Science & Earth

For its 30th anniversary, scientists told Nature that Pokémon inspired interest in fields such as taxonomy, paleontology and ecology, and the franchise has been used in museum exhibitions, teaching games and to expose predatory journals.

A total lunar eclipse, known as a 'Blood Moon', will occur on Tuesday, March 3, 2026; the UK and much of Europe are reported to be outside the eclipse viewing path.

A 2017 survey found flame shell nests in Loch Carron broken and flattened with scallop dredge tracks; researchers returning four years later after a Marine Protected Area designation recorded signs of recovery and NatureScot said beds have since suggested expansion.

Researchers commissioned by NatureScot report that flame shell beds in Loch Carron have fully recovered since the site was designated a Marine Protected Area in 2017, with surveys and recent video showing repaired nests and further expansion.

Babawru, one of the three remaining Akuntsu women, gave birth to a son in December; Brazil’s Indigenous agency Funai said the child represents hope for the Akuntsu and for protecting their territory.

A family of at least three otters has been seen along the River Aire and the nearby Leeds & Liverpool Canal between Shipley and Saltaire, and Canal & River Trust staff are helping visitors observe them without disturbing the animals.

Researchers report Stone Age sign sequences on objects from a German cave that are said to date to the period when Homo sapiens moved into Europe, and they describe these signs as an early alternative to later writing systems such as those of Mesopotamia and Egypt.

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck between Tenerife and Gran Canaria and was widely felt across both islands; scientists say it is not linked to recent seismic swarms beneath Mount Teide and an eruption is not imminent.

Scientists using the ALMA telescope in Chile released the largest-ever image of the Milky Way's central region, showing long, thin filaments of gas that trace flows toward star-forming areas.

Engineered ultra-sensitive CAR T cells that detect very low levels of the CD70 antigen eliminated kidney, ovarian and pancreatic tumours in mice; the researchers plan to seek funding for a phase I safety trial in humans.

A Science study of three female Neanderthal genomes finds the Neanderthal X chromosome carries about 62% more human DNA than non-sex chromosomes, a pattern a population model interprets as more frequent matings between female Homo sapiens and male Neanderthals than the reverse.

Mike Fincke said he was the astronaut whose medical issue prompted NASA’s first medical evacuation from the International Space Station; his condition stabilized and he says he is doing well.

Researchers analysed more than 3,000 engraved signs on 260 Palaeolithic objects dated about 34,000–45,000 years ago and report that the patterns show statistical similarities to early proto-cuneiform.

Researchers from the University of Padova report that a solitary bottlenose nicknamed Mimmo has adapted to the Venice lagoon, but they say human behaviour and boat traffic pose the greatest risks and need tighter control.

EU pet numbers rose to about 340 million, mostly cats and dogs, and free-roaming or feral pets—particularly cats—are linked to negative effects on native wildlife; EU environmental rules and emerging animal welfare laws leave a regulatory gap, and how that gap will be addressed is undetermined at this time.

Morocco is expanding renewable projects to cut heavy fossil‑fuel imports and has set a goal to triple renewable electricity capacity to about 15 GW by 2030; the article reports investor interest alongside concerns about local jobs, water use and projects in disputed southern territories.

A federal judge ordered narrowly tailored changes to dam operations on the Columbia and Snake rivers, keeping reservoir levels at last year's heights and setting spill levels the judge said are consistent with recent practice; the long-running litigation over river operations continues and next steps are undetermined at this time.

A 17th-century stepwell in Hyderabad was cleared and restored and has supplied drinking water since December 2022; the work by architect Kalpana Ramesh and partners is part of wider rainwater-recharge efforts as India confronts severe groundwater stress and areas approaching 'day zero'.

NASA confirmed that astronaut Mike Fincke experienced the medical issue that prompted Crew-11 to return early from the International Space Station, and he is reported to be recovering and undergoing standard post‑flight reconditioning.

Prince William visited the Francis Crick Institute in central London, where scientists applauded him and he met researchers studying the brain, electron microscopy techniques and work linked to antimicrobial resistance.

Prince William made a surprise visit to the Francis Crick Institute in London, met neuroscience researchers and tried handling microscopic tissue samples in the electron microscopy lab.

Researchers at EPFL measured gases, particles and microbes from pet dogs in a controlled chamber and found large dogs at rest emit similar carbon dioxide and ammonia levels to adults while releasing two to four times more microorganisms during activity.

The Environment Agency has ordered removal of tonnes of material placed during flood-mitigation works at Walsall Arboretum, and clearance has begun; the regulator said no permit or exemption was in place. The agency would not confirm whether fines have been issued or whether the material is contaminated.

Scottish ministers have dismissed an appeal and rejected plans for a £40 million Flamingo Land resort on Lomond Banks. The government cited substantial concerns about flood risk and the extent and location of woodland loss and gain.

Satellite images show emperor penguins gathering into smaller, denser moulting colonies as Antarctic sea ice in the study area fell sharply between 2022 and 2024; researchers warn this increases the risk of large losses if ice breaks up before moulting finishes.

A UK bin collector on TikTok said labels can usually be left on jars and tins, but containers must be emptied and rinsed; national recycling bodies note local councils may set different rules.

A global analysis estimates there may be 3,700–5,200 undiscovered bee species, raising the possible total to about 24,705–26,164; the study maps likely discovery hotspots and highlights regions with large knowledge gaps.

Gravesham Borough Council says some fly-tipping appears linked to organised activity; the council spent £90,000 on clear-ups and opened 504 investigations, with 33 cases sent for prosecution.

The independent Climate Change Committee has warned Scotland’s plan to delay a major heat pump scale-up until about 2035 is unambitious and risks supply-chain challenges; ministers say they will use feedback and a public consultation to shape the final climate plan.

A Veolia recycling plant in Southwark processes about 100,000 tonnes a year for five boroughs while London's municipal recycling rate has remained around 33% for more than a decade; new national Simpler Recycling rules come into force from April.