Mother Chimp and Daughter Share a Special Sign

Humans are known to invent private hand gestures. Chimps in the wild do, too, a new study suggests.

By Brandon Keim

Extinct Human Species Lived in a Brutal Desert, Study Finds

A million years ago, a species known as Homo erectus most likely survived in an arid desert with no trees.

By Carl Zimmer

A Conversation With…

She Made Things Better Down Where It’s Wetter

Julie Packard discusses highlights of her four decades with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which she has led since it opened. She’s now stepping back from the role.

By Franz Lidz

Trump Targeted Scientists in His First Term. This Time, They’re Prepared.

Agencies and unions have put in place new guardrails designed to limit political interference in government research.

By Coral Davenport

Trilobites

Do Chimps Who Urinate Together Stay Together?

Scientists suspect that contagious urination, a behavior they observed among a troop of apes in Japan, may play an important role in primate social life.

By Annie Roth

F.A.A. Temporarily Halts Launches of Musk’s Starship After Explosion

The agency launched an investigation into the “space vehicle mishap” on Thursday night that forced commercial flights to divert and caused debris to rain toward Caribbean islands.

By Eric Lipton

Roar of New Glenn’s Engines Silences Skeptics of Bezos’ Blue Origin

The successful flight to orbit of the Amazon founder’s powerful rocket suggests it could grow into a credible competitor with Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

By Kenneth Chang

Trump Orders a U.S. Exit From the World’s Main Climate Pact

The United States will be one of only four countries outside the Paris Agreement, which is designed to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

By Max Bearak

Trump Signs Orders to Promote Fossil Fuels and End Climate Policies

The president said he’d declare an energy emergency, increase drilling and end support for electric cars. His pivot to oil and gas follows the hottest year in recorded history.

By Lisa Friedman, Brad Plumer, Rebecca F. Elliott and Eric Lipton

More Americans Than Ever Are Living in Wildfire Areas. L.A. Is No Exception.

Fierce winds and months of drought set the conditions for the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles, but the growth of housing in fire-prone areas also played a major role.

By Mira Rojanasakul and Brad Plumer

the new old age

When the Retirement Community Goes Bankrupt

It doesn’t happen often. But when it does, some residents risk losing everything.

By Paula Span

Kennedy Sought to Stop Covid Vaccinations 6 Months After Rollout

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. petitioned the F.D.A. to revoke authorization of the shots at a time when they were in high demand and considered life-saving.

By Christina Jewett

Cancer’s New Face: Younger and Female

Although long considered a disease of aging, certain cancers are turning up more often in younger women, according to a new report.

By Roni Caryn Rabin

The Centuries-Old, Incredibly Male Quest to Live Forever

People, and men in particular, have long mixed solid science and serious quackery in the pursuit of longevity.

By Joe Kloc