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The Books That Blew These Scientists’ Minds
12 leading researchers tell us about the book that opened a new world for them
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Do These Centenarians Hold the Key to Long Life in Their Blood?
New research identifies key proteins linked to longevity
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The Vibes Have Been Off in the US for Decades
New survey analysis reveals a sense of national deterioration
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Short sharp looks at science
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How Animal Suffering Can Ruin Lab Experiments
Larry Carbone on his 3 greatest revelations while writing The Hidden Lives of Lab Animals
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Love in the Time of Climate Change
Megha Majumdar’s acclaimed novel A Guardian and a Thief explores a near-future where scarcity forces hard choices
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Recreating the Smells of History
Using chemistry, archival records and AI, scientists are reviving the aromas of old libraries, mummies, and battlefields
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What Would Richard Feynman Make of AI Today?
The scientific sage was always suspicious of grand promises delivered before details were understood
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Ann Druyan on How NASA’s Golden Records Got Made
A comic about humanity’s love letter to interstellar space
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We’re Evolving Beyond This Rock Right Now
Life is already busy making its transition to being interplanetary
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The Confabulations of Oliver Sacks
A neurologist reckons with recent revelations about the celebrated doctor and author
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He Erased Memory in Mice. Then Thought About Erasing His Own
Sunk in grief and alcoholism, this neuroscientist discovered the power of memory in himself
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To Be More Creative, Immigrate
Creativity flourishes when people cross borders—and when those borders blur through deep, human connection
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Naked Clams and Sunken Ships
A brazen plan to grow an animal that has been the bane of sailors for centuries—to feed the world
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The Problem with Farmed Seafood
We’re decimating the ocean to feed farmed fish. But an innovative solution has surfaced.
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Genetic Ancestry Doesn’t Tell Your Whole Story
If you’re looking for your genetic origin story, your DNA will only take you so far.
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AI’s Innate Bias Against Animals
Chatbots and robots are a setback to animal welfare—but have the potential to be a step forward
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The Hidden Landscape Holding Back the Sea
The fate of our planet’s coasts rests on Antarctic bedrock
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Gaia’s Got a Fever
An aging Earth, like an aging body, is increasingly vulnerable to heat’s fatal strikes
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In the Land of the Eyeless Dragons
The cave-dwelling olm is a canary in the coal mine for environmental change
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Visit the 7 Most Extreme Planets in the Universe
From molten glass rain to oceans of lava, an intergalactic tour of the most terrifying and beautiful climates out there
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The Sean Carrolls Explain the Universe
Why are we here? Is there life on other planets? The renowned scientists who share a name share their answers to life’s big questions.
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The Soviet Rebel of Music
He composed on a computer in a dangerous time. His echo is still heard today.
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How Whales Could Help Us Speak to Aliens
Learning to decode complex communication on Earth may give us a leg up if intelligent life from space makes contact.
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Mosquitoes Developed a Taste for Human Blood Before We Existed
About 2 million years ago, they evolved to feed on Homo erectus -
The Surprising Benefits of Yo-Yo Dieting
The body keeps the score -
Mass Grave of Women and Children Shows Brutality of Iron Age Culture
This recent archaeological find tells a chilling story -
Your Muscles Retain Memories of Strength and Weakness
New research sheds light on changing gene expression patterns in muscle cells -
Why You’re More Likely to Develop AI-Psychosis than to Join a Cult
Philosopher Lucy Osler on the insidious appeal of AI Chatbots -
Imaging the Most Far-Out Jellyfish Galaxy Ever Observed
… and shaking up our view of the universe 8.5 billion years ago -
Night Owls Could Be Putting Their Heart Health at Risk
New research links late nights and low cardiovascular health scores -
Researchers Map Uranus’ Atmosphere in Stunning Detail
The James Webb Space telescope captured stunning images of the ice giant -
New Blood Test Could Predict When Alzheimer’s Symptoms Will Present
Researchers have been on a quest for simple, reliable Alzheimer’s tests for years -
Fiery Crash of SpaceX Rocket Causes Huge Lithium Plume
It’s the first known direct detection of upper-atmospheric pollution from space debris re-entry -
The Cancer No One Can Explain
Colorectal cancer in young people has been rising for 30 years. We still don’t know why—and that’s killing people. -
The Ancient Cold Snaps That May Have Shaped Human Evolution
Here’s when Earth’s climate became chaotic -
How the Triceratops Used Its Giant Nose
Its outsized nasal cavities helped it maintain body temperature -
Why This Region of Space Appears to Be Populated by Snowmen
New research offers an elegant explanation -
Blame Your Parents for Your Extreme Aversion to Snakes
But recognize that it’s a useful survival trait -
New Gene Discovery Could Postpone the Bananapocalypse
Bananas could get wiped out, it’s happened before -
The Brain Science Behind the Munchies
New cannabis research shows why we get snacky when we get high -
Paleontologists Solve a Prehistoric Murder Mystery
Welcome to CSI: Cretaceous Period -
What Grief Has to Do with Love Addiction
People who have enmeshed attachments may be more vulnerable to prolonged grief -
The Farmer Who Glimpsed a Rare Volcanic Birth
Dionisio Pulido watched as Paricutín tore through his fields—suddenly, scientists flocked there from around the globe
