Week in Science: Chaos mathematician wins major prize

The biggest science stories this week                    

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April 24—About two weeks ago, Anthropic announced its latest AI model, Mythos. But they refused to release it to the public, citing its hacking abilities and a fallout that could be "severe." We talked to cybersecurity experts about what to expect. Other top stories this week include a conversation with award-winning mathematician Frank Merle, a possible delay to NASA's 2028 moon plans, what happens when salmon try cocaine and much more! —Emma Gometz, Newsletter Editor Have thoughts? Email newsletters@sciam.com anytime.

Top Stories

What is Mythos, Anthropic’s unreleased AI model, and how worried should we be? The company says Mythos is too dangerous to release publicly. Cybersecurity experts agree the model's capabilities matter, but not all of them are buying the most alarming claims Chris Stokel-Walker

Master of chaos wins $3-million math prize for ‘blowing up’ equations For decades, mathematician Frank Merle has been embracing the messy math behind lasers and fluids Joseph Howlett

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NASA’s 2028 moonshot may be delayed because of lack of space suits, watchdog report warns NASA needs new space suits to land astronauts on the moon by 2028, but development is behind and in danger of slipping further, according to a report from the agency’s Office of Inspector General Claire Cameron

FBI investigating possible links between deaths and disappearances of at least 10 scientists This announcement from the FBI came after President Donald Trump highlighted the recent deaths of several scientists and government workers who may have had access to sensitive information Claire Cameron

Songbirds reveal the dark side of making new brain cells as adults A new study in songbirds might help explain why humans don’t generate many new brain cells, called neurons, as adults K. R. Callaway

Here’s what happens when you give salmon cocaine It turns out that salmon exposed to cocaine through water pollution do a lot of swimming—which may not be a good thing Gennaro Tomma

What if time were reversed? Physicists show how time could flow backward on a quantum scale Researchers have developed a way to flip time to move backward in a quantum system. This level of control could lead to bizarre real-world applications Stephanie Pappas

What’s this fast-moving wave of darkness creeping across Mars? Observations by the Mars Express orbiter reveal rapid changes on the Red Planet’s surface from windblown volcanic ash Joseph Howlett

How did humans evolve language? It may be far more ancient than scientists realized A new study links genetic regions that predate the divergence of modern humans and Neanderthals to language Jackie Flynn Mogensen

Mysterious golden orb discovered two miles below the ocean surface isn’t an alien—it’s an anemone This enigmatic orb has undergone extensive examination and DNA testing, enabling scientists to reveal its true origins Adam Kovac

Why firstborns may be more likely than secondborns to be autistic or to have allergies A comprehensive study found differences in numerous health conditions in firstborn children versus those born second Sara Novak

Peptides promise longevity and healing. Does the science back them up? The world of peptides has exploded in wellness circles, but the benefits of injecting these gray-market molecules rest on little clinical evidence Bethany Brookshire

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