Feed MRSS-S Noticias, english.elpais.com, science-tech en-us https://english.elpais.com Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:46:08 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-31/nancy-grace-roman-the-telescope-that-will-survey-a-billion-galaxies-in-a-bid-to-solve-the-universes-two-greatest-mysteries.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:46:08 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-31/nancy-grace-roman-the-telescope-that-will-survey-a-billion-galaxies-in-a-bid-to-solve-the-universes-two-greatest-mysteries.html Patricia Fernández de Lis NASA has launched its most ambitious space telescope yet, a mission designed to help answer two of astrophysics’ biggest questions: what are dark matter and dark energy NASA has launched its most ambitious space telescope yet, a mission designed to help answer two of astrophysics’ biggest questions: what are dark matter and dark energy NASA Hubble NASA/Sydney Rohde (Rocz) (NASA/Sydney Rohde (Rocz)) TELESCOPIO The space telescope Nancy Grace Roman before its integration with a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on August 21. The space telescope Nancy Grace Roman before its integration with a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on August 21. <p>The most powerful cosmic surveyor ever sent into space is now on its way. NASA’s <a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2024-10-23/nasa-chief-scientist-nicola-fox-its-hard-to-believe-there-isnt-life-somewhere-else-in-the-universe.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2024-10-23/nasa-chief-scientist-nicola-fox-its-hard-to-believe-there-isnt-life-somewhere-else-in-the-universe.html">Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope</a> launched successfully on Sunday and has begun its journey to a gravitational outpost 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. From there, it will scan the heavens on an unprecedented scale, mapping more than a billion galaxies and potentially discovering up to 100,000 new worlds beyond our Solar System</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-31/nancy-grace-roman-the-telescope-that-will-survey-a-billion-galaxies-in-a-bid-to-solve-the-universes-two-greatest-mysteries.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-08-28/partial-lunar-eclipse-in-pictures.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 07:33:33 GMT https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-08-28/partial-lunar-eclipse-in-pictures.html EL PAÍS ,Wires . The astronomical phenomenon was visible in parts of the Americas and Europe. The Earth moved between the sun and the moon, causing part of our satellite’s surface to pass into Earth’s shadow and take on a reddish hue The astronomical phenomenon was visible in parts of the Americas and Europe. The Earth moved between the sun and the moon, causing part of our satellite’s surface to pass into Earth’s shadow and take on a reddish hue Eclipses NASA Associated Press / LaPresse (APN) directo The full moon rises beyond apartment buildings in downtown Kansas City, Mo. before a lunar eclipse Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. The full moon rises beyond apartment buildings in downtown Kansas City, Mo. before a lunar eclipse Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. Associated Press / LaPresse (APN) directo The full moon rises beyond apartment buildings in downtown Kansas City, Mo. before a lunar eclipse Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. The full moon rises beyond apartment buildings in downtown Kansas City, Mo. before a lunar eclipse Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. Lukasz Gagulski (EFE) directo A full moon is seen over Krakow, Poland, 27 August 2026. A full moon is seen over Krakow, Poland, 27 August 2026. Borja Suarez (REUTERS) directo A composite image of seven separate photographs taken with a single fixed camera shows the moon during stages of a partial lunar eclipse over Pico De Las Nieves on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, August 28, 2026. A composite image of seven separate photographs taken with a single fixed camera shows the moon during stages of a partial lunar eclipse over Pico De Las Nieves on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, August 28, 2026. Associated Press / LaPresse (APN) directo A full moon is seen rising above the bleachers during a high school football game at Richard R Flores Stadium in Edinburg, Texas. A full moon is seen rising above the bleachers during a high school football game at Richard R Flores Stadium in Edinburg, Texas. Patrick Pleul (Picture alliance vía Getty Images) Preview of the partial lunar eclipse The moon before the eclipse in Brandenburg (Germany). The moon before the eclipse in Brandenburg (Germany). Associated Press / LaPresse (APN) directo The moon rises behind a Spider-Man statue during a partial lunar eclipse in El Alto, Bolivia, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. The moon rises behind a Spider-Man statue during a partial lunar eclipse in El Alto, Bolivia, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. Mike Blake (REUTERS) Lunar eclipse in California The moon's passage through the Earth's shadow causes a partial eclipse. The photo shows the eclipse in San Diego, California (U.S.). The moon's passage through the Earth's shadow causes a partial eclipse. The photo shows the eclipse in San Diego, California (U.S.). Jose Luis Gonzalez (REUTERS) A partial lunar eclipse in the sky over Ciudad Juarez A partial lunar eclipse in the sky over Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, August 27, 2026. A partial lunar eclipse in the sky over Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, August 27, 2026. Mike Blake (REUTERS) Lunar eclipse in California A commercial aircraft takes off during the start of a blood-red lunar eclipse as the moon rises in San Diego, California, U.S., August 27, 2026. A commercial aircraft takes off during the start of a blood-red lunar eclipse as the moon rises in San Diego, California, U.S., August 27, 2026. Amr Abdallah Dalsh (REUTERS) Partial lunar eclipse in Cairo A full moon as a lunar eclipse starts in Cairo, Egypt, August 28, 2026. A full moon as a lunar eclipse starts in Cairo, Egypt, August 28, 2026. Kacper Pempel (REUTERS) directo The moon during a partial lunar eclipse appears in sky over Warsaw, Poland, August 28, 2026. The moon during a partial lunar eclipse appears in sky over Warsaw, Poland, August 28, 2026. Jihed Abidellaoui (REUTERS) A partial lunar eclipse appears over the skyline of Tunis A partial lunar eclipse appears over the skyline of Tunis, Tunisia, August 28, 2026. A partial lunar eclipse appears over the skyline of Tunis, Tunisia, August 28, 2026. Jose Luis Gonzalez (REUTERS) People gather to watch the partial eclipse in El Chamizal Park in Ciudad Juarez People gather to watch the partial eclipse in El Chamizal Park in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, August 27, 2026. People gather to watch the partial eclipse in El Chamizal Park in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, August 27, 2026. Ibraheem Abu Mustafa (REUTERSS) A partial lunar eclipse in Jeddah A partial lunar eclipse in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, August 28, 2026. A partial lunar eclipse in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, August 28, 2026. Gregorio Borgia (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Italy Lunar Eclipse The moon sets behind the Colosseum during a partial lunar eclipse in Rome, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. The moon sets behind the Colosseum during a partial lunar eclipse in Rome, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. Kacper Pempel (REUTERS) directo The moon during a partial lunar eclipse