Science News - News of Austin

Lone figure standing at frozen lake edge with snow‑covered trees and a sunlit wooden solstice statue

Solstice and Equinox Explained: Why Today Is the Shortest Day North of the Equator

Morgan J. Carter December 24, 2025

The darkest day of the year has arrived, but that signals a brighter future ahead. Solstice: The Shortest Day North of the Equator Sunday marks...

Whooping crane standing at lake edge with misty dawn light and wildflowers

Local News Science News

Texas Expands Whooping Crane Sanctuary to 3,300 Acres, Protecting 550+ Migratory Birds

Morgan J. Carter December 24, 2025

More than 550 whooping cranes now flock to Texas each winter, thanks to a new 3,300‑acre sanctuary that will protect their critical winter...

Atmospheric river stretches across sky above Pacific with rugged coastline and lightning below.

Science News Weather News

Atmospheric Rivers: The Wet Powerhouses Shaping California’s Water and Weather

Isaac Y. Thornwell December 23, 2025

When a colossal plume of moisture crosses the Pacific, it can turn a calm afternoon into a torrent, a quiet valley into a flood zone, and a snowpack...

Local News Science News World News

Lake Naivasha’s Rising Waters Flood Homes, Displace Thousands and Threaten Kenya’s Flower Industry

Isaac Y. Thornwell December 23, 2025

In a dramatic turn of events, a Kenyan family woke up to find their home and farm submerged beneath Lake Naivasha’s rising waters. The Ngome family,...

Mud erupts from Black Diamond Pool with golden splash at dawn mist and trees swaying nearby

Local News Science News

USGS Captures Muddy Eruption at Yellowstone’s Black Diamond Pool in Clear Video

Gavin U. Stonebridge December 23, 2025

A sudden burst of mud erupted from Yellowstone’s Black Diamond Pool on Saturday morning, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) captured the event in...

Diver reflected in metal spider with oxygen tank and coral seedlings.

Environmental News Local News Science News

Coral Babies Give Hope as Dominican Reefs Face Climate-Driven Decline

Brianna Q. Lockwood December 23, 2025

In Bayahibe, the Dominican Republic, a diver strapped to an oxygen tank watches tiny coral seedlings grow on metal structures that resemble giant...

Aerial view of dinosaur trackway at dawn with sunlit footprints and Alps in background and a backpack.

Local News Science News

Ancient Dinosaur Footprints Unearthed 210 Million Years Above Milan’s Olympic Venue

Fiona Z. Merriweather December 23, 2025

In a surprising turn of events, a wildlife photographer stumbled upon one of the world’s oldest and largest dinosaur trackways in Italy’s Stelvio...

Astronaut gazing at comet tail with shimmering tail across dark blue sky and crescent moon.

Astronomy Science News

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Approaches Earth on Dec 19: What We Know

Aiden V. Crossfield December 23, 2025

In just a few days, an interstellar visitor will glide past Earth, offering a rare chance to observe a comet that has traveled from beyond our solar...

Teacher Ayaka Ono holds up a kanji character with a smile in a language class with older adults and cherry blossoms

Feature Story Science News World News

Learning Japanese at 60: One Journalist’s Humble Battle and the Science Behind Late-Life Language Study

Fiona Z. Merriweather December 23, 2025

After seven years of weekly classes, I still can’t grasp Japanese. My teacher, Ayaka Ono, has taught about 600 students over 15 years, most between...

Bouquet of poinsettias and Christmas cacti rests on rustic wooden table with warm golden backdrop and soft diffused lighting

Feature Story Science News

How Light Timing Controls Plant Blooms: A Guide to Photoperiod for Poinsettias and Christmas Cactus

Morgan J. Carter December 23, 2025

Did you know that the secret behind the dazzling red of a poinsettia or the soft blooms of a Christmas cactus isn’t just sunlight—it's the length of...