There’s Little Science Behind ‘No Mow May’
If something as simple as not mowing for a month doesn’t do much for biodiversity, then what lawn-care practices — from tearing up sod entirely to planting lush wildflower meadows — are supported by...
View ArticleWhen Will America Get Better Sunscreens?
FDA approval of better chemical filters that are common in sunscreens across the world has been hamstrung by a 1938 law that requires the products to be tested on animals and classified as drugs....
View ArticleA Rare Risk of Asteroid Fastballs Turns Scientists Into Sluggers
Researchers use real data from projects like DART, the first test of an asteroid deflection, to improve computer simulations, which they can then use to try to predict an exact response of a...
View ArticleCould ‘Science Courts’ Help Build Public Trust?
In the U.S., surveys have shown that public trust in science dropped significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some scientists propose that holding science courts — where citizen juries listen to...
View ArticleBook Review: The Untapped Knowledge of Animals
Animal scientist Martin Wikelski’s fascinating new book “The Internet of Animals” chronicles his quest to design, build, and launch a network of transmitters to track birds around the globe. Wikelski...
View ArticleBad Blood? The Uncertainty Around Microclots and Long Covid
Some researchers have suggested that microscopic blood clots, or microclots, could help explain the wide range of symptoms seen in long Covid. But other scientists aren’t convinced by the scant...
View ArticlePediatric Transgender Care and the Contentious Rise of SEGM
Founded in 2019, SEGM says more research is needed before puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries are offered to youth with gender-related distress. SEGM says the science is on its side, but major...
View ArticleCan Beef Be ‘Low Carbon’? The USDA Thinks So.
The Department of Agriculture rubber-stamped Tyson’s beef as “climate friendly,” but no one has seen the data behind the company’s claim. As millions of taxpayer dollars flow to livestock companies...
View ArticleIncluding Globally Diverse Groups Improves Music Research
Research designed to understand how human brains process music has often involved participants from cultures steeped in Western music. But in order to arrive at more universal truths, such studies need...
View ArticleBook Review: How Plants Experience the World
In her rigorous new book “The Light Eaters,” climate and environmental journalist Zoë Schlanger acts as a tour guide through the history of the science on plant intelligence and the pressing questions...
View ArticleTracing Bird Flu’s Ground Zero on Texas Dairy Farms
In early February, dairy farmers in Texas began to notice sick cattle. Nearly 60 days passed before veterinarians identified the culprit: a highly pathogenic strain of the bird flu virus, H5N1. Why did...
View ArticleOn the Pacific Coast, Dam Removal Renews the Shoreline
In the decade since two dams on the Elwha River in Washington State were removed, scientists have discovered lasting changes — and a healthier ecosystem. “It was like seeing a geologic event in a human...
View ArticleThe Ephemeral Organ: Researchers Look Closer at the Placenta
Research on the placenta and its pathologies have largely been understudied, some clinicians say. There are multiple reasons why: the difficulties in studying a fleeting and dynamic organ, the...
View ArticleAI, Health Care, and the Realities of Being Human
Many doctors see AI-driven tools as a boon to working smarter and faster, but the technology can also put patients at risk for overdiagnosis and discrimination. Physician Arjun Sharma reflects on the...
View ArticleBook Excerpt: The Social Safety Net of Colorado’s Marmots
After years spent studying colonies of yellow-bellied marmots, scientists at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory have learned how an individual’s social network affects the alarm calls they give...
View ArticleFrom Toad Toxin to Medicine: The Promise of 5-MeO-DMT
The psychedelic compound stands out for its quick and potent effects, making it a cheaper alternative to psilocybin and LSD. But research on its effects is still nascent. Now, scientists are...
View ArticleIn Virginia, Data Centers Collide with Zero-Carbon Goals
The state has the biggest data centers market in the world, fueling unprecedented electricity demand and causing environmental groups to question how the state will transition the grid to renewable...
View ArticleIn Montana, a Tribally Led Effort to Restore the Whitebark Pine
Whitebark pines are a keystone species in high-elevation ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, preventing soil erosion, and regulating water flow. The tree also holds cultural importance for the...
View ArticleWhy AlphaFold 3 Needs to Be Open Source
DeepMind released AlphaFold 3, a powerful new version of its AI-driven model for predicting protein structures, biomolecular interactions, and more. But it did so without making the software’s code...
View ArticleAI, Health Care, and the Realities of Being Human
Many doctors see AI-driven tools as a boon to working smarter and faster, but the technology can also put patients at risk for overdiagnosis and discrimination. Physician Arjun Sharma reflects on the...
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