Science

According to the BBC, The Washington Post, Reuters and other international media, Swiss glaciers suffered another record-breaking year of ice loss in 2026, with annual volume reductions exceeding 5%, the steepest retreat recorded in recent years. Scientists warn that heatwaves combined with insufficient winter snowfall are accelerating glacial melt, posing systemic challenges to European water security and hydropower.

An international research team has reported the first laboratory observation of a long-theorised form of quantum entanglement, a result with potential implications for fault-tolerant quantum computing. The work appears in the latest issue of Nature Physics.

SpaceX’s Starship lifted off from its Starbase in Texas, beginning humanity’s first complete orbital flight test mission carried out by a fully reusable super-heavy-lift launch vehicle, with multiple Starlink V3 satellites reaching orbit on board, marking a critical step in the maturity of the long-developed megarocket and laying the technical foundation for subsequent commercial crewed deep-space exploration.

SpaceX announced its Starship megarocket will attempt its first-ever orbital launch on Sept 28, a pivotal milestone in the development of the giant reusable launch vehicle that, if successful, will open a new chapter in commercial crewed deep-space exploration.

The New York Post reports that a coalition of biotech firms and university labs has announced a major breakthrough: using artificial intelligence to assist genome editing, the team has cultivated cells carrying key mammoth cold-tolerance gene traits, bringing the dream of resurrecting an extinct large mammal closer to reality.

Key Facts CNN reports that an international research team has discovered a new, previously unrecorded species of sea spider in the Southern Ocean. The animal is distinguished by hairy long legs, striking red eyes, and a unique three-lipped mouth structure. The find is being treated as a notable addition to deep-sea invertebrate biodiversity research and underlines how much of the polar and sub-polar seafloor remains scientifically under-explored. Event Details According to the report, the new species was collected at depths below one thousand metres by a multinational marine biology team using a remotely operated submersible. Researchers noted that the dense bristles on the legs clearly differentiate the animal from previously known sea spider species, while the three-lipped mouthparts have not been seen in any related taxon. The team plans to formally describe and name the species in an upcoming taxonomic paper. The report also highlights how improvements in deep-sea sampling are steadily expanding the catalog of previously inaccessible species, with broader implications for understanding marine evolution and biogeography. ...

On 23 September 2026, Reuters and other outlets reported new research warning that the developing super El Niño is projected to cause roughly 451,000 excess deaths between winter 2026 and February 2027, primarily driven by extreme heat. The researchers emphasised that the event has already broken multiple historical temperature records before reaching its peak, with intensity and pace of development far exceeding any previous El Niño, posing a serious challenge to global public health and climate adaptation systems.

Canada and France have announced they will jointly develop shared space launch infrastructure, covering launch sites, launch vehicles and ground tracking. The cooperation is seen as an important attempt by mid-tier spacefaring nations to enhance space sovereignty, lower launch costs and respond to the rapid rise of commercial space.

Core Summary NASA announced on September 18 a contract modification worth nearly $950 million with SpaceX, adding three additional Crew Dragon flights to the International Space Station. The supplemental award further reinforces SpaceX’s position as the core contractor within NASA’s commercial crew program and has triggered a fresh round of discussion about single-vendor dependence. Event Details According to CNBC, the contract modification, valued at approximately $950 million, is part of an extension of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP). The three newly added missions are intended to support ISS crew rotations and scientific research, with launch timing to be determined based on NASA’s overall mission schedule and station operational needs. ...

The New York Times reports a new isotope analysis of T. rex tooth enamel that puts the dinosaur’s average body temperature at about 36°C — lower than the higher estimates previously derived from growth-rate studies, providing a fresh key data point for dinosaur physiology.