2026 in science
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The following scientific events occurred, or are scheduled to occur in 2026.
Events
January
- 1 January
- Researchers operating China's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) report the first experimental verification of a theorised density-free plasma operating regime, achieving stable electron densities approximately 1.3–1.65 times the Greenwald limit.[1][2]
- Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology report a photo-Hall (Hall effect)–based method for detecting semiconductor electronic trap states with approximately 1,000-fold greater sensitivity than existing techniques.[3][4]
- 2 January – Researchers at the Vienna University of Technology and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology demonstrate self-sustained superradiant microwave emission, produced by interacting spins in diamond, offering potential applications in quantum communication and sensing.[5][6]
- 5 January – NASA announces that it has awarded contracts to seven companies to study technologies for the Habitable Worlds Observatory, a next-generation telescope that could launch in the 2040s.[7][8]
- 7 January – Astronomers using data from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory report that 2025 MN45 has the fastest spin of any known asteroid larger than 0.5 km (0.31 mi) in diameter, completing one rotation every 1.88 minutes.[9]
- 13 January
- The European Copernicus Climate Change Service reports that 2025 was the world's third hottest year on record (2024 was the hottest and 2023 the second hottest). In Antarctica, the average annual temperature was the warmest since measurements began and in the Arctic, it was the second highest.[10]
- Paleoanthropologists publish a complete analysis of KNM-ER 64061, the most complete known skeleton of Homo habilis, discovered in 2012 in Kenya.[11][12][13]
- 14 January
- Researchers report the discovery of a new quantum state, bridging the gap between quantum criticality and quantum topology via semimetal CeRu4Sn6.[14]
- Researchers led by the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences report the first direct experimental observation of the Migdal effect, a quantum process in which a recoiling atomic nucleus ejects an electron, confirming a prediction made in 1939 and enabling new approaches to searches for light dark matter.[15][16]
- Researchers from the University of Copenhagen publish a Nature paper explaining little red dots as young and relatively small supermassive black holes enshrouded in a dense cocoon of ionized gas.[17][18]
- The Ice Memory Foundation opens its ice core archive at Concordia Station in Antarctica, storing the first samples from glaciers on Grand Combin, Switzerland and Mont Blanc, France.[19][20][21][22] The samples travelled from Trieste for more than 50 days aboard the Italian icebreaker Laura Bassi.[23]
- 19 January
- The first known example of multi-purpose tool use by a cow is reported, with a Brown Swiss named Veronika using both ends of a stick to scratch her own back.[24][25]
- Researchers at the University of California, Davis, develop a machine learning-augmented spectrometer-on-a-chip capable of real-time hyperspectral sensing across the visible and near-infrared range, enabling compact alternatives to conventional laboratory spectrometers.[26][27]
- 23 January – The largest interstellar organosulfur molecule (2,5-cyclohexadiene-1-thione) so far is identified in a molecular cloud about 27,000 light-years from Earth near the Galactic Center.[28][29]
- 24 January – AES Andes abandons the INNA project to produce hydrogen and ammonia in Chile criticised for its potentially negative impact on astronomical observations at Paranal Observatory and Extremely Large Telescope.[30][31][32]
- 27 January – HD 137010 b, a cool Earth-sized transiting exoplanet candidate 146 light years away, orbiting near the outer edge of its star's habitable zone, is discovered in Kepler K2 data from 2017.[33][34]
- 28 January – Researchers at Google DeepMind publish a study on AlphaGenome, a deep learning model that predicts the functional effects of genetic variants across multiple regulatory modalities from long DNA sequences, improving interpretation of non-coding regions of the genome.[35][36]
February
- 12 February
- Using observations by ESA's CHEOPS telescope, scientists describe a unique configuration of a planetary system around the star LHS 1903, where the innermost and outermost planets are rocky, while the two middle planets have extended atmospheres. This provides support for the "inside-out" model of planet formation.[37][38][39][40]
- A small polymerase ribozyme is described which can synthesize both its complementary strand and a copy of itself. This is interpreted as a substantial support for the "RNA world" hypothesis of the origin of life.[41][42]
- Researchers at Iceberg Quantum publish a study describing the "Pinnacle Architecture", a fault-tolerant quantum computing design based on quantum low-density parity-check (qLDPC) codes. They show that a 2048-bit RSA integer could be factored with fewer than 100,000 physical qubits under standard hardware assumptions – an order-of-magnitude reduction compared to previous estimates.[43][44]
