The Lost Tale of an 18th-Century Tsunami, as Told by Trees
Local evidence of the cataclysm has literally washed away over the years. But Oregon’s Douglas firs may have recorded clues deep in their tree rings......»»
NASA"s NIAC Program Gives a Sneak Peek at the Future of Space Travel
As the agency develops plans for exploring the moon and Mars, it's seeking cutting-edge research that could turn science fiction into reality......»»
Baby Poop Is Loaded With Microplastics
An alarming new study finds that infant feces contain 10 times more polyethylene terephthalate (aka polyester) than an adult’s......»»
In a Tiny Arctic Town, Food Is Getting Harder to Come By
For her new book, Devi Lockwood traveled around the world gathering stories of how people are being directly affected by a warming planet......»»
Why Does Asthma Get Worse at Night?
The question has plagued scientists for centuries. A new study offers some answers......»»
Floods Have Swamped the US. The Next Health Problem: Mold
The goo that grows in soaked buildings can cause infections and allergies—an issue that’s understudied even as climate change leads to more frequent deluges......»»
A Mathematician"s Guided Tour Through Higher Dimensions
The concept of a dimension seems simple enough, but mathematicians struggled for centuries to precisely define and understand it......»»
SpaceX"s Inspiration4 Returns After 3 Days in Orbit
The first all-civilian, all-private spaceflight splashed down off the coast of Florida......»»
Urchin Slayers Are Trying to Save the Underwater Rainforest
‘Zombie’ purple urchins have obliterated West Coast kelp forests with their insatiable appetites. Can they be stopped?.....»»
FDA Mulls Boosters, States Dispute Mandates, and More News
Catch up on the most important updates from this week......»»
What Is ‘Fire Weather,’ and Why Is It Getting Worse?
A new study of the American West shows that climate change is driving more days that are hot, dry, and windy—the perfect conditions for deadly wildfires......»»
An Outdated Grid Has Created a Solar Power Economic Divide
Utilities have upgraded the infrastructure for rooftop power in richer neighborhoods, but low-income areas don't have the same capacity......»»
How to Watch the SpaceX Inspiration4 Launch
The first all-civilian, all-private mission to orbit prepares to blast off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center......»»
SpaceX’s All-Civilian Inspiration4 Crew Readies for Launch
Sure, an orbital flight without professional astronauts is unorthodox—but it just might work......»»
Why It’s So Hard to Predict Where the Pandemic Is Headed Next
Human behavior has changed along with the virus and public health measures to contain it. For modelers, it’s a curveball......»»
‘Neurograins’ Could be the Next Brain-Computer Interfaces
Dozens of microchips scattered over the cortical surface might allow researchers to listen in on thousands of neurons at the same time......»»
How a Duck Learned to Say ‘You Bloody Fool’
Voice analysis of a 34-year-old recording proves that Ripper the musk duck “independently evolved” to mimic his human caretakers......»»
How Computationally Complex Is a Single Neuron?
Scientists taught an artificial neural network to imitate a biological neuron. The result offers a new way to think about the complexity of brain cells......»»
How Do Retroreflectors Give You Super Vision at Night?
The tiny optical devices turn up in lane markers, road signs, bike gear and even on the moon, helping us see under low-light conditions......»»
A Flawed, Strange Covid-19 Origin Theory Is Gaining Traction
A spate of studies claim that the disease was circulating in Italy long before the pandemic—but they struggle to support the theory......»»