Science news this week: Goblin shark filmed for first time, California close to a major quake, physicists split photon, and inside China's plans to 'tame nature'

A goblin shark has been filmed alive for the first time, offering researchers an unprecedented glimpse into the behavior of one of the ocean's most elusive deep-sea predators. The rare footage represents a major breakthrough in understanding these creatures, which inhabit depths exceeding 3,000 feet and remain poorly studied despite their existence in scientific literature for over a century.

California faces elevated earthquake risk, according to new assessments from seismic researchers. Updated models suggest the state could experience a major seismic event sooner than previously predicted, prompting renewed urgency around preparedness and infrastructure reinforcement in vulnerable regions.

Physicists have successfully split a photon into two entangled photons in a laboratory setting, demonstrating a quantum phenomenon with potential applications for advanced computing and secure communications. The experiment validates theoretical predictions about photon behavior at the quantum level and opens pathways for developing more powerful quantum technologies.

China has unveiled expansive plans to "tame nature" through large-scale environmental engineering projects. The initiative includes massive hydraulic infrastructure, reforestation programs, and climate intervention strategies designed to reshape landscape management across the country. The approach reflects China's commitment to controlling environmental outcomes through technological intervention, though scientists debate the long-term ecological consequences of such aggressive management strategies.

These developments highlight advancing capabilities across marine biology, seismology, quantum physics, and environmental engineering. The goblin shark footage expands our knowledge of abyssal ecosystems. The California earthquake assessment underscores ongoing seismic risks in a heavily populated region. The photon-splitting breakthrough advances quantum science toward practical applications. China's environmental engineering agenda represents a novel approach to climate and landscape management at continental scale, raising both opportunities and ecological questions.