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The Confabulