All Stories

  1. Animals

    Explore the past, present and future of ‘Eight Bears’

    The book invites readers to meet the eight species of bears left on Earth and looks at how humans are shaping their future, for better or for worse.

    By
  2. Earth

    How Kenya is helping its neighbors develop geothermal energy

    Renewable energy is crucial to halting climate change. In East Africa, the region’s geology makes geothermal energy a viable option.

    By
  3. Astronomy

    Coronal rain has been seen splashing on the sun

    New images of the solar corona, taken by the Solar Orbiter probe, reveal bright fireball effects and upwelling induced by falling plasma droplets.

    By
  4. Earth

    Wildfires aren’t going away. Here’s how smoke can affect your health

    How does repeat exposure to wildfire smoke affect our health? Three experts weigh in on the massive air pollution fueled by Canada’s ongoing fires.

    By
  5. Climate

    Canada’s Crawford Lake could mark the beginning of the Anthropocene

    The mud of a Canadian lake holds an extremely precise record of humans’ influence on Earth. But the Anthropocene isn’t an official geologic epoch yet.

    By
  6. Materials Science

    This ‘thermal cloak’ keeps spaces from getting either too hot or cold

    A new thermal fabric prototype could help keep cars, buildings and other spaces a comfortable temperature during heat waves while reducing CO₂ emissions.

    By
  7. Humans

    Lauren Schroeder looks beyond natural selection to rethink human evolution

    Paleoanthropologists studying the fossil record have long focused on natural selection, but other processes play a big role too.

    By
  8. Ecosystems

    This seagrass is taking over the Chesapeake Bay. That’s good and bad news

    Higher water temperatures are wiping out eelgrass in the Chesapeake Bay and weedy widgeongrass is expanding. Here’s why that seagrass change matters.

    By
  9. Health & Medicine

    50 years ago, scientists thought coffee might treat hyperactivity

    Decades of follow-up research into whether caffeine can treat the symptoms of kids with ADHD has come up with more questions than answers.

    By
  10. Readers discuss meteorite identification, fly factories and more

    By
  11. From our brains to gravity, how science surprises us

    Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses how science unravels mysteries, such as missing chunks of brain, gravity's strength and the start of the Viking era.

    By
  12. Paleontology

    This ancient, Lovecraftian apex predator chased and pierced soft prey

    Half a billion years ago, Anomalocaris canadensis probably used its bizarre headgear to reach out and snag soft prey with its spiky clutches.

    By