Friday, January 31, 2025

Week in Science: How DeepSeek stunned the AI industry

January 31—This week, a new rating system for ultraprocessed foods, DeepSeek rattles the AI marketplace, and a pristine ancient forest discovered in the Rocky Mountains. All that and more below!

--Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor

Top Stories
Trump Abruptly Cancels Crucial Science Reviews at NIH, World's Largest Public Funder of Biomedical Research

President Trump has placed an indefinite suspension on research grant reviews and travel at the National Institutes of Health and appears to have erased diversity programming pages at the agency's website

Saturn's Rings Are Disappearing—But They'll Be Back

This year, from Earth's perspective, Saturn's rings will appear nearly edge on, making them almost invisible

Can Trump Just Order New Names for Denali and the Gulf of Mexico?

A geographer explains how maps' place names, such as the Gulf of Mexico and Denali, are decided

Which Foods Are the Most Ultraprocessed? New System Ranks Them

Scientists have created a ranking of grocery store items based on their degree of processing

Why DeepSeek's AI Model Just Became the Top-Rated App in the U.S.

A Chinese start-up has stunned the technology industry—and financial markets—with a cheaper, lower-tech AI assistant that matches the state of the art

Moderate Drinking Carries Health Risks—Here's How to Imbibe More Safely

Consuming alcohol, even in moderate amounts, is associated with health harms, but participating in "Dry January" and using other strategies can help limit them

If you want to read all these stories and more, consider a subscription to Scientific American. You'll never miss a discovery!
Uber Drivers Helped Evacuate L.A.—But Were Left Unprotected

Drivers for ride-hailing apps helped evacuate people during the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area. But by classifying such workers as contractors, California's Proposition 22 excludes them from state rules that require companies to protect employees from workplace exposure to smoke

Pristine Ancient Forest Found Frozen in Time in Rocky Mountains

A melting ice patch in the Rocky Mountains uncovered an ancient forest, and these trees have stories to tell about dynamic landscapes and climate change

What's in ZYN, the FDA-Authorized Nicotine Pouch? Is It Harmful?

ZYN, the popular brand of flavored nicotine pouches, recently earned FDA authorization for reducing smoking, but some questions linger. Experts explain the efficacy and potential health risks of nicotine pouches

AI Is Too Unpredictable to Behave According to Human Goals

AI "alignment" is a buzzword, not a feasible safety goal

Expressive Faces Make People More Likable

Facial expressions do far more than just broadcast emotions

Celebrate Lunar New Year with 7 Snake Facts

In honor of the Year of the Snake, let's appreciate the strange anatomy and evolution of these slithery reptiles

Scientist Pankaj

Today in Science: Newfound asteroid may hit Earth in 2032

...