Global Science Highlights (5–6 September 2025): Breakthroughs, Records, and New Frontiers

Key Facts Summary

WHO ends mpox global emergency: The World Health Organization declared that the mpox outbreak no longer constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to sustained declines in cases in Africa ^[1] ^[2]. WHO’s chief cautioned that “lifting the emergency… does not mean the threat is over”, urging continued vigilance ^[3].
Essential Medicines list expanded: WHO released updated Essential Medicines Lists on 5 September, adding 20 new treatments – including cutting-edge cancer immunotherapies (e.g. pembrolizumab) and new diabetes drugs – to improve global health equity ^[4] ^[5]. “The new editions… mark a significant step toward expanding access to new medicines with high potential for public health impact,” said Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General ^[6].
Walking linked to less back pain: A study in JAMA Network Open found that adults who walked >100 minutes daily had a 23% lower risk of chronic low back pain compared to more sedentary peers ^[7]. “It probably comes as no surprise that physical activity is good for your back, but until now we have not actually known” how low-intensity walking helps, noted lead author Rayane Haddadj (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) ^[8]. The findings highlight that simply walking more each day may be a powerful preventive strategy ^[9].
NASA readies trio of Sun missions: NASA announced an upcoming Sept. 23 launch of three new spacecraft – the IMAP probe, Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, and NOAA’s SWFO-L1 – all hitching a ride on a SpaceX Falcon 9 to the Sun–Earth L1 point ^[10]. These missions will map the heliosphere’s boundary and provide 24/7 space-weather monitoring. “IMAP will revolutionize our understanding of the outer heliosphere,” said Dr. David McComas of Princeton, noting it will yield 30× more sensitive measurements of how the solar wind interacts with interstellar space ^[11].
Interstellar comet shows off tail: Astronomers using the Gemini South telescope captured new images of comet 3I/ATLAS, only the third known visitor from another star. The September 4 report shows a dramatically broadened coma and a growing tail as it nears the Sun ^[12]. “As 3I/ATLAS speeds back into the depths of interstellar space, these images are both a scientific milestone and a source of wonder,” said Dr. Karen Meech (University of Hawai‘i), noting even a fleeting visitor can reveal the diversity of other solar systems ^[13].
Summer 2025 heat shatters records: Data released in early September confirm that Summer 2025 was the hottest on record in several regions. In the UK, the June–August mean temperature hit 16.1°C, the highest since records began in 1884 ^[14]. The Met Office attributed the extreme heat to climate change, noting such a summer is “much more likely because of the greenhouse gases” added since the Industrial Revolution ^[15]. Similarly, Japan and South Korea logged their hottest summers in history, and China’s national average temperature (22.3°C) was its highest ever ^[16] ^[17] – underscoring scientists’ warnings that global warming is driving more frequent extreme heat ^[18].
200-year ice mystery solved: Physicists in Germany overturned a 19th-century theory about why ice is slippery. Experiments and simulations show that it’s not just pressure or friction causing a thin layer of melt, but molecular dipole interactions between the ice and another surface that disrupt the ice’s crystal structure ^[19] ^[20]. “Neither pressure nor friction plays a significant part… Instead, the orientation of dipoles in the shoe sole interacting with those in the ice” creates a disordered, almost liquid layer, explained Professor Martin Müser of Saarland University ^[21] ^[22]. The team even found this ultra-thin film can form at –40°C and below, revising textbook physics of ice and skating ^[23].
“Plastic-eating” material captures CO₂: Chemists at University of Copenhagen unveiled BAETA, a novel material upcycled from PET plastic waste that can sponge CO₂ from air with remarkable efficiency ^[24] ^[25]. “The beauty of this method is that we solve a problem without creating a new one,” said lead author Margarita Poderyte – turning trash into a carbon-capture treasure ^[26]. BAETA can be made cheaply from discarded bottles/textiles and then used to strip CO₂ from factory exhaust; it remains effective over long use and across a wide temperature range ^[27]. The team is now working to scale up production of this win–win climate technology ^[28].
Transparent solar windows debut: Chinese engineers have developed a clear solar concentrator coating that can turn ordinary windows into power generators without tinting or obscuring the view ^[29] ^[30]. The film uses cholesteric liquid crystals to funnel polarized light to photovoltaic cells at the window’s edge. A lab prototype already powered a small fan, and models show a standard 2 m window could boost solar intensity ~50× on its edges ^[31] ^[32]. “The CUSC design is a step forward in integrating solar tech into the built environment without sacrificing aesthetics,” said Prof. Wei Hu of Nanjing University ^[33]. This innovation could enable skyscrapers and homes to generate clean energy unobtrusively.
Ancient storm fossilized pterosaurs: Paleontologists announced the discovery of two hatchling pterosaurs from 150 million years ago, nicknamed “Lucky” and “Lucky II,” preserved in fine sediment in Germany. Tellingly, both had broken wing bones – evidence they were killed by a violent storm, then quickly buried, which unusually preserved their fragile skeletons ^[34]. The find, reported on 5 September by a University of Leicester-led team, provides rare insight into the hazards of prehistoric life and the development of juvenile pterosaurs.

