First New Cat Species in a Century, an mRNA Flu Vaccine, and Earth's Magnetic Field Could Affect How We Age

This week's science news highlights several groundbreaking discoveries and developments. In Bolivia, a resident found a cub of a new cat species, Leopardus tilcayo, which had never been described before. The cat, named Tigrino, lived at a wildlife sanctuary and helped biologists identify the new species.

For the flu season, a new mRNA flu vaccine, mFLUSIVA, developed by Moderna, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It is now available for adults aged 50 and older. Meanwhile, astronomers found an exoplanet orbiting its star in a backward direction, a phenomenon that challenges current understanding of planetary formation.

Scientists also explored the potential link between Earth's magnetic field and aging. They discovered that the magnetic field may influence energy production in mitochondria, cells responsible for energy generation. This could have implications for human aging.

Another noteworthy story concerns the U.S. facing a potential measles crisis. As measles cases rise, researchers are concerned about the vulnerability of newborns, who are exposed to the virus before birth. Lastly, a surprising discovery was made about dogs' ability to process human speech. Despite lacking gaps between words, dogs rely on consonants to recognize word-like patterns in continuous speech.