Science & Society

Science & Society

How science has fed stereotypes about women

A new book, Inferior, shows how biased research branded women as inferior and aims to set the record straight.

Life

Wild yeasts are brewing up batches of trendy beers

Wild beer studies are teaching scientists and brewers about the tropical fruit smell and sour taste of success.

Astronomy

Here’s what the Science News family did for the eclipse

On August 21, 2017, the path of a total solar eclipse went coast to coast across the United States. Here are our dispatches.

Science & Society

On social media, privacy is no longer a personal choice

Data from the now-defunct social platform Friendster show that even people not on social media have predictable qualities.

Life

‘Darwin’s Backyard’ chronicles naturalist’s homespun experiments

In the new book Darwin’s Backyard, a biologist explores Charles Darwin’s family life, as well as four decades’ worth of his at-home experiments.

Science & Society

Patience is one virtue scientists must embrace

Acting Editor in Chief Elizabeth Quill discusses how being patient isn't always easy in scientific work.

Science & Society

Today is the day! A last-minute guide for watching the Great American Eclipse

You’ve probably heard this already, but there’s a total solar eclipse traversing the United States today, August 21. Here’s what you need to know.

Astronomy

Eclipse watchers will go after the biggest solar mystery: Why is the corona so hot?

Usually when you move away from a heat source, it gets cooler. Not so in the sun’s atmosphere.

Astronomy

Does the corona look different when solar activity is high versus when it’s low?

Carbondale, Ill., will get two eclipses in a row, seven years apart — making it the perfect spot to watch the solar cycle in action.

Astronomy

Where does the solar wind come from? The eclipse may offer answers

A quick-fire polarization camera should help scientists detect the origins of the solar wind during the Aug. 21 eclipse.

Astronomy

Eclipses show wrong physics can give right results

Math for making astronomical predictions doesn’t necessarily reflect physical reality.

Astronomy

Why are the loops in the sun’s atmosphere so neat and tidy?

Observations during the total solar eclipse may explain why the sun’s atmosphere is so organized despite arising from a tangled magnetic field.