Feature

  1. Physics

    Constant Changes

    Evidence from the early universe that one of the so-called constants of nature, known as alpha, was once slightly smaller than it is today hints that the laws of physics themselves may vary over time and space.

    By Peter Weiss
  2. Earth

    Ill Winds

    Research suggests that the long-range movement of dust can sicken wildlife, crops—even humans—a continent away.

    By Janet Raloff

  3. Joined at the Senses

    As evidence accumulates for the existence of brain cells that handle many types of sensory information, some scientists challenge the popular notion that perception is grounded in five separate senses.

    By Bruce Bower
  4. Earth

    Dust, the Thermostat

    Analyses suggest that dust has profound, complex, and far-reaching effects on the planet's climate.