Thursday, 17 September 2026
Science news today spans discovery, climate risk and the machinery of the energy transition. Researchers report a rare new wild cat species and a fresh lunar crater, while climate studies tie a deadly Himalayan collapse to warming and industry pushes ahead with low-carbon fuels and power access.
Scientists link last month’s catastrophic glacial mountain collapse on the China–Nepal border to climate change, saying long-term warming, glacier retreat and permafrost thaw help destabilize the slope. The disaster kills more than 1,400 people and leaves thousands missing, making it one of the starkest recent examples of climate hazards intensifying in high mountain regions.
A separate analysis also concludes that human-caused climate change makes the deadly glacier and rock collapse in Nepal more likely. It finds warming weakens a Himalayan mountain slope, setting the stage for a massive release of ice, rock and debris that sends destructive flooding downstream and reinforces concerns about rapidly changing cryosphere conditions.
Researchers identify a previously unknown wild cat species in Bolivia’s cloud forest, known locally as Tilcayo. The small cat belongs to the tiger cat group and is described as smaller than the average domestic cat. Its formal description is notable because it appears to be the first newly named living cat species in more than a century.
NASA researchers detect a newly formed impact crater on the Moon using Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter data. The crater, called McGetchin, is about 222 meters wide and stands out because such fresh lunar impacts are rarely observed. The find begins with an unusual bright patch and dark halo spotted during routine image quality checks.
Brookfield says it will invest up to $600 million in ACME Cleantech Ventures, the green fuels platform of India’s ACME Group. The money comes from Brookfield’s Global Transition Fund and is meant to back the development and construction of projects that produce cleaner fuels and industrial feedstocks.
A global low-carbon industry forum opens in Shenzhen under the theme of expanding electricity access while making better use of solar energy. The gathering centers on how to bridge the electricity gap, highlighting the technical and industrial challenge of extending reliable low-carbon power to people and regions that remain underserved.
General Motors delivers an initial batch of Patriot interceptor components to Lockheed Martin, launching production work tied to the missile system. The handoff provides critical parts for the Patriot interceptor and signals a deeper role for automotive-style manufacturing capacity in scaling defense production.
Recap for Thursday, 17 September 2026
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