Experts and community trying to untangle mystery of outburst that saw water travel almost 10km overland into a bigger lakeManoel Dixon had just finished dinner one night last May when a phone dinged nearby with a Facebook message.Dixon, 26, was at his family's hunting camp near their northern Quebec home town of Waswanipi. They knew the fellow hunter who was messaging Dixon's father, but what he wrote didn't make sense. Continue reading...
Ynys Mon (Anglesey): The wolf moon is spectacular enough, but look east and you'll see a celestial titan the size of a pinprickAs unmissable as new year's fireworks, the wolf moon held theheavens for the first few nights of January, casting an unearthly radiance over everything, night almost as bright as day. Now, as that moon wanes, prepare to be wowed by a true planetary A-lister: Jupiter.Named after the king of the sky gods in Roman mythology, Jupiter rises each evening in the east, unmatched by any star save Sirius. Tonight, however, it will be at its biggest and brightest, having reached opposition", meaning we on Earth are directly between Jupiter and the sun. If you have never tried star" gazing before, tonight's the night to start. Continue reading...
Agency says US-Japanese-Russian crew of four will return to Earth in the coming days, earlier than plannedNasa has ordered its first medical evacuation from the International Space Station in its 25-year history after an astronaut in the orbital laboratory fell ill with a serious" but undisclosed issue.The US space agency said in a press conference that the crew of four led by the US commander Zena Cardman would return to Earth in the coming days, earlier than planned. Continue reading...
Scientists at UCL say drug developers should focus on two risk-raising variants of the Apoe geneNew therapies for Alzheimer's disease should target a particular gene linked to the condition, according to researchers who said most cases would never arise if its harmful effects were neutralised.The call to action follows the arrival of the first wave of drugs that aim to treat Alzheimer's patients by removing toxic proteins from the brain. While the drugs slow the disease down, the benefits are minor, and they have been rejected for widespread use by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). Continue reading...
by Kat Lay Global health correspondent on (#72PWX)
Experts are urging guideline changes on what health professionals should wear to protect against flu-like illnesses including CovidSurgical face masks provide inadequate protection against flu-like illnesses including Covid, and should be replaced by respirator-level masks - worn every time doctors and nurses are face to face with a patient, according to a group of experts urging changes to World Health Organization guidelines.There is no rational justification remaining for prioritising or using" the surgical masks that are ubiquitous in hospitals and clinics globally, given their inadequate protection against airborne pathogens", they said in a letter to WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Continue reading...
Certain canines can learn using cues from people's gaze, gestures, attention and voices, researchers findWhether it is a piece of food or a four-letter expletive, words can be learned by young children overhearing adults - but now researchers have found certain dogs can do something similar.Scientists have discovered canines with the unusual ability to learn the names of myriad objects can pick up such labels by eavesdropping on conversations. Continue reading...
Astronaut aboard the International Space Station is in stable condition, Nasa said, and a spacewalk was canceledNasa is considering a rare early return of its crew from the International Space Station (ISS) over an unspecified medical issue involving one of the astronauts, after cancelling a planned spacewalk that had been scheduled for Thursday, the agency said.A Nasa spokesperson said the astronaut with the medical concern, whom she did not identify, was in a stable condition on the orbiting laboratory. Continue reading...
We must not let geoengineering be shaped behind closed doors. Climate justice demands an inclusive approachAs the world faces the challenges of the climate crisis and critical threshold levels or tipping points may be reached soon, a disputable idea is gaining momentum as a potential solution: solar geoengineering - the deliberate reflection of sunlight to cool the planet. Advocates argue it could buy us time. Critics warn of unknown risks. Some see it as a possible emergency break if temperatures spiral out of control. Others call it a dangerous distraction that undermines meaningful climate action.Research into solar geoengineering is advancing, including exploration of techniques such as stratospheric aerosol injection, which would involve spraying tiny reflective particles into the upper atmosphere to mimic the cooling effect of volcanic eruptions, and marine cloud brightening, which aims to enhance the reflectivity of low-lying marine clouds. While stratospheric aerosol injection is not being conducted, these technologies are being studied with increasing urgency in the global north. In the global south, however, they remain largely invisible to public discourse and policymaking. Continue reading...
