October 10, 2026, 1:59 pm ET The Northern Lights could be visible in parts of the northern United States this weekend, as geomagnetic storms caused by solar activity increase the chances of aurora displays. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a moderate geomagnetic storm (G2) watch for Sunday, Oct. … Read more
Scientists investigating the possibility of a “gold rush” at the bottom of the ocean have stumbled upon an unforeseen “landmine.” Researchers from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) now warn that some deep-sea minerals can spontaneously combust when brought to the surface. In 2022, this occurred with two samples of metal sulfide rocks collected from … Read more
Octopuses can open jars, solve puzzles, and change color in a split second to adapt to their surroundings. Scientists have long wondered how a soft-bodied relative of clams and scallops ended up with the largest brain of any invertebrate. A new study from the University of Vienna suggests that part of the answer may lie … Read more
University of Alberta researchers say they have discovered what could be the first evidence of a small raptor feeding on a much larger tyrannosaur, offering insight into the eating habits of dinosaurs millions of years ago. The discovery centers on unusual bite marks found on the jaw of an Albertosaurus, an apex predator related to … Read more
Welcome back to the Summary! Here are this week’s studies that detected a blast from the past, opened a portal between realms, opened it, and rose from the ashes. First, scientists have detected a mysterious radio signal from the primordial universe that could illuminate cosmic evolution (not aliens…sorry). Then: a quantum diamond in the rough, … Read more
There is another notable development in the field of quantum physics to report on, and it has to do with electron spin: the small built-in magnetism of these particles, as if each carried a microscopic compass needle. Previously, the strength of these spins alone had proven to be enough to push individual atoms in one … Read more
Colossal Biosciences’ efforts to bring back extinct animals like the woolly mammoth and direwolves have drawn comparisons to Jurassic Park. CEO and co-founder Ben Lamm told CNBC’s Julia Boorstin on the CNBC AI Forum last week that he understands those comparisons. “I think anyone who watched Jurassic Park in the ’90s and didn’t say it … Read more
We Homo sapiens are very proud of our tool-making prowess. From smartphones to the humble but powerful wheel, our ability to create objects that help us achieve our goals is something we have often thought defines us as a species. But tens of thousands of years ago, Homo sapiens weren’t the only humans with a … Read more
A new genetically engineered microbe could one day help humanity settle on Mars, a nonprofit biotech research startup suggests. Our species has launched nearly 50 missions to Mars since 1960, all of them robotic. If all goes according to plan, everyone has been moving toward a manned flight to the Red Planet, which remains a … Read more
Astronomers investigating mysterious X-ray flashes believe these explosions could be caused by collisions between neutron stars, the events that forge elements such as gold, silver and platinum. The event, called EP250704a, was first seen on July 4, 2025, as a gamma-ray burst that lasted half a second, followed by a bright X-ray emission that lasted … Read more