Judge OKs sale of 23andMe — and its trove of DNA data — to a nonprofit led by its founder

REI is rolling out some hard-to-find discounts on top-rated backpacks and camping gear just in time for the 4th of July. Brands like Osprey, Patagonia, and CamelBak are included, so if you’ve been waiting to upgrade your outdoor kit, now’s the time.

Editor’s Note: Summer’s in full swing, and whether you’re planning a weekend hike or a longer adventure, good gear makes all the difference. These deals are a solid chance to snag quality stuff without the usual sticker shock—just don’t wait too long, because the best items tend to go fast.

Researchers have stumbled upon something unexpected inside human cells—a tiny structure they’ve nicknamed the "hemifusome" because, under a microscope, it resembles a snowman wrapped in a scarf. This newly spotted organelle might act like a cellular recycling hub, helping manage waste or resources. It’s a quirky find that could reshape how we understand cell biology.

Editor’s Note: Discovering a new part of human cells isn’t an everyday event—it’s like finding a hidden room in a house you’ve lived in for years. If the hemifusome really does play a role in cellular recycling, it could unlock clues about diseases linked to faulty waste management in cells (think Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s). Plus, who doesn’t love a science story with a whimsical twist? Snowmen belong in labs now, apparently.

A new study reveals that saltier, warmer ocean water near Antarctica is mixing at the surface and speeding up sea ice melt. Researchers point to this briny layer as a key factor in the rapid ice loss observed in recent years, like the massive iceberg that broke off from the Larsen C ice shelf in 2017.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about melting ice—it’s a feedback loop. Warmer, saltier water means less ice forms, which in turn exposes more ocean to absorb heat, accelerating the cycle. For a planet that relies on polar ice to regulate temperatures and sea levels, that’s bad news. The Antarctic Peninsula is already one of the fastest-warming places on Earth, and this study adds another piece to the puzzle of why ice is disappearing faster than expected.

Astronomers have stumbled upon a cosmic relic—a galaxy that’s essentially been stuck in time for billions of years. Dubbed a "fossil galaxy," this ancient celestial body is like a dinosaur preserved in the universe’s history books. It’s a rare snapshot of the early cosmos, offering scientists a chance to study how galaxies evolved (or didn’t) over eons.

Editor’s Note: Think of this as finding a perfectly preserved T-Rex skeleton, but for space nerds. This galaxy isn’t just a cool oddity—it’s a time capsule that could help unravel how the universe grew up. For astronomers, it’s like getting a backstage pass to the early universe, and for the rest of us, it’s a reminder that the cosmos still has plenty of mysteries left to uncover.

Astronomers are keeping an eye on Asteroid 2024 YR4, which has a small but real shot—about 4 percent—of slamming into the moon. While that might sound alarming, space rocks hit the moon all the time (it’s covered in craters, after all). But this one’s getting extra attention because we’ve spotted it ahead of time, giving scientists a chance to study its path and what might happen if it connects.

Editor’s Note: Most asteroid flybys are total non-events, but even a slim chance of a lunar strike is cool because it lets astronomers test how well we can predict cosmic near-misses. Plus, if it does hit, it’ll be a harmless light show (no atmosphere means no fiery explosion) and a reminder that space is anything but empty.