Of 17 preservatives studied, higher consumption of 12 of them linked with increased risk of type 2 diabetesHigher consumption of some food preservatives is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cancer, two studies suggest.The findings, published in the medical journals Nature Communications and the BMJ, may have important public health implications given the ubiquitous use of these additives globally, researchers said. Continue reading...
by Presented by Ian Sample, with Hannah Devlin, produ on (#72NXF)
Last year was full of unexpected science news, from the discovery of a new colour, to the interstellar visitor 3I/Atlas passing by our solar system, and a world-first treatment with a personalised gene editing therapy. So what will this year bring? Ian Sample and science correspondent Hannah Devlin discuss the big stories likely to hit the headlines and share their predictions for 2026Clips: MSNBC, KHOU11, KHON2, NBC News, Today, CBS Mornings, CNN, ABC News, CNBCSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...
by Tobi Thomas Health and inequalities correspondent on (#72NSF)
Analysis finds those who stopped using medication saw weight return four times faster compared with other weight loss plansPeople who stop taking weight loss jabs regain all the weight originally lost in under two years, significantly faster than those on any other weight loss plan, according to a landmark study.Weight loss medications, known as GLP-1 agonists, were originally developed as treatment for diabetes and work by mimicking the glucagon-like peptide (GLP) 1 hormone which helps people feel full. Continue reading...
by Kat Lay Global health correspondent on (#72N6E)
The cost of medication was too high for thousands of CF sufferers around the world. Now a Bangladeshi company is making a generic version that will change livesSeven-year-old Grant Leitch had an important question for his mother. He asked if his little brother, Brett, who has cystic fibrosis (CF), was going to die.The South African family, like tens of thousands around the world, have been priced out of access to modern cystic fibrosis therapies, and if Grant had asked at the start of 2025, he might have received a less optimistic answer. Continue reading...
Bronze instrument or carnyx dug up in Norfolk in area inhabited by Celtic tribe led by warrior who fought RomansAn extraordinary" iron age war trumpet that may have links to the Celtic tribe led by Boudicca in the period they were battling the invading Roman army has been discovered by archaeologists in Norfolk.The bronze trumpet or carnyx is only the third ever found in Britain, and the most complete example discovered anywhere in the world. Fashioned in the shape of a snarling wild animal, the object would have been mounted on a long mouthpiece high above the heads of warriors, allowing it to be sounded to intimidate the enemy in battle. Continue reading...
Reflecting a small fraction of incoming sunlight to reduce global heating is not a new idea. It is time to safely experimentThe world is warming fast - and our options to avoid catastrophic harm are narrowing. 2024 was the first full year more than 1.5C hotter than the 19th-century average. Emissions are still rising, with fossil fuel use expected to hit a new high in 2025. Permanent carbon removal technologies - often cited as a fix - are removing just tens of thousands of tonnes annually, almost nothing relative to the 5-10bn tonnes needed. Cutting emissions and scaling carbon removal remain essential. But they may not be enough.As suffering grows and ecosystems unravel, more people will ask: is there anything we can do to prevent these harms? The idea of reflecting a small fraction of incoming sunlight to reduce warming is not a new idea. In 1965, Lyndon B Johnson's science advisers proposed it as the only way to cool the planet. Earth already reflects about 30% of incoming sunlight; raising that fraction slightly - say, to 31% - could strengthen the planet's natural heat shield. But how? Continue reading...
Senior insider says limbo' at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory has hit morale and disrupted vital researchA shake-up of the government's defence science powerhouse at Porton Down has severely damaged morale and harmed work on critical science that supports national security, a senior whistleblower has told the Guardian.The whistleblower said they were raising concerns in the public interest that the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), based largely at Porton Down in Wiltshire, had been left in a paralysing limbo because of the changes. Continue reading...
by Presented by Ian Sample, with Jillian Ambrose, pro on (#72MF0)
The US capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Saturday left many people wondering why? Donald Trump hinted at an answer when he claimed the Venezuelan regime had stolen US oil rights and that American oil companies would help to run Venezuela going forward.Jillian Ambrose, the Guardian energy correspondent, explains to Ian Sample the appeal of Venezuelan oil to the US, how easy it is to extract and what the latest action tells us about Trump's energy strategyClips: CBC, DW, USA TodayWhat role could the US play in Venezuela's bust' oil industry? Continue reading...
