Research & Developments is a blog for brief updates to provide context for news that impacts science and scientists today. If you have a tip, email us at [email protected].
NASA’s Ignition Sequence Has Begun
NASA recently announced some changes that appear aligned with Ignition initiatives. Here are few of them.
Trump to Ease Methane Rules for Oil and Gas Wells
The Trump administration has announced plans to terminate some methane emissions restrictions for oil and gas companies, rolling back rules set by the Biden administration in 2024.
Tracking Science Policy Decisions and Approaches
The new administration has taken an array of decisive actions with far-reaching consequences for Earth and space scientists. Use our new tool to help sort them out.
Cuts to Satellite Program Add “Uncertainty” and “Risk,” Suggests GAO Report
Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report suggesting that the plan for NOAA’s next generation of geostationary satellites, called GeoXO, could “put vital observations at risk.”
Judge Stops USDA’s Radical Restructuring, For Now
A judge ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture can’t move forward with its efforts to relocate thousands of employees and close U.S. Forest Service regional offices.
2026 State of the Climate Report Shows a Planet Reaching Its Limits
The seventh edition of an annual report analyzing Earth’s “planetary vital signs” indicates that Earth systems are rapidly destabilizing, some at an accelerating rate.
The report, published today in BioScience,…
Supreme Court Opens New Term with Major Climate Case
The U.S. Supreme Court opened its newest term by hearing a case about climate change, the outcome of which could have wide-reaching consequences for…
A Redefinition of “Emergency Management” Could Upend FEMA’s Mission
Last week, FEMA administrator Cameron Hamilton issued a memorandum outlining the agency’s scope and essentially redefining “emergency management.”
NASA has Underspent on Research and Analysis for 15 Years
Spending for NASA’s research and analysis programs has remained relatively flat for 15 years, ignoring recommendations from community-led decadal surveys and directives by Congress.