Thursday, March 26, 2026: Your daily digest of the most significant science stories dominating the news cycle.
Jump to:
- Today’s lead story
- The emerging trend
- Science on the move
- Image of the day
- Express yourself
- Amusement & diversions
- Connect with Live Science online
Subscribe to our newsletterToday’s lead story Doomed scroll?
A pivotal court decision could irrevocably alter the operational methods of social media platforms. (Image credit: Wally Skalij via Getty Images)
In a groundbreaking legal case in California, social media behemoths Meta and Google have been deemed accountable, with the court finding that the companies intentionally engineered addictive social media offerings that detrimentally affected a young woman’s psychological well-being.
This verdict, accompanied by an award of $3 million in compensatory damages to the claimant, marks a significant first, potentially exposing social media corporations to repercussions across numerous ongoing civil lawsuits filed throughout the U.S.
The young woman’s central contention was that the habit-forming characteristics of social media services contributed to her experiencing anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia. This case followed a similar ruling in New Mexico on March 24, where Meta was found negligent in safeguarding minors from exploitation on its networks, resulting in a $375 million penalty.
It remains uncertain whether these judgments, which the involved companies intend to contest, will precipitate long-term structural transformations in the functioning of social media sites and other digital forums. Previously, these corporations invoked Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 to absolve themselves of liability for content disseminated on their platforms.
With this protective shield bypassed, some observers posit that the rulings could pave the way for expanded online censorship and infringements on privacy, while the legal representatives for the plaintiff maintained that the case focused not on the substance of content but on the habit-forming design elements integrated into the platforms.
Concurrently, the clinical substantiation for the addictive nature of these features — specifically, whether prolonged engagement with one’s smartphone constitutes genuine addiction or merely “problematic usage” — continues to be inconclusive.
The emerging trendFur-ever friends
Canine and human companionship may have commenced much earlier in our shared history than previously hypothesized. (Image credit: Jon G. Fuller/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
A recent comprehensive analysis has uncovered the most ancient genetic proof of the human-dog relationship, dating back 15,800 years — a full 5,000 years preceding earlier discovered evidence.
Through the examination of genetic material from various canine-like remnants excavated from European archaeological sites, alongside the oldest specimen from Turkey’s Central Anatolian Plateau, the researchers identified this enduring interspecies connection. The latest findings imply that humans formed bonds with domesticated wolves prior to the development of agriculture.
Three to read
Image of the dayRoman leopard fighting was for women too
A depiction by Jean Charles Loriquet, created after he discovered the mosaic in 1860. It illustrates a segment of the mosaic featuring the leopard and a female beast hunter. (Image credit: Alfonso Mañas)
This drawing represents the earliest visual evidence suggesting that women participated in fighting wild animals in the Roman Empire’s arenas, according to a new investigation.
Discovered in Reims, France, in 1860, the original mosaic portraying this event was destroyed during World War I bombing raids. However, before its destruction, French archaeologist Jean Charles Loriquet documented it in a sketch.
Express yourselfWord of the day
Momoztli — The Nahuatl term for “stone altar.” A recently unearthed three-tiered stone structure of this kind was utilized for ritual human sacrifices.
Quote of the day
“Many individuals already feel overwhelmed by their digital existence. Requiring them to affix a device to their face for casual interaction presents a significant hurdle.”
Lik-Hang Lee, an assistant professor specializing in augmented and virtual reality at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, explaining the reasons behind the Metaverse’s faltering progress.
Amusement & diversions
Feeling the need for a mental pause after all that reading? Why not try our chain word puzzle?
Connect with Live Science online
Interested in more scientific news? Follow our Live Science WhatsApp Channel to receive real-time updates on the latest discoveries. It’s an optimal method for receiving our expert reporting as it unfolds, but for those not using WhatsApp, we are also accessible on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Flipboard, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Bluesky, and LinkedIn.
Sourse: www.livescience.com