Health & Medicine

WHO Lifts Global Emergency Status for Mpox (Sept 5, Geneva): The World Health Organization declared that the multi-country mpox outbreak is no longer a global emergency, just over a year after it was designated as one. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the decision on 5 September, citing a sustained drop in cases and deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other affected African nations ^[35]. “This decision is based on sustained declines in cases and deaths… in the DRC and other affected countries,” Tedros noted, while emphasizing continued caution ^[36]. He warned that “lifting the emergency declaration does not mean the threat is over, nor that our response will stop”, urging countries to maintain surveillance and vaccination efforts ^[37]. The move ends the Public Health Emergency of International Concern for mpox, reflecting an improved situation, though experts (like Nigerian virologist Dr. Dimie Ogoina, who chaired WHO’s mpox advisory committee) stress that mpox remains a regional public health concern that requires ongoing vigilance ^[38].

WHO Updates Essential Medicines List: In related news from Geneva on 5 September, WHO released the 2025 revisions of its Essential Medicines List (EML) for adults and children – a key guide for national health systems. The latest list adds 20 new adult medicines (and 15 pediatric medicines) to address high-priority diseases ^[39] ^[40]. Notably, several new cancer therapies were included, such as PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy drugs for advanced cancers (e.g. pembrolizumab for metastatic cervical, colorectal and lung cancers) ^[41], as well as newer treatments for conditions like diabetes (including combination therapies for diabetes with obesity) and cystic fibrosis ^[42]. “The new editions of essential medicines lists mark a significant step toward expanding access to new medicines with proven clinical benefits and high potential for global public health impact,” said Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Access ^[43]. The EML, first launched in 1977, serves as a global benchmark; these additions aim to narrow the gap in availability of life-saving treatments, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Health experts have praised the inclusion of innovative cancer immunotherapies – which can extend survival by 4–6 months or more in advanced cancers – as a move toward greater equity in cancer care ^[44] ^[45].

Daily Walking Reduces Chronic Back Pain Risk: A new study published 5 September in JAMA Network Open offers hope for preventing one of the world’s leading causes of disability: chronic low back pain. Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology analyzed data from over 11,000 adults and found a clear trend – those who walked more each day were far less likely to develop long-term back pain ^[46]. Participants who averaged more than 100 minutes of walking per day had a 23% lower risk of chronic low back pain over the study period, compared to those walking 78 minutes or less ^[47]. Interestingly, walking volume mattered more than intensity: longer daily distance was linked to better back outcomes, regardless of walking speed ^[48] ^[49]. “It probably comes as no surprise that physical activity is good for your back, but until now we have not actually known whether the amount of low-intensity walking we do also helps,” explained Rayane Haddadj, the study’s lead author and a PhD candidate in exercise science ^[50]. The data suggest it does help – significantly. Co-author Prof. Paul Mork added that the findings “highlight the importance of finding time to be physically active — to prevent both chronic back problems and a number of other diseases”, noting that widespread adoption of daily walks could yield major health and economic benefits for society ^[51]. Given that back pain is a leading cause of healthcare spending and disability globally ^[52], this research supports simple walking programs as a cost-effective preventive strategy.