- 24 February – Researchers in Switzerland report that centenarians show "youthful" blood profiles across 37 proteins, including markedly lower oxidative stress markers, suggesting that specific aging-related biological pathways are slowed in exceptional longevity.[45]
- 26 February – Researchers in Australia report that serum bicarbonate levels in U.S. population data have risen by 7% since 1999, tracking increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide. Modelling suggests that, if current trends continue, average bicarbonate levels could approach the upper limit of today's accepted healthy range within 50 years.[46][47]
March
- 6 March
- Astronomers report the discovery of GJ 887 d, a super-Earth exoplanet orbiting the nearby red dwarf star GJ 887. Detected using radial velocity measurements, the planet lies within the star's habitable zone. At just 10.7 light-years, this becomes the second-nearest known exoplanet in the habitable zone after Proxima Centauri b.[48]
- The UK's first long‑distance robotic-assisted surgery is reported to have been performed on a patient located 1,500 miles (2,400km) away in Gibraltar.[49]
- 9 March – A study published in Geophysical Research Letters reports with statistical confidence that global warming has accelerated since around 2015, with the rate of increase rising from 0.2 °C to about 0.35 °C per decade after accounting for natural variability. The findings suggest the 1.5 °C threshold could be reached before 2030 if current trends continue.[50]
- 10 March – A study by Vattenfall and Spoor using AI-assisted video monitoring of 2,007 bird flight paths near an offshore turbine at Aberdeen Bay over 19 months reports no confirmed collisions, with observed avoidance behaviour suggesting lower-than-expected impacts of wind turbines on seabirds.[51]
- 11 March
- Two separate studies, published in Environmental Research Letters and Nature Communications, show how net negative emissions will need to be sustained for centuries in order to stabilise global climate change.[52]
- Astronomers report evidence of a likely collision between two planets orbiting the star Gaia20ehk, about 11,000 light years away in the constellation Puppis. Erratic dimming and strong infrared emission are attributed to hot debris produced by the impact passing in front of the star.[53]
- 12 March – An international team reports the first direct measurements of the nanomechanical properties of lithium dendrites, microscopic needle-like structures that can form inside lithium batteries and cause them to short circuit or catch fire. The study finds that dendrites are strengthened by a solid electrolyte interphase layer, making them brittle and capable of penetrating battery separators, providing new insight into battery degradation and safety risks.[54]
- 17 March – Physicists at CERN's LHCb experiment report the discovery of the doubly charmed baryon Ξcc⁺. The particle, containing two charm quarks and one down quark, is detected with high statistical significance and resolves a long-standing discrepancy from earlier experimental results.[55][56]
- 18 March – Charles H. Bennett and Gilles Brassard are awarded the 2025 Turing Award for their work in quantum information science.[57]
- 20 March – Scientists from Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London report the creation of the first lab‑grown oesophagus, and show it can safely replace a full section of the organ and restore normal function, including swallowing, in a growing animal without the need for immunosuppression.[58][59]
- 24 March – Antimatter particles are transported by road for the first time, to assess their stability during transit. An estimated 100 to 1,000 antiprotons are carried in a Penning trap across a distance of five kilometres in Switzerland.[60][61]
- 25 March – Astronomers identify a shortlist of 45 nearby exoplanets as the most promising candidates for habitability, based on their size, composition, and location within their stars' habitable zones. The catalogue is intended to guide future observations by next-generation telescopes in the search for biosignatures and extraterrestrial life.[62]
- 27 March – Researchers led by the University of Oxford report a synthetic biology approach to improving honeybee nutrition, engineering yeast to produce essential sterols missing from modern diets. Colonies fed the supplement produce up to 15 times more developing young.[63]
April
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- 1 April – Artemis program: NASA[64] launches the Artemis II lunar flyby mission from Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. With a crew of four astronauts – Reid Wiseman (Commander) Victor Glover (Pilot), Christina Koch (Mission specialist), and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen (Mission specialist)[65] – it also becomes the first time a person of color, a woman, and a non-United States citizen have left low Earth orbit.[66] It passed around the Moon's far side on April 6.
