Scientists

New data shows the current El Niño is the strongest ever measured, driving a major shift in global weather patterns. The warming of Pacific Ocean surface waters is expected to bring droughts, floods and heatwaves to different regions worldwide. Scientists and news outlets are watching closely as the event intensifies, with forecasters warning of record temperatures and disruption to agriculture and weather systems into the coming months.

Leading AI researchers often described as the 'godfathers' of the field have publicly warned about the risk of a runaway 'intelligence explosion', in which AI systems rapidly improve themselves beyond human control. The warning, reported by The Guardian, adds to ongoing debate among scientists and policymakers about how quickly advanced AI should be developed and regulated.

Mosquitoes kill more people than any other animal on Earth, and scientists say the threat is growing. As the climate warms, mosquito seasons are lasting longer, giving the insects more time to spread dangerous diseases such as malaria and dengue. Researchers are now exploring new methods to target and control mosquito populations before the expanding range of the insects puts more communities at risk.

A new report says global temperatures have reached record highs as the El Niño climate pattern strengthens in the Pacific. El Niño, which warms ocean surface waters and alters weather worldwide, is adding to the underlying warming trend driven by greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists warn the combination could push average temperatures to new extremes in the coming months, with implications for heatwaves, droughts and storms across many regions.

The Trump administration is retreating from a proposed executive order that would have given the White House greater control over National Institutes of Health grant decisions. Reporting by Semafor says the plan, which would have tightened political oversight of NIH research funding, is now considered 'dead' after significant pushback from scientists, universities and lawmakers. The retreat comes amid ongoing concerns over federal science funding policy.

A UK climate minister has warned that the global food system is vulnerable to El Niño, the periodic warming of Pacific Ocean waters that disrupts weather patterns and can damage harvests. The warning, reported by New Scientist, highlights concerns that extreme weather linked to El Niño could hit crop yields and push up food prices worldwide.

A New York Times piece examines how scientists can influence public opinion on the risks of artificial intelligence, reportedly through protests and public engagement. It suggests researchers are becoming active voices in the debate over AI safety, rather than leaving the conversation to companies and regulators.

Political scientist Norman Finkelstein discussed Harvard's antisemitism inquiry in an interview, questioning the finding that Israeli and Jewish students "don't feel wanted at Harvard". He responded to the university's framing that inclusivity is the remedy, saying he supports being inclusive while disputing how the inquiry characterises antisemitism on campus. The interview is drawing attention amid ongoing US debate over antisemitism at elite universities.

A vast, slow-moving equatorial kelvin wave is heading toward the California coast, prompting warnings that it could strengthen El Niño conditions and raise the risk of extreme weather on the US West Coast. Scientists and commentators are watching the planetary-scale ocean warming pattern closely as concern grows over its potential coastal impacts.

Scientists warn that shifting climate conditions could change the risks posed by deadly rodent-borne diseases. As temperatures and rainfall patterns alter habitats, rodent populations may move into new areas, potentially increasing human exposure to pathogens such as hantavirus and leptospirosis. Researchers say understanding these ecological shifts is becoming increasingly important for public health planning.

Scientists and weather watchers are tracking a vast, slow-moving Kelvin wave—a planetary-scale ocean or atmospheric pattern—that is heading toward California. The development is drawing attention because such waves can influence coastal conditions and extreme weather, and concern is mounting over what impact it could bring to the US West Coast.

A new study is probing whether artificial intelligence systems could experience pain, one of the hardest questions in debates over machine consciousness. The research feeds into a wider argument among scientists and ethicists about whether large language models have any form of subjective experience, and what that would mean for how such systems should be treated and regulated.

Scientists and fishermen are pressing the federal government to continue funding a deep-ocean observation system, warning that losing the data stream would hurt marine research and fisheries management. The program monitors ocean conditions in deep waters, information both communities rely on for understanding ecosystems and making decisions. Supporters say the system's value extends well beyond academia into the fishing industry.

NASA's Perseverance rover has uncovered evidence that Jezero Crater on Mars was more complex than previously thought, indicating it was not simply an ancient lake. The finding suggests the crater experienced a richer and more varied geological history, with implications for understanding Mars' past water activity and its potential to have once supported life.

New research suggests a worrying association between frequent cannabis use and an increased risk of seizures. The findings, reported by Gizmodo, are drawing attention because cannabis is often assumed to be relatively safe or even beneficial for seizure disorders, and the study complicates that picture for heavy users.

A New York Times report examines whether Anthropic's AI system genuinely produced a scientific discovery independently, focusing on work involving a biology enzyme associated with researcher Mestre. The piece weighs the claim against skepticism about what counts as an autonomous discovery, and debate has spread over how much credit the AI deserves versus the scientists guiding it.

Peter Barrett, a leading figure in Antarctic science in New Zealand and internationally, has died. Colleagues describe him as a legend in the field, noting that even in death he left behind a list of tasks and challenges, reflecting his lifelong commitment to Antarctic research and climate issues. Tributes have come from across Aotearoa and the wider scientific community.

Scientists in Germany are preparing to copy and store vast troves of American climate data, fearing the Trump administration could alter, restrict, or remove federal climate records. The effort has been likened to building an ark, preserving scientific information outside the United States in case it becomes unavailable at home, and has drawn attention as researchers weigh risks to publicly funded datasets.

Scientists and news outlets are raising alarms about a slow-moving Kelvin wave — a vast, planetary-scale oceanic phenomenon — that is travelling toward the California coast. Such waves can shift warm water across the Pacific and influence coastal sea levels and weather patterns, prompting concerns about potential impacts on the US West Coast.