Three Columbia University Researchers Named 2026 AAAS Fellows

• Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren opened a congressional hearing emphasizing deep-sea exploration's role in US national security, resource management, economic health, and cultural identity. • Advances in deep ocean knowledge support critical national interests amid growing global competition. • Hearing addresses regulatory and scientific challenges in ocean research funding and policy.

• Stanford University researchers led by Claire Bedbrook and Ravi Nath published findings in Science on March 12, 2026, showing that midlife behaviors like movement and sleep in killifish predict lifespan. • The study, from Anne Brunet and Karl Deisseroth's labs, revealed animals maintain stable behaviors for long periods before rapid transitions into new stages. • This behavioral perspective on aging stages emerged from continuous monitoring, offering insights into predicting longevity without genetic analysis.

• Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and Connecticut Science Center announced an Innovation Lab on March 26, 2026, to boost STEM education for students and families statewide. • Ribbon-cutting set for March 27, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. ET during STEM Career Showcase for over 500 middle and high school students. • Keynote by Connecticut Chief Workforce Officer Kelli-Marie Vallieres, Ph.D., with remarks from Carine Boustany, Ph.D., Boehringer's SVP of US research.

• Asteroid 2026 FA3, approximately 53 feet wide or house-sized, will safely pass Earth on March 27, 2026, at 1.78 million miles away—seven times lunar distance. • NASA’s planetary defense systems monitor the near-Earth object (NEO) using telescopes and radar for precise orbit, trajectory, and speed calculations. • Followed by two more safe flybys the next day; increased detections due to advanced global tracking highlight vigilant space situational awareness.

• The American Meteor Society documented a significant increase in large fireball sightings during the first quarter of 2026, with elevated witness counts, sonic booms, and long-duration events compared to data since 2011. • Findings released March 24, 2026, confirm no impact threats, as objects remain in normal size ranges, though two March meteorite falls were rare types warranting further study. • This unusual enhancement in fireball population highlights potential atmospheric or orbital changes needing investigation by researchers.

• Rising sea levels are creating 'ghost forests' of dead trees along the eastern US coast, where saltwater intrusion drowns vibrant ecosystems, as presented at ACS Spring 2026 meeting in Atlanta on March 26. • Undergraduate Samantha Chittakone's team studies water cycling through these dying stands to predict coastal forest responses to climate change. • Findings could inform preservation strategies amid accelerating sea level rise threatening US shorelines.

• Congress rejected Trump administration's $18 billion NIH budget cut proposal, providing stability for 2026 grantees at institutions like University of Wisconsin-Madison. • Delays in grant reviews and dispersal have stalled projects, hiring, and caused anxiety, with NIH months behind schedule as of March 26, 2026. • Vice Chancellor Dorota Brzezinska noted core funding protection but ongoing uncertainty impacts lab operations and future awards before September 30 deadline.

• Yuma, Arizona, hit a March record of 109°F on March 25, 2026, 28 degrees above normal, while sites near Yuma, Martinez Lake, Ogilby, and Winterhaven reached 112°F, tying the US high. • Sweltering conditions extended across several Southwest states and into Mexico, with Hermosillo setting a new March record at 108°F. • This extreme early heat signals intensifying climate patterns, challenging weather records and infrastructure in arid regions.

• Rice University's Baker Institute released a commentary by Rachel A. Meidl examining scientific evidence linking microplastics exposure to fertility issues amid sensational headlines. • The review highlights current peer-reviewed studies on human microplastics exposure levels, absorption mechanisms, and potential reproductive health effects in the US population. • Findings underscore gaps in long-term data, urging cautious interpretation of preliminary animal studies while calling for more rigorous human trials to assess real-world risks.

• Tulane University in New Orleans will host the inaugural US Chagas Disease Meeting on March 26-27, 2026, marking the first such conference on American soil. • The event convenes experts to discuss diagnosis, screening, research, and patient care for Chagas disease, now argued by some to be endemic in the US with approximately 300,000 infected Americans per CDC estimates. • Occurring at a pivotal moment, the meeting aims to boost awareness, improve public health responses, and advance peer-reviewed findings on this neglected parasitic disease.

• President Donald Trump named prominent tech figures like Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, Nvidia chief Jensen Huang, AMD CEO Lisa Su, and investor Marc Andreessen to his President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) on March 25, 2026. • The council, co-chaired by AI/crypto advisor David Sacks and science/technology assistant Michael Kratsios, typically has 24 members but currently lists 13, including two women: Safra Catz and Lisa Su. • PCAST, established since 1990 and originating under FDR, provides advisory reports on topics like quantum computing, pandemics, and energy without regulatory power; the current iteration ends in ten months unless extended.