Science

• Astronomers from Ukraine’s Main Observatory claim to have discovered evidence of a technologically advanced nonhuman civilization on the lunar surface. • Using high-speed cameras and telescopes, the team recorded more than 20 giant objects exhibiting non-random, intelligent behavior. • The researchers suggest these objects could reach Earth within 20 minutes, potentially manifesting as Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs).

• Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a giant planet previously hidden by a bright disk of cosmic dust within a well-studied planetary system. • In a separate breakthrough reported on July 23, 2026, researchers identified the first atmosphere surrounding a rocky world located within its star's habitable zone. • These findings are significant as they demonstrate the ability of advanced instrumentation to detect concealed celestial bodies and potential signs of habitability on rocky planets.

• The White House released a strategic vision titled "Science: A New Golden Age," which proposes a radical restructuring of U.S. scientific research and funding. • The plan shifts priority toward "grand challenges" and physical sciences, specifically highlighting nuclear power as a core energy theme. • According to the journal *Science*, the proposal may reduce funding for top universities and replace traditional peer review and investigator-led research with large-scale team awards.

• OpenAI reported that its internal model, Astra, successfully produced 10 new mathematical and science theorems. • The process cost approximately $2,000 in API tokens, providing a rare glimpse into the financial cost of high-level AI reasoning. • This development is significant as it reframes frontier AI research as a budgetable expense, though the results still require verification by human mathematicians.

• NASA has updated the ROSES-25 A.1 Earth Science Research Overview to require that all proposals requesting high-end computing, networking, and storage resources explicitly include associated costs. • This requirement ensures that the critical infrastructure needed for processing complex Earth science data is properly budgeted and accounted for during the proposal phase. • The update highlights the essential role of high-performance computing in enabling advanced research and data analysis for NASA's scientific missions.

• In 2026, NASA successfully flew astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over fifty years, marking a major milestone in human space exploration. • Simultaneously, the White House proposed some of the deepest budget cuts in the agency's history, specifically targeting science and climate research programs. • The proposed cuts would disproportionately impact robotic probes and telescopes, which are the most cost-effective tools for NASA's scientific discoveries.

• A new critique of the White House's strategic plan for U.S. science argues that the current approach is too narrow to achieve a "new golden age for science." • The analysis suggests that the government is over-prioritizing technology and engineering while neglecting critical funding for the humanities, public health, and social sciences. • This gap matters because a holistic scientific ecosystem requires interdisciplinary support and "open borders" to attract and retain global talent.