SpaceX Crew-11 splashed down safely in the Pacific after more than five months in orbit aboard the International Space Station. The four astronauts completed over 140 experiments and traveled nearly 71 million miles around Earth. NASA brought the crew home earlier than planned due to a medical concern, with officials confirming the affected crew member is stable. The mission underscores how quickly today’s space programs can adapt while keeping astronauts safe.
New research shows tropical forests can recover twice as fast after deforestation when their soils contain enough nitrogen. Scientists followed forest regrowth across Central America for decades and found that nitrogen plays a decisive role in how quickly trees return. Faster regrowth also means more carbon captured from the atmosphere. The study points to smarter reforestation strategies that work with nature rather than relying on fertilizers.
A new OLED design can stretch dramatically while staying bright, solving a problem that has long limited flexible displays. The breakthrough comes from pairing a highly efficient light-emitting material with tough, transparent MXene-based electrodes. Tests showed the display kept most of its brightness even after repeated stretching. The technology could power future wearable screens and on-skin health sensors.
A large international study reveals that mammals tend to live longer when reproduction is suppressed. On average, lifespan increases by about 10 percent, though the reasons differ for males and females. Castrated males avoid the harmful effects of testosterone, while females gain longevity by sidestepping the intense physical demands of pregnancy and nursing. The results underscore a powerful biological trade-off between making offspring and staying alive longer.
New research suggests statins may protect adults with type 2 diabetes regardless of how low their predicted heart risk appears. In a large UK study, statin use was linked to fewer deaths and major cardiac events across all risk levels. Even those labeled “low risk” benefited, challenging long-held assumptions about who should receive preventive therapy. Side effects were rare and generally mild.
Tryptophan does far more than help us sleep—it fuels brain chemistry, energy production, and mood-regulating neurotransmitters. But as the brain ages or develops neurological disease, this delicate system goes awry, pushing tryptophan toward harmful byproducts linked to memory loss, mood changes, and sleep problems.
Scientists have uncovered how cannabis evolved the ability to make its most famous compounds—THC, CBD, and CBC—by recreating ancient enzymes that existed millions of years ago. These early enzymes were multitaskers, capable of producing several cannabinoids at once, before evolution fine-tuned them into today’s highly specialized forms. By “resurrecting” these long-lost enzymes in the lab, researchers showed how cannabis chemistry became more precise over time—and discovered something unexpected: the ancient versions are often more robust and easier to work with.
Hydrogen cyanide, a toxic chemical, may have helped spark the chemistry that led to life. When frozen, it forms crystals with highly reactive surfaces that can drive unusual chemical reactions, even in extreme cold. These reactions could produce more reactive molecules that pave the way for life’s basic ingredients. The findings suggest frozen worlds may be more chemically active than once thought.
For years, strange red dots in James Webb images left scientists puzzled. New research shows they are young black holes hidden inside dense clouds of gas, glowing as they devour their surroundings. These black holes are smaller than expected but grow rapidly, shedding light on how supermassive black holes appeared so early in cosmic history. The finding reveals a violent and messy phase of the universe’s youth.
Physicists have long relied on the idea that electrons behave like tiny particles zipping through materials, even though quantum physics says their exact position is fundamentally uncertain. Now, researchers at TU Wien have discovered something surprising: a material where this particle picture completely breaks down can still host exotic topological states—features once thought to depend on particle-like behavior.
Spikes in blood sugar after eating may be more dangerous for the brain than previously thought. In a massive genetic study, people with higher post-meal blood sugar had a much greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The effect couldn’t be explained by visible brain damage, suggesting hidden biological pathways may be involved. Researchers say managing blood sugar after meals could become a key strategy for reducing dementia risk.
In the rapidly disappearing Atlantic Forest, mosquitoes are adapting to a human-dominated landscape. Scientists found that many species now prefer feeding on people rather than the forest’s diverse wildlife. This behavior dramatically raises the risk of spreading dangerous viruses such as dengue and Zika. The findings reveal how deforestation can quietly reshape disease dynamics.
“BPA-free” food packaging may be hiding new risks. A McGill University study found that several BPA substitutes used in grocery price labels can seep into food and interfere with vital processes in human ovarian cells. Some triggered unusual fat buildup and disrupted genes linked to cell repair and growth. The results raise concerns that BPA replacements may be just as troubling as the chemical they replaced.
Pancreatic cancer uses a sugar-coated disguise to evade the immune system, helping explain why it’s so hard to treat. Northwestern scientists discovered this hidden mechanism and created an antibody that strips away the tumor’s protective signal. In animal tests, immune cells sprang back into action and tumors grew much more slowly. The team is now refining the therapy for future human trials.
