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- 1
NASA's Mars Sample Return mission, intended to bring rock samples collected by the Perseverance rover back to Earth, has been cancelled, according to a report in Science. The programme had faced years of cost overruns and schedule delays, with independent reviews finding its budget and timeline unrealistic. The decision leaves scientists without a near-term path to studying Martian material in Earth laboratories.
- 2Terry Tao Announces Advisory Group on Mathematics and AI●The Advisory Group on Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence
Mathematician Terence Tao has written about the creation of an Advisory Group on Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence, a body intended to advise on how AI intersects with mathematical research. The announcement is drawing attention in the tech and mathematics communities, where Tao is widely regarded as one of the most influential voices on AI's role in science.
- 3
Commenters argue that coverage of artificial intelligence risks is focused on speculative, science-fiction scenarios while generative AI is already causing real harm to people today. The piece pushes back on media narratives that imagine futuristic doomsday threats instead of addressing present-day problems like misinformation, exploitation, and harm from tools currently in use. The argument is sparking discussion about whether AI coverage should shift toward concrete, immediate harms.
- 4Trump administration backs off NIH grant control order●Update. "Trump administration backing off NIH grant order amid pushback." https://www. semafor.com/article/09/23/2026 /t
The Trump administration is retreating from a planned executive order that would have given the White House greater control over National Institutes of Health grant decisions. Semafor reports the proposal is now considered effectively dead after widespread pushback from scientists, universities, and lawmakers who argued it would politicise biomedical research funding. Observers are watching whether further attempts to centralise NIH grant approvals will follow.
- 5Young people are replacing Google search with AI chatbots●Study: Young users (9 to 18Y) ditch Google for AI, with unknown consequences
A new Norwegian science study reports that users aged 9 to 18 increasingly turn to AI tools instead of traditional Google searches for information online. Researchers caution that the consequences of this shift remain unknown, raising concerns about how young people evaluate sources, verify facts, and develop search skills as AI-generated answers replace conventional search results.
- 6California studies solar panels built over irrigation canals●What California is learning from solar panels built over irrigation canals
California is testing and evaluating solar panels installed over irrigation canals, an approach that generates renewable energy while shading water to reduce evaporation. Reporting from KQED Science details what early projects in the state are revealing about costs, water savings, and power output, and whether covering canals with solar arrays could be scaled more widely across California's water infrastructure.
- 7Rethinking palm oil: what science says about nutrition●Rethinking palm oil: What science really says about its nutritional profile
A new examination of palm oil's nutritional profile argues that common assumptions about the oil deserve a second look, reviewing what scientific research actually shows about its health effects. The piece revisits debates over saturated fat content and how palm oil compares with other cooking oils, suggesting its reputation may be more complicated than widely believed.
- 8Tailored microbiome treatments hailed as future of veterinary medicine●Tailored microbiome interventions ‘the future’ of veterinary medicine
Veterinary experts say personalised microbiome interventions are set to become 'the future' of animal healthcare. The approach involves analysing and adjusting the balance of gut bacteria in individual animals, rather than relying on broad treatments like antibiotics. Supporters say targeted microbiome therapies could improve outcomes for pets and livestock while helping reduce antimicrobial resistance concerns in veterinary practice.
- 9Southern Cross University builds traditional medicine evidence base in India●Building traditional medicine evidence base: Southern Cross University's India strategy
Southern Cross University is pursuing a strategy in India aimed at building a stronger evidence base for traditional medicine. The initiative, reported by BioSpectrum Asia, signals growing scientific and academic interest in validating traditional healing practices through research, reflecting broader collaboration between Australian institutions and India's traditional medicine sector.