Science Magazine Podcast An alleged nuclear blast may reignite weapons testing, and who owns the Moon
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Mar 5, 2026 
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Political Picks Reshape U.S. Science Leadership
- The White House is reshuffling leadership at major science agencies, placing political operators in top roles without traditional scientific backgrounds.
- Jim O'Neill, previously CDC acting director, is tapped for NSF while Jay Bhattacharya now heads CDC in an acting capacity raising concerns about experience and policy direction.
NIH Multi-Year Funding Cuts Young Investigator Success
- NIH success rates for new investigators dropped sharply after shifting to more multi-year lump-sum grants, reducing funding opportunities.
- Early stage investigator funding fell from 26% to 19%, leaving ~300 fewer young researchers funded last fiscal year.
Allegation Of A 2020 Chinese Nuclear Test Raises Stakes
- A disputed 2020 seismic event near China's test site prompted a recent U.S. allegation that China conducted a small nuclear test using decoupling to mask signals.
- The U.S. has not released definitive evidence, but such an allegation could trigger renewed testing by the U.S. and Russia if acted on.
