Science
âNever seen anything like thisâ: alarm at memo from top US vaccine official
Vinay Prasad memo said at least 10 children had died from Covid vaccination â but offered scant evidence for claimAmericaâs top vaccines official promised, in a long and argumentative memo to staff on Friday, to revamp vaccine regulation after claiming that at least 10 children died from Covid vacci
Medieval volcano may have indirectly sparked Europeâs Black Death
Crop failures caused by eruptions possibly forced grain imports from plague-ridden regions
Science
High levels of âforever chemicalâ found in cereal products across Europe â study
Pesticide Action Network Europe study finds average concentrations 100 times higher than in tap waterHigh levels of a toxic âforever chemicalâ have been found in cereal products across Europe because of its presence in pesticides.The most contaminated food is breakfast cereal, according to a study b
Science
Waste from UK's largest opencast mine 'poses significant risk'
There are safety worries as three large spoil tips are set to be left above Merthyr Tydfil.
Science
The brainâs 5 eras, the vaccine that protects against dementia, altruistic ants â podcast
Science editor Ian Sample sits down with co-host Madeleine Finlay and science correspondent Hannah Devlin to hear about three eye-catching stories from the week, including a study showing that the brain has five âerasâ, with adult mode not starting until our early 30s. Also on the agenda is new rese
Whatâs the fuss about aluminum in vaccines?
Despite extensive safety record, U.S. health advisers are set to discuss claimed link to asthma
100 years on, quantum mechanics is redefining realityâwith us at the center
Increasingly popular theories hold that experimental outcomes really do depend on the observer
Science
Incredible close-up of spider silk wins science photo prize
Duelling prairie chickens, a snake-mimicking moth and a once-a-year sunrise at the South Pole feature in the best images from the Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition 2025
Author Correction: Activity of caspase-8 determines plasticity between cell death pathways
Nature, Published online: 04 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09980-2Author Correction: Activity of caspase-8 determines plasticity between cell death pathways
Persuading voters using humanâartificial intelligence dialogues
Nature, Published online: 04 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09771-9Humanâartificial intelligence (AI) dialogues can meaningfully impact votersâ attitudes towards presidential candidates and policy, demonstrating the potential of conversational AI to influence political decision-making.
Aluminium is crucial to vaccines â and safe. Why are US advisers debating it?
Nature, Published online: 04 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03955-zRFK Jrâs vaccine advisory panel will be discussing the inclusion of adjuvants in childhood vaccinations this week. Hereâs whatâs at stake.
Chinaâs scientific clout is growing as US influence wanes: the data show how
Nature, Published online: 04 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03956-yAn analysis of international research collaborations reveals the growing dominance of Chinese science.
AI chatbots can sway voters with remarkable ease â is it time to worry?
Nature, Published online: 04 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03975-9Experiments involving real-world voters show how talking to a chatbot can shape peopleâs political opinions.
DeepSeekâs self-correcting AI model aces tough maths proofs
Nature, Published online: 04 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03959-9The mathematical reasoning model performed as well as humans at prestigious international mathematics competitions.
Science
The two standout science-fiction films of 2025
From Mickey 17 and M3gan 2.0 to a musical about the end of the world, this was an eclectic year for science-fiction films. Film columnist Simon Ings shares his two breakout hits
Satellite fleets pose problems for space telescopes, too
Proposed âmegaconstellationsâ would contaminate images from telescopes in low-Earth orbit, including Hubble
Science
Scientists uncover surprise origin of wispy cirrus clouds
These delicate cloud systems appear to be seeded by massive atmospheric waves thousands of miles awayCirrus clouds are our highest clouds; their delicate wispy strands are like an artistâs brushstrokes through the sky. During the day they are bright white and at dawn and dusk they can take on the hu
Watch this tiny robot somersault through the air like an insect
Device weighing less than a paperclip is faster and more agile than its predecessors
To boost research, states are building their own AI-ready supercomputers
New York aims to democratize access to hardware often limited to federal labs and Big Tech
Science
Mayor says too many families are 'working poor'
Tracy Brabin talks to Radio Leeds about the Budget, COP30 and taxing tourists.