[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-detail-47727-en":3,"doc-seo-47727-105":30,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":92},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",{"doc_id":7,"user_id":8,"nickname":9,"user_avatar":10,"doc_module":4,"category_id":11,"category_name":12,"doc_title":13,"doc_description":14,"doc_content":15,"file_id":16,"file_url":17,"file_type":18,"file_size":19,"view_count":20,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":21,"is_downloadable":21,"audit_status":21,"page_count":22,"language":23,"language_code":24,"site_id":25,"html_lang":24,"table_of_contents":26,"faqs":27,"seo_title":13,"seo_description":14,"update_tm":28,"read_time":29},47727,1099514067415,"Rowan","https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/100002539d78ffe74a7?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1779092875211072502",8,"Research & Report","Science News. org Vol. 208 No. 7 Mars in Limbo July 2026","ScienceNews.org Vol. 208 No. 7 (July 2026) centers on “Mars in Limbo,” describing how disruption and funding shifts have slowed progress in a decades-long effort to determine whether Mars hosts or ever hosted life. The issue reviews lessons from Viking-era exploration, later discoveries that refined the search for habitable conditions, and the pause in Mars Sample Return after 2024 funding cuts. It also surveys related research—from Earth stratosphere microbes to emerging biomedical and space findings—framing ongoing study as essential for future exploration plans.","S C I E N C E N E W S . ORG  \nV O L . 2 0 8 N O . 7  \nMARS IN LIMBO  \nJ U L Y 2026  \nTurmoil on Earth is confounding a decades-long quest to nd Martian life  \nContents 01  \nVOL . 208 NO . 07  \nJULY  \n2026  \n12  \nYOHEI UTSUK I / D E PA RT M ENT O F EA RT H A N D P LA N ETA RY SCIENCES/HOKKAIDO U N IV .  \n\n| 04 Editor’s Note | 06 Masthead | 07 Contributors | 08 Science Visualized |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n\nNews  \n12 A real-life kraken may have ruled the ancient deep ocean  \n\n| 14 People with stiff person syndrome might find relief in CAR T cell therapy |\n| --- |\n| 15 A space-based cube mapped Earth’s\u003Cbr>magnetic field |\n| 16 Record-breaking black holes shooed stars from a galaxy |\n\n\n| 16 Scientists rethink the story of primate size evolution |\n| --- |\n| 18 Flying like a bird in virtual reality changes human brain |\n| 19 Humidity turns iridescent bees green |\n| 20 Sunspots hasten falling space junk |\n| 21 No, mastic gum won’treshape your jaw |\n\n22 A mathematical‘Rosetta stone’ helps black hole research  \n\n| 23 | How some mice make sweet songs |\n| --- | --- |\n| 24 | Stem cell patches could treat spina bifida in utero |\n| 26 | Suicide deaths fell after 988 launch |\n| 26 | Africa’s ‘necking’ crust foretells a speedy breakup |\n\nOn the Cover  \n©UAESA/MBRSC/HopeMars Mission/EXI/AndreaLuck; Spine: JPL-NASA, USGS  \nOUR FREE BOND GUIDE IS SO SENSIBLE,  \nIT WOULD BE SILLY NOT TO READ IT.  \nAbout Hennion & Walsh  \nSince 1990 Hennion & Wmlsh hms specimlized in investment-grmde tmx-free municipml bonds. The compmny supervises over $5 billion in mssets, providing individuml investors with institutionml qumlity service mnd personml mttention.  \nMunicipal bonds have historically been a low-risk way to invest * Particularly if you’re after the potential for tax-free and regular investment income. Investment-grade rated municipal bonds from Hennion & Walsh? Well, that might be even better. We’ve studied them from every angle, for over 35 years. So we know how to use them to help you reach your financial goals.  \nHERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:  \n The benefits and risks of municipal bonds.  \n How municipal bonds provide federally tax-free income.  \n Why municipal bonds offer the potential for regular income.  Strategies for smart bond investing.  \n Municipal bond facts every investor should know.  \n& HERE’S WHAT IT COSTS: $0  \nCALL (800) 804-6931  \nTo get your copy of the  \nBOND GUIDE  \nThere’s no obligation and it’s  \nCOMPLETELY FREE  \n© 2026 Hennion & Walsh. Securities offered through Hennion & Walsh Inc. Member of FINRA, SIPC. Investing in bonds involves risk including possible loss of principal. Income may be subject to state, local or federal alternative minimum tax. If sold or called prior to maturity the amount received may be less than the amount paid, and the yield received may be less than the yield calculated at purchase. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. *Investment-grade municipal bonds had a cumulative 10-year default rate of 0. 09% between 1970 and 2024 according to Moody’s Investors Service, August 4, 2025 “US Municipal Bond Defaults and Recoveries, 1970-2024”.  \nContents 03  \nVOL . 208 NO . 07  \nJULY  \n2026  \n30  \nF RO M TO P : CARLA T HO MAS / NASA ; A N D R E EA DUMUTA  \nFeatures  \n\n| A Mystery atthe Edge of Space 30 |  |\n| --- | --- |\n| Some organisms commonly found on Earth’s surface lead a secret double life riding high in the atmosphere. By Douglas Fox |  |\n| Mars Descending | 40 |\n| NASA’s shifting priorities are putting a 50-year search for Martian life in limbo. By Lisa Grossman |  |\n| The Truth About Brain Rot | 48 |\n| Emerging research suggests overusing digital devices can be harmful. But can this truly rot our brains? By Kathryn Hulick |  |\n\nCuriosities  \n\n| Reviews | 56 |\n| --- | --- |\n| More of an Art | 60 |\n| Technically Fiction | 62 |\n| Puzzles | 64 |\n\n62  \n| Editor’s Note | 04 |\n| --- | --- |\n| SCIENCE NEWS . ORG |  |\n\nIs NASA falling out of love with Mars?  \nE  \narth maybe our beloved home planet","cbCaifQhYh1pm9Pc","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaifQhYh1pm9Pc","pdf",20414975,6,1,68,"English","en",105,"# News\n## Science Visualized\n## People & Health\n## Space & Astronomy\n## Earth & Climate\n## Math & Physics\n## Biology & Stem Cells\n## Public Health & Policy\n# Features\n## A Mystery at the Edge of Space\n## Mars Descending\n## The Truth About Brain Rot\n# Curiosities\n## Reviews\n## More of an Art\n## Technically Fiction\n## Puzzles","[{\"question\":\"Why is the search for Martian life described as “in limbo” in this issue?\",\"answer\":\"Congress cut funding for the Mars Sample Return mission in 2024, halting the program’s progress. As a result, NASA efforts are redirected while the broader question of Martian life continues to rely on ongoing study.\"},{\"question\":\"What did the Viking missions teach scientists about searching for life on Mars?\",\"answer\":\"The Viking spacecraft began searching for life and returned photos and experimental data, but running experiments from about 23 million kilometers away proved difficult. The experience helped shape later approaches to the problem.\"},{\"question\":\"What role do improved strategies play in the modern search for life on Mars?\",\"answer\":\"The issue highlights NASA’s revised approach: looking first for habitable conditions and then seeking evidence of life. With more information about Mars now available, researchers have renewed motivation to finish what Viking started.\"}]",1783565546,171,{"code":4,"msg":31,"data":32},"ok",{"site_id":25,"language":24,"slug":33,"title":13,"keywords":34,"description":14,"schema_data":35,"social_meta":87,"head_meta":89,"extra_data":91,"updated_unix":28},"science-news-org-vol-208-no-7-mars-in-limbo-july-2026","",{"@graph":36,"@context":86},[37,54,69],{"@type":38,"itemListElement":39},"BreadcrumbList",[40,44,48,51],{"item":41,"name":42,"@type":43,"position":21},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":45,"name":46,"@type":43,"position":47},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":49,"name":12,"@type":43,"position":50},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":52,"name":13,"@type":43,"position":53},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/science-news-org-vol-208-no-7-mars-in-limbo-july-2026/47727/",4,{"url":52,"name":13,"@type":55,"author":56,"headline":13,"publisher":58,"fileFormat":61,"inLanguage":24,"description":14,"dateModified":62,"datePublished":63,"encodingFormat":61,"isAccessibleForFree":64,"interactionStatistic":65},"DigitalDocument",{"name":9,"@type":57},"Person",{"url":41,"name":59,"@type":60},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-07-16","2026-07-09",true,{"@type":66,"interactionType":67,"userInteractionCount":20},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":68},"ViewAction",{"@type":70,"mainEntity":71},"FAQPage",[72,78,82],{"name":73,"@type":74,"acceptedAnswer":75},"Why is the search for Martian life described as “in limbo” in this issue?","Question",{"text":76,"@type":77},"Congress cut funding for the Mars Sample Return mission in 2024, halting the program’s progress. As a result, NASA efforts are redirected while the broader question of Martian life continues to rely on ongoing study.","Answer",{"name":79,"@type":74,"acceptedAnswer":80},"What did the Viking missions teach scientists about searching for life on Mars?",{"text":81,"@type":77},"The Viking spacecraft began searching for life and returned photos and experimental data, but running experiments from about 23 million kilometers away proved difficult. The experience helped shape later approaches to the problem.",{"name":83,"@type":74,"acceptedAnswer":84},"What role do improved strategies play in the modern search for life on Mars?",{"text":85,"@type":77},"The issue highlights NASA’s revised approach: looking first for habitable conditions and then seeking evidence of life. With more information about Mars now available, researchers have renewed motivation to finish what Viking started.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":52,"og:type":88,"og:title":13,"og:site_name":59,"og:description":14},"article",{"robots":90,"canonical":52},"index,follow",{"doc_id":7,"site_id":25},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":93},[94,98,102,106,111,115,120,123,128,131,135],{"id":21,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":95,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":97},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":47,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":99,"show_sort_weight":100,"slug":101},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":53,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":108,"show_sort_weight":109,"slug":110},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":20,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":11,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":12,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},30,"research-report",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":126,"slug":127},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":126,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":126,"slug":130},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":132,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":133,"show_sort_weight":132,"slug":134},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":136,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":137,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":138},19,"General","general"]