Science & Society
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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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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.
By Bruce Bower -
Health & Medicine
Medical breakthroughs come with a human cost
Editor in Chief Nancy Shute muses on the risks many medical advances pose in their infancy.
By Nancy Shute -
Health & Medicine
‘Aroused’ recounts the fascinating history of hormones
The new book "Aroused" demystifies hormones, the chemicals that put the zing into life.
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Science & Society
Fighting sexual harassment in science may mean changing science itself
Sexual harassment is disturbingly prevalent in academia. But a course correction may involve tearing down the hierarchy that makes science run.
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Neuroscience
Splitting families may end, but migrant kids’ trauma needs to be studied
The long-term effects of separating children from their parents at the U.S. border need to be studied, scientists say.
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Genetics
DNA testing can bring families together, but gives mixed answers on ethnicity
DNA testing has become a new way for millions of Americans to expand their family trees and learn something about themselves, but results vary widely.
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Science & Society
So what do you know about Emmy Noether?
Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses physicist Emmy Noether and women being underrepresented in science fields.
By Nancy Shute -
Genetics
Why using genetic genealogy to solve crimes could pose problems
Rules governing how police can use DNA searches in genealogy databases aren’t clear, raising civil rights and privacy concerns.
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Tech
50 years ago, NASA astronauts prepared to return to space
Apollo 7 crewmembers underwent their first major tests 50 years ago. Today, U.S. astronauts struggle to get into space.
By Dan Garisto -
Genetics
Privacy and consumer genetic testing don’t always mix
Interested in taking a direct-to-consumer genetic test? Here are some things you should know.
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Neuroscience
Here’s why scientists are questioning whether ‘sonic attacks’ are real
Sonic attacks would be hard to pull off and a terrible way of incapacitating diplomats, experts say.