Science Times: In an $80 motel room, a discovery sheds light on the origins of life

September 29, 2026

In an $80 Motel Room, a Discovery to Shed Light on the Origins of Life

A scrappy science project led to a significant discovery: two new species of a rare organism that could elucidate a fundamental transition in the history of life on our planet.

SpaceX, via Reuters

SpaceX’s Starship Makes It to Orbit for the First Time, but Returns to Earth Early

The 14th test flight marks a crucial milestone toward the company’s ambitions of sending people to the moon and Mars, but it was not a complete success.

By Kenneth Chang

Sophi Miyoko Gullbrants

What if A.D.H.D. Isn’t About Attention at All?

Evidence suggests that it really affects what psychiatrists like me call sustained engagement — an important difference in understanding how to think about the condition.

By Awais Aftab

Jason Henry for The New York Times

Did Anthropic’s A.I. Really Make a Scientific Discovery on Its Own?

An expert at the University of Copenhagen said his team had been sharing its research with the company’s A.I. model, Claude, and that its new finding matched their work.

By Carl Zimmer

Three planets orbiting a faint blue star with a swirl of light material also circling the star.

NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Ralf Crawford (STScI)

Radio Waves Coming From an Alien Planet May Be a Cosmic First

Beta Pictoris b appears to have an aurora caused by a powerful magnetic field. If confirmed, it would be the first such field known outside our solar system.

By Jonathan O’Callaghan

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A jumble of round orange-and-red cells that are yellow on the edges against a brown-and-blue background.

Science Source

This Virus Stole a Human Gene and Won’t Let Go of It

Scientists have found a human gene lurking in a virus that causes skin infections. It may be using our own DNA to infect us.

By Carl Zimmer

Lochlan O'Neil

On This Mexican Island, Raccoons Make and Play With Toys (and Also Sip Margaritas)

Scientists observed a family of pygmy raccoons near a Cozumel beach club learning from one another how to craft balls from paper, an indication that the animals have a culture.

By Taylor Mitchell Brown

Many people walk in an open space with blue walls. A column in the middle displays translations of “Hello, World!” in different languages.

Hector Retamal/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Is China Really Stealing A.I. From American Companies?

As Xi Jinping visits President Trump in Washington, the leaders are expected to discuss claims that China is surreptitiously copying American A.I. technologies, a process known as distillation.

By Cade Metz

Jeffrey Tazzara, via Storyful

Dogs Will Fight Bears. But Not Because of the Reason You Might Think.

Scientists analyzed hundreds of encounters between bears and canines. The results raise the suggestion that dogs may not always protect people in the wild.

By Alexander Nazaryan

CLIMATE CHANGE

Kenny Holston/The New York Times

Trump Sharply Scales Back Fuel Economy Rules for New Cars

The move marked the final step in the administration’s efforts to dismantle policies aimed at speeding the shift to electric vehicles.

By Brad Plumer and Maxine Joselow

Three cars on a flooded street lined with palm trees. The sky is gray.

Getty Images

California Needs Water. El Niño Might Bring Too Much.

The drought-stricken state has improved its ability to collect and store rainwater. But many gallons may still rush into the Pacific.

By Scott Dance

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HEALTH

Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images

‘Zombified’ C.D.C., Hobbled by Cuts, Struggles to Fulfill Scientific Mission

The agency has lost its independence and nearly a third of its staff, as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and associates have tightened control.

By Apoorva Mandavilli

The New York Times

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