Science & Earth

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has published the Draft National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS) 2026 for public comment, with the consultation open until mid-February 2026; the draft emphasises waste minimisation, circular economy principles and supports extended producer responsibility within existing law.

A study published Feb. 4 in Communications Biology reports that the Deep Maniot community at the southern tip of Greece has been genetically isolated for roughly 1,400 years and retains ancient paternal lineages linked to Bronze Age and Roman-period Greek-speaking populations.

A new study by nine experts warns there are major knowledge gaps and no industry-wide standards for reproductive health beyond Earth, and its authors call for international research and ethical guidelines as long-duration missions and commercial activity increase.

A campsite in Khao Yai National Park was closed after authorities said a wild bull elephant fatally attacked a tourist on Feb. 2; officials reported this was the third reported death linked to the same animal.

Radio occultation data from 13 Juno flybys indicate Jupiter's equatorial width is about 8 kilometers less and its polar flattening about 24 kilometers greater than earlier estimates; the results were published Feb. 2, 2026.

NASA's Orion spacecraft sits atop the SLS rocket at the launch pad after rollout on Jan. 17, 2026, and is intended to carry the Artemis II crew around the Moon. The vehicle is designed to house four astronauts for up to 21 days without docking and includes upgraded life support, avionics, power, and thermal protection systems.

Erin Edwards is Deputy Branch Chief for Crew Operations and serves as a capsule communicator at NASA's Johnson Space Center, where she helps manage astronaut candidate training and relays operations to the ISS crew.

An ammonia spike in the Yamuna forced six of Delhi's nine water treatment plants to close, cutting running water to roughly two million people in 43 neighborhoods; officials say they will expand sewage processing to 1,500 million gallons a day and extend sewer lines to informal housing by 2028.

AES Andes cancelled the planned INNA hydrogen plant near ESO's Cerro Paranal, and ESO said the project could have increased light pollution above Paranal by up to 35%.

Researchers reporting in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface used seismic imaging and modeling to argue that a lithospheric drip lowered the Uinta Mountains 2–5 million years ago, enabling the Green River to cut a deep canyon and join the Colorado River.

A new study led by Adam Smith at the University of Glasgow reports that the Green River did not reverse direction; instead, the Uinta Mountains’ deep lithospheric root became unusually dense, sank into the mantle, and later detached about two to five million years ago, leaving the river’s course appearing to slope uphill.

Investigators collected vials described as unknown liquids during a search of a private residence in Las Vegas, and Sen. Ron Johnson said the discovery is "an enormous problem" and raised concerns about gene-editing tools like CRISPR and national security.

Host cities are investing in advanced snowmaking and other upgrades as Alpine regions warm faster than the global average; the IOC has set new sustainability obligations from 2030 and is considering rotating hosts among climate‑reliable countries.

Colossal Biosciences said it will open a Colossal Biovault and World Preservation Lab inside Dubai's Museum of the Future to store millions of frozen tissue and other samples from about 10,000 species, including the 100 most endangered globally and in the UAE. Experts and conservation groups note that cryobanking is a complementary tool and raise questions about governance, access and long-term integration with conservation efforts.

Jetavanaramaya in Anuradhapura was completed around 301 CE using an estimated 93.3 million baked mud bricks and originally rose to about 122 meters; today it stands roughly 71 meters and remains the largest brick structure by volume.

Immunic will present additional phase 2 CALLIPER trial data on vidofludimus calcium at the ACTRIMS Forum 2026; the company reports MRI analyses showing reductions in several lesion measures and a subset analysis showing declines in EBV‑specific T‑cell receptor sequences versus placebo.

Hawaii's green sea turtle populations have increased and are now common on many beaches, and some Native Hawaiians are calling for limited cultural harvest rights while federal protections under the Endangered Species Act remain in place.

Heavy January snowfall eased immediate venue concerns for the Milano Cortina Winter Games, but scientists report long-term warming has reduced reliable natural snow at many historical and potential host sites.

A group of experts warns that human reproduction beyond Earth is not yet safe or well understood and calls for coordinated research and ethical oversight; existing human data from long-duration missions are limited.

Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for Spalding County after a reported significant fuel release at or near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; cleanup crews are working while a visible petroleum sheen remains on the Flint River and officials have not disclosed the cause or volume.

On Feb. 2, 2026, a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base carrying 25 Starlink satellites; the first stage landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You and the upper stage reached preliminary orbit about nine minutes after liftoff.

Experts say fewer very cold days in recent decades, combined with human adaptation to milder winters, makes this cold snap feel more intense for many Americans; data show a national decline in subfreezing days and larger regional drops in places like Albany.

The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) coalition has moved from shaping health policy into environmental discussions with the Environmental Protection Agency; Administrator Lee Zeldin announced new restrictions on five chemicals and the agency says it will publish a 'MAHA agenda' in the coming months.

The sun produced an X8.3-class flare from Active Region 4366 and NOAA says related coronal mass ejections could reach Earth around Feb. 5, possibly sparking auroras; timing and visibility remain uncertain.

Researchers analyzed hair samples from 48 Utah residents dating back to 1916 and found lead concentrations were much higher before the EPA's 1970 regulations, with a steep decline in levels after that period.

Illumina will sequence up to 4,000 samples from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's Frozen Zoo, representing about 1,300 species, and selected samples will support multiomic research with data shared with SDZWA and its collaborators.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has demanded information from major diesel engine manufacturers about DEF system failures and said the agency will use the data to inform rulemaking and actions in 2026.

The simulation hypothesis argues we might be living inside a computer-like simulation based on Nick Bostrom’s projection of future technology, and the idea has drawn interest and skepticism from scientists and the public alike.

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings as snow and heavy rain are expected across parts of the UK, and some transport services and local flood warnings have been reported.

China has begun building a gigawatt-scale open-sea solar farm off Shandong province covering about 1,223 hectares and expected to produce roughly 1.78 billion kilowatt-hours a year; the project, built by China Energy Investment Corporation, includes integrated fish farming but no independent environmental analysis has been released.