Science & Society

Health & Medicine

‘Blight’ warns that a future pandemic could start with a fungus

‘The Last of Us’ is fiction, but the health dangers posed by fungi are real, a new book explains.

Humans

Human embryo replicas have gotten more complex. Here’s what you need to know

Lab-engineered human embryo models created from stem cells provide a look at development beyond the first week. But they raise ethical questions.

Psychology

Time in nature or exercise is touted for happiness. But evidence is lacking

A review of hundreds of studies finds limited strong scientific evidence to support many common recommendations for leading a happier life.

Health & Medicine

Iron deficiency goes unnoticed in too many U.S. female adolescents

Low iron causes problems from dizziness to severe anemia. It’s time to reevaluate screening guidelines to catch the problem earlier, an expert argues.

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.

Psychology

‘Fires in the Dark’ illuminates how great healers ease mental suffering

Kay Redfield Jamison’s new book examines approaches used throughout history to restore troubled minds and broken spirits.

Science & Society

California’s long-standing affirmative action ban hints at what’s to come

Alternative race-neutral polices to affirmative action have fallen short in encouraging diversity in California schools, research shows.

Animals

These researchers are reimagining animal behavior through a feminist lens

Ambika Kamath and Melina Packer are working to overturn biased, outdated views in biology.

Psychology

Boys experience depression differently than girls. Here’s why that matters

Boys’ depression often manifests as anger or irritability, but teen mental health surveys tend to ask about hopelessness.

Science & Society

Humans exploit about one-third of wild vertebrate species

An analysis of nearly 47,000 vertebrate animal species reveals that using them for food, medicine or the pet trade is helping push some toward extinction.

Paleontology

Paleontology has a ‘parachute science’ problem. Here’s how it plays out in 3 nations

When researchers study fossils from lower-income countries, they often engage in dubious or illegal practices that can stifle science.

Genetics

Daphne Martschenko is a champion for ethical, inclusive genomics research

A bioethicist focused on the genomics revolution, Daphne Martschenko fosters open discussion through “adversarial collaboration”