Science center

NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia has converted a Boeing 777 into an airborne laboratory for scientific research. The aircraft is being reconfigured to carry instruments and experiments for atmospheric and aeronautics studies. The conversion highlights NASA's growing use of large commercial jets as research platforms, and locals are following the project closely given the center's prominent role in the region.

The California Science Center in Los Angeles will begin taking advance reservations on October 21, 2026 for the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, the new permanent home of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The announcement gives visitors their first chance to plan visits to the exhibit, where Endeavour will be displayed upright in launch configuration.

The University of New Mexico's College of Population Health has earned seven-year accreditation covering all of its degree programs, the maximum term typically awarded. The announcement, made through the university's Health Sciences Center newsroom, signals that the college's public health education offerings have met rigorous external quality standards through the full review cycle, strengthening its standing among graduate public health programs in the region.

Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland is running an innovative program that trains young people, according to a report by Local News Matters. The initiative is described as giving youth a foothold in space science education, though further details about the program's structure, participants and goals were not provided in the available coverage.

Leaders from the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate visited the National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology and Education Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The visit focused on strengthening partnerships between government, academia and industry on security research and innovation. The university announced the meeting, which highlights NCITE's role as a DHS-backed hub for counterterrorism research.

The Sitka Sound Science Center in Alaska has welcomed a new scientist in residence whose work focuses on landslides. The appointment brings landslide research and expertise to the community, which sits in steep, landslide-prone terrain in Southeast Alaska. The center says the residency will support local science education and research tied to the region's geological hazards.

The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University is marking its tenth anniversary and is broadening its reach into engineering. Founded to help scientists communicate more clearly with the public, the center now plans to bring its communication training methods to engineers as well. The anniversary highlights its decade of work improving how researchers explain science.

The Space Shuttle Endeavour is being displayed in a vertical, launch-ready position at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, and the newspaper is explaining how visitors can view it. The stacked display pairs the orbiter with its external tank and twin solid rocket boosters, making it the only place where the public can see a shuttle in full launch configuration.

Children at the Hazle Township Early Learning Center took part in a science program, according to a local report. The activity gave young learners a hands-on introduction to science, and the center shared the experience with families in the community.

Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences and the Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute are expanding access to sports science for coaches and athletic trainers across Oklahoma. The initiative aims to share research on training, injury prevention and athlete performance with school sports programs statewide. People are discussing the effort as a step toward improving athlete safety and performance in local schools.

The Buffalo Museum of Science is inviting the public to name a dinosaur as part of its upcoming DinoFEST celebration. The contest gives visitors a chance to contribute to the museum's dinosaur exhibit programming and engage with paleontology. The museum is using the naming competition to build excitement ahead of the festival, which centers on dinosaurs and hands-on science activities for families.

Stony Brook University's Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science is marking its tenth anniversary, celebrating a decade of training scientists to communicate their work clearly to the public. Founded by actor Alan Alda, the center runs workshops and initiatives worldwide aimed at bridging the gap between researchers and audiences. The milestone is being highlighted in university news coverage of its leadership and programs.

Nonprofit Cure First has opened a new laboratory in Bothell, Washington, to expand access to functional precision medicine for cancer patients. The approach tests a patient's cancer cells against multiple drugs before treatment to help doctors choose the most effective therapy. The announcement, distributed via Business Wire and picked up by life science media, aims to broaden availability of the technology beyond major research centers.

Trailside Nature & Science Center in Union County, New Jersey, is inviting residents to take part in its fall lineup of activities. The center says the season is full of opportunities to connect with nature, get creative, and recharge, with programs aimed at families and individuals looking for outdoor and educational experiences in the area.

A San Francisco science festival is promoting the message that 'play is the ultimate learning tool,' framing hands-on, playful activities as a core way for people, especially children, to engage with science. The event brings interactive science learning to the city, with organizers arguing that discovery through play beats passive instruction.

The California Science Center in Los Angeles will open reservations next week for visitors to see the Space Shuttle Endeavour in its new permanent home. The retired orbiter will be displayed in launch position at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, a one-of-a-kind exhibit that has drawn significant local and space-community interest.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is highlighting a physician who completed residency there and has now joined its faculty. The story frames the move as a full-circle journey, noting the graduate's return to the institution as a teacher. Details about the individual's specialty and role were not provided in the coverage.

Iran's Royan Institute has earned national recognition after its Center for Cell Science was ranked second nationwide. The placement highlights the institute's standing in stem cell and reproductive biotechnology research. Royan, based in Tehran, is one of Iran's leading biomedical research bodies, and the ranking underscores the growing profile of its cell science work within the country's research landscape.

Orlando Science Center is bringing back its Halloween party for guests 21 and older, billed as a night of spooky science fun. The event is being promoted in local guides as a popular date-night option, mixing hands-on science activities with Halloween-themed entertainment for an adult crowd.