Microplastics are now found across oceans, soils, food chains, and even human biological samples. Yet scientists still face a major challenge: these tiny particles are difficult to detect, track, and link to health risks using traditional laboratory methods alone. A new perspective article argues that artificial intelligence could help change that.

A planet that is about the size of Saturn, but with a temperature more like Earth’s, has an atmosphere rich in methane, according to a new study using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Researchers have uncovered a remarkable fossil site in a remote part of Canada’s Northwest Territories, offering unprecedented insight into the earliest evolution of complex animal life on Earth. Findings from the site represent life from the Ediacaran biota—soft-bodied organisms that lived on the seafloor more than 500 million years ago—and push back the origins of animal movement and sexual reproduction by 5-10 million years.

ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, today recognized individuals with awards for their exemplary service to the computing field. Spanning diverse disciplines, the 2025 award recipients were selected by their peers for energizing a thriving community that makes a real impact on both their colleagues and the wider world. This year’s awardees drove advancements in learning tools for computer science education, technology policy, and broadening participation in computing—among other areas.