The BMW iX3 M has been spied undergoing testing in Europe.
Prototype has an M steering wheel and M-branded sport seats.
There will be four electric motors that could produce 700+ hp.
BMW M will begin offering electric vehicles in 2027, and the upcoming i3 M sedan has already been teased. But it won’t arrive alone, as spy photographers have captured the brand’s first high-performance electric SUV, possibly called the iX3 M, undergoing cold-weather testing in northern Sweden.
Dressed in heavy camouflage, the prototype looks virtually identical to the standard model. However, we can see the crossover has been equipped with sizable wheels that are backed up by a high-performance braking system. The latter feature cross-drilled discs as well as blue calipers up front.
SHproshots
The production model will presumably have more changes including sportier bumpers and a lightly revised grille. We also wouldn’t be surprised to find a modified diffuser and plenty of M badging.
While there isn’t much to see outside, the interior pictures show the M variant will have a sport steering wheel that eschews vertical spokes. We can also see red and blue contrast stitching as well as dedicated M buttons that are covered by tape.
The rest of the cabin is largely hidden behind disguise, but there are heavily bolstered sport seats that have taped up M logos. Besides the special touches, we can expect a pillar-to-pillar Panoramic iDrive display as well as a 17.9-inch infotainment system.
SHproshots
BMW M has been coy on powertrain details, but they recently said their upcoming EVs will have four electric motors as well as a front axle that can be “completely decoupled” to deliver rear-wheel drive characteristics and efficiency. All of these models, including the i3 M sedan and the iX3 M SUV, will also have simulated gear shifts and a newly developed “soundscape.”
The motors will deliver precisely controlled power and torque to each individual wheel and they’ll be powered by a 100+ kWh battery pack, which has been “specifically adapted to meet the demands of high-performance vehicles.” The company also noted upcoming models will have a long range, highly efficient energy recuperation, 800-volt technology, and their new Heart of Joy driving dynamics system.
The big question is how much power to expect. Only BMW knows for sure, but speculation suggests they could be packing between 700 hp (522 kW / 710 PS) and 800 hp (597 kW / 811 PS).
New Rolls-Royce Cullinan has been spied undergoing testing.
It sports an evolutionary design with cues from the Spectre.
The model will be fully electric and could have around 600 hp.
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan burst onto the scene in 2018 and became a successful addition to the lineup. Now, almost ten years later, the company has begun work on a new flagship crossover.
Spied undergoing cold weather testing in Scandinavia, the redesigned model is heavily disguised but looks instantly recognizable. However, there’s a new front fascia with split lighting units and what appears to be a wider grille. We can also see a wide lower intake that echoes the one found on the Spectre.
Moving further back, there’s a bulging hood and a pronounced shoulder line. They’re joined by an evolutionary greenhouse as well as new door handles that appear to be better integrated into the overall design.
The familiar styling continues out back, where there are new taillights with vertical elements. The model also has a new liftgate and a license plate recess that has been moved to the bumper. Speaking of which, there are new horizontal reflectors and no more exhaust cutouts.
Baldauf
There appears to be a good reason for this as spy photographers said the model is fully electric. Little is known about the crossover at this point, but the model could follow in the footsteps of the Spectre.
As you may recall, the electric coupe rides on the Architecture of Luxury and features a 102 kWh battery pack as well as a dual-motor all-wheel drive system with 577 hp (430kW / 584 PS) and 664 lb-ft (900Nm) of torque. This enables the Spectre to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.4 seconds and have a WLTP range of 329 miles (530 km).
Customers can also upgrade to the Black Badge variant, which has an upgraded powertrain producing 650 hp (485 kW / 659 PS) and 793 lb-ft (1,075 Nm) of torque. Thanks to the extra oomph, 60 mph (96 km/h) comes in 4.1 seconds.
The crossover could use a larger battery than the coupe, but we likely won’t find out for awhile as a launch isn’t expected until 2028. That’s a ways off and it means Bentley will beat Rolls-Royce to the punch with an electric crossover of their own.
Mercedes is developing a smaller G-Class with classic styling.
The compact model will debut as an electric vehicle globally.
It uses a new platform and skips the full G’s ladder frame.
The wait is nearly over. After years of speculation and teasers, Mercedes-Benz’s smaller G-Class is finally edging closer to production, The compact G-Wagen sticks closely to the blocky proportions of its full-sized counterpart, aiming to carry over much of its tough, go-anywhere character.
Shrunk in scale but not in identity, it’s being positioned to take on Land Rover’s downsized Defender in the growing premium off-roader market.
Although this isn’t the first time the model has been spotted in testing, these new images give us the clearest view yet. Caught undergoing cold-weather trials in Europe, the compact Mercedes is visibly shorter and lower than the full-fat G-Class, but the family resemblance is obvious.
