News

  1. Quantum Physics

    Quantum mechanics was born 100 years ago. Physicists are celebrating

    Quantum physics underlies technologies from the laser to the smartphone. The International Year of Quantum marks a century of scientific developments.

    By Emily Conover
  2. Planetary Science

    The moon’s two grand canyons formed in less than 10 minutes

    Two gargantuan canyons on the moon were carved by a hailstorm of rocks — and that’s good news for future lunar astronauts.

    By Lisa Grossman
  3. Health & Medicine

    Plastic shards permeate human brains

    A study of microplastics and nanoplastics in brains shows an astonishing increase over time.

    By Laura Sanders
  4. Anthropology

    An African strontium map sheds light on the origins of enslaved people

    While genetic tests can reveal the ancestry of enslaved individuals, strontium analysis can now home in on where they actually grew up.