COVID-19 Variants This Fall, Gray Wolves Use Wildfires to Hunt, and a Blood Test Could Detect Breast Cancer
Discover the top stories from Oct. 10 to Oct. 16, 2026, including what COVID-19 variants scientists are currently tracking and how gray wolves are using active wildfires to hunt.
This week's science news roundup includes several notable stories. First, there is an uptick in COVID-19 cases and new variants that health officials are closely monitoring. Additionally, the Nordic diet, which emphasizes whole grains, berries, and rapeseed oil, may help extend lifespan. In wildlife news, gray wolves have been observed using active wildfires to their advantage by pursuing prey while avoiding dangerous fire fronts.
A 230,000-year-old Homo sapiens fossil has revealed that early humans were more robust than previously thought. Furthermore, a blood test that could detect breast cancer as early as Stage I has begun clinical trials, and drones have helped locate three Aboriginal rock shelters featuring red hand stencils in Australia.
Brief written by urgent.news from Discover Magazine's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
