The news, anew
Fires in Indonesia have devastated over 1.9 million hectares as of September, according to satellite monitoring. The figure is considered conservative due to challenges posed by haze.
Science
A bumblebee-like insect that was last seen in France 150 years ago was spotted again in the Paris region in 2025. Had the creature, known by its scientific name Pocota personata, disappeared and returned after all those years? Or did it simply fly around unnoticed this whole time? The mystery illustrates the challenge facing scientists seeking to catalogue the world's biodiversity, as so much of nature remains poorly understood.
Science
Juan Mayorga smiled as a stingray glided across his computer screen, moving gracefully over the seabed near Portugal's Desertas Islands, part of the Madeira archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. "It's a good day when we see animals like this," said the Colombian environmental engineer, who is analyzing underwater footage to measure the effects of marine protection. "This is conservation in action," said Mayorga, 36, who works for Pristine Seas, a marine conservation initiative run by the National Geographic Society.
Science
Owners who spent more time physically close to their cats tended to report more positive moods, according to a new study by a Kyoto University-led team. The study, published in the journal iScience, came amid a common claim that caring for a feline friend has positive effects on human health and well-being while other studies reporting possible negative effects of cat ownership.