The solution to today's puzzleEarlier today I set the following puzzle, a pre-commemoration of World Logic Day on January 14. Here it is again with the solution.Middle management Continue reading...
There's nothing more uplifting than hearing about a world-shaking, life-enhancing new development. But science shouldn't overlook the small stuff, or stop looking for new species of cute, fluffy mammals ...People who greet the new year with hope, ambitious plans and optimised gut microbiomes might be obnoxiously apparent at the moment, but we all know they're a minority. Most of us lurched into 2026 catastrophically depleted and grey-faced, juggling deep Lemsip dependency with a deeper overdraft and a sense of ever-deepening global geopolitical foreboding. There is, however, one thing that fills me with buoyant optimism now and always: science. I don't understand it, but I'm delighted it's out there, making things better.I was booted out of my leaden year-end listlessness by The Atlantic's list of 55 Facts That Blew Our Minds in 2025. Did you know, for example, that scientists at UC Berkeley created a new colour? (It's called olo" and it's sort of teal.) Or that doctors treated a baby with a rare genetic disorder with custom gene editing? There were more wonders in the Smithsonian's list of last year's fascinating scientific discoveries: ichthyosaurs, extinct marine reptiles, had stealth flippers", snails can regrow eyes within a month, and flamingos form tornado-like vortices as they probe for prey", which is pure poetry (it looks pretty cool too, I watched one do it on YouTube). Still on an animal theme, entomologists discovered a bone collector" caterpillar that conceals itself in the body parts of its prey (I'm sure he's lovely when you get to know him). 2025 was also the year science made oyster mushrooms play keyboards (sort of), astronomers discovered more than 100 moons in our solar system and medical researchers created replica womb lining and made astonishing progress towards lab-grown teeth. Continue reading...
Raise an eyebrow for World Logic DayUPDATE: Solution can be read hereAll days of the year host an annual celebration.January 14 is a day of the year. Continue reading...
Solar system's biggest planet will be close enough to reveal its largest moons through a pair of modest binocularsThe giant planet Jupiter reaches its closest approach to the Earth in 2026 this week. It is extremely well placed for observation and so bright that it is impossible to miss.Jupiter - the largest planet in the solar system - will be unmistakable in Gemini, the twins, forming a lopsided triangle with the constellation's two brightest stars, Castor and Pollux. Its diameter is more than 11 times that of the Earth, and its cloud decks are highly reflective, making it the brightest planet in the night sky apart from Venus, despite it being so much further away. It will be visible from northern and southern hemispheres. Continue reading...
According to Nasa, a supermoon occurs when the moon, due to its proximity to Earth, appears up to 15% larger and 30% brighter than a regular full moon Continue reading...
With vaping now more common than smoking, experts explain addiction and what actually helps people quitMore socially acceptable than smoking - yet just as addictive - vaping has become the UK's default way of consuming nicotine.Figures published by the Office for National Statistics last month showed that the number of over-16s in Great Britain who use vapes or e-cigarettes has overtaken the number who smoke cigarettes for the first time, with 5.4 million adults now vaping daily or occasionally, compared with 4.9 million who smoke. Continue reading...
Three decades after its modest beginnings on Channel 4, the TV juggernaut now has its own channel and global subscribersThirty-two years ago, a small group of archaeologists gathered for a weekend in Somerset to make a TV programme about a field in Athelney, the site where once, 1,200 years ago, King Alfred the Great rallied resistance to the invading Viking army.There weren't many concessions to showbiz glitz. Instead, a group of blokes with unruly hair and a couple of women walked across a field, talked things over in the pub and, at one point, gathered around a dot matrix printer to watch it slowly disgorging some results. The most exciting artefact they found was a lump of iron slag. No soil was overturned. Continue reading...
Scientists argue ape-like Sahelanthropus tchadensis that lived in Africa 7m years ago is best contender but more fossils are neededIn the murky first chapters of the human story is an unknown ancestor that made the profound transition from walking on all fours to standing up tall, an act that came to define us.The odds of stumbling on the fossilised evidence of such an evolutionary prize are slim, but in new research, scientists argue that an ape-like animal that lived in Africa 7m years ago is the best contender yet. Continue reading...
