Science News Magazine

September 19, 2026

"Surviving the summer" and extended US drought in the southwest.

Views expressed in this science and technology update are those of the reporters and correspondents. Accessed on 19 September 2026, 2231 UTC.

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Russ Roberts (https://hawaiisciencemonitor.blogspot.com).

Today

Surviving the summer

by Nancy Shute / 10h

Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses existential threats to humankind: extreme heat, never-ending drought and a plan to provide Earth with sunlight on demand.

Yesterday

Will the U.S. megadrought ever end?

by Nikk Ogasa / 1d

For 27 years, the Southwest has been gripped by a historic drought. Scientists think it might be here to stay.

This ‘anti-vampiric’ grave used two strategies to stop the undead

by Maria Temming / 1d

A sickle across the throat and a padlock on the toe were likely meant to keep this 17th-century Polish teen from resurrecting.

What’s behind ‘one of paleontology’s most enduring enigmas’?

by Margherita Bassi / 1d

New research suggests that Paleodictyon — honeycomb-shaped formations perhaps sketched by da Vinci — are not made by soft-bodied creatures.

Math puzzle: Shape-birding

by Ben Orlin / 1d

Solve the math puzzle from our October 2026 issue, in which a bird watcher seeks an indoor hobby.

Sep 17, 2026

Big space mirrors could bring Earth on-demand light — and upend our night sky

by Lisa Grossman / 2d

A space satellite that would offer light on demand has astronomers asking: Who controls the night sky?

Nepal’s deadly debris flow points to risks in other high mountain regions

by Nikk Ogasa / 2d

As human-caused climate warming destabilizes high mountain regions, the threat of rock-ice avalanches and other glacial hazards grows.

During menopause, brain changes surprisingly take a break

Menopause brain changes differ

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by Bethany Brookshire / 2d

Major hormonal milestones in women’s lives are usually associated with changes in brain volume — but a new study shows menopause is an exception.

When AI goes rogue, its human overseers may be to blame

by Kathryn Hulick / 2d

When AI agents hack real systems, the bigger issue may be the human choices that gave them access, autonomy and too few safeguards.

Sep 16, 2026

These mice have human (nerve cells) on the brain

Human neurons replace mouse cortex

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by Elie Dolgin / 3d

Scientists have grown human brain tissue to fill most of a mouse’s cortex, creating a new model for studying brain disease and neural circuits.

The U.S. has weapons in space. Here’s what that could mean

China warns US over space weapons

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by Emily Conover / 3d

A cryptic announcement raises questions about the type of weapons and how they could be used. We talked to an expert about the consequences.

Alzheimer’s damage may begin outside the brain

by RJ Mackenzie / 3d

Removing a type of immune cell from lymph nodes in mice reduced brain inflammation and cell damage in a model of Alzheimer’s-like disease.

Sep 15, 2026

Meet Swiftiephylus, an Australian bug named after Taylor Swift

Insects named after Taylor Swift

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by Jake Buehler / 4d

Four newly described species of Australian plant bug have been named in honor of renowned recording artist Taylor Swift.

‘Bogland’ explores beautifully strange ecosystems

by Aimee Cunningham / 4d

Ecologist Merritt Turetsky’s devotion to bogs, fens and other fascinating water-logged spaces saturates her new book.

Sep 14, 2026

Feeling nervous? Work the system

by Jamie Ducharme / 5d

Scientists are exploring new ways to regain control of overactive nervous systems including humming, tapping on the skin and cold-water immersion.

These deep-sea spiders give off an otherworldly glow

Amphipods ride giant sea spiders

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by Joshua Rapp Learn / 5d

An expedition of a deep-sea trench near Australia uncovered the eerie sea spider specimens, whose glow may have been chronicled in 19th century documents.

These neutrinos from the sun have the lowest energies ever seen

by Emily Conover / 5d

The XENONnT detector glimpsed the ethereal subatomic particles that are born from the main type of fusion reaction that powers the sun.

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