Space & Astronomy

NASA Prepares New Sun-Monitoring Missions: In an effort to better understand and forecast the Sun’s influence on Earth, NASA is gearing up to launch three complementary heliophysics missions later this month. The agency announced that on 23 September 2025 (NET), a SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch a trio of spacecraft – IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe), the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, and NOAA’s SWFO-L1 (Space Weather Follow-On) – to the Sun–Earth L1 point, about 1.5 million km from Earth ^[53]. Once in position, each will tackle a different piece of the solar puzzle. IMAP will act as a “cosmic cartographer,” mapping the boundary of our heliosphere (the Sun’s protective bubble) and sampling solar wind particles to see how our solar system interacts with interstellar space ^[54] ^[55]. “IMAP will revolutionize our understanding of the outer heliosphere,” said Dr. David McComas, IMAP’s principal investigator at Princeton, explaining it will provide an unprecedented high-resolution picture of how solar wind particles are accelerated and distributed ^[56]. The Carruthers Observatory (a smallsat named after the late NASA scientist George Carruthers) will focus on Earth’s outer atmosphere, imaging ultraviolet light from our geocorona (the farthest reaches of the atmosphere) to see how the Sun’s activity affects Earth’s exosphere ^[57] ^[58]. Meanwhile, NOAA’s SWFO-L1 satellite will serve as an operational space-weather sentry, continuously monitoring the Sun for flares and coronal mass ejections ^[59]. By streaming real-time data to forecasters, SWFO-L1 will improve early warnings for solar storms that can disrupt power grids, communications and satellites ^[60]. NASA officials emphasize that launching all three on one rocket not only saves cost, but also creates a powerful combined observatory at L1 to advance both fundamental science and practical forecasting of space weather ^[61] ^[62].

Bright Tail of an Interstellar Visitor: Astronomers are marveling over new observations of 3I/ATLAS, a comet from beyond our solar system currently passing through the inner Solar System. Discovered in July, 3I/ATLAS is only the third known interstellar object (after ‘Oumuamua and Borisov), and scientists are racing to study it before it slingshots back into interstellar space. This week, a team led by the NSF’s NOIRLab used the Gemini South telescope in Chile to capture multi-color images of the comet on August 27 ^[63]. The pictures, revealed on 4 September, show that 3I/ATLAS has dramatically increased in activity: a broad hazy coma of gas and dust surrounds it, and a developing tail about 0.5° long is pointing away from the Sun ^[64]. These features grew significantly compared to earlier images, indicating the comet’s ices are vaporizing as it nears perihelion (which will occur in late October) ^[65]. Interestingly, the Gemini spectral data suggest the composition of 3I/ATLAS’s dust and ice is not exotic – it appears quite similar to comets from our own solar system ^[66]. That hints that planet-forming processes in other star systems might produce familiar chemistry. “As 3I/ATLAS speeds back into the depths of interstellar space, these images are both a scientific milestone and a source of wonder,” said Dr. Karen Meech, an astronomer at the University of Hawaiʻi known for studying interstellar objects ^[67]. “It reminds us that our Solar System is just one part of a vast and dynamic galaxy — and that even the most fleeting visitors can leave a lasting impact.” Fellow researcher Dr. Bryce Bolin noted that every interstellar comet is “a messenger from another star system,” and by studying its light and composition, “we can begin to understand the diversity of worlds beyond our own” ^[68]. Telescopes worldwide (and even the Hubble Space Telescope) are now training on 3I/ATLAS as it brightens, hoping to glean clues about its origin – perhaps from the icy outer regions of a distant, unknown star – before it fades away on its one-way journey.

