Science & Society

  1. Genetics

    What FamilyTreeDNA sharing genetic data with police means for you

    Law enforcement can now use one company’s private DNA database to investigate rapes and murders.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  2. Climate

    ‘The Human Element’ makes the impacts of climate change feel real

    Photographer James Balog puts a human face on the impacts of climate change in the documentary The Human Element.

    By Carolyn Gramling
  3. Science & Society

    NSF science research funds are flowing again after the shutdown

    Assessing the scope of the shutdown’s impact on NSF-funded science will be a long process.

    By Cassie Martin
  4. Humans

    Here’s what makes satire so funny, according to science

    Analysis of headlines from the satirical newspaper The Onion could help you — or a computer — write humorous news headlines.

    By Maria Temming
  5. Space

    It’s time to start taking the search for E.T. seriously, astronomers say

    Astronomers are hoping to make looking for alien technology an official science goal of NASA.

    By Lisa Grossman
  6. Planetary Science

    We spent New Year’s Eve in the Kuiper Belt

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses Science News' coverage of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft's flyby of Ultima Thule.

    By Nancy Shute
  7. Health & Medicine

    ‘Good to Go’ tackles the real science of sports recovery

    In ‘Good to Go,’ science writer Christie Aschwanden puts science — and herself — to the test for the sake of sports recovery.

    By Bethany Brookshire
  8. Psychology

    Easing test anxiety boosts low-income students’ biology grades

    Wealthier students outperform their less advantaged peers in math and science. Decreasing test anxiety may help even the playing field.

    By Sujata Gupta
  9. Chemistry

    Your phone could reveal your radiation exposure after a nuclear disaster

    Examining personal electronics may help gauge people’s radiation exposure in the event of a nuclear accident or attack.

    By Maria Temming
  10. Science & Society

    Here’s how the record-breaking government shutdown is disrupting science

    The partial government shutdown is taking many U.S. scientists out of commission and putting up hurdles to their research.

    By Laurel Hamers
  11. Health & Medicine

    A new app tracks breathing to detect an opioid overdose

    A smartphone app called Second Chance could help save opioid users who shoot up alone.

    By Maria Temming
  12. Science & Society

    The periodic table remains essential after 150 years

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute reflects on the 150th anniversary of the invention of the periodic table by Dmitrii Mendeleev.

    By Nancy Shute