Science

Budget cuts impact NOAA’s hurricane forecasting and climate research programs

SMGN April 25, 2025

Recent administrative decisions have led to significant layoffs and budget reductions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), affecting weather and climate-related research, including hurricane forecasting efforts. Several employees, including probationary scientists like Andy Hazelton, were terminated earlier this year, temporarily reinstated following a federal court order, and then

Mercury, Venus and Saturn to align in a celestial display before dawn on Friday

SMGN April 24, 2025

Early Friday morning, skywatchers will have the opportunity to observe a notable astronomical event: the alignment of Mercury, Venus, and Saturn alongside a slender crescent moon. The phenomenon is expected to be most visible about 45 minutes before sunrise, low in the eastern sky. Venus and Saturn will be the

Scientists and organizations work to preserve public scientific data amid potential removals

SMGN April 23, 2025

Scientists and organizations are actively working to back up and archive publicly accessible scientific data from U.S. government websites that may be removed. The affected data covers areas such as public health, environmental monitoring, climate change, and extreme weather, with some datasets representing decades of federally funded research. In response

U.S. Reconsiders Space-Based Missile Defense System Proposed by Trump

SMGN April 22, 2025

Former President Donald Trump has asked the Pentagon to reassess the country’s missile defense capabilities. The proposed initiative, referred to as “Golden Dome,” envisions a network of interceptors potentially based in space, marking a significant escalation in complexity and cost compared to current systems. Unlike Israel’s “Iron Dome,” which is

Tornado-Producing Storm Causes Deaths and Damage in Oklahoma and Texas

SMGN April 21, 2025

A slow-moving, active storm system brought heavy rain, large hail, and tornadoes to parts of Texas and Oklahoma, leaving three people dead. Severe weather warnings continued on Sunday, affecting parts of the south-central and Midwest U.S. On Easter Sunday, communities in Texas and Oklahoma began assessing the damage caused by

Underwater Camera in Miami Offers Rare Glimpse into Resilient Urban Reef

SMGN April 16, 2025

For over five years, a livestream from Biscayne Bay has been documenting daily life on a coral reef located in the heart of Miami’s busy port. The Coral City Camera has attracted more than 3.7 million views on YouTube and is offering new insights into what researchers are calling “urban

Vera C. Rubin Observatory may be key in the search for hypothetical Planet 9

SMGN April 15, 2025

Caltech astronomer Mike Brown believes that a massive, yet undetected planet may be located beyond Neptune, in the outermost regions of the solar system. According to Brown, this potential planet could be the fifth largest in the solar system, still waiting to be discovered. For nearly a decade, Brown and

All-female crew completes historic spaceflight with Blue Origin

SMGN April 14, 2025

On Monday morning, an all-female crew successfully completed a suborbital flight aboard a rocket operated by Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos. The team included public figures such as singer Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, and Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez. The launch, designated mission NS-31, took place

A Humble Farewell: Pope Francis to Be Buried in Rome After Historic Funeral

SMGN April 25, 2025

Pope Francis will be laid to rest this Saturday, as dignitaries, church leaders, and mourners from around the world gather to honor his legacy. The ceremony marks not only the passing of a spiritual leader but also a significant departure from long-standing papal traditions. Francis passed away six days ago

Gut microbes under scrutiny: a bacterial toxin may be behind the rise in colorectal cancer among young adults

SMGN April 25, 2025

Damage caused by gut bacteria may be linked to the rise in colon cancer among young adults. It remains unclear why cases of this disease have doubled in people under the age of 55 over the past two decades—a staggering increase that has raised concern among doctors and cancer researchers.

Big brands are watching U.S. consumer behavior.

SMGN April 25, 2025

Companies responsible for providing food and essential household products are beginning to publicly express their concern about the future of the American consumer. “Compared to the situation three months ago, today we probably don’t have such a positive view of consumer behavior,” said Jamie Caulfield, Chief Financial Officer of PepsiCo,