Weekly Headlines (Excerpts)

1.  Earth’s first major extinction was worse than we thought

Fossil finds suggest nearly 80% of life on Earth died some 550 million years ago

 13 Mar 2026 By Taylor Mitchell Brown

2.  Relic of long-vanished ice sheet holds clues to ancient climate

Glacial ice melting out of Alaska’s eroding coastline offers a glimpse into a lost climate history

 12 Mar 2026 By Evan Howell

3. ‘Tour de force’ mouse study shows a gut microbe can promote memory loss

Research suggests the microbiome may contribute to cognitive decline—but its relevance in humans is unclear

 11 Mar 2026 By Catherine Offord

4. A genetic trick helps this all-female fish species escape evolutionary doom

The Amazon molly, which reproduces asexually, has survived—and thrived—at least 10 times longer than predicted by evolutionary theory

 11 Mar 2026 By Phie Jacobs

5. Universe’s brigh test stellar explosions may be powered by highly magnetic neutron stars

Peculiar bumps in light from supercharged supernovae point to a stellar remnant surrounded by a wobbling disk of matter

  11 Mar 2026 By Daniel Clery

6.  And the winner of Science’s 2026 ‘Dance Your Ph.D.’ contest is …

A physicist and professional dancer takes home the grand prize, and Science awards its first trophy for an AI-assisted dance concept

 11 Mar 2026 By Perri Thaler

7. How bumble bees survive days underwater without drowning

Insects can stay alive for up to a week in flooded nests, thanks to several tricks

 10 Mar 2026 By Erik Stokstad

8. Ancient Peruvians transported live parrots across the Andes

Pre-Inca elites wore headdresses made of feathers from Amazonian macaws

 10 Mar 2026 By Christina Larson

9. Why do rodents gnaw? Because it feels good

Newly mapped brain circuitry in mice links tooth grinding to pleasure pathways

 10 Mar 2026 By Jake Buehler