Science Times: Hummingbirds as inspiration for the military

Plus: Nazca lines, Martian moons and chimpanzees —

View in browser|nytimes.com November 26, 2024 Timo Lenzen On the Wings of War Scientists study the flight of hummingbirds to design robots for drone warfare. By Jim Robbins Petit Format/Science Source Origins 'DNA Typewriters' Can Record a Cell's History Labs around the world are trying to turn cells into autobiographers, tracking their own development from embryos to adults. By Carl Zimmer The Yamagata University Institute of Nasca Hundreds More Nazca Lines Emerge in Peru's Desert With drones and A.I., researchers managed to double the number of mysterious geoglyphs in a matter of months. By Franz Lidz Jacob Kegerreis, et al./NASA Ames An Asteroid's Destruction May Have Given Mars Rings, Then Moons Scientists simulated a situation that may offer an improved explanation for how the Red Planet ended up with small Phobos and tiny Deimos. By Robin George Andrews Email us Let us know how we're doing at sciencenewsletter@nytimes.com. Quanta Magazine Vast Oceans of Water May Be Hiding Within Uranus and Neptune A scientist simulated the contents of the ice giant worlds, and found that a fluid layer may explain each planet's strange magnetic field. By Jonathan O'Callaghan Dominic Vella Trilobites Squirting Cucumbers Shoot Their Seeds Like Botanical Bombardiers Scientists say they've worked out how the plant can fire its seeds up to almost 40 feet. By Carolyn Wilke Tetsuro Matsuzawa Trilobites From Chimpan-A to Chimpanzee, These Apes May Have Humanlike Culture Researchers describe a link between genetic relatedness and sophisticated tool use in primates in East and Central Africa, suggesting their culture is cumulative. By Sofia Quaglia K. Ohnaka et al./European Southern Observatory Out There First Close-Up of Star Outside Our Galaxy Shows a Giant About to Blow Astronomers zoomed in on a stellar behemoth in the Larger Magellanic Cloud, a galaxy that orbits about 160,000 light-years from the Milky Way. By Dennis Overbye Library of Congress Civil War Toll Much Worse in Confederate States, New Estimates Show An analysis of newly released 19th-century census records offers more insight into the conflict's costs. By Emily Baumgaertner Iran Declares It Is Doing More Nuclear Enrichment After I.A.E.A. Rebuke With thousands of advanced centrifuges on standby, Tehran says it is now spinning more, which could increase its stockpile of near-bomb-grade atomic fuel. By William J. Broad What Trump's Return to Office Could Mean for Animals A second Trump administration could alter the lives of all sorts of animals, whether they live in laboratories, zoos, fields or forests. By Emily Anthes and Catrin Einhorn Physicist Who Made Superconductor Claims Exits University of Rochester Journals had retracted papers on superconductors that worked at room temperature and materials science that involved Ranga Dias. By Teddy Rosenbluth CLIMATE CHANGE Rafiq Maqbool/Associated Press Climate Talks End With a Bitter Fight and a Deal on Money The financing plan, which calls for $300 billion per year in support for developing nations, was immediately assailed as inadequate by a string of delegates. By Max Bearak R. Satish Babu/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Far From the Climate Talks: The Human Cost of Global Warming in 2024 Every month so far has seen floods, fires, smashed heat records or some combination of extreme weather. Little time remains for leaders to agree on what to do about it. By Somini Sengupta We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. HEALTH Adriana Zehbrauskas for The New York Times Trump's Choices for Health Agencies Suggest a Shake-Up Is Coming The picks to oversee public health have all pushed back against Covid policies or supported ideas that are outside the medical mainstream. By Emily Anthes and Emily Baumgaertner Francesco Zorzi the new old age So Many Days Lost at the Doctor's Office Medical care can be wearying and time-consuming, especially for seniors. Researchers are beginning to quantify the burdens. By Paula Span Enri Canaj/Magnum, for The New York Times Modern Warfare Is Breeding Deadly Superbugs. Why? Researchers are trying to understand why resistant pathogens are so prevalent in the war-torn nations of the Middle East. By Francesca Mari Jamie Chung for The New York Times Ozempic Could Crush the Junk Food Industry. But It Is Fighting Back. As revolutionary new weight-loss drugs turn consumers off ultraprocessed foods, the industry is on the hunt for new products. By Tomas Weber Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times How Healthy Is Turkey? Give thanks for this bird — and its many nutritional benefits. By Caroline Hopkins Legaspi 5 Ways R.F.K. Jr. Could Undermine Lifesaving Childhood Vaccines If he is confirmed as H.H.S. secretary, the longtime vaccine critic would be in a position to change the government's immunization recommendations and delay the development of new vaccines. By Emily Anthes and Emily Baumgaertner Alcohol Deaths Have More Than Doubled in Two Decades, Study Finds Americans are dying of illnesses related to alcohol at roughly twice the rate seen in 1999. By Roni Caryn Rabin What's Behind the Remarkable Drop in U.S. Overdose Deaths Experts are puzzling over which interventions are saving lives. The evolving illicit supply itself may hold important clues. By Jan Hoffman and Noah Weiland Orders for Morning-After Pills and Abortion Pills Rise After Trump's Election Some women are stocking up on the medications, saying they are concerned that the new administration could take steps to restrict access. By Pam Belluck Medicaid May Face Big Cuts and Work Requirements Republicans in Congress are eyeing cuts to Medicaid, which could threaten health coverage for tens of millions of poor Americans. By Sarah Kliff and Noah Weiland Make a friend's day: Forward this email. Got this from a friend? Subscribe to the Science Times newsletter. Check out other New York Times newsletters (all free!) including: Climate Fwd: for climate coverage and expert analysis. The Upshot for a data-driven look at the news. Well for the latest on health, fitness and nutrition. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Science Times from The New York Times. To stop receiving Science Times, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018