- 2 April
- Scientists describe a transitional fauna of the late Ediacaran from Yunnan in China, which fills a gap between ancestors of modern phyla and larger multicellular life.[67]
- Astronomers using preliminary data from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory announce the discovery of over 11,000 new asteroids, including hundreds of trans-Neptunian objects and 33 previously unknown near-Earth objects. The detections are confirmed by the Minor Planet Center.[68]
- 6 April – In a landmark achievement for India's nuclear energy programme, the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor successfully attains first criticality (start of controlled fission chain reaction).[69]
- 6 April – The crew of Artemis II breaks the record for the furthest humans have ever been from Earth, reaching a maximum distance of 252,757 miles (406,773 km) as they travel around the far side of the Moon.[70]
- 8 April
- A systematic review and meta-analysis published in PLOS ONE reports that regular physical activity is associated with a 25% lower risk of dementia, while prolonged sedentary behaviour (more than 8 hours of sitting per day) is associated with a 27% higher risk. Sleeping less than 7 hours or more than 8 hours per night is likewise linked to increased dementia risk.[71][72]
- Blue Origin reports that its "Air Pioneer" reactor has extracted oxygen from melted lunar regolith simulant, yielding medical- and propellant-grade oxygen via purification of gases released during electrolysis. The system is being developed as part of the company's in situ resource utilization efforts for sustainable lunar exploration.[73][74]
- 9 April – The first non-mammalian synapsid fossil embryo belonging to Lystrosaurus is described, confirming the hypothesis that mammal ancestors laid eggs.[75]
- 13 April – A study published in the Journal of Competition Law & Economics finds that AI-driven personalised pricing could allow firms to charge different prices to individual consumers based on predicted willingness to pay, raising concerns about transparency, fairness, and potential abuse of dominant market positions under EU and UK competition law.[76][77]
- 15 April – A study published in Science Advances finds that the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) is likely to weaken by 42–58% by 2100, significantly more than many previous estimates, with the most realistic climate models indicating a high probability of eventual collapse. The research reduces uncertainty by combining observational data with model projections, suggesting that stronger slowdown scenarios are more consistent with real-world conditions. Scientists warn that such a decline could have major impacts on global climate systems, including shifts in rainfall patterns, rising sea levels in the Atlantic, and extreme weather changes in Europe and other regions.[78][79]
- 16 April – A study in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets presents “PlanetWaves”, a model developed by researchers at MIT to predict wave formation under different planetary conditions. The results suggest that wave behaviour varies widely depending on gravity, atmosphere, and liquid composition, with gentle winds potentially generating large waves on Titan but only small ripples on denser or higher-gravity worlds.[80][81]
- 17 April – A study in the Journal of Nutrition finds that egg consumption is associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's Disease for those aged 65 and older. Eating one egg per day for at least five days a week reduces risk of Alzheimer's by up to 27%, researchers found.[82][83]
- 21 April – The discovery of seven previously undetected organic molecules (trimethylbenzene, tetramethylbenzene, methyl benzoate, dihydronaphthalene, naphthalene, benzothiophene and methylnaphthalene) on Mars by the Curiosity rover is announced.[84]
- 28 April – Astronomers using data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite report 11,554 exoplanet candidates, including 10,091 new candidates, from a machine-learning-assisted search of 83.7 million stellar light curves. One candidate, TIC 183374187 b, is confirmed as a hot Jupiter.[85]
May
- 3 May – Astronomers from the University of Warwick report 118 new confirmed exoplanets, with a further 2,000 "high-quality" candidates, detected using machine learning applied to data from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).[86]
- 4 May
- The discovery of a thin atmosphere on the trans-Neptunian object (612533) 2002 XV93 is announced.[87]
- A study published in Communications Sustainability finds that utility-scale solar power and wind power generally provide greater climate and public health benefits per dollar than direct air capture (DAC), based on modelling across 22 U.S. grid regions through 2050. The authors conclude that DAC becomes competitive mainly under a breakthrough scenario in which energy use falls from 5,500 to 800 kWh and cost from US$1,000 to US$100 per tonne of CO2 captured.[88][89]
- A meta-analysis of over 20,000 participants concludes that drugs targeting amyloid beta peptides do not meaningfully slow progression of Alzheimer's disease.[90]
- 8 May – A study published in Aging Cell reports that the exceptional-longevity-associated APOE ε2 allele is associated with enhanced DNA-damage response and repair pathways in human neurons. Using stem-cell-derived GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons, as well as human APOE knock-in mice, researchers find that APOE2 neurons show lower DNA damage and greater resistance to genotoxic-stress-induced cellular senescence than APOE4 neurons, suggesting a possible mechanism for APOE2's association with reduced Alzheimer's disease risk.[91][92]
- 11 May – A preprint reports the discovery of Ross 318 b, a candidate temperate super-Earth orbiting within the habitable zone of the nearby red dwarf Ross 318. Detected using radial velocity measurements from CARMENES and HIRES, the planet has a 39.6-day orbit, a minimum mass of 6.21 Earth masses, and shows no detectable transit in TESS photometry.[93]
- 12 May – A study published in Frontiers in Earth Science reports isotopic evidence from helium and carbon in hydrothermal fluids from Zambia's Kafue Rift, suggesting early-stage rifting in the proposed Southwestern Rift of Africa. The findings indicate mantle-derived fluids reaching the surface and may support the existence of an emerging plate boundary capable of future continental separation.[94][95]
