Tom Howarth

2 weeks ago | sciencefocus.com | Tom Howarth

On 20 May 2025, Donald Trump announced one of the most ambitious and controversial defence initiatives in US history: the Golden Dome. The proposed $175 billion programme, which Trump wants completed before the end of his term in January 2029, aims to create an all-encompassing missile shield to protect the US from nuclear threats, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and hypersonic weapons.

2 weeks ago | sciencefocus.com | Tom Howarth

A vast, untapped source of clean energy lies beneath the western United States – one that could potentially supply around 10 per cent of the country’s electricity, according to a major new assessment by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The study, part of a decades-long effort to chart the nation's geothermal potential, focuses on the Great Basin region, spanning Nevada, Utah, California, Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming.

2 weeks ago | sciencefocus.com | Tom Howarth

A bizarre ancient marine reptile has been formally identified – decades after its fossils were first discovered in Canada. The 12-metre creature, Traskasaura sandrae, was a long-necked plesiosaur – a type of predator that lived alongside the dinosaurs – with a bizarre anatomy and a rare top-down hunting style.

2 weeks ago | sciencefocus.com | Tom Howarth

Stroke, dementia and late-life depression. They’re the heavy hitters of getting old – no one wants them, and yet they’re surprisingly common in our ageing population. What’s more, there’s so much information out there nowadays that it can be difficult to know where to begin when it comes to prevention. Are these things simply genetic? Are they a consequence of our life circumstances? Or are there things you can actually do that make a difference?

2 weeks ago | sciencefocus.com | Tom Howarth

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with around 1 in 8 men being diagnosed in their lifetime – now including former US President Joe Biden. But not all prostate cancers are life-threatening – in fact, many are so slow-growing that they’ll never cause harm. “There are essentially two types of prostate cancer,” Dr Hayley Luxton, head of research impact and engagement at Prostate Cancer UK, explains. “I refer to them as ‘pussycats’ and the ‘tigers’.