appears over skyline in Warsaw, Poland, August 28, 2026. The moon during a partial lunar eclipse appears over skyline in Warsaw, Poland, August 28, 2026. Associated Press / LaPresse (APN) directo A lunar eclipse of the moon is seen through light clouds above the Washington Monument in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. A lunar eclipse of the moon is seen through light clouds above the Washington Monument in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. JUAN IGNACIO RONCORONI (EFE) Eclipse lunar en Buenos Aires People gather at the Galileo Galilei Planetarium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, this Thursday. People gather at the Galileo Galilei Planetarium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, this Thursday. Charlie Riedel (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Missouri Full Moon Eclipse The full moon rises beyond the city hall in downtown Kansas City, Mo. before a lunar eclipse Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. The full moon rises beyond the city hall in downtown Kansas City, Mo. before a lunar eclipse Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. Armando Franca (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Portugal Full Moon A person watches as the full moon rises above the Tagus river hours before a lunar eclipse in Lisbon, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. A person watches as the full moon rises above the Tagus river hours before a lunar eclipse in Lisbon, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. Petros Giannakouris (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Greece Moon The moon rises behind the medieval Chlemoutsi Castle in the village of Kastro, in Greece's Peloponnese region, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. The moon rises behind the medieval Chlemoutsi Castle in the village of Kastro, in Greece's Peloponnese region, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. <p></p> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-27/united-states-prepares-for-a-spectacular-lunar-eclipse-on-august-27-where-and-when-it-will-be-visible.html Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:39:19 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-27/united-states-prepares-for-a-spectacular-lunar-eclipse-on-august-27-where-and-when-it-will-be-visible.html José Luis Ávila The so-called ‘blood moon’ will see up to 96% of its visible surface covered during an eclipse that will be visible across the country The so-called ‘blood moon’ will see up to 96% of its visible surface covered during an eclipse that will be visible across the country Eclipses NASA Kent Nishimura (Los Angeles Times vía Getty Imag) luna de sangre Washington Beaver Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse on Election Day The so-called 'blood moon' next to the Statue of Liberty, on the Capitol grounds, Washington, D.C., on November 8, 2022. The so-called 'blood moon' next to the Statue of Liberty, on the Capitol grounds, Washington, D.C., on November 8, 2022. <p>Between the night of Thursday, August 27, and the early hours of Friday, August 28, people across the United States will be able to witness one of the most notable astronomical events of 2026: a deep partial lunar eclipse. At the peak of the phenomenon, 93% of the moon’s diameter, equivalent to approximately 96% of its visible surface, will lie within the umbra, the darkest part of Earth’s shadow. This will give the satellite a dramatic appearance, with much of its surface darkened by reddish, orange or copper-colored hues. This is why the phenomenon is popularly known as a “<a href="https://english.elpais.com/usa/2025-03-12/total-lunar-eclipse-2025-why-it-is-called-blood-moon-when-it-will-be-and-how-to-watch-it.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/usa/2025-03-12/total-lunar-eclipse-2025-why-it-is-called-blood-moon-when-it-will-be-and-how-to-watch-it.html">blood moon.</a>”</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-27/united-states-prepares-for-a-spectacular-lunar-eclipse-on-august-27-where-and-when-it-will-be-visible.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-25/race-to-the-moon-takes-a-new-turn-chinas-setback-reignites-competition-with-us-to-conquer-south-pole.html Tue, 25 Aug 2026 13:27:01 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-25/race-to-the-moon-takes-a-new-turn-chinas-setback-reignites-competition-with-us-to-conquer-south-pole.html Rafael Clemente The delay in the launch of the Chang’e-7 mission is putting pressure on the timeline as Washington and Beijing race to be the first to reach the Moon’s most coveted area The delay in the launch of the Chang’e-7 mission is putting pressure on the timeline as Washington and Beijing race to be the first to reach the Moon’s most coveted area Washington D.C. NASA China Neil Armstrong Blue Origin NASA (EL PAÍS) Visualization of the Shackleton crater at the Moon’s south pole. Visualization of the Shackleton crater at the Moon’s south pole. <img src="https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/v2/7M3CA2Q6JNG7PBYEYT4V7IJ6IY.jpg?auth=115d74c9f3960924e02072502e07b4a5469f76ff00f3f4d663d96865fba694dc" width="1022" height="609" alt="Visualization of the Shackleton crater at the Moon’s south pole."></img><p>Much has changed since the <a href="https://english.elpais.com/technology/2025-02-08/sputnik-moment-or-aha-moment-how-turbocapitalism-feeds-off-scientific-progress.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/technology/2025-02-08/sputnik-moment-or-aha-moment-how-turbocapitalism-feeds-off-scientific-progress.html"><i>Sputnik</i> launched the space race</a> between the Soviets and the Americans, but this generation is witnessing a new one, as thrilling as the era of Yuri Gagarin and Neil Armstrong. In this case, China and the United States are racing to set foot on lunar gray dust before 2030. And although humans are already heading back to the Moon, as we saw with NASA’s successful <a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-04-01/the-journey-of-artemis-2-to-the-far-side-of-the-moon-the-challenge-of-exploring-what-no-one-has-ever-seen.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-04-01/the-journey-of-artemis-2-to-the-far-side-of-the-moon-the-challenge-of-exploring-what-no-one-has-ever-seen.html">Artemis 2 mission</a>, the most important flag in this phase will be the one planted by robotic probes at the lunar south pole, where the real prize lies: frozen water. But after a decade of sticking to their plans, the Chinese had to postpone the <a href="https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-04-10/the-moon-the-new-stage-for-the-space-race-between-the-united-states-and-china.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-04-10/the-moon-the-new-stage-for-the-space-race-between-the-united-states-and-china.html">Chang’e 7 launch</a> on Sunday, a seemingly simple delay that could flip the balance of the race.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-25/race-to-the-moon-takes-a-new-turn-chinas-setback-reignites-competition-with-us-to-conquer-south-pole.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-24/there-wont-be-a-single-cancer-vaccine-but-rather-a-different-one-for-each-patient-and-tumor.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:25:55 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-24/there-wont-be-a-single-cancer-vaccine-but-rather-a-different-one-for-each-patient-and-tumor.html Daniel Mediavilla After decades of setbacks, a treatment for melanoma is very close to being approved After decades of setbacks, a treatment for melanoma is very close to being approved Cáncer Moderna Merck Coronavirus Arne Dedert (Getty Images) A research technician works in a Merck laboratory in Darmstadt, Germany, in an archive photo. A research technician works in a Merck laboratory in Darmstadt, Germany, in an archive photo. <p>“We’ve been living with the promise of cancer vaccines for, probably, 100 years. Until now, all we had were studies that were inconclusive, but this one is conclusive.” Immunologist Antoni Ribas of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), who is part of the scientific committee for the <a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2022-12-14/moderna-and-merck-announce-promising-results-in-trials-of-melanoma-vaccine.