SHproshots
Peek through the camouflage and you’ll spot familiar round headlights, likely paired with a sizeable grille up front. The front fascia sits tall and upright, though the overall lines are slightly more sculpted than the full-size version. It keeps that classic G-Class stance but smooths out a few edge around the corners – literally.
According to Gordon Wagener, former Mercedes design chief, the baby G was intended to look “a touch more modern than the big one.” He made that point in an interview with Car Magazine last year, and it tracks. One of the more interesting new details is the small, triangular rear side windows.
Underpinning the compact G is a brand-new platform, entirely separate from the full-size G-Class’s traditional architecture. It abandons the ladder-frame chassis, a move that might raise questions about hardcore off-road capability and towing strength. However, the payoff should come in the form of a more refined on-road experience, with smoother ride quality and improved daily comfort.
Former tech boss Markus Schäfer referred to the platform as a “miniature ladder-frame chassis” while speaking to Autocar last year. While it isn’t a true body-on-frame setup, he explained that it shares key qualities, particularly in suspension geometry and wheel sizing. So while it won’t match the full G-Class for rock-crawling antics, it won’t be soft either.
Then there’s the all-important question of powertrains. The mini G-Class will debut as an EV, which may catch some by surprise, given the current state of the market, especially here in the US. However, remember, this is a global model and there’s plenty of interest in EVs in major markets like China and Europe.
Details on the battery pack and electric motors are still scarce, but it would make sense for Mercedes to draw from the technology used in the latest CLA and GLC EVs. That would help ensure the new model delivers a reasonable driving range along with sufficient performance.
Whether combustion-powered versions will arrive after the new baby G is released remains unclear. Demand for the full-size electric G580 with EQ Technology hasn’t been particularly strong, so it would make sense for Mercedes to at least consider offering a few combustion powertrains. In that scenario, hybrid models might also be on the table, though nothing has been confirmed.
Canada placed 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs, steel, and aluminum.
China hit back with tariffs on Canadian seafood, pork, and canola.
Mark Carney is the first Canadian PM to visit China since 2018.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is visiting China this week on a politically significant trip, one that could carry broad implications for America’s northern neighbor, especially for its closely watched automotive sector. Among the issues likely to come up is the contentious matter of auto tariffs
Back in 2024, the Canadian government imposed sweeping 100 percent tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, as well as steel and aluminum. China didn’t take long to respond, slapping retaliatory tariffs on Canadian seafood, pork, and canola.
While some provincial leaders have been quietly pushing for a reciprocal easing of trade restrictions, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has taken a decidedly harder line. He has made it clear that he does not support lifting the tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles under any circumstances.
“I’m absolutely 100 per cent dead against this,” Ford told reporters. “I’ll reach out to him and text message and just tell them our concerns.”
“I’m very concerned and so are my friends in Michigan concerned,” the premier said after a meeting with Republican and Democratic state representatives from Michigan, according to The Star.
“When you have the Chinese government wanting to dump cheap Chinese parts and cheap vehicles here, it costs Canadian and American jobs,” said Ford. “This is nothing against the folks in the canola business or soybean — we have a thriving soybean business here, too — so it’s not about them. I fully understand why Premier Moe is concerned, but he’s protecting Saskatchewan.”
Could Local Production Change the Narrative?
Interestingly, Ford isn’t inherently opposed to Chinese brands. In fact, he recently expressed his openness for a Chinese brand to come to Canada and to set up a production facility in Ontario.
“If they’re willing to come here and invest in a plant just like GM, Stellantis, Ford, Volkswagen, Honda, Toyota and come here and manufacture, create jobs, and create parts here, well, now we’re on a whole different page,” he said.
Canadian Chinese Tensions
Carney’s diplomatic stop marks the first official visit to China by a Canadian Prime Minister in eight years. Political tensions have simmered between the two countries since 2019, when Canadian authorities detained a Chinese tech executive in Vancouver. In apparent retaliation, two Canadian citizens were arrested and held in China for nearly three years, according to CBC.
Despite those strains, China could become an increasingly important economic partner for Canada in the coming decade. The Canadian government has set a target to double non-U.S. trade by 2035, a goal that would almost certainly require deeper ties with Beijing.
While Canada’s tariffs on Chinese EVs has helped to insulate the local auto market, the reciprocal tariffs from China have hurt farmers. Speaking with CBC, a canola farmer recently revealed the tariffs had cost his farm roughly $450,000.
(The Center Square) - Wisconsin has collected 4.9% more in general purpose revenue taxes and fees through November compared to the year before, according to recently released numbers from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.
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