Science Daily

• NASA warns this year's Monster El Niño could be even bigger than legendary 1997 event

  NASA scientists warn that the rapidly intensifying 2026 El Niño could surpass the historic 1997-98 event, which triggered devastating weather extremes around the world. Satellite data reveal striking similarities between the two, raising the possibility of major rainfall and flooding this winter, although the exact impacts remain uncertain.

• Dinosaurs may have been eating seaweed 100 million years ago

  Dinosaurs may have been snacking on seaweed and other ocean foods more than 100 million years ago, according to surprising new evidence hidden in their fossilized teeth. Researchers discovered chemical signatures suggesting that coastal dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals relied partly on nutrients originating in the sea. The findings reveal that marine resources traveled through ancient food chains, supplementing the diets of everything from plant-eating dinosaurs to predators.

• Scientists discover a bizarre paradox among endangered penguins

  A groundbreaking drone survey has revealed a startling split in the fate of New Zealand's endangered Erect-crested penguins. While one population has remained stable for decades, another has declined by more than 40%, apparently due to a combination of predators, worsening storms, and changing ocean conditions. Even more surprisingly, the tiny Bounty Islands support nearly as many breeding pairs as the Antipodes Islands, despite being 40 times smaller.

• Scientists discover a surprisingly simple way to turn coffee waste into fuel

  Scientists have developed an efficient method to transform used coffee grounds into a potential source of biodiesel while preserving the leftover material for other renewable fuels and valuable chemicals. The discovery could turn millions of tons of discarded coffee waste into a surprisingly useful resource for sustainable energy.

• 5,000-year-old skulls reveal a disturbing secret of ancient Egypt's first kings

  A 5,000-year-old mystery surrounding the tombs of Egypt’s first kings has taken a disturbing turn. Scientists reexamining 46 ancient skulls discovered evidence of potentially fatal head injuries in 18, suggesting that at least 39% of those studied may have been deliberately killed. The findings support a century-old theory that royal attendants were sacrificed when kings died, possibly to serve them in the afterlife.