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2022-12-14/moderna-and-merck-announce-promising-results-in-trials-of-melanoma-vaccine.html">Moderna and MSD</a> (Merck in the U.S. and Canada) melanoma vaccine trial that made headlines last week, says he learned of the announcement when a reporter called him to ask about the results. Ribas says that despite his proximity to the project, he was not shown concrete data on the vaccine’s benefit. “With announcements of this magnitude, which can have a big impact on share prices, they do not give anyone the data in advance and they must notify everyone at the same time,” he explains.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-24/there-wont-be-a-single-cancer-vaccine-but-rather-a-different-one-for-each-patient-and-tumor.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/climate/2026-08-23/carl-wunsch-oceanographer-the-consequences-of-trump-are-terrible-funding-is-denied-because-apparently-all-of-our-research-is-a-hoax.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://english.elpais.com/climate/2026-08-23/carl-wunsch-oceanographer-the-consequences-of-trump-are-terrible-funding-is-denied-because-apparently-all-of-our-research-is-a-hoax.html Selva Vargas Reátegui The US researcher is a pioneer in understanding the effects of climate change on the oceans. In this interview with EL PAÍS, he warns about the risks posed by deniers and advocates for international cooperation The US researcher is a pioneer in understanding the effects of climate change on the oceans. In this interview with EL PAÍS, he warns about the risks posed by deniers and advocates for international cooperation MIT Cádiz Donald Trump UN Fundación BBVA (EL PAÍS) Oceanographer Carl Wunsch, recognized with the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award. Oceanographer Carl Wunsch, recognized with the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award. <img src="https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/v2/YMZ7QDFUANHADNBPBWMZQ3PYGE.jpeg?auth=b06ffcf439d0df331dcff29aabf0e4b1ee3f4acf5b4178bba8a02d1113cebec6" width="4724" height="3149" alt="Oceanographer Carl Wunsch, recognized with the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award."></img><p>In the late 1960s, oceanographer Carl Wunsch was teaching at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)... but calculations being made from a classroom were proving insufficient. To understand the immense mechanism that regulates the planet’s climate, he went to sea, in order to measure and observe a system so vast that no research had yet been able to encompass it.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/climate/2026-08-23/carl-wunsch-oceanographer-the-consequences-of-trump-are-terrible-funding-is-denied-because-apparently-all-of-our-research-is-a-hoax.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p><img src="https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/v2/GKO2HEKEGZEJPA7Z5JFMCPSF5A.jpeg?auth=8aa976fd6c076787212e307bf8435894566c63cfc0a8432e45386fcf8d334f7f" width="4724" height="3149" alt="Carl Wunsch, recipient of the BBVA Foundation’s Frontiers of Knowledge Award, in the Climate Change and Environmental Sciences category."></img> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-22/boris-cyrulnik-neuropsychiatrist-you-cant-reason-with-fanatics-like-trump-if-you-dont-think-like-him-youre-an-idiot.html Sat, 22 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-22/boris-cyrulnik-neuropsychiatrist-you-cant-reason-with-fanatics-like-trump-if-you-dont-think-like-him-youre-an-idiot.html Daniel Verdú After a catastrophe, there are three possible paths, says one of the pioneers of the concept of resilience: carry on as before, vote for a dictator who promises security, or evolve and be reborn After a catastrophe, there are three possible paths, says one of the pioneers of the concept of resilience: carry on as before, vote for a dictator who promises security, or evolve and be reborn Marine Le Pen Donald Trump Boris Cyrulnik Jordan Bardella Colombia Abelardo de la Espriella Manuel Braun IDEAS 16/08/2026 WEB Boris Cyrulnik Boris Cyrulnik, photographed in Paris on July 1. Boris Cyrulnik, photographed in Paris on July 1. <p>Boris Cyrulnik approaches through the door of one of the offices at the French editorial that publishes his work. He has a strange expression, and his head is bowed. It’s not his mental state, he notes. He has a stiff neck that barely allows him to lift his chin off his chest. But when he does, he smiles and jokes, and displays the same undiminished irony.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-22/boris-cyrulnik-neuropsychiatrist-you-cant-reason-with-fanatics-like-trump-if-you-dont-think-like-him-youre-an-idiot.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-19/breakthrough-in-neuromedicine-as-human-mini-brains-are-kept-alive-for-years.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:36:34 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-19/breakthrough-in-neuromedicine-as-human-mini-brains-are-kept-alive-for-years.html Daniel Mediavilla Harvard researchers have developed a model that makes it possible to study the brain at previously inaccessible stages of development, opening the door to more advanced research into diseases and potential treatments Harvard researchers have developed a model that makes it possible to study the brain at previously inaccessible stages of development, opening the door to more advanced research into diseases and potential treatments Nature Irene Faravelli y Noelia Antón-Bolaños Organoides cerebrales Image of one of the mini-brains grown in the lab, with the cells labeled in different colors Image of one of the mini-brains grown in the lab, with the cells labeled in different colors <p>Popular scientific lore has Archimedes, 22 centuries ago, <a href="https://english.elpais.com/society/2023-04-01/the-eureka-moment-the-best-ideas-appear-when-you-disconnect.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/society/2023-04-01/the-eureka-moment-the-best-ideas-appear-when-you-disconnect.html">shouting “Eureka!</a>” as he watched water spill over the edge of his bath. From that moment of revelation supposedly came the principle that a body immersed in a fluid experiences an upward force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. At the dawn of the Scientific Revolution, a falling apple is said to have led <a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2025-06-13/one-second-to-end-what-the-universe-has-built-in-10-million-years.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2025-06-13/one-second-to-end-what-the-universe-has-built-in-10-million-years.html">Isaac Newton</a> to grasp the attraction between celestial bodies, planting the seed of the idea of universal gravitation.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-19/breakthrough-in-neuromedicine-as-human-mini-brains-are-kept-alive-for-years.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-18/mallorca-1820-xraying-europes-last-major-plague-epidemic.