"The biggest science story this year was the political upheaval in the United States. Funding cuts, academic lay-offs and vaccine-sceptic policies have widely been seen as an attack on science, according to critics of President Donald Trump's administration. The resulting damage to science could last way into the future. But, there were also plenty of positive developments in 2025 that offer hope for the coming years. "From a non-US scientist, it's somewhat business as usual. You just keep doing your job", says Glen Peters, a climate-policy researcher at the Cicero Center for International Climate Research in Oslo."
"This year saw populations of some endangered and near-extinct species bounce back owing to strong conservation efforts. The green sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas), which has been endangered since the 1980s, has now moved to 'least concern' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list. Efforts to protect the turtle's eggs and measures to prevent their accidental capture in fishing nets have allowed populations to recover. The ampurta ( Dasycercus hillieri), a rat-sized Australian marsupial, moved from near-extinction to 'least concern' this year. Between 2015 and 2021, ampurta territory expanded by more than 48,000 square kilometres, despite dry conditions and food shortages."
"Lastly, nations reached a historic milestone for marine conservation in September with the United Nations High Seas Treaty receiving approval from more than 60 countries. The treaty, which will come into effect in January, aims to legally protect biodiversity in international waters and conserve at least 30% of land and sea areas."
Political upheaval in the United States in 2025 included funding cuts, academic lay-offs and vaccine-sceptic policies that critics view as attacks on science and that could cause long-term damage. Many non-US scientists continued routine research despite geopolitical shifts. Conservation efforts produced notable recoveries: green sea turtles moved to IUCN 'least concern' and ampurta populations expanded by more than 48,000 square kilometres and also moved to 'least concern'. Nations approved the United Nations High Seas Treaty to protect international waters and aim to conserve at least 30% of land and sea areas. The Antarctic ozone hole has shrunk.
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