In this episode of The Week in Science, President Trump's 2026 science budget request is public and in the hands of Congress. The budget reflects Trump's determination to transform the relationship of the federal government and science, which is long overdue. The budget request also reflects the Trump administration's strategic priorities: "diversity, equity, and inclusion" is out, so are wind and solar, and various other green energy boondoggles. The National Institutes of Health is due for a major reorganization. And there are new programs for defense projects in space defense and drone warfare, which is becoming urgent, as we have seen in the past few weeks.
We also discuss new findings in human biogeography, particular on the question: humans and their relatives have been venturing out of Africa for several hundred thousand years. Yet, only the one 50,000 years ago stuck. What was different about that emigration?
And, this is the 50th anniversary of the release of Steven Spielberg's movie Jaws. It turns out the great white shark is not the most fearsome creature in the sea!
Photo by J. Scott Turner