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:19:39 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-18/mallorca-1820-xraying-europes-last-major-plague-epidemic.html Miguel Ángel Criado An analysis of documents from 200 years ago reveals the high fatality rate of the outbreak, which was not bubonic, and the effectiveness of quarantine measures An analysis of documents from 200 years ago reveals the high fatality rate of the outbreak, which was not bubonic, and the effectiveness of quarantine measures Mallorca Coronavirus Manacor Heritage Images (Heritage Images via Getty Images) 'Monsignor de Belsunce's Devotion During the Plague of Marseille' by Nicolas André Monsiaux, held at the Louvre. 'Monsignor de Belsunce's Devotion During the Plague of Marseille' by Nicolas André Monsiaux, held at the Louvre. <p>That summer must have been terrifying: between May and October, one in three residents in the area died of plague. Now a study of papers from 200 years ago recounts how Europe’s last major plague epidemic unfolded — the one that struck Mallorca in 1820. From newly discovered daily reports of the infected and the dead, researchers were able to calculate its extreme lethality and to conclude that the specific form was not bubonic, <a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-06-17/the-first-plague-emerged-in-siberia-5500-years-ago-and-primarily-killed-children.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-06-17/the-first-plague-emerged-in-siberia-5500-years-ago-and-primarily-killed-children.html">but pneumonic</a>. The records also show how, in the absence of antibiotics to fight the disease (they would not arrive until a century later), confinement measures saved thousands of Mallorcans, confining death to the eastern tip of the island.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-18/mallorca-1820-xraying-europes-last-major-plague-epidemic.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-18/can-the-existence-of-an-afterlife-be-proven-the-scientists-looking-for-god.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:58:19 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-18/can-the-existence-of-an-afterlife-be-proven-the-scientists-looking-for-god.html Daniel Soufi There are doctors, neuroscientists and physicists who believe science can prove life after death, although for most this remains a matter of faith rather than laboratory work There are doctors, neuroscientists and physicists who believe science can prove life after death, although for most this remains a matter of faith rather than laboratory work Rosalía Raymond Moody Valentín Fuster CSIC Albert Einstein DIEGO QUIJANO (EL PAÍS) <img src="https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/v2/EGDBBSBFMZGFDOJX5XEP5SDJQA.jpg?auth=c5bd79412c58b57a865335bfe2867c8b11b7fec221d6e358ae73eee313f7001a" width="2379" height="1784" alt="."></img><p>Now that singer Rosalía has embraced mysticism and the “[Spanish protest movement] 15-M philosopher” Ernesto Castro has converted to Christianity, it is not surprising that science is being seduced by God as well. Scientists around the world are investigating topics such as heaven, reincarnation, and the immortality of the soul. The majority of the scientific community, however, remains skeptical and even questions whether the scientific method is suitable for addressing these issues.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-18/can-the-existence-of-an-afterlife-be-proven-the-scientists-looking-for-god.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-17/sara-wickstrom-cell-biologist-cells-do-not-just-follow-chemical-orders-they-also-sense-the-forces-around-them.html Mon, 17 Aug 2026 17:52:20 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-17/sara-wickstrom-cell-biologist-cells-do-not-just-follow-chemical-orders-they-also-sense-the-forces-around-them.html Daniel Mediavilla The Finnish researcher was recently awarded the Körber European Science Prize for changing the way we understand cell biology The Finnish researcher was recently awarded the Körber European Science Prize for changing the way we understand cell biology Cáncer Genes marcus gloger Sara Wickström Researcher Sara Wickström. Researcher Sara Wickström. <p>For decades, scientists described biology as a chemical conversation. Cells made decisions by following a manual written in their genes, executed through chemical signals. If a cell became a neuron, muscle cell, or red blood cell, it was because certain molecules instructed it to turn some genes on and others off. Finnish researcher Sara Wickström, 50, has helped show that at least one crucial piece was missing from that story: cells also sense their environment.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-17/sara-wickstrom-cell-biologist-cells-do-not-just-follow-chemical-orders-they-also-sense-the-forces-around-them.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/lifestyle/2026-08-15/the-science-behind-the-feeling-that-childhood-summers-never-end.html Sat, 15 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://english.elpais.com/lifestyle/2026-08-15/the-science-behind-the-feeling-that-childhood-summers-never-end.html Irene Mollá Segura Curiosity, emotion and paying attention shape our perception of time. This is why time flies as we grow older Curiosity, emotion and paying attention shape our perception of time. This is why time flies as we grow older Instagram TikTok Imgorthand (Getty Images) Risa The richer a memory is, the greater the sense of time lived, say the experts. The richer a memory is, the greater the sense of time lived, say the experts. <p>A two-year-old boy watches, mesmerized, as ants march in a line across the sand. He pokes at them with a stick; some climb up his arm. He feels the tingling sensation, then blows on them and watches the ants disappear. He continues observing.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/lifestyle/2026-08-15/the-science-behind-the-feeling-that-childhood-summers-never-end.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-15/nancy-cartwright-philosopher-people-distrust-science-because-they-feel-the-system-has-abandoned-them.html Sat, 15 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-15/nancy-cartwright-philosopher-people-distrust-science-because-they-feel-the-system-has-abandoned-them.html Selva Vargas Reátegui The thinker reflects on evidence-based science and advocates for combining methods to put research to good use in economics or public health The thinker reflects on evidence-based science and advocates for combining methods to put research to good use in economics or public health BBVA Bilbao Fundación BBVA (EL PAÍS) Nancy Cartwright, philosopher Nancy Cartwright, a philosopher of science, pictured at the Palace of San Nicolás, headquarters of the BBVA Foundation, in Bilbao, Spain.  Nancy Cartwright, a philosopher of science, pictured at the Palace of San Nicolás, headquarters of the BBVA Foundation, in Bilbao, Spain.  <img src="https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/v2/WM2WDJYICRDNLBLWMKT5O7Q2J4.jpeg?auth=fcb037fc1347e29917346fa1d5350fe9b0a7b89d1fb98865be80c73d13d91fb2" width="4724" height="3149" alt="Nancy Cartwright, a philosopher of science, pictured at the Palace of San Nicolás, headquarters of the BBVA Foundation, in Bilbao, Spain. "></img><p>Are scientific laws enough to explain how the world works? Nancy Cartwright, 81, has spent more than half a century asking whether they really are. The philosopher has devoted her career to observing what happens when those principles are tested against concrete real-world cases: in hospitals, in economics, and in government public policy.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-15/nancy-cartwright-philosopher-people-distrust-science-because-they-feel-the-system-has-abandoned-them.