Science & Society

  1. Science & Society

    Why the Thanksgiving myth persists, according to science

    The science of collective memory — and a desire for clear origin stories — may explain the endurance of the Thanksgiving myth despite a messier reality.

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  2. Chemistry

    ‘Most Delicious Poison’ explores how toxins rule our world

    In his debut book, Noah Whiteman tours through chemistry, evolution and world history to understand toxins and how we’ve come to use them.

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  3. Health & Medicine

    Flint grapples with the mental health fallout from the water disaster

    The water crisis started almost a decade ago. Residents of Flint, Mich., are still healing from the disaster — and caring for their own.

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  4. Psychology

    Why scientists are expanding the definition of loneliness

    Feeling detached from animals, places and routines can cause loneliness, researchers are learning, which may expand the list of interventions.

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  5. Genetics

    These 8 GMOs tell a brief history of genetic modification

    Since the first genetically modified organism 50 years ago, GMOs have brought us disease-resistant crops, new drugs and more.

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  6. Genetics

    Most of today’s gene therapies rely on viruses — and that’s a problem

    The next big strides in gene therapy for rare diseases may come from CRISPR and new approaches to delivery.

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  7. Math

    Non-Western art and design can reveal alternate ways of thinking about math

    Focusing on the relationship between math and culture can boost student learning and expand mathematical knowledge, researchers say.

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  8. Science & Society

    Curbing pedestrian stops might not reduce police-civilian encounters

    In Chicago, traffic stops soared as pedestrian stops fell. Single policy changes therefore don’t tell the whole policing story, researchers say.

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  9. Astronomy

    Astronomers call for renaming the Magellanic Clouds

    Explorer Ferdinand Magellan is not a fitting namesake for the pair of satellite galaxies of the Milky Way, a group of scientists argues.

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  10. Climate

    ‘Our Fragile Moment’ finds modern lessons in Earth’s history of climate

    Michael Mann’s latest book, Our Fragile Moment, looks through Earth’s history to understand the current climate crisis.

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  11. Health & Medicine

    How brain implants are treating depression

    This six-part series follows people whose lives have been changed by an experimental treatment called deep brain stimulation.

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  12. Neuroscience

    Today’s depression treatments don’t help everyone

    In the second story in the series, deep brain stimulation is a last resort for some people with depression.

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