Science & Earth

Four astronauts splashed down off the coast of California after leaving the International Space Station about a month early because of a medical issue; NASA said the affected crew member was in stable condition.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavor splashed down off the California coast in the early hours of Jan. 15, returning four crew members; NASA called the shortened, 167-day mission a success.

Four astronauts returned to Earth after an unprecedented medical evacuation from the International Space Station, and NASA said the affected crew member is doing fine.

A CNET piece reports that 'wish‑cycling'—placing doubtful items in recycling—disrupts processing plants, and that many takeout containers that look recyclable are not accepted by most facilities; a Republic Services sustainability ambassador offered guidance and noted local rules vary.

Organisers announced the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes will start in the UK in 2027, with at least 10 million people expected to watch along the routes. Start and finish locations for three UK stages of each race were unveiled at a press conference in Leeds.

NOAA forecasts a G1-level geomagnetic storm overnight Jan. 16–17 that could bring auroras to parts of 15 northern U.S. states, with a chance of stronger activity extending visibility farther south; the near-new moon on Jan. 17 will create darker skies that may make faint displays easier to see.

A change-of-command ceremony on Jan. 12 transferred ISS command from Mike Fincke to Sergey Kud-Sverchkov as NASA prepares to bring Crew-11 home early for an undisclosed medical condition; undocking is scheduled for Jan. 14 with splashdown expected Jan. 15.

A new review examined eight climate intervention approaches and found each could affect ocean chemistry and ecosystems in different ways. The article notes some commercial activity is already underway and that models and data remain incomplete.

Four NASA astronauts splashed down off San Diego after their Crew-11 mission was cut short for medical reasons, and the astronaut who experienced the issue is reported to be in stable condition while all crew members undergo routine medical screenings.

Researchers at TU Wien report that a cerium–ruthenium–tin compound (CeRu4Sn6) shows topological behavior even when electrons lose particle-like character, and experiments at temperatures near absolute zero revealed a spontaneous (anomalous) Hall effect without an external magnetic field.

The National Weather Service in Riverton reported six weather records were broken across Wyoming over two days, including multiple record high temperatures and one rainfall record. Forecasters also noted that the polar vortex could bring Arctic air to parts of the U.S. later this month.

Ciguatera is a neurotoxin produced by reef microalgae that bioaccumulates in fish and can cause lasting neurological symptoms; it cannot be detected by taste or removed by cooking, and researchers are working on screening methods and forecasting models.

Researchers from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington found a black coral in Fiordland more than 13 feet tall and estimated at 300–400 years old; they are working with conservation partners to map protected corals.

A Karolinska Institute study found that the speed of alpha-frequency oscillations in the parietal cortex correlates with the brain's temporal binding window and with reported body ownership, based on EEG and rubber-hand experiments with 106 participants published in Nature Communications.

NASA says the four Crew-11 astronauts returned early after a crewmember required medical treatment unavailable on the ISS, and the Crew Dragon Endeavour splashed down safely near San Diego on Jan. 15; officials say the affected crewmember is doing fine.

Four Crew-11 astronauts splashed down off California early on Jan. 15 after an early evacuation from the ISS prompted by an undisclosed medical issue affecting one crew member; NASA says the crew are safe and in good spirits.

A diver at McAbee Beach in late December photographed a juvenile king-of-the-salmon, identified by marine biologists. The Monterey Bay research community says such surface sightings are rare and has reported that warming ocean temperatures may be influencing species ranges, though a definitive cause is undetermined.

NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 splashed down off San Diego early Jan. 15, 2026, returning four crew members after 167 days aboard the International Space Station. The return occurred about a month earlier than planned because of a medical concern; NASA reported the crew member is stable.

Scripps researchers report that adding ocean impacts to the social cost of carbon raises the global cost by about $46.2 per ton, nearly doubling it to $97.2 per ton and implying roughly $2 trillion in annual ocean-related damages based on 2024 emissions estimates.

NASA says four members of SpaceX Crew-11 will undock Wednesday and splash down off the California coast early Thursday after a crew member reported an unspecified medical concern; the astronaut is reported to be in stable condition.

Astronaut Mike Fincke said he and his Crew 11 colleagues are stable and well cared for after NASA announced an early return because of a reported medical issue, with undocking planned for Wednesday.

Four Crew-11 astronauts splashed down off San Diego after an early return prompted by a medical concern aboard the International Space Station; NASA says the affected crewmember is stable and has not been identified.

A study in Brazil's Atlantic Forest found that mosquitoes caught in forest remnants often carried human blood, and the authors link this pattern to habitat loss and nearby human settlement.

Astronauts on the International Space Station receive basic medical care from crew trained in emergency procedures and from NASA doctors on the ground; the station carries equipment such as an ultrasound and a defibrillator but does not have X-ray or MRI machines.

NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy have committed to develop a compact nuclear fission reactor for the Moon with a target around 2030 to provide steady power for habitats and operations, and the plan followed a December 18 executive order directing NASA to pursue lunar nuclear power.

NASA ordered four Crew‑11 members to return early from the ISS after one crew member fell ill and was described as “stable,” and Mike Fincke handed command of Expedition 74 to Russian cosmonaut Sergey Kud‑Sverchkov. The four are scheduled to undock Wednesday and splash down off the coast of California early Thursday.

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke handed command of the International Space Station to Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov; Crew-11 is targeted to undock Jan. 14 and splash down off California on Jan. 15.

Evolutionary biologist Toby Kiers has been awarded the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement and will receive a $250,000 award on April 23; her research maps and studies mycorrhizal fungal networks and she co-founded SPUN and the Underground Atlas to document and protect them.

NASA and the Space Telescope Science Institute published a book that reviews the Hubble Space Telescope’s design, instruments, operations and servicing missions, and highlights its major scientific discoveries and cultural and technological influences since the 1990 launch.

The article recounts the Hubble Space Telescope’s history from its April 1990 launch through its first 30 years, noting an early mirror flaw, subsequent servicing missions that restored and upgraded instruments, and Hubble’s scientific and public impact.