) and calcium carbonate (eggshell mineral) — into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight and cool the planet.
- Many scientists and ethicists are worried: solar geoengineering could change rainfall and weather patterns, pose health risks, and raises governance concerns—especially since a for‑profit company is developing the tech.
- Stardust says each million tons would cost about $10 billion and cool ~0.9°F for a year but would need annual replenishment, creating fears of a dangerous "termination shock" if efforts were suddenly stopped.
- NASA’s Jared Isaacman and Elon Musk back putting solar‑powered AI data centers in space, tied to SpaceX’s massive new Star Base Louisiana plan to support lunar manufacturing and large Starship launch operations.
- Local opposition and environmental groups — fueled partly by NIMBY sentiment and, reportedly, a Chinese disinformation campaign — are pushing back against ground data centers and the proposed Star Base.
- Public fears about AI destroying jobs or worse persist, but advocates argue AI will create new roles and enhance space exploration while keeping humans “in the loop.”
Get the full experience in the app — topics, comments, and audio summaries.