Week in Science: Did we just find dark matter?

Plus, 1.5 degrees of warming "unavoidable"                    

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September 4—This week, a tantalizing discovery that may bring scientists closer than ever to finding dark matter. Also, GLP-1 medication slows aging in mice, and the world is on track to reach 1.5 degree Celsius of warming within the next few years. A lot happened in the world of science this week! Take our Friday quiz to test your knowledge. —Emma Gometz, Newsletter Editor Have thoughts or feedback on our coverage? Email newsletters@sciam.com anytime.

Top Stories

Why your ability to cope with stress changes with time Seasonal changes have more effects on your biology and behavior than you might realize Masha Remskar, The Conversation US

Have we finally found dark matter? The world’s biggest dark matter search saw a particle it cannot explain Joseph Howlett

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Could GLP-1 weight-loss drugs help you live longer? Giving old mice semaglutide—commonly sold as Wegovy or Ozempic—extends their lifespan remarkably, a new study finds Jacek Krywko

‘Unparalleled’ study finds psilocybin protects against nerve damage from chemotherapy The findings, which were made in mice, may offer a new way to prevent a common chemotherapy side effect that can last well beyond treatment Jackie Flynn Mogensen

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Top medical leaders urge Americans to get their flu and COVID shots in lieu of CDC vaccine campaign The Trump administration has so far been silent on flu, COVID and RSV vaccine guidance for the coming season, even as these diseases kill thousands of people every year Adam Kovac

Why the Grand Canyon flash flood was so devastating Experts explain why a monsoon storm turned so deadly Stephanie Pappas

This quirky spot in space is where NASA’s Roman Telescope will call home The Nancy Grace Roman Telescope is headed toward a Lagrange point, a critical position in outer space where gravitational forces behave in specific ways Mary Randolph

The murky science behind human growth hormone peptides Sermorelin, tesamorelin and other growth hormone peptides are being touted as antiaging elixirs, but what evidence is behind those claims? Lori Youmshajekian

NASA’s Roman Telescope lifts off, starting a mission to explore the universe’s biggest mysteries The Nancy Grace Roman Telescope will probe dark matter and dark energy, discover exoplanets and study stars Claire Cameron

Why this Canadian island appeared to disappear A floating island in a Canadian reservoir moved more than 30 kilometers across the water—here’s why Mary Randolph

U.N. admits exceeding the 1.5-degree-Celsius global warming target is ‘unavoidable’ The world is set to blow past the Paris Agreement’s longtime threshold “within the next few years,” according to a new report Jackie Flynn Mogensen

The brain, solved The human brain has upward of 86 billion neurons, connected by some 100 trillion synapses Andrea Gawrylewski

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