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p><img src="https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/v2/QTYLZWXAIZD6FD26PVGILMEAKM.jpeg?auth=1310483df04433b91026ac67dfb0bf5a250d7cbc46ab373eeeb0fced754b6514" width="4724" height="3149" alt="Philosopher Nancy Cartwright, during her interview with EL PAÍS. "></img> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-14/temperate-forests-that-once-vanished-over-millennia-are-now-disappearing-in-decades.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:20:58 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-14/temperate-forests-that-once-vanished-over-millennia-are-now-disappearing-in-decades.html Miguel Ángel Criado A new method reveals how a global forest die-off began 56 million years ago, in a process that bears striking similarities to the one unfolding today A new method reveals how a global forest die-off began 56 million years ago, in a process that bears striking similarities to the one unfolding today Science Flora Daniel Garrido (Getty Images) secuoyas There was a time when sequoias grew in Wyoming, in the interior of the United States. Those gigantic trees disappeared after a global climate shift. In the image, sequoias from the Whakarewarewa forest in New Zealand. There was a time when sequoias grew in Wyoming, in the interior of the United States. Those gigantic trees disappeared after a global climate shift. In the image, sequoias from the Whakarewarewa forest in New Zealand. <p>The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere has reached 600 parts per million (ppm). At first, it is a boon for plants: the greater availability of carbon dioxide (their food source) supercharges trees, which grow and grow without restraint. But that concentration of greenhouse gases continues to warm the planet. The atmosphere loses more and more moisture and must draw water from leaves, stems and trunks. <a href="https://english.elpais.com/opinion/the-global-observer/2022-02-23/why-we-drag-our-feet-when-it-comes-to-climate-change.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/opinion/the-global-observer/2022-02-23/why-we-drag-our-feet-when-it-comes-to-climate-change.html">Plant mortality increases</a> dramatically, and forests begin to thin out. As this happens, more solar radiation and heat penetrate the understory, reinforcing the process. Temperate species are displaced by xerophytic (drought-resistant) and thermophilic (heat-loving) plants. Walnuts, elms and birches give way to palms and scrubland.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-14/temperate-forests-that-once-vanished-over-millennia-are-now-disappearing-in-decades.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-12/the-total-eclipse-in-spain-in-pictures.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:50:19 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-12/the-total-eclipse-in-spain-in-pictures.html EL PAÍS The astronomical event crossed the Iberian Peninsula on Wednesday, with totality visible only along a narrow west-to-east corridor The astronomical event crossed the Iberian Peninsula on Wednesday, with totality visible only along a narrow west-to-east corridor NASA Vincent West (REUTERS) Solar eclipse in Spain The sun appears near the silhouette of an Osborne Bull before totality, in Navarrete, northern Spain, August 12, 2026. The sun appears near the silhouette of an Osborne Bull before totality, in Navarrete, northern Spain, August 12, 2026. Vincent West (REUTERS) Solar eclipse in Spain The sun appears near the silhouette of an Osborne Bull before totality, in Navarrete, northern Spain, August 12, 2026. The sun appears near the silhouette of an Osborne Bull before totality, in Navarrete, northern Spain, August 12, 2026. SERGIO PEREZ (EFE) ECLIPSE MADRID A crowd of people wearing protective glasses awaits the start of the solar eclipse in Madrid this Wednesday. A crowd of people wearing protective glasses awaits the start of the solar eclipse in Madrid this Wednesday. Susana Vera (REUTERS) ECLIPSE BUITRAGO Angela, David and their son, Diego, 7, pose for a selfie with protective eclipse glasses during the watch party for the solar eclipse, in Buitrago del Lozoya, Spain, August 12, 2026. Angela, David and their son, Diego, 7, pose for a selfie with protective eclipse glasses during the watch party for the solar eclipse, in Buitrago del Lozoya, Spain, August 12, 2026. Alberto Saiz (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) galería eclipse A man wears special eclipse glasses, as beachgoers gather before a total solar eclipse set to begin around sunset, at a beach near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday Aug. 12, 2026. A man wears special eclipse glasses, as beachgoers gather before a total solar eclipse set to begin around sunset, at a beach near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday Aug. 12, 2026. Borja Suarez (REUTERS) Solar eclipse in Spain The moon partially covers the sun during a solar eclipse as seen from Arija, Spain, August 12, 2026. The moon partially covers the sun during a solar eclipse as seen from Arija, Spain, August 12, 2026. Álvaro García galería eclipse The atmosphere leading up to the eclipse at the soccer field on Teide Street in San Sebastián de los Reyes. The atmosphere leading up to the eclipse at the soccer field on Teide Street in San Sebastián de los Reyes. Alex López (EFE) galería eclipse On this Wednesday, the Port of Tarragona, bathed in sunshine, filled up with families and enthusiasts to secure the best spots to view the eclipse. On this Wednesday, the Port of Tarragona, bathed in sunshine, filled up with families and enthusiasts to secure the best spots to view the eclipse. Lavandeira (EFE) El sol y el calor se impondrán en la jornada del eclipse, con nubes bajas en el norte Cientos de personas esperan el inicio del eclipse solar en la playa de Riazor en Coruña, este miércoles. Cientos de personas esperan el inicio del eclipse solar en la playa de Riazor en Coruña, este miércoles. Álvaro García galería eclipse A woman watches the sun from the soccer field on Teide Street in San Sebastián de los Reyes. A woman watches the sun from the soccer field on Teide Street in San Sebastián de los Reyes. ROCÍO CIBES eclipse The scene before the eclipse, near a cliff in Cedeira. The scene before the eclipse, near a cliff in Cedeira. Susana Vera (REUTERS) galería eclipse People lie down inside a portable planetarium during an eclipse watch party on the day of a total solar eclipse in Buitrago del Lozoya, Spain, August 12, 2026. People lie down inside a portable planetarium during an eclipse watch party on the day of a total solar eclipse in Buitrago del Lozoya, Spain, August 12, 2026. Bernat Armangue (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) ECLIPSE BERLANGA DE DUERO Jose Luis Martinez, a member of the "Los Taraos" amateur astrophotography group, sets up his cell phone to shoot a total solar eclipse in Berlanga de Duero, central Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. Jose Luis Martinez, a member of the "Los Taraos" amateur astrophotography group, sets up his cell phone to shoot a total solar eclipse in Berlanga de Duero, central Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. SERGIO PEREZ (EFE) ECLIPSE MADRID A person wearing a mask and glasses waits for the solar eclipse in Madrid on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. A person wearing a mask and glasses waits for the solar eclipse in Madrid on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Maria Alejandra Cardona (REUTERS) galería eclipse Un incendio cerca del parque de El Monte de San Pedro, en A Coruña. Está previsto que miles de personas se acerquen al parque para contemplar el eclipse total. Un incendio cerca del parque de El Monte de San Pedro, en A Coruña. Está previsto que miles de personas se acerquen al parque para contemplar el eclipse total. Borja Suarez (REUTERS) galería eclipse The sun, ahead of a total solar eclipse, as seen from the beach in Arija, Spain, August 