Explainer

From December 27, Australian search engines must blur pornographic and violent images for under-18 users, implement age verification measures, and downrank harmful content. The rules aim to protect children, applying to both logged-in accounts and AI-generated search results

Using 11 years of spectroscopic data from Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, Indian researchers mapped Sun’s magnetic activity across latitudes, revealing hemispheric asymmetries and sunspot correlations. The findings refine solar dynamo models, aid space-weather forecasting, and may support climate research

Rainfall on Iran’s Hormuz Island turned its famous Red Beach a dramatic deep crimson as iron-rich soil washed into the sea, creating a striking natural spectacle that draws tourists and photographers and highlights the island’s rare geology and seasonal weather patterns

Dust storms in northern China, largely originating from Mongolia, highlight regional desertification and climate challenges. China is exporting anti-desertification expertise, including tree-planting and land management techniques, to Mongolia, balancing cooperation with local nomadic traditions and rising environmental diplomacy

Africa was the hardest hit by President Donald Trump’s expanded US travel restrictions, with several countries facing full or partial bans, prompting muted official reactions, concern over unfair treatment, and warnings of strained US–Africa relations and wider diplomatic, economic and social impacts

The winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere, marks the start of astronomical winter and signals gradually lengthening days ahead, while explaining how Earth’s tilt, solstices, equinoxes, and seasonal definitions shape daylight and climate cycles

Around 200 children across Europe were conceived from a single sperm donor unknowingly carrying a rare cancer-linked mutation. The tragedy exposes gaps in genetic screening and cross-border donor limits, highlighting the urgent need for international oversight and coordinated tracking

The Thailand–Cambodia border conflict, reignited on December 7, has killed over 20 civilians and displaced half a million. Domestic political pressures, nationalism, and economic distractions are driving renewed hostilities, with both countries leveraging the crisis for internal political gain

Scientists found evidence of deliberate fire-making 400,000 years ago at Barnham in eastern England, pushing back controlled fire use by 350,000 years. Heat-altered sediments, pyrite fragments and repeated burning indicate early Neanderthals intentionally created fire, revealing major evolutionary, cognitive and social implications 

A dazzling exhibition of royal and historic jewels opens at Paris’ Hôtel de la Marine, showcasing centuries-old treasures from global collections. The display unfolds shortly after the Louvre crown-jewel heist, highlighting security concerns and public fascination with gems and history.

Archaeologists in Jerusalem uncovered the longest intact Hasmonean wall foundations, revealing possible evidence of a 2,100-year-old ceasefire with King Antiochus VII. The 50-metre wall, partially dismantled, may also have served as King Herod’s palace foundation, linking archaeology with ancient historical accounts 

Scientists documented 16,600 theropod dinosaur footprints in Toro Toro, Bolivia, the largest collection worldwide. Tracks reveal behavior, herd dynamics, and swimming attempts, while human activity threatens preservation. Research continues to uncover insights into dinosaurs’ lives during the late Cretaceous

The US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas nears completion of its first phase, with a complex second phase planned, involving disarmament, Gaza reconstruction, international oversight, Palestinian governance reforms, and Israeli withdrawals, amid uncertainties over Hamas compliance and regional cooperation 

Women are increasingly using anabolic steroids, driven by rising participation in strength sports, social media influence, and encouragement from peers or coaches. This shift raises health concerns, with unique risks for women, prompting calls for targeted education, stigma-free healthcare, and better online harm-reduction strategies

New Zealand’s plan to add feral cats to its Predator Free 2050 target marks a major cultural shift, raising ethical and welfare concerns. While feral cats are classified as pests, their overlap with domestic cats complicates control methods and sparks wider debates about human–animal relationships

President Donald Trump intensified anti-immigrant rhetoric, calling Somali immigrants “garbage” during a Cabinet meeting. His statements, echoing past xenophobic language, target asylum seekers, refugees, and Rep. Ilhan Omar, drawing domestic and international condemnation while influencing U.S. immigration debates and Republican supporters

American zoologist Laurie Marker has maintained a cheetah sperm bank in Namibia for 35 years, preserving genetic diversity as wild populations drop to under 7,000. The bank serves as a last-resort conservation tool to prevent potential cheetah extinction

A new study shows coral reefs have regulated Earth's climate and marine evolution for over 250 million years. Reef growth and collapse affected ocean alkalinity, carbon absorption, and plankton evolution, revealing long-term climate recovery processes relevant to modern CO₂ increases

Severe, late-season storms and heavy rains have unleashed deadly floods across Southeast Asia, overwhelming governments and exposing weak preparedness. Scientists warn these increasingly destructive, unpredictable events reflect a climate-driven “new normal,” with rising losses, vulnerable communities hit hardest, and adaptation funding still insufficient

India has mandated active SIM linkage for messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal, citing rising digital fraud. While telecom operators have welcomed the move for enhancing traceability, major tech firms have urged the government to pause implementation and review legal concerns

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a presidential pardon to halt his years-long corruption trial, citing national security demands. Critics warn the move threatens judicial independence and reflects his efforts to secure political survival ahead of elections expected next year

A study of 738 UK harbour porpoises (1990–2021) shows mercury levels rising about 1% annually, nearly doubling since the 1990s. Higher mercury burdens increased the risk of death from infectious disease, revealing persistent ocean contamination despite the Minamata Convention

International enrolment at US colleges dipped slightly this fall, but new foreign student arrivals plunged 17% amid visa delays and policy tightening under the Trump administration. Graduate programmes were hit hardest, straining budgets, while other countries ramped up efforts to attract students

Recently released House Oversight Committee emails reveal Jeffrey Epstein maintained extensive ties with global political figures, academics and business elites long after his 2008 conviction. The messages show exchanges on politics, introductions and personal advice, highlighting his persistent influence until his 2019 arrest