The Biggest Science News of 2020

Lots of Water on the Moon

NASA has Moon news. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Gizmodo

Back in October, NASA teased us with a mysterious press release: It would soon make an “exciting announcement” regarding the Moon. You all had some great guesses as to what the news would be, and yes, we were all a bit bummed that it turned out not to be aliens. Nonetheless, the real news—that researchers had discovered signs of water ice all across the lunar surface—was pretty thrilling, too.

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The Case for Tracking Everything

If every step taken, hour slept, and heartbeat can be measured, recorded, and analyzed, are we taking control of our health or losing the plot entirely?

Gadgets Claire Maldarelli Apr 15

Rough sea on the rocky Atlantic coast of northern Portugal

A Critical Ocean Current System May Be Unraveling Faster Than We Thought

New findings foretell a looming catastrophe that would drastically alter the planet’s weather and climate.

Earth Science Ellyn Lapointe Apr 16

A swarm of mosquitoes with mountains in the background

Iceland Just Got Its First Mosquitoes. Scientists Aren’t Ready for What Comes Next

As the Arctic's climate and ecology rapidly change, two researchers are calling for a paradigm shift in insect monitoring.

Conservation Ellyn Lapointe Apr 16

Artemis Ii Reid Wiseman Selfie with Earth in background

Artemis 2 Astronauts’ Epic iPhone Photos Are All… Selfies?

Turns out the incredible photos taken by the astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft are from the iPhone 17 Pro Max's front-facing camera and not its better rear shooters.

Gadgets Kyle Barr Apr 6

China Is Trying to Grow New Forests in This Notorious Mega-Desert. It’s Working

Independent researchers in the U.S. have confirmed that China has managed to create a new carbon sink out of portions of Earth’s second-largest ‘mobile desert.’

Climate Change Matthew Phelan Apr 2