12, 2026. The sun, ahead of a total solar eclipse, as seen from the beach in Arija, Spain, August 12, 2026. Andreu Esteban (EFE) galería eclipse Several people heading to Gurugú Beach to watch the total solar eclipse. Several people heading to Gurugú Beach to watch the total solar eclipse. Susana Vera (REUTERS) Solar eclipse in Spain Valerio D'Orazio, from Lisbon, Portugal, uses an app on his mobile phone to find out where the totality will appear during the total solar eclipse, at an eclipse watching party in Buitrago del Lozoya, Spain, August 12, 2026. Valerio D'Orazio, from Lisbon, Portugal, uses an app on his mobile phone to find out where the totality will appear during the total solar eclipse, at an eclipse watching party in Buitrago del Lozoya, Spain, August 12, 2026. Ismael Herrero (EFE) galería eclipse A view of the 40-meter telescope at the Yebes Astronomical Observatory in Guadalajara on Wednesday. A view of the 40-meter telescope at the Yebes Astronomical Observatory in Guadalajara on Wednesday. Borja Suárez (REUTERS) directo Maarten Savelkoel, 76, from the Netherlands, visits a campsite to see the total solar eclipse, in Arija, Spain, August 12, 2026. Maarten Savelkoel, 76, from the Netherlands, visits a campsite to see the total solar eclipse, in Arija, Spain, August 12, 2026. Christian Hartmann (REUTERS) ECLIPSE TERUEL Cesar Gadea from Miami, Florida, U.S., looks at the sun through self-made binoculars ahead of a total solar eclipse, at the Galactica Centre, near the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory in Arcos de las Salinas, near Teruel, Spain, August 12, 2026. Cesar Gadea from Miami, Florida, U.S., looks at the sun through self-made binoculars ahead of a total solar eclipse, at the Galactica Centre, near the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory in Arcos de las Salinas, near Teruel, Spain, August 12, 2026. Borja Suarez (REUTERS) directo Patricia Molera and Enrique Sotomayor test their eclipse glasses during sunset at Arija beach, Spain, August 11, 2026. Patricia Molera and Enrique Sotomayor test their eclipse glasses during sunset at Arija beach, Spain, August 11, 2026. Brais Lorenzo (EFE) directo A woman takes photos of the sunset and the Sil River Canyon on Tuesday from the Matacás Lookout in Castro Caldelas (Ourense), one day before the solar eclipse. A woman takes photos of the sunset and the Sil River Canyon on Tuesday from the Matacás Lookout in Castro Caldelas (Ourense), one day before the solar eclipse. Borja Suarez (REUTERS) directo Frenchman Leyssalle Anthony, 39, prepares a telescope to view the total solar eclipse from the beach, in Arija, Spain, August 12, 2026. Frenchman Leyssalle Anthony, 39, prepares a telescope to view the total solar eclipse from the beach, in Arija, Spain, August 12, 2026. <p></p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-12/the-total-eclipse-in-spain-in-pictures.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/spain/2026-08-11/solar-eclipse-in-spain-a-guide-to-the-astronomical-event-of-the-year.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:57:42 GMT https://english.elpais.com/spain/2026-08-11/solar-eclipse-in-spain-a-guide-to-the-astronomical-event-of-the-year.html EL PAÍS Everything you need to know about the phenomenon: from where to watch it to how long it will last Everything you need to know about the phenomenon: from where to watch it to how long it will last Eclipses Madrid Daniel Gonzalez ((EPA) EFE) Eclipse People watch a partial solar eclipse at the Madrid planetarium in 2025. People watch a partial solar eclipse at the Madrid planetarium in 2025. <p>Spain will experience a unique astronomical event this summer: a total <a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-03/the-green-ray-the-fascinating-optical-phenomenon-that-may-follow-the-solar-eclipse-in-the-balearic-islands.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-03/the-green-ray-the-fascinating-optical-phenomenon-that-may-follow-the-solar-eclipse-in-the-balearic-islands.html">solar eclipse</a>. No total eclipse has been visible from the Iberian Peninsula since 1905, although one did pass over the Canary Islands in 1959. It will therefore be an extraordinary occasion for millions of Spaniards, many of whom will be enjoying this unparalleled sensory experience for the first time. Here are the key things you need to know to make sure you don’t miss this phenomenon.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/spain/2026-08-11/solar-eclipse-in-spain-a-guide-to-the-astronomical-event-of-the-year.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-08/luisa-n-borrell-epidemiologist-in-the-united-states-there-are-197-words-that-disqualify-you-from-research-funding-i-work-with-all-of-them.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 03:30:00 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-08/luisa-n-borrell-epidemiologist-in-the-united-states-there-are-197-words-that-disqualify-you-from-research-funding-i-work-with-all-of-them.html Pablo Linde The researcher studies racial health inequities, one of the fields the Trump administration has cut resources for The researcher studies racial health inequities, one of the fields the Trump administration has cut resources for Donald Trump Latinos Javier Hernández (EL PAÍS) Luisa N. Borrell, epidemiologist Luisa N Borrell, at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Public University of Navarre (UPNA), on June 25. Luisa N Borrell, at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Public University of Navarre (UPNA), on June 25. <img src="https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/v2/Z4ET3YU2R5AV5JEVJDDJGLC2P4.jpg?auth=6ccf384171e05bb12bd05256b860084cd8070c0fd7b083e0621474f07d5c3ea3" width="5828" height="3885" alt="Luisa N Borrell, at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Public University of Navarre (UPNA), on June 25."></img><p>Luisa N. Borrell, 61, came to the United States intending to continue the career she had begun in dentistry, but she ultimately found a different path. She did not like Florida; in New York, she had to study again, obtain her license, and practice dentistry. She worked first in a private clinic and later in a hospital, until she realized that it wasn’t for her. </p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-08/luisa-n-borrell-epidemiologist-in-the-united-states-there-are-197-words-that-disqualify-you-from-research-funding-i-work-with-all-of-them.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p><img src="https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/v2/I5VOBWFZDJD3TANKOLFDH6RH3E.jpg?auth=e0c5cdcbff9d215c95975321e5e285be82666fd954ca1c2cfbdccda1f432b5a8" width="5829" height="3886" alt="Luisa N. Borell took part in the Spanish Society of Epidemiology congress in June."></img> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-08/why-are-we-almost-all-righthanded-two-million-years-of-evolutionary-mystery.html Sat, 08 Aug 2026 03:30:00 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-08/why-are-we-almost-all-righthanded-two-million-years-of-evolutionary-mystery.html Patricia Fernández de Lis There is not a single cause but several interwoven ones. The hypothesis with the most weight points to the development of our brain and the origin of language: gestures There is not a single cause but several interwoven ones. The hypothesis with the most weight points to the development of our brain and the origin of language: gestures Homo sapiens Primates Mikhail Sinitsyn (Zuma Press / CONTACTO) (EL PAÍS) U.S. fencer Lauren Scruggs (left) and Russian Anna Solovyova compete at the World Fencing Championships on July 27, 2026, in Hong Kong. U.S. fencer Lauren Scruggs (left) and Russian Anna Solovyova compete at the World Fencing Championships on July 27, 2026, in Hong Kong. <p>There is a number that neuroscientists have been studying for decades with fascination and perplexity: 90. It is the percentage of humans who, across all cultures, time periods studied, and corners of the globe, preferentially use their right hand. That 90% is a figure so consistent, so universal, so round, and so strange that the question isn’t even why <a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2023-12-05/myth-debunked-left-handed-people-dont-have-superior-spatial-vision.