The moon and sun figure big in the new year’s lineup of cosmic wonders
The moon and sun share top billing in 2026.
Science
‘A potential treasure trove’: World Health Organization to explore benefits of traditional medicines
UN body to study possibility of integrating centuries-old practices into mainstream healthcareFrom herbalists in Africa gathering plants to use as poultices to acupuncturists in China using needles to cure migraines, or Indian yogis practising meditati…
This Trump vandalism is worse than tearing down the East Wing of the White House
It’s the end of the year, and so one should be compiling ten-best lists.And I turned 65 last week, having spent almost my entire adult life in the climate fight, so it’s one of those moments when I wish I could look back with a certain amount of satis…
When attacks unfold, what makes a person run towards danger?
Neuroscientists, psychologists and ‘have-a-go heroes’ themselves explain why it is about more than just instinctAs a knife-wielding terrorist wearing a fake suicide belt caused panic on London Bridge in 2019, Darryn Frost remembers entering a state of …
Hubble Space Telescope spies dusty debris from two cosmic collisions
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has gotten a rare peek at the aftermath of two cosmic collisions — and helped scientists solve a decades-old mystery.
Don’t hold back, swearing can boost performance by lowering inhibitions, study finds
Study finds dropping an expletive can raise confidence and help people push harder during physically demanding tasksIt may not be in keeping with the festive spirit, but if you find yourself dropping the F-word while wrestling a Christmas tree up a fli…
The tiny island where iguanas on brink of extinction are thriving
Experts say saving the rare iguanas is important to maintain biodiversity
US Senate confirms billionaire Musk ally Jared Isaacman as Nasa chief
Vote on Isaacman, private astronaut and Mars missions advocate, passes 67-30 for him to be agency’s 15th leaderThe US Senate on Wednesday confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman to become Donald Trump’s Nasa administrator. The confirmati…
Rare pink fog blankets parts of UK with warning issued over poor visibility
The unusual phenomenon is caused by sunlight passing through layers of fogThe skies over parts of Britain turned a soft shade of pink on Wednesday morning as the low sun shone through layers of widespread fog to produce the rare atmospheric treat.Meteo…
Trump administration to dismantle key climate research center in Colorado
Governor Jared Polis warned that breaking up Boulder’s NCAR would put ‘public safety at risk’The Trump administration is breaking up a research center praised as a “crown jewel” of climate research after accusing it of spreading “alarmism” about climat…