Ars Technica has introduced a new monthly feature highlighting interesting scientific stories that might otherwise go unnoticed, starting with a collection from October. The roundup covers six diverse topics, from computational puzzles to archaeological insights. This shift from annual year-end summaries aims to keep readers updated more frequently on quirky research.
In a bid to cover more of the fascinating science stories crossing their desks, Ars Technica launched an experimental monthly roundup on November 1, 2025. Previously limited to year-end compilations, the outlet now plans regular collections to spotlight overlooked research. October's edition features six standout papers across fields like physics, archaeology, planetary science, biology, food science, and digital humanities.
The first story details software engineer Dan Vanderkam's computational proof of the highest-scoring Boggle board, achieving 3,625 points with over 1,000 possible words, including the longest 'replastering.' Vanderkam shared with the Financial Times, “As far as I can tell, I’m the only person who is actually interested in this problem.” His arXiv preprint improves on a 1982 attempt scoring 2,195 points, using a branch-and-bound technique to efficiently evaluate configurations.
Archaeologists uncovered new details on Egypt's Karnak Temple origins through sediment cores and ceramics, dating the earliest settlement to 2591–2152 BCE on a Nile-flood-created island near Luxor. Co-author Ben Pennington, a geoarchaeologist at the University of Southampton, suggested ties to creation myths: “It’s tempting to suggest the Theban elites chose Karnak’s location... as it fitted the cosmogonical scene of high ground emerging from surrounding water.”
On Mars, Lonneke Roelofs of Utrecht University provided evidence that dune gullies form from sublimating CO2 ice blocks sliding down slopes, simulating the process in lab conditions akin to a 'burrowing mole.'
Biologists at Monash University captured high-speed snake strikes from 36 species, revealing vipers' rapid 710 m/s² accelerations and varied venom delivery methods, filmed at 1,000 frames per second in Paris.
Food scientists analyzed spaghetti microstructures, finding regular pasta's gluten matrix offers better structural integrity than gluten-free versions, enhanced by optimal salting.
Finally, Andrea Jalandoni of Griffith University tested machine learning on prehistoric finger flutings, achieving up to 84% accuracy in sex classification from clay simulations, though virtual reality results were unreliable and overfitting noted for cultural site access implications.
This roundup underscores the breadth of ongoing scientific inquiry, with all stories backed by peer-reviewed papers.