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North Atlantic 'cold blob' may signal a major ocean current's decline

Scientists report that a persistent cold patch in the North Atlantic, known as the 'cold blob,' points to a weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a key climate-regulating current. If AMOC collapses, it could dramatically alter weather patterns across Europe and North America. The finding comes from new ocean temperature modeling.

Milky Way's missing black hole wind finally found after 50-year search

After more than 50 years of searching, astrophysicists at Northwestern University have detected a powerful wind blowing from Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. Using five years of ALMA telescope observations, they found a cone-shaped cavity carved by the wind. The discovery confirms that our galaxy's black hole behaves like all others, resolving one of astronomy's longest-standing mysteries.

AI cracks decades-old Erdős math problem, marking new milestone for machine reasoning

An artificial intelligence system has cracked a decades-old mathematics problem originally posed by the legendary Paul Erdős, marking a new milestone for machine reasoning and automated theorem proving. The breakthrough, reported by ScienceNews, demonstrates that AI systems can now tackle problems that have stumped human mathematicians for years. Separately, astronomers may have found a record-breaking pair of black holes, and a new species of ancient bear-dog was identified in Spain, highlighting a week of diverse scientific discoveries.

Metal-driven chemical reaction in deep sea may explain origin of life

A new study published in Science reveals that metal-driven chemical reactions in deep-sea hydrothermal vents could have produced the organic molecules necessary for life to emerge on Earth. The finding provides experimental evidence that iron and nickel from vent minerals can catalyze the formation of amino acids and nucleotides under early Earth conditions, with implications for the search for life on Saturn's moon Enceladus and Jupiter's moon Europa.

AI cracks long-standing Erdős math problem, marking milestone in automated reasoning

An artificial intelligence system has successfully solved a long-standing mathematics problem associated with the legendary Paul Erdős, researchers reported. The achievement demonstrates AI's growing capability in automated mathematical reasoning, a field that has traditionally resisted machine assistance. Separately, scientists announced laser-boosted microscopes that could reveal new drugs, and researchers uncovered why hantavirus is so deadly. The breakthroughs highlight how AI and advanced optics are accelerating discovery across scientific disciplines.

AI cracks 80-year-old Erdős math problem, stuns mathematicians

An AI model solved an 80-year-old geometry conjecture posed by Hungarian mathematician Paul Erdős, marking what researchers call AI's biggest math breakthrough yet. The problem, which stumped human mathematicians for decades, was solved via a straightforward query to an AI chatbot. The solution found a more complex way to arrange pairs of points than mathematicians had ever conceived. The breakthrough has reignited debates about AI's role in mathematical discovery and led to calls for 'guardrails' on AI use in research, with the Leiden Declaration urging caution.

NASA names Artemis III crew for critical Moon mission test flights

NASA named the four-person crew for the Artemis III mission on Tuesday, led by commander Randy Bresnik, European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano as pilot, and mission specialists Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas. While Artemis III will not land on the Moon, it will test critical systems needed for the planned Artemis V Moon landing in 2028. The announcement comes as NASA's Landsat satellite data reveals mangrove forests are expanding globally for the first time in decades.

NASA declares MAVEN Mars orbiter dead after months of radio silence

NASA has declared its MAVEN Mars orbiter dead after losing contact with the spacecraft in December 2025. The $582 million probe spent 11 years studying Mars' atmosphere and how solar wind stripped the planet of its water. Only two NASA orbiters remain operational around Mars.

Scientists reverse anxiety by repairing tiny brain circuit in mice

Researchers at the Institute for Neurosciences in Spain identified a specific population of neurons in the basolateral amygdala that triggers anxiety and social withdrawal when imbalanced. By restoring normal activity in this tiny brain circuit, they reversed anxiety-related behaviors in both genetically engineered and naturally anxious mice. The finding opens the door to more targeted treatments for anxiety disorders.