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2023-12-05/myth-debunked-left-handed-people-dont-have-superior-spatial-vision.html">left-handers</a> exist. It’s why there are so few of them — and why this has been so consistently the case across time and space.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-08/why-are-we-almost-all-righthanded-two-million-years-of-evolutionary-mystery.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-07/before-meat-came-fruit-the-human-brain-evolved-millions-of-years-ago-thanks-to-sugar.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 18:05:39 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-07/before-meat-came-fruit-the-human-brain-evolved-millions-of-years-ago-thanks-to-sugar.html Ana Lozano del Campo A study highlights the role of carbohydrates, as well as the prominence of meat, in the brain and reproductive development of our ancestors A study highlights the role of carbohydrates, as well as the prominence of meat, in the brain and reproductive development of our ancestors Homo sapiens Primates Science Australopithecus Ulco Glimmerveen Reconstruction of a Mesolithic camp with a hunter in the foreground. Reconstruction of a Mesolithic camp with a hunter in the foreground. <p>At first, we mainly ate fruit. Or rather, the most recent relative we share with our closest cousins, the <a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2025-09-18/chimpanzees-drink-the-equivalent-of-two-or-three-beers-a-day-study-says.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2025-09-18/chimpanzees-drink-the-equivalent-of-two-or-three-beers-a-day-study-says.html">chimpanzees</a>, did — about four million years ago. Their vision could distinguish the colors of these sources of sugar, minerals, and fiber, probably to tell when they were ripe and sweet. From that time, and throughout the <a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2024-11-12/the-legacy-of-lucy-the-australopithecus-that-changed-our-idea-of-human-evolution-50-years-ago.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2024-11-12/the-legacy-of-lucy-the-australopithecus-that-changed-our-idea-of-human-evolution-50-years-ago.html">evolution of the genus <i>Homo</i></a>, the proportion of sugar in daily energy intake is estimated to have fallen by about three quarters, in favor of the greater diversity of an omnivorous diet. Paradoxically, during that period the organ most dependent on glucose — the brain — continued to grow relative to body size. Now, at about 2% of our weight, it consumes 20% of the energy required for our vital functions.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-07/before-meat-came-fruit-the-human-brain-evolved-millions-of-years-ago-thanks-to-sugar.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/climate/2026-08-07/welcome-to-the-plastisphere-the-realm-of-plastic-microbes-its-a-new-ecosystem-on-the-planet.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:20:45 GMT https://english.elpais.com/climate/2026-08-07/welcome-to-the-plastisphere-the-realm-of-plastic-microbes-its-a-new-ecosystem-on-the-planet.html Juan F. Samaniego The very nature of this material, which repels water, makes it easy for microorganisms to thrive in it and form communities The very nature of this material, which repels water, makes it easy for microorganisms to thrive in it and form communities Plásticos Colombia Barcelona Antártida Enrique Talledo (CincoDías) A piece of plastic next to a starfish on the seafloor. A piece of plastic next to a starfish on the seafloor. <img src="https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/v2/LNICDCTTNNDKLOOHR3SPROQZ4I.jpg?auth=486c5075bd85c80929f3e17975eac7b2a2d7c082404cc3f2ff9b71859cffc829" width="1800" height="1281" alt="A piece of plastic next to a starfish on the seafloor."></img><p>Life may have arrived on Earth from outer space. Under the panspermia hypothesis, the first microorganisms could have traveled aboard fragments of asteroids or comets. Those pioneers would have prepared the ground so that, gradually, conditions on our planet became as suitable for life as they are today. At present, there is no corner of our home that living things have not adapted to.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/climate/2026-08-07/welcome-to-the-plastisphere-the-realm-of-plastic-microbes-its-a-new-ecosystem-on-the-planet.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/health/2026-08-06/bacteria-in-semen-also-condition-pregnancy-success-fertility-clinics-still-focus-mainly-on-the-woman.html Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:22:33 GMT https://english.elpais.com/health/2026-08-06/bacteria-in-semen-also-condition-pregnancy-success-fertility-clinics-still-focus-mainly-on-the-woman.html Selva Vargas Reátegui An analysis published in ‘The Lancet’ suggests that organisms in sperm are linked to miscarriages and fewer live births after reproductive treatments An analysis published in ‘The Lancet’ suggests that organisms in sperm are linked to miscarriages and fewer live births after reproductive treatments Bacteria Semen The Lancet ÓSCAR CORRAL padre hijo Infertility affects about 48 million couples worldwide. Infertility affects about 48 million couples worldwide. <p>Infertility affects about 48 million couples worldwide and, in a substantial share of cases, the specific cause is never identified. In this context, the study of the relationship between reproductive health and the microorganisms that inhabit our bodies (<a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-02-07/when-your-body-becomes-a-brewery.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-02-07/when-your-body-becomes-a-brewery.html">the microbiome</a>) and reproduction has emerged only recently, and with a strong bias. Attention has focused especially on the female body, but a study just published in <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanogw/article/PIIS3050-5038(26)00213-X/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanogw/article/PIIS3050-5038(26)00213-X/fulltext"><i>The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology &amp; Women’s Health</i></a> has taken a different approach. The work shifts the focus to the semen microbiome as well, examining its role in miscarriages and the success of fertility treatments.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/health/2026-08-06/bacteria-in-semen-also-condition-pregnancy-success-fertility-clinics-still-focus-mainly-on-the-woman.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-05/theyve-been-doing-this-since-the-time-of-the-dinosaurs-a-turtles-1200-mile-survival-odyssey-to-return-to-where-it-was-born.html Wed, 05 Aug 2026 18:39:17 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-05/theyve-been-doing-this-since-the-time-of-the-dinosaurs-a-turtles-1200-mile-survival-odyssey-to-return-to-where-it-was-born.html Patricia Fernández de Lis Once hunted nearly to extinction and today a conservation success story, the Atlantic’s largest reproductive colony of green sea turtles lives on the island of Ascención Once hunted nearly to extinction and today a conservation success story, the Atlantic’s largest reproductive colony of green sea turtles lives on the island of Ascención Lorna West A green sea turtle on Ascensión. A green sea turtle on Ascensión. <p>Night is falling in Long Beach, the beach that borders Georgetown, the capital of Ascensión Island. On the shore, something moves. A dark, enormous mass emerges from the waves with a slowness that seems deliberate. It’s a female <a href="https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-12-24/meet-fly-the-guardian-of-the-hawksbill-sea-turtles-on-santa-catalina-island.