After losing a year to havoc and job-slashing at Nasa, the pressure is on billionaire administrator Jared IsaacmanWith astronauts set to fly around the moon for the first time in more than half a century when Artemis 2 makes its long-awaited ascent some time this spring, 2026 was already destined to become a standout year in space.It is also likely to be one of the most pivotal, with new leadership at Nasa in billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman, and the tycoon-led private space industry assuming more than a mere supporting role to help win for the US its race with China back to the lunar surface. Continue reading...
Robyn Thomson immunised thousands of animals in Cambodia after shocking death of her motherIt was just a scratch. Among all the feelings and thoughts that she has had to wrestle with since the summer, disbelief is the emotion that Robyn Thomson still struggles with the most. You never think it would happen to you," said Robyn. You don't really think it happens to anyone."Robyn's mother, Yvonne Ford, had shown no signs of illness in the months after returning from her holiday in Morocco in February. She had spoken highly of the country and its people, and recommended it for future getaways. She had not realised that a seemingly harmless interaction with a puppy while sitting in the sun would cause so much damage. Continue reading...
New year plant hunt shows rising temperatures are shifting natural cycles of wildflowers such as daisiesDaisies and dandelions are among hundreds of native plant species blooming in the UK, in what scientists have called a visible signal" of climate breakdown disrupting the natural world.A Met Office analysis of data from the annual new year's plant hunt over the past nine years found an extra 2.5 species in bloom during the new year period for every 1C rise in temperature at a given location during the previous November and December. This year's hunt started on Thursday and runs until Sunday. Continue reading...
9,500-year-old pyre uncovered in Malawi offers rare insight into rituals of ancient African hunter-gatherer groupsA cremation pyre built about 9,500 years ago has been discovered in Africa, offering a fresh glimpse into the complexity of ancient hunter-gatherer communities.Researchers say the pyre, discovered in a rock shelter at the foot of Mount Hora in northern Malawi, is thought to be the oldest in the world to contain adult remains, the oldest confirmed intentional cremation in Africa, and the first pyre to be associated with African hunter-gatherers. Continue reading...
Over the holiday period, the Guardian leader column is looking ahead at the themes of 2026. Today we examine how the White House's war on vaccines has left the future of a key technology uncertain and up for grabsThe late scientist and thinker Donald Braben argued that 20th-century breakthroughs arose from scientists being free to pursue bold ideas without pressure for quick results or rigid peer review. The rapid development of Covid-19 vaccines seemed to validate his claim: emergency conditions sped up trials, relaxed regulatory sequencing and encouragedscientists to share findings before peer review. Out of that sprang one of the great scientific success stories of our age: mRNA vaccines. These use synthetic genetic code to train the immune system to defend itself against viruses. Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman, whose work enabled the mRNACovid vaccine, went on to win the Nobel prize. Theirbreakthrough suggests that loosening traditionalconstraints could accelerate major scientific advances.The extensive scientific and logistic infrastructure built during that period is now occupied with turning the technology towards other diseases: flu, HIV and even cancer. Until very recently, the US, which put more than $10bn into mRNA development, appeared primed to reap the scientific and commercial rewards. Despite the deregulatory zeal that birthed mRNA, the second Trump administration has rejected it. Instead, it has been remarkably steady in its commitment to the radical anti-science and anti-vaccine agenda of the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr. He has spent the past year undermining and outright sabotaging the US's own success. Over the summer, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced a coordinated wind-down" of federal funding for mRNA research, cancelling an additional $500m in funding for 22 projects.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
Peter Foreshaw Brookes says worry about falling sperm counts is misplacedThe Italian demographic winter" has a number of causes, but rising male biological infertility is not one (A child is born: Italians celebrate village's first baby in 30 years, 26 December).Alot of worry about falling sperm counts has been generated by some studies, but a more recent metaanalysis found, through inclusion of regional controls, an increase in US sperm counts between 1970 and 2018. Sperm counts may be falling in places like the Chinese province of Henan, which has substantial air and waterpollution, but there is limited evidence that sperm counts are falling in the developed world. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Identifying teenagers at risk could help prevent organ damage, strokes and heart attacks in early adulthood, doctors sayLeading doctors have called for a national UK programme to monitor schoolchildren for high blood pressure amid concerns that rising rates in adolescents will increase cases of organ damage, strokes and heart attacks.Rates of high blood pressure have nearly doubled among children in the past 20 years, but no routine testing is performed in the UK, leaving doctors in the dark about the extent of the problem and which children need most help. Continue reading...