Climate & Environment

Summer 2025 Broke Heat Records Worldwide: New data highlight the daunting reality of climate change, as Summer 2025 delivered unprecedented heat in multiple regions. In Britain, the Met Office confirmed this summer was the hottest since records began in 1884, with a mean temperature of 16.1°C (June–August) – topping the previous record set in 2018 ^[69]. That is about 1.5°C above the long-term average, a huge anomaly for a seasonal mean. “Our analysis shows that the summer of 2025 has been made much more likely because of the greenhouse gases humans have released since the industrial revolution,” said Dr. Mark McCarthy, head of climate monitoring at the UK Met Office ^[70]. He warned that what used to be an extreme outlier is “becoming more common in our changing climate” ^[71]. Continental Europe also endured intense heatwaves that fueled deadly wildfires in Spain and Greece ^[72]. In East Asia, authorities announced similarly historic highs: Japan just had its hottest summer on record (averaging 2.36°C above the 30-year norm), and South Korea hit its highest mean summer temperature since records began in 1973 ^[73] ^[74]. China’s Meteorological Administration reported the national average temperature (22.3°C) for June–August was the highest ever recorded in China, with dozens of cities logging all-time highs above 40°C ^[75]. This relentless heat is consistent with global trends – in fact, NASA and NOAA recently stated that 2024 (the prior year) was likely the warmest year on record globally, and 2025 is on track to be among the top few hottest ^[76]. Climate scientists point to a combination of ongoing greenhouse warming and a strong El Niño event as drivers of the extreme 2025 heat. The consequences have been tangible: droughts and water shortages in parts of Europe, stress on power grids in China as air-conditioning demand soars, and an uptick in heat-related illnesses. The World Meteorological Organization noted in a June report that Asia is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average ^[77]. These record-shattering summer temperatures underscore the urgency for adaptation. Without cuts in emissions, “there will be a growing negative impact on our economies, our daily lives, our ecosystems and our planet,” warned Ko Barrett, WMO Deputy Secretary-General ^[78]. Indeed, the summer of 2025 may be a harbinger of even hotter ones to come.

Jurassic “Storm Death” Fossils in Germany: In paleontological news, researchers have uncovered a pair of remarkable 150-million-year-old fossils that tell the tragic tale of a prehistoric storm. Two fossilized baby pterosaurs – winged reptiles that lived in the late Jurassic period – were found in lithographic limestone in Bavaria, southern Germany. Nicknamed “Lucky” and “Lucky II,” the tiny pterosaur hatchlings measure only a few inches long. Both show broken wing bones and other injuries consistent with trauma ^[79]. The international team led by University of Leicester scientists concluded the likely cause of death was a catastrophic storm that caught and fatally injured the fragile youngsters, which then sank into soft lagoon mud and were rapidly buried. Rapid burial in fine sediment helped preserve even delicate skeletal details (a rarity for pterosaurs, whose thin bones usually disintegrate). The findings, reported on 5 September, provide a window into the perilous lives of juvenile pterosaurs and ancient European environments. The presence of storm deposits in the surrounding rock layer supports the hypothesis of a “storm surge” event. Paleontologist Dr. David Unwin (an author of the study) explained that sudden storms were a known hazard in the shallow coastal flats where pterosaurs nested. This discovery not only adds two well-preserved specimens to the sparse record of baby pterosaurs, but also is direct evidence of prehistoric weather-induced mortality. It’s a vivid reminder that natural disasters have posed deadly risks to life for hundreds of millions of years – from the Jurassic to today.