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-12-24/meet-fly-the-guardian-of-the-hawksbill-sea-turtles-on-santa-catalina-island.html">green sea turtle</a> (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>), which can grow to measure over four feet and weigh more than 330 pounds. She just crossed 1,400 miles of open ocean, from the coasts of Brazil. It took her six weeks. She ate nothing on the trip. She’s returning to the same beach where she was born. And now she has a job to do.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-05/theyve-been-doing-this-since-the-time-of-the-dinosaurs-a-turtles-1200-mile-survival-odyssey-to-return-to-where-it-was-born.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-03/the-green-ray-the-fascinating-optical-phenomenon-that-may-follow-the-solar-eclipse-in-the-balearic-islands.html Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:46:55 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-03/the-green-ray-the-fascinating-optical-phenomenon-that-may-follow-the-solar-eclipse-in-the-balearic-islands.html Paola Mendoza The emerald glow that captivated the heroine of a Jules Verne novel may appear for a few fleeting moments after the August 12 total eclipse off the coast of Mallorca The emerald glow that captivated the heroine of a Jules Verne novel may appear for a few fleeting moments after the August 12 total eclipse off the coast of Mallorca Mallorca Baleares Amado Carbonell Eclipse Amado Carbonell The green flash captured from the Banyalbufar viewpoint, in northern Mallorca, in May 2026. The green flash captured from the Banyalbufar viewpoint, in northern Mallorca, in May 2026. <p>Helena Campbell did not want to get married. At least not until she had seen the green ray. The heroine of what is considered <a href="https://english.elpais.com/culture/2024-12-13/40-years-of-cyberpunk-a-dystopian-future-that-seems-all-too-real-today.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/culture/2024-12-13/40-years-of-cyberpunk-a-dystopian-future-that-seems-all-too-real-today.html">Jules Verne’s</a> most romantic novel set out on a journey along the Scottish coast in search of the optical phenomenon, but when it finally appeared before her, she did not look at the horizon. She was looking at the love of her life.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-03/the-green-ray-the-fascinating-optical-phenomenon-that-may-follow-the-solar-eclipse-in-the-balearic-islands.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-02/jorge-perez-gallego-astrophysicist-a-total-eclipse-creates-an-energy-similar-to-a-big-concert-to-the-feeling-of-celebrating-a-goal.html Sun, 02 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-02/jorge-perez-gallego-astrophysicist-a-total-eclipse-creates-an-energy-similar-to-a-big-concert-to-the-feeling-of-celebrating-a-goal.html Francisco Doménech For the Spaniard who directs communications at the U.S. National Solar Observatory, the unique sensations produced by the astronomical phenomenon go beyond what science can explain For the Spaniard who directs communications at the U.S. National Solar Observatory, the unique sensations produced by the astronomical phenomenon go beyond what science can explain Oregón NASA Bad Bunny Lamine Yamal Albert Garcia (EL PAÍS) Jorge Pérez Gallego Jorge Pérez Gallego at his home in Terrassa (Barcelona). Jorge Pérez Gallego at his home in Terrassa (Barcelona). <img src="https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/v2/WLBJETTIRNEHRBEOZCXQ6BTXXE.jpg?auth=61a73f8c02200ae218ace44ba7b0f5098221a00009a617c42a6743030bd53167" width="4724" height="3149" alt="Jorge Pérez Gallego at his home in Terrassa (Barcelona)."></img><p>From producing the official live broadcast of the <a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2024-04-08/solar-eclipse-a-shadow-beam-crosses-america.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2024-04-08/solar-eclipse-a-shadow-beam-crosses-america.html">2024 total solar eclipse</a> for all of the United States to being able to experience the next one in his home country — the only place in the world where it can be seen with certainty — Spanish astrophysicist Jorge Pérez Gallego believes that, with barely two weeks to go, it is crucial to emphasize the feelings and emotions that “this natural event, of an unimaginable magnitude if you haven’t seen it before,” provokes. Looking ahead to August 12, he feels obliged to share key information and his personal experience with top-tier eclipses.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-08-02/jorge-perez-gallego-astrophysicist-a-total-eclipse-creates-an-energy-similar-to-a-big-concert-to-the-feeling-of-celebrating-a-goal.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p><img src="https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/v2/55DS2TFOYVBRTEXLE6CL7OIND4.jpg?auth=ad020845cc59416d4872d41795961da1bc8c5c133e9438fc61ca6b840a8ff786" width="4724" height="3149" alt="Pérez Gallego will coordinate a scientific research and international cooperation project promoted by the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands in Palencia on August 12. "></img> https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-07-31/two-500-year-old-mummies-confirm-europeans-brought-smallpox-to-the-americas-it-came-from-the-old-world.html Fri, 31 Jul 2026 08:29:22 GMT https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-07-31/two-500-year-old-mummies-confirm-europeans-brought-smallpox-to-the-americas-it-came-from-the-old-world.html Miguel Ángel Criado The oldest virus samples found on American soil had already fully adapted to humans The oldest virus samples found on American soil had already fully adapted to humans Chile Santo Domingo Tuberculosis Severo Ochoa América Science Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) 500-year-old mummies smallpox Smallpox arrived in the Americas with European colonizers, particularly the Spanish. Smallpox arrived in the Americas with European colonizers, particularly the Spanish. <p>A woman in her thirties and a young man of about 20 died of smallpox in the first decades of <a href="https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-12-07/the-battle-over-the-colonial-legacy-in-mexico-shadow-theater-for-political-gain.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-12-07/the-battle-over-the-colonial-legacy-in-mexico-shadow-theater-for-political-gain.html">Spanish colonization of the Americas</a>. Exhumed decades ago from an Inca cultural site in northern Chile, DNA from the Variola virus has now been found in their remains. This constitutes the oldest evidence of the virus’s presence on American soil. The authors of the discovery, whose findings are <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aee6957" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aee6957">published in the journal <i>Science</i></a>, also show that this lineage had already stopped losing genes. In other words, although of animal origin (zoonotic), it had found in humans its perfect host. The immune systems of Indigenous people, unable to confront the new disease, may have helped this maturation process. The analysis rules out the presence of the virus in the Americas before colonization.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2026-07-31/two-500-year-old-mummies-confirm-europeans-brought-smallpox-to-the-americas-it-came-from-the-old-world.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p>