by Presented by Ian Sample, sound design by Joel Cox, on (#72HJF)
Kevin Hall spent 21 years at the US National Institutes of Health and became known globally for his pioneering work on ultra-processed foods. In April he unexpectedly took early retirement, citing censorship under the Trump administration.Now he has co-authored a book with the journalist Julia Belluz that aims to bust myths and challenge wellness orthodoxy on everything from weight loss and metabolism to supplements and wearables. In this episode from October, Hall tells Ian Sample what he wants us all to understand about diet, exercise and weight loss, and what led to his departure from the job he lovedOrder Kevin's book from Guardian BookshopSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...
Next head of Cern backs massive replacement for world's largest machine to investigate mysteries of the universeMark Thomson, a professor of experimental particle physics at the University of Cambridge, has landed one of the most coveted jobs in global science. But it is hard not to wonder, when looked at from a certain angle, whether he has taken one for the team.On 1 January, Thomson takes over as the director general of Cern, the multi-Nobel prizewinning nuclear physics laboratory on the outskirts of Geneva. It is here, deep beneath the ground, that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the largest scientific instrument ever built, recreates conditions that existed microseconds after the big bang. Continue reading...
The bioscience startup has attracted billions in investment - and a flurry of criticism, but founder tells the Guardian plans to bring back the woolly mammoth will not be derailedDeath and taxes are supposed to be the things we can depend on in this life. But in 2025, the American entrepreneur Ben Lamm sold much of the world on the idea that death did not, after all, need to be for ever.This was the year the billionaire's genetics startup, Colossal Biosciences, claimed it had resurrected the dire wolf, an animal that disappeared at the end of the last ice age, by tweaking the DNA of grey wolves. According to the company, it had also edged closer to bringing the woolly mammoth back from the dead, with the creation of genetically engineered woolly mice". Continue reading...
Analysis shows obscure and barely used choices, drawn from online slang, do not stand the test of timeIf you have seen a news story declaring 2025's chosen word of the year" in recent weeks, you might be forgiven for asking yourself: what, another one?Depending on which dictionary you turn to, the chosen term this year was either Collins's vibe coding", parasocial" from Cambridge Dictionaries or their Oxford University Press rival's rage bait" - with many other selections besides. Continue reading...
In a statement shared on Instagram, Nguyen says she faced a tsunami of harassment' after the all-female spaceflightAmanda Nguyen, the Vietnamese-American astronaut who was part of the all-female Blue Origin spaceflight, has opened up about her depression after she experienced a tsunami of harassment" after the trip, in which she became the first Vietnamese woman to go to space.Nguyen, 34, was part of April's historic 11-minute flight, whose crew included pop star Katy Perry, broadcast journalist Gayle King, and journalist and wife of Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sanchez. The flight was heavily criticized for its environmental impact and critics questioned its purpose and use of resources. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Scientists uncovered biological strands using artificial intelligence and hope discovery will revolutionise treatmentScientists have discovered two new subtypes of multiple sclerosis with the aid of artificial intelligence, paving the way for personalised treatments and better outcomes for patients.Millions of people have the disease globally - but treatments are mostly selected on the basis of symptoms, and may not be effective because they don't target the underlying biology of the patient. Continue reading...
by Presented by Ian Sample, with Madeleine Finlay, pr on (#72FF3)
More of us are turning to products containing mushroom extracts, with the medicinal fungi market worth billions of pounds. Promises of mental and physical health benefits have seen its popularity spill over from wellness influencers to the shelves of Marks & Spencer - but is there any scientific evidence behind these claims?In this episode from June, Ian Sample chats to Madeleine Finlay about the appeal of mushroom drinks and supplements, and hears from the mycologist Prof Nik Money on what we really know about how fungi can affect our minds and bodiesSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...
