Mercury

New research indicates Mercury is contracting more quickly than previously estimated. The smallest planet in the solar system has been cooling and shrinking for billions of years, causing its crust to buckle and form cliffs and ridges. The revised findings suggest this process is still active and accelerating relative to earlier models, prompting scientists to rethink how rocky planets cool over time.

Candidates running for San Jose City Council in the 2026 election are being asked how they would handle the city's increasingly contentious data center debate. Data center proposals have drawn scrutiny over energy and water use, noise and neighborhood impacts, making the issue a defining question for campaigns. The Mercury News outlines where the candidates stand as the race takes shape.