Weekly Headlines (Excerpts)

1. As deep-sea mining race ramps up, mission will assess whether ecosystems recover afterward

A new series of research cruises will study rare abyssal species in areas slated for mining

 2 Jan 2026 By Christian Elliott 

2. Blood-cleansing method faces its first test as cancer vaccine

New clinical trial aims to use whole, light-inactivated tumor cells for immunotherapy

 1 Jan 2026 By Mitch Leslie 

3. Is ‘open science’ delivering benefits? Major study finds proof is sparse

It’s hard to measure social and economic impacts of making papers and data free, researchers say

 30 Dec 2025 By Jeffrey Brainard 

4. Science’s favorite news visuals of 2025

Our Visuals editors highlight particularly inspiring images and media

 30 Dec 2025 By Beth Rakouskas 

5. Watch tiny plankton ‘surf’ ocean currents

Microscopic creatures hitch a ride on turbulent waters to travel faster

 29 Dec 2025 By Sahas Mehra 

6. Chemicals in million-year-old fossils reveal animals’ lives in detail

Ancient meals and infections reconstructed from preserved metabolic markers

 29 Dec 2025 By Taylor Mitchell Brown