Our magic bullets are increasingly rare and ineffective. The golden age of discovery is over and the way we develop and use drugs needs to changeDuring her tenure as director general of the World Health Organization, Dr Margaret Chan used to say that allof the easy" antibiotics had already been found. Her point was that in responding to the urgentthreat of antibiotic-resistant infections, we would struggle tofind new medicines - or preserve the ones we have - if we didn't find new ways of working. She was right.Since 2017, just 16 antibiotics have gained widespread regulatory approval - mostly close relatives of medicines already in use and so unlikelytoevade resistance for long. The developmentof new ones is a slow and unprofitable business, curative medicines being less lucrative than ones treating longer-term conditions. And the scientific outlook remains bleak.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
MHRA says buying from illegal online sellers can put health at real risk amid booming black marketLosing weight may be a common new year resolution but health experts have warned against buying medications for such purposes from social media sellers or other illegitimate channels.Jabs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro have become hugely popular for weight loss, with trials suggesting the latter can help people lose an average of 20% of their body weight after 72 weeks of treatment. Continue reading...
One of the zodiac's subtler constellations comes into view on winter evenings, with the moon helping to point the wayYou can track down one of the zodiac's fainter constellations this week. Aries, the ram, lies between Taurus to the east and Pisces to the west. In the northern hemisphere, it is situated at its best during the deep winter months.Aries is an ancient constellation. It was originally designated by the early Babylonians as a hired hand who tended fields, but became recognised as a ram and has remained so in most sky cultures. To the Egyptians, it was Amun-Ra, the ram-headed god of creativity and fertility. In Greek myth, Aries is associated with the golden fleece that Jason and the Argonauts sought. Continue reading...
Western Highlands and southern Wales among most active regions, according to British Geological SurveyMore than 300 earthquakes have been recorded in the UK this year, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS).Among the most active regions to experience quakes were Perthshire and the western Highlands in Scotland, southern parts of Wales, and Yorkshire and Lancashire in England, the BGS data shows. Continue reading...
by Hannah Devlin Science correspondent on (#72EMR)
Forecasting tool predicts when demand will be highest, allowing NHS trusts to better plan staffing and bed spaceHospitals in England are using artificial intelligence to help cut waiting times in emergency departments this winter.The A&E forecasting tool predicts when demand will be highest, allowing trusts to better plan staffing and bed space. The prediction algorithm is trained on historical data including weather trends, school holidays, and rates of flu and Covid to determine how many people are likely to visit A&E. Continue reading...
Space junkyards | Additions to signs | No-joke planning reforms | Chris Rea | Last-ditch attempt | Trump class' | Moving obituaryI do hope countries agree to use the Jules Verne crater on the far side of the moon as a spacecraft graveyard to crash defunct equipment as they use Point Nemo in the South Pacific Ocean as a spacecraft cemetery (Patches of the moon to become spacecraft graveyards, say researchers, 22 December).
Over the holiday period, the Guardian leader column is looking ahead at the themes of 2026. Today we look skyward, where a new lunar contest mirrors humanity's struggle to live within planetary limitsDuring the cold war's space race, the Apollo moon missions were driven by the need to prove American superiority. Having made that political and technological point with the 1969 moon landing, the contest between Moscow and Washington petered out. A new dash across the skies kicks off in 2026, reigniting geopolitical competition under the guise of peaceful exploration". The moon's south pole is emerging as the most valuable real estate in the solar system, offering peaks of eternal light" for solar arrays and ice deposits in craters shielded fromthesun.The US and a China-led bloc are eyeing the lunar surface and its potential to control a post-terrestrial economy. Space had been humanity's last commons, supposedly shielded by the 1967 UN outer space treaty that bans state exploitation of the heavens. It is vague, however, on private claims - a loophole that is now fuelling a tycoon-led scramble for the stars. The aim is obvious: to act first, shape norms and dare others to object. Two lunar missions launching next year- Nasa's Artemis II and China's Chang'e 7 - are competing for strategic supremacy. Continue reading...
Over the holiday period, the Guardian leader column is looking ahead at the themes of 2026. Today we look at how the struggle to adapt to a dangerously warming world has become a test of global justiceThe record-breaking 252mph winds of Hurricane Melissa that devastated Caribbean islands at the end of October were made five times more likely by the climate crisis. Scorching wildfire weather in Spain and Portugal during the summer was made 40 times more likely, while June's heatwave in England was made 100 times more likely.Attribution science has made one thing clear: global heating is behind today's extreme weather. That greenhouse gas emissions warmed the planet was understood. What can now be shown is that this warming produces record heatwaves and more violent storms with increasing frequency.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...