Science & Society

  1. Genetics

    Researchers say CRISPR edits to a human embryo worked. But critics still doubt it

    Researchers say that they have confirmed CRISPR/Cas9 edits of a heart disease–causing version of a gene, but critics still have doubts.

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  2. Science & Society

    For popularity on Twitter, partisanship pays

    Pundits claim that we’re all living in political echo chambers. A new study shows that, on Twitter at least, they’re right.

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  3. Health & Medicine

    Hurricane Maria’s death toll in Puerto Rico topped 1,100, a new study says

    According to data from the Puerto Rico vital statistics system, Hurricane Maria killed an estimated 1,139 people.

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  4. Science & Society

    Women and men get research grants at equal rates — if women apply in the first place

    When women get research funding, they’ll stay funded as long as their male counterparts. But getting to the top of that heap is a challenge.

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  5. Genetics

    Most Americans think it’s OK to tweak a baby’s genes to prevent disease

    Americans generally favor tweaking a baby’s genes to reduce the chance of getting a disease, but think boosting intelligence is a step too far.

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  6. Science & Society

    People are bad at spotting fake news. Can computer programs do better?

    Fake news–finding algorithms could someday make up the front lines of online fact checking.

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  7. Science & Society

    What does fake news look like to you?

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses the importance of being able to illustrate science visually.

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  8. Genetics

    50 years ago, scientists took baby steps toward selecting sex

    In 1968, scientists figured out how to determine the sex of rabbit embryos.

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  9. Health & Medicine

    ‘The Poisoned City’ chronicles Flint’s water crisis

    A new book examines how lead ended up in Flint’s water and resulted in a prolonged public health disaster.

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  10. Science & Society

    In research, detours are a key part of discovery

    Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses the scientific process and the often contradictory research about Alzheimer's disease.

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  11. Science & Society

    Most Americans think funding science pays off

    About 80 percent of U.S. adults say that federal spending on scientific and medical research provides value in the long run, a new survey finds.

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  12. Genetics

    The study of human heredity got its start in insane asylums

    ‘Genetics in the Madhouse’ reveals how human heredity research began as a statistical science in 19th century insane asylums.

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