A recent study revealed that Mars was warm and wet billions of years ago, challenging previous theories that the planet was primarily cold and icy during its Noachian epoch, which extended from about 4.1 to 3.7 billion years ago, according to Ars Technica. This finding has significant implications for the possibility of life developing on the planet during that time.
The study, detailed in a recent paper, focused on the Noachian epoch, a critical period in Mars' geological history. This era is of intense interest to scientists researching whether Mars was once habitable. The new research contrasts with the long-held belief that the planet was cold and icy during this time.
In other news, the scientific community is facing challenges to its cultural authority, with funding under pressure and expertise subject to political attack, according to Nature News. Vaccine skepticism and disputes over climate policy are also prevalent. This situation is often interpreted as a problem of the public, stemming from limited scientific literacy, declining trust in experts, and misinformation. However, researchers have limited knowledge about the extent to which the public understands science.
Meanwhile, the European Union has barred Chinese research organizations from participating in most of its Horizon Europe research-funding program, worth 93.5 billion (US$111 billion), as reported by Nature News. The EU cited concerns about sharing sensitive technologies with China that could jeopardize the region's security. Organizations based in or controlled by China can no longer apply for grants involving artificial intelligence, telecommunications, health, semiconductors, biotechnology, or quantum technologies.
In the realm of medical research, bioengineer and computational biologist César de la Fuente, along with synthetic biologist James Collins, warned of a looming post-antibiotic era in a July 2025 essay in Physical Review Letters, according to MIT Technology Review. They highlighted the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, which is associated with over 4 million deaths per year, with predictions that the number could surge past 8 million by 2050. De la Fuente had previously identified antimicrobial resistance as a major global problem.
Finally, the image of a 7-foot-tall, ape-like creature captured on camera in 1967 in Northern California continues to intrigue, according to Ars Technica. The image, which has become a cultural icon, has been analyzed and re-analyzed countless times. While most people believe it was a hoax, some argue that it has never been definitively debunked. This has led to the formation of groups of people, dubbed Bigfooters, who are fascinated by the mystery.
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