Science & Society

  1. Environment

    Humans’ stuff vastly outweighs humans

    The human-made technosphere weighs 30 trillion tons and surpasses the natural biosphere in mass and diversity, researchers estimate.

    By Thomas Sumner
  2. Science & Society

    Cancer studies get mixed grades on redo tests

    Replications of cancer studies fail to reproduce some results.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  3. Health & Medicine

    Promise and perils of marijuana deserve more scientific scrutiny

    Report outlines medical potential and health dangers of cannabis and its components.

    By Bruce Bower
  4. Earth

    Mapping the future of continents and batteries

    Editor in chief Eva Emerson discusses how science provides new perspectives on the past and the future.

    By Eva Emerson
  5. Physics

    ‘Time Travel’ tours a fascinating fiction

    James Gleick’s entertaining book Time Travel focuses more on fantasy than real science.

    By Tom Siegfried
  6. Math

    Hidden Figures highlights three black women who were vital to the U.S. space program

    "Hidden Figures" tells the untold story of the "human computers" who were essential to the launch of the U.S. space program.

    By Emily Conover
  7. Health & Medicine

    The Flint water crisis and other public health woes from 2016

    Drug use continued to threaten the health and safety of the American public in 2016, while a hidden menace in drinking water remained a worry in Michigan.

    By Cassie Martin
  8. Science & Society

    What’s ahead for science in 2017?

    Science News writers reveal what they are watching for — and hoping for — in the year ahead.

    By Elizabeth Quill
  9. Science & Society

    Science News’ favorite books of 2016

    Science News writers and editors compiled a list of the books they were most excited about this year.

    By Science News Staff
  10. Science & Society

    The year of gravitational waves, Zika and more

    Editor in chief Eva Emerson discusses the top science news stories of 2016.

    By Eva Emerson
  11. Science & Society

    Top 10 science stories of 2016: Gravitational waves, Zika, Proxima b and more

    The detection of gravitational waves takes the top spot in our top 10 stories of 2016. Also on the list: Zika’s devastation, a nearby exoplanet discovery and more.

    By Science News Staff
  12. Genetics

    Year in review: ‘Three-parent baby’ technique raises hope and concern

    Safety and ethical concerns surround controversial mitochondrial replacement therapy.

    By Tina Hesman Saey