Science Times: Webb Space Telescope Sees the Universe in a New Light

Plus: The Explosive Ambitions of Kate the Chemist —

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story July 12, 2022 The Carina Nebula, showing the earliest stages of star formation.NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI The Big Reveal On Tuesday, NASA unveiled the first set of scientific observations by the James Webb Space Telescope. (On Monday evening, President Biden got to show off one of the images, of a "deep field" that included some of the farthest galaxies ever seen.) Stephan's Quintet, showing five galaxies, four of which interact, colliding into each other and pulling and stretching each others' gravity.NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI The Webb telescope's image of the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 includes thousands of galaxies, including the faintest objects ever observed in infrared. The light from SMACS 0723 in this image is 4.6 billion years old.NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI Webb's first image of the Southern Ring nebula, a dying star expelling gas and dust, in orbit with a younger star.NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI Shuran Huang for The New York Times He Fixed NASA's Giant Space Telescope, Reluctantly Gregory Robinson was enjoying another job when NASA persuaded him to take on an enormous astronomy project that was billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule. By Kenneth Chang Email us Let us know how we're doing at sciencenewsletter@nytimes.com. Francesca Jones for The New York Times The Robot Guerrilla Campaign to Recreate the Elgin Marbles The British Museum has staunchly refused to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. A team of archaeologists are working on a technological solution to the dispute. By Franz Lidz and Francesca Jones Christopher Lee for The New York Times Profiles In Science The Explosive Ambitions of Kate the Chemist At the lecture halls of the University of Texas or on TV, Kate Biberdorf is working to catalyze more people into careers in science. By Kenneth Chang Veronica Selden Trilobites The Question You Didn't Know Needed Answering: Are Gophers Farmers? Researchers suggest that root cropping by the small rodents could be the first case of nonhuman mammalian farming. By Oliver Whang Martin Dančák Trilobites It Hides Under the Soil With a Bottomless Appetite for Meat Among the numerous carnivorous pitcher plant species, scientists say this is the first that lays its traps underground. By Carolyn Wilke Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT In N.Y.C. Apartments, the Ants Go Marching Up Like many ambitious New Yorkers, the ManhattAnt is a social climber. By Dodai Stewart Trilobites 'Evolution Gone Crazy': What Makes Sea Dragons So Strange In the genomes of the bizarre fish that are related to sea horses, scientists found certain key growth genes were missing. By Kate Golembiewski Bird Flu May Have Caused Seal Strandings Unusually high numbers of the marine mammals were found stranded in the last two months along Maine's coast. Samples from four seals tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. By Emily Anthes Trilobites With Housing Limited, a Gecko and a Possum Family Became Roommates They won't eat each other, and the family of marsupials does not seem to mind that the lizard is using them for warmth. By Anthony Ham Subscribe Today We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times with this special offer. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT HEALTH Anastasiia Sapon for The New York Times The U.S. May Be Losing the Fight Against Monkeypox, Scientists Say Longstanding weaknesses in the public health system are giving the virus a chance to become entrenched. By Apoorva Mandavilli Ivan Couronne/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Infertility Patients and Doctors Fear Abortion Bans Could Restrict I.V.F. The new state bans don't explicitly cover embryos created outside the womb, but legal experts say overturning Roe could make it easier to place controls on genetic testing, storage and disposal of them. By Jan Hoffman Victor J. Blue for The New York Times Cancer Drug Greatly Reduces Deaths in Hospitalized Covid Patients A new study found that sabizabulin reduced the risk of death by 55 percent, but some experts were cautious about overinterpreting the results. By Carl Zimmer What the BA.5 Subvariant Could Mean for the United States The most transmissible variant yet of the coronavirus is threatening a fresh wave of infections in the United States, even among those who have recovered from the virus fairly recently. By Lauren Leatherby Text Your Friends. It Matters More Than You Think. New research says most of us underestimate the power of the casual check-in. By Catherine Pearson The Quest by Circadian Medicine to Make the Most of Our Body Clocks Researchers are trying to figure out the right hour of the day to do everything. Can their studies sync us up with better health? By Kim Tingley F.D.A. to Weigh Over-the-Counter Sale of Contraceptive Pills The first U.S. application for sale of a nonprescription birth control pill has taken on new meaning after the Supreme Court decision ending the constitutional right to abortion. By Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Kate Kelly Joyce C. Lashof, Doctor Who Shattered Glass Ceilings, Dies at 96 In Illinois, she was the first woman to head a state public health department. She went on to become dean of the School of Public Health at Berkeley. By Alex Williams Ask Well Is Chocolate Good for You? Studies suggest that cocoa might benefit health, but it's unclear how that may translate to a typical bar of chocolate. By Alice Callahan Ask Well Is Makeup Messing Up My Sunscreen? There's good news and bad news when it comes to sun protection and cosmetics. By Caira Blackwell Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Make a friend's day: Forward this email. Got this from a friend? Subscribe to the Science Times newsletter. Check out other New York Times newsletters (all free!) including: Climate Fwd: for climate coverage and expert analysis. The Upshot for a data-driven look at the news. Well for the latest on health, fitness and nutrition. Continue reading the main story Need help? 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