A.I. May Be the Future, but First It Has to Study Ancient Roman History

A software model from Google DeepMind put a more precise date on an important Latin text credited to a Roman emperor as a demonstration of its capabilities.

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New Global Atlas Highlights Surprising Hot Spots of Fungal Biodiversity

A new global atlas of underground fungi suggests that some surprising biodiversity hot spots lie hidden beneath our feet.

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Tons of Invisible Plastic Pieces Lurk in Ocean Water

A new study offers the first estimate of nanoplastic pollution in the ocean. There’s a lot.

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Many Older People Embrace Vaccines. Research Is Proving Them Right.

Newer formulations are even more effective at preventing illnesses that commonly afflict seniors — perhaps even dementia.

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It’s Not Just Poor Rains Causing Drought. The Atmosphere Is ‘Thirstier.’

Higher temperatures caused by climate change are driving complex processes that make droughts bigger and more severe, new research shows.

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A.I. Is Poised to Revolutionize Weather Forecasting. A New Tool Shows Promise.

A Microsoft model can make accurate 10-day forecasts quickly, an analysis found. And, it’s designed to predict more than weather.

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Two Theories of Consciousness Faced Off. The Ref Took a Beating.

What makes humans conscious? Scientists disagree, strongly, as one group of peacemakers discovered the hard way.

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New Study Could Bolster Climate Laws to Make Polluters Pay

Vermont was the first state to try to hold polluters accountable for climate disasters. New research aims to assign specific responsibility.

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Chinese Lunar Rocks Suggest a Thirsty Far Side of the Moon

Using samples gathered from the Chang’e-6 mission, scientists found that the interior of the moon on the half we never see from Earth might be drier than the near side.

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Shingles Vaccine Can Decrease Risk of Dementia, Study Finds

A growing body of research suggests that preventing the viral infection can help stave off cognitive decline.

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