Physics & Chemistry

Why Ice Is Slippery – New Physics Uncovered: A team of physicists in Germany has upended a longstanding explanation for one of life’s everyday mysteries: the slipperiness of ice. For nearly 170 years, scientists have attributed slippery ice to a thin layer of meltwater caused by pressure (from an object like an ice skate) or friction (from motion). However, a new study in Physical Review Letters (7 August 2025) led by Prof. Martin H. Müser of Saarland University reveals that this classic theory is incomplete ^[80] ^[81]. Using advanced molecular simulations, Müser’s group found that the key factor is the interaction of molecular dipoles between ice and the contacting material. Ice is made of water molecules, each a tiny dipole (with a positive and negative end arranged in a crystal lattice). When something like a shoe sole or skate blade touches the ice, the dipoles in that material’s molecules disturb the alignment of the dipoles in the ice surface ^[82] ^[83]. “It turns out that neither pressure nor friction plays a particularly significant part in forming the thin liquid layer on ice,” explained Prof. Müser. “Instead, the orientation of the dipoles in the [contacting surface] interacting with those in the ice” causes the top ice layer to become disordered and quasi-liquid ^[84] ^[85]. In other words, electrostatic forces at the molecular level are the culprit making ice slick. In fact, the team’s simulations showed that a thin water-like film can form even at extremely low temperatures – theoretically even near –100 °C – because the dipole-induced disruption can prevent a perfectly solid interface ^[86]. (At very low temperatures the “liquid” film is extremely viscous, so skiing at –40 °C still isn’t easy! ^[87]) These findings overthrow the pressure-melting theory first proposed in 1850 by James Thomson (brother of Lord Kelvin) ^[88]. The research has garnered significant interest because it not only solves a classic physics puzzle – useful for improving winter sports and icy road safety – but also illustrates the often overlooked role of “frustrated” dipole–dipole interactions in materials ^[89]. By understanding ice’s true slipperiness mechanism, scientists can better model ice friction and design improved anti-slip surfaces or ice lubricants. It’s a striking example of how a familiar phenomenon can still hold surprises when revisited with modern science.

Gold “Quantum Needles” Discovered: In chemistry news, scientists at the University of Tokyo have synthesized an entirely new form of gold at the nanoscale – elongated gold nanoclusters dubbed “gold quantum needles.” Unlike typical gold nanoparticles which are spherical, these ultra-thin needle-like clusters (just a few nanometers wide but much longer in one dimension) were formed by accident under unusual reaction conditions ^[90]. Announced on 5 September, the discovery came when researchers noticed pencil-shaped gold structures emerging in a colloidal solution. Detailed analysis showed these quantum needles exhibit unique optical and electronic properties due to their shape anisotropy. Initial tests suggest they interact with light and electrons in astonishing ways (potentially useful in plasmonics or quantum electronics). The team is now investigating how to reproducibly grow the needles and tailor their length. Materials scientists not involved in the work have called it a remarkable finding – a reminder that even one of humanity’s oldest metals can still yield surprises at the nanoscale. If these quantum needles can be harnessed, they might lead to new catalysts, sensors, or quantum devices that leverage their one-dimensional quantum properties. The discovery also underscores the serendipitous nature of research: sometimes breaking the expected rules (in this case, creating non-spherical nanocrystals) opens up whole new avenues in nanochemistry.

Technology & Engineering

Upcycling Plastic for Carbon Capture: A breakthrough from Denmark is tackling two environmental problems at once – plastic pollution and climate change – with one innovative material. Chemists at the University of Copenhagen have developed a method to turn common PET plastic waste (from bottles, packaging, etc.) into a potent CO₂-capturing medium. In a paper in Science Advances (September 2025), the team led by Margarita Poderyte and Prof. Jiwoong Lee unveiled BAETA, a novel porous material produced by “upcycling” PET into a sorbent that can soak up carbon dioxide from gas streams or air ^[91] ^[92]. The process involves chemically breaking PET into a new polymer that has a high affinity for CO₂ molecules. “The beauty of this method is that we solve a problem without creating a new one,” said Poderyte, referring to the fact that it uses existing plastic trash and doesn’t require energy-intensive steps ^[93]. In lab tests, BAETA captured CO₂ with efficiency comparable to the best industrial carbon scrubbers, but it works at ambient temperature and can be regenerated with mild heating to release the CO₂ for storage or reuse ^[94] ^[95]. An especially attractive feature is that BAETA remains effective across many cycles and in hot flue gases (it works from room temperature up to ~150 °C) ^[96]. “One of the impressive things about this material is that it stays effective for a long time… and it works efficiently from normal room temperature up to about 150 °C,” noted co-author Prof. Jiwoong Lee, highlighting BAETA’s versatility for real-world conditions ^[97]. The team envisions installing BAETA-based filters at factory chimneys or power plants to strip CO₂ from exhaust. They are now seeking investors to scale up production “from the lab bench to the ton scale,” Poderyte said ^[98]. Because PET plastic is cheap and abundant (unfortunately so – hundreds of millions of tons end up in landfills or oceans), this technology could create a new demand for collecting waste plastic and using it for climate mitigation. As Prof. Lee put it, “Our material can create a very concrete economic incentive to cleanse the oceans of plastic” by making that plastic feedstock for CO₂ capture, blurring the line between environmental problems and solutions ^[99]. If brought to market, this approach could simultaneously reduce plastic litter and greenhouse gases – a true win–win for sustainability.

Invisible Solar Panels Turn Windows into Power Generators: Imagine a skyscraper covered in glass that doubles as a giant solar array – without changing its appearance. That vision is closer to reality thanks to a new transparent solar concentrator coating announced on 5 September by researchers from Nanjing University, China. The technology, described in the journal PhotoniX, uses a special cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) film that can be applied onto standard window glass to redirect sunlight to the pane’s edges ^[100] ^[101]. There, slim solar cells lining the frame collect the concentrated light. Critically, the coated window remains clear and colorless, as the film only interacts with certain polarized wavelengths and lets visible light through (about 64% transmission, comparable to normal windows) ^[102] ^[103]. “By engineering the structure of cholesteric liquid crystal films, we create a system that selectively diffracts circularly polarized light, guiding it into the glass at steep angles,” explained Dr. Dewei Zhang, co-first author of the study ^[104]. In essence, the coating acts like a transparent lens, concentrating solar energy without bulk or tint. A small 1-inch prototype window with CLC coating was able to power a 10 mW electric fan in direct sunlight ^[105]. Scaled up, a standard 2 m wide window could concentrate sunlight by a factor of ~50, the authors report, meaning building windows could generate substantial power during the day ^[106] ^[107]. Because the sunlight is funneled to the edges, the design could reduce the number of solar cells needed by ~75%, cutting costs ^[108]. The film can be manufactured in a roll-to-roll process, so retrofitting existing windows is feasible ^[109]. “The CUSC design is a step forward in integrating solar technology into the built environment without sacrificing aesthetics,” said Prof. Wei Hu, the project’s lead investigator ^[110]. He noted it could turn windows into discreet energy sources, ideal for urban skyscrapers where rooftop space is limited. The next steps are to improve efficiency across the full spectrum of sunlight and to test durability. If successful, cities of the future might literally harvest solar power through every window – an elegant fusion of architecture and clean energy engineering that could significantly boost a building’s energy self-sufficiency ^[111].

Whale-Tagging Drone & Other Innovations: (In brief) Engineers in Oregon unveiled a novel “tap-and-go” drone that can attach location tags to wild whales gently, without the need for boats or harpoons. In a successful field test reported on 6 Sept, the quadcopter hovered over a surfacing blue whale and used an extendable pole to stick a tracking tag onto the whale’s back, all within seconds – the whale hardly noticed and dove calmly. This promises a less invasive way to monitor whale migrations and health ^[112] ^[113]. Meanwhile, researchers in Serbia have shown that mealworms can biodegrade polystyrene foam, thanks to gut microbes that digest plastic – pointing to a potential nature-inspired solution for Styrofoam waste ^[114]. And in the realm of materials science, MIT scientists announced “generative AI” algorithms that can predict complex chemical reaction outcomes, potentially revolutionizing drug and materials design ^[115] ^[116]. From drones and bugs tackling environmental challenges to AI designing molecules, these cutting-edge developments round out a remarkable two-day span in science and tech news. <hr>

Sources: Connected press releases and media coverage from WHO ^[117] ^[118], Stat ^[119], The Lancet/WHO reports, Sci.News and ScienceDaily (research highlights) ^[120] ^[121], NASA news releases ^[122], Reuters climate reports ^[123], and other reputable outlets as cited above. All information is drawn from science news published on 5–6 September 2025.