Science & Discovery News Today — September 15, 2026

As scientists continue to sound the alarm on climate change, a new study out today emphasizes the urgent need for countries like Australia to redouble their efforts to meet emissions targets. Meanwhile, innovators are hard at work developing new technologies that could help mitigate the crisis, such as a novel plasma engine design that can run on thin air, potentially offering a cleaner alternative for propulsion systems. However, the challenges posed by climate change are only one part of a broader landscape of scientific inquiry, as researchers continue to probe the intricacies of complex systems - from the biology of fruit flies to the fossil record.

In labs and around the world, scientists are making progress on some of the biggest puzzles in their fields. For instance, new research on the biology of wing tissue regeneration in fruit flies has identified three crucial DNA loops that enable efficient regrowth, shedding light on fundamental processes that could have implications for regenerative medicine. Similarly, paleontologists have made a significant discovery with the first confirmed Diplodocus fossil outside North America, which is rewriting our understanding of migration patterns during the Late Jurassic period. Closer to home, a report out today highlights the wasted potential of unused natural gas in New York City, which is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. And in neuroscience, researchers are getting a better grasp on the complexities of brain disorders, with new insights into hidden receptor interactions that may have doomed past therapeutic efforts.

Today's signal:
• Australia must double down to meet our climate targets, new study shows how (phys.org)
• A new design for a plasma engine fuels on only thin air (phys.org)
• Hidden receptor interactions may explain past failures of brain disorder drugs (phys.org)
• Three DNA loops prove essential for efficient wing tissue regeneration in fruit flies (phys.org)
• First confirmed Diplodocus outside North America reshapes Late Jurassic migration picture (phys.org)
• Unused natural gas behind NYC's $300 million waste of a potent greenhouse gas (phys.org)