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Health & Medicine

‘The Power of Prions’ explores misfolded proteins’ role in brain diseases

Michel Brahic’s new book spotlights prions’ role in diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

By Meghan Rosen2 hours ago

A close-up of stone with crisscrossing lines and the outlines of two fish etched on it

A digital exam reels in engraved scenes of Stone Age net fishing

By Bruce Bower4 hours ago

An aerial view of the topographical landscape of Southern Mexico, shown in gray

A huge, ancient Maya city has been found in southern Mexico

By Meghie Rodrigues8 hours ago

potato plants grown with regular or low nitrogen

Exploiting a genetic quirk in potatoes may cut fertilizer needs

By Javier Barbuzano15 hours ago

Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President for IBM Consulting, gestures broadly while standing on a stage.

Sponsored Content

Conversations with Maya: Mohamad Ali

From Maya Ajmera3 hours ago

A pelican in flight shows how its wings have many overlapping rows of feathers

Tech

Feather-inspired airplane flaps could boost flight performance

By Nikk OgasaNovember 5, 2024

The midlife crisis needs a rethink.

The ‘midlife crisis’ is too simple a story, scientists say

By Sujata GuptaNovember 4, 2024

Spotlight on Health

Two pigs eat grass next to a wooden fence with chicken wire attached the the top. A chicken stands next to the pigs while another jumps off the top of the fence.

Why finding bird flu in a U.S. pig for the first time is raising new worries

Swine can act as so-called “mixing vessels” for human and bird flus, giving avian viruses an opportunity to adapt for spreading in people.

By Erin Garcia de JesúsNovember 1, 2024
Are synthetic food dyes bad for you? Here’s what the science says.
Drop in vaping drives tobacco product use by U.S. youth to a record low

From the Archives

The Galactic Center Is an Alky Cooker

November 2, 1974 Vol. 106 No. #18

Science News Magazine

Cover of November 2, 2024 issue of Science News

November 2, 2024 Vol. 206 No. 7

Featured Media

Two young people hold anti-tobacco signs at a a rally. The girl in front holds an teal-colored sign that reads, "I have a right to live tobacco-free." Another person holds a red sign that says, "The more tobacco ads I see, the more likely I am to start smoking."

Drop in vaping drives tobacco product use by U.S. youth to a record low

The fewest number of U.S. middle and high school students are currently using tobacco products since the National Youth Tobacco Survey began in 1999.

A doula is knelt in front of a pregnant person, who is sitting on a blue couch, and has their hand placed on their stomach.

Doula care may lead to fewer C-sections or preterm births

A black-colored bird arcs his wings, making a full circle around his head, as part of his courtship display.

Science has finally cracked male riflebirds’ flirty secrets

Digital art of an unraveling American flag

Is U.S. democracy in decline? Here’s what the science says

Sketches of Nobel prize winners David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper.

Work on protein structure and design wins the 2024 chemistry Nobel

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More Stories

Life

Backyard explorers discovered 15 new examples of glowing life

By Meghan RosenOctober 31, 2024
The oldest known fossil tadpole was a big baby

By Jake BuehlerOctober 30, 2024
How insects can help catch rhino poachers

By Jude ColemanOctober 24, 2024

Humans

A phone app could help people have lucid dreams

By Maria TemmingNovember 4, 2024
World record speeds for two Olympics events have fallen over time. We can go faster

By Erin Garcia de JesúsJuly 12, 2024
Does social status shape height?

By Sujata GuptaJune 28, 2024

Climate

Fans may not keep older adults cool during heat waves

By Carolyn GramlingOctober 29, 2024
Climate change fueled the fury of hurricanes Helene and Milton

By Carolyn GramlingOctober 9, 2024
Why Hurricane Helene was so devastating

By Nikk OgasaOctober 1, 2024

Astronomy

A zombie star’s spiky filaments shed light on a 12th century supernova

By Lisa GrossmanNovember 4, 2024
Runaway stars could influence the cosmos far past their home galaxies

By Lisa GrossmanOctober 9, 2024
Barnard’s star has at least one planet orbiting it after all

By Sid PerkinsOctober 4, 2024

Physics

Radioactive beams give a real-time view of cancer treatment in mice

By Emily ConoverOctober 11, 2024
Thunderstorms churn up a ‘boiling pot’ of gamma rays

By Emily ConoverOctober 2, 2024
X-rays from nuclear blasts could defend Earth from asteroids

By Nikk OgasaSeptember 23, 2024

Health & Medicine

Limiting sugar in infancy reduces the risk of diabetes and hypertension

By Skyler WareOctober 31, 2024
Male mosquitoes sometimes suck, too

By Tina Hesman SaeyOctober 25, 2024
A new implant tested in animals reverses drug overdoses

By Anna GibbsOctober 23, 2024

Earth

What leads rivers to suddenly change course?

By Nikk OgasaOctober 10, 2024
Reactive dust from Great Salt Lake may have health consequences

By Skyler WareSeptember 26, 2024
How earthquakes build beefy gold nuggets

By Nikk OgasaSeptember 9, 2024

Science & Society

Using AI, historians track how astronomy ideas spread in the 16th century

By Lisa GrossmanOctober 30, 2024
The U.S. empire was built on bird dung

By Sujata GuptaOctober 25, 2024
The ‘Does It Fly?’ podcast separates fact from science fiction

By Carolyn GramlingOctober 18, 2024