Science News – September 2026

Summary

Scientists have been studying static electricity for centuries but remain "largely clueless about its origins," as Emily Conover reports in Science News' September 2026 issue, Vol. 208 No. 09, priced at $4.99. The cover also investigates why Epstein-Barr is the "everything" virus — virtually all humans carry it, yet only an unlucky few develop mononucleosis, certain cancers or multiple sclerosis — and how a living laboratory in Peru is sheltering Humboldt penguins from a powerful El Niño. For readers who follow fundamental physics, virology and conservation biology, this 88-page issue delivers three features plus 20 news briefs.

The static electricity feature opens with the universal childhood experience of a rubbed balloon making hair stand up, then dives into the Electrostatic Society of America's meeting that Conover attended in June. The Epstein-Barr piece by Michael Marshall reports that researchers are developing vaccines to prevent infection or stop reactivation in people already carrying the virus. Ana Elisa Sotelo, a visual artist and educator, first visited Peru's Punta San Juan Reserve in 2012 and returned in early 2023 to document bird flu and El Niño's devastating impact on the Humboldt penguin colony.

The news section runs 16 briefs spanning synthetic biology (lab-made cells that grow and divide but aren't alive), public health (US teens underestimating fentanyl's lethality), palaeontology ("Hobbits" scavenged Komodo dragons' skills), planetary science (Mars rover finds organic carbon), and climate (geoengineering to blunt El Niño). Regular sections include Reviews (page 80), Being Human (page 84), Technically Fiction (page 86), and Puzzles (page 88). Libby Riddle, a summer intern, reports on the beefalo study arguing that most cattle-bison hybrids are "all beef, no -alo."

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / Physics

p.34 · The Sticky Science of Static Electricity
Emily Conover reports that despite centuries of study, scientists are still largely clueless about static electricity's origins. A quirky group of researchers at the Electrostatic Society of America is working to change that. The article covers how static affects everything from circuit boards to Mars rovers to airplanes. Anyone who has ever been zapped by a doorknob will gain new respect for the complexity behind that spark.

▸ Cover / Virology

p.42 · Why Epstein-Barr Is the "Everything" Virus
Michael Marshall reports that virtually all humans are infected with EBV, yet only a minority develop serious illness: mononucleosis, certain cancers or multiple sclerosis. Researchers are developing vaccines that could prevent initial infection or stop the virus from reactivating. MS patients should follow the EBV vaccine trials as a potential avenue for treatment.

▸ Cover / Conservation

p.50 · Birds on the Brink
Ana Elisa Sotelo documents how Peru's Punta San Juan Reserve is sheltering Humboldt penguins amid a powerful El Niño and bird flu outbreak. Sotelo first visited in 2012 as a master's student and returned in early 2023 to find the colony severely affected. Conservationists working with seabird colonies should study the reserve's biosecurity protocols for avian influenza.

▸ News / Synthetic Biology

p.12 · Lab-Made Cells Can Grow and Divide, But They're Not Alive
Scientists have created synthetic cells called SpudCells that can replicate DNA and divide but lack the hallmarks of life. The research pushes the boundaries of what we define as "alive."

▸ News / Public Health

p.14 · Many U.S. Teens Underestimate Fentanyl's Lethality
A study reveals that American teenagers widely underestimate the fatal dose of fentanyl. Just a tiny amount can kill. Parents should have direct conversations with teens about pill safety and fentanyl test strips.

▸ News / Palaeontology

p.14 · "Hobbits" Scavenged Komodo Dragons' Skills
New research on Homo floresiensis suggests the tiny hominins may have learned scavenging strategies from observing Komodo dragons on Flores Island.

▸ News / Planetary Science

p.15 · Rock-Hound Rover Sniffs Out Hints of Ancient Life on Mars
The Perseverance rover found organic carbon on Mars, adding to the case for ancient microbial life. AAAS Mass Media Fellow Fechi Inyama covered the study. Anyone following Mars exploration should track Perseverance's sample cache locations for the planned Mars Sample Return mission.

▸ News / Genetics

p.16 · Most Beefalo May Be All Beef, No -alo
A study argues that cattle-bison hybrids are genetically almost all beef. Summer intern Libby Riddle notes that conservationists worry about domestic cattle interbreeding with wild bison populations.

▸ News / Health

p.25 · The Viagra Crowd Turns to Sound Waves
Hundreds of US clinics offer shock wave therapy for erectile dysfunction despite lacking clear evidence of benefits. Patients should verify clinical-trial data before spending on unproven treatments.

▸ Regulars

p.4 · Editor's Note
p.6 · Masthead
p.7 · Contributors
p.8 · Science Visualized
p.80 · Reviews
p.84 · Being Human
p.86 · Technically Fiction
p.88 · Puzzles

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Editor's Take

A return to form for Science News after the tech-weekly aggregation issues. The static electricity feature is engaging and genuinely surprising — centuries of study and still no clear theory is a great hook. The Epstein-Barr piece is timely given the MS vaccine trials underway. The news section is dense and well-curated, with 16 briefs spanning hard science and public health. Weakness: the "Hobbits scavenged Komodo dragons" piece feels speculative with thin evidence, and the Viagra/sound-waves piece is truncated. Best for science generalists who want a monthly catch-up across physics, biology and planetary science; specialist researchers will find the news briefs too short for technical depth.

Strengths
• Static electricity feature covers centuries of research with a clear "still clueless" framing
• Epstein-Barr piece names mononucleosis, cancers and MS as specific outcomes
• Humboldt penguin piece gives 2012/2023 timeline with named reserve and author

Weaknesses
• "Hobbits scavenged Komodo dragons" claim lacks supporting evidence detail
• Viagra sound-waves piece is truncated before its conclusion

Verdict: Recommended — The static electricity and EBV features deliver genuine scientific curiosity for the general reader.