Most people alive today carry fragments of Neanderthal DNA in their genome. Now scientists are gaining a more intimate understanding of the ancient encounters that put it there.
By Carl Zimmer
Hearty bacteria in a lab survived pressures comparable to an asteroid strike on the red planet, suggesting a hypothetical scenario in which our planet was seeded with life.
By Robin George Andrews
Don Johnston, via Alamy
Scientists studying data collected over more than three decades found accelerating losses. Their research offers clues about the causes.
By Catrin Einhorn
Mathias Eis for The New York Times
One of Us, run by Denmark’s health ministry, works with people with mental health conditions to share their stories in schools, hospitals and police stations, helping turn fear into understanding.
By Simar Bajaj
Let us know how we’re doing at sciencenewsletter@nytimes.com.
William Brune
Trilobites
Research shows that a phenomenon called St. Elmo’s Fire, which occurs during thunderstorms, may be much more common than previously understood.
By Annie Roth
Godofredo A. Vásquez/Associated Press
Thirty seals, primarily weaned pups, have died since late last week, scientists said.
By Emily Anthes and Apoorva Mandavilli
Joe Skipper/Reuters
A “back to basics” approach resembles the Apollo program of the 1960s, with more missions launching more often. NASA officials said that it would be safer and faster.
By Kenneth Chang
Brandon Celi
The Tesla and SpaceX chief has told his followers that they will live in a world where robots will take care of every need and people do not have to work, in what has become his latest slogan.
By Ryan Mac
Jody Amiet/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Elon Musk wants to launch a million satellites, but researchers say global warming is changing the upper atmosphere in ways that makes space junk linger.
By Sachi Kitajima Mulkey
Michael Studinger/NASA
Mining is banned on the frozen continent. But new research suggests that could change as ice melts and land and valuable minerals are exposed.
By Eric Niiler
Andrew Kelly/Reuters
More than two dozen contributors to the manual criticized the deletion of a chapter on climate science by the Federal Judicial Center.
By Karen Zraick
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Callaghan O'Hare for The New York Times
As the midterm elections approach, the health secretary is focusing on “real food.” Anger is rising among some of his supporters.
By Benjamin Mueller
Laura Bargfeld/Associated Press
Citing rising costs and shortfalls in federal support, about 20 states are toughening eligibility requirements for patients in drug assistance programs.
By Apoorva Mandavilli
Federica Bordoni
the new old age
Older Americans are losing billions of dollars annually to financial exploitation. Banks and investment firms are training employees to spot red flags and stop the transactions.
By Paula Span
Eric Lee/The New York Times
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who was appointed to the role last week, has offered to publicly endorse vaccination, in particular the measles vaccine, winning over some agency employees.
It isn’t clear what’s driving the shift, but scientists suspect that environmental exposures may be partially to blame.
By Nina Agrawal
The Trump administration is proposing Obamacare plans that it says will lower health insurance premiums. But critics warn they would make care unaffordable.
By Reed Abelson
His work with his colleague Richard Ryan changed how psychologists understand human motivation and what people require to flourish.
By Clay Risen
In an era of overt sexism in the sciences, she made two major discoveries, including identifying a chemical signal in the brain linked to chronic pain and migraines.
By Delthia Ricks
