Feature

  1. Life

    Marcos Simões-Costa asks how cells in the embryo get their identities

    Marcos Simões-Costa combines classic studies of developing embryos with the latest genomic techniques.

    By Aina Abell
  2. Neuroscience

    Emily Jacobs wants to know how sex hormones sculpt the brain

    Emily Jacobs studies how the brain changes throughout women’s reproductive years, plus what it all means for health.

    By Cassie Martin
  3. Health & Medicine

    Christopher Barnes is on a quest for a universal coronavirus vaccine

    Christopher Barnes wants to stop the viruses that cause COVID-19, the common cold and more.

    By Cassie Martin
  4. Planetary Science

    Robin Wordsworth re-creates the atmosphere of ancient Mars

    Robin Wordsworth studies the climates of Mars and other alien worlds to find out whether they could support life.

    By Nikk Ogasa
  5. Health & Medicine

    Smruthi Karthikeyan turned to wastewater to get ahead of COVID-19

    Smruthi Karthikeyan’s system for tracking the coronavirus gives lifesaving public health measures a head start.

    By Cassie Martin
  6. Science & Society

    Big questions inspire the scientists on this year’s SN 10 list

    These scientists to watch study climate change, alien worlds, human evolution, the coronavirus and more.

    By Science News Staff
  7. Anthropology

    Tina Lasisi wants to untangle the evolution of human hair

    Tina Lasisi is pioneering studies of human variation in an ethical and scientifically sound way.

    By Aina Abell
  8. Earth

    Jacky Austermann looks to the solid earth for clues to sea level rise

    Jacky Austermann’s work could help inform practical climate change solutions for at-risk coastal cities.

    By Aina Abell
  9. Particle Physics

    Carlos Argüelles hunts for particles beyond the standard model

    Carlos Argüelles overcame hardship and discrimination to pursue a passion for physics.

    By Asa Stahl
  10. Ecosystems

    A Caribbean island gets everyone involved in protecting beloved species

    Scientists on Saba are introducing island residents to conservation of Caribbean orchids, red-billed tropicbirds and urchins.

    By Anna Gibbs
  11. Life

    Has AlphaFold actually solved biology’s protein-folding problem?

    An AI called AlphaFold predicted structures for nearly every protein known to science. Those predictions aren’t without limits, some researchers say.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  12. Climate

    How Kenyans help themselves and the planet by saving mangrove trees

    Communities in Kenya took action to restore their coastal mangrove forests, reaping economic and environmental benefits. Others are following suit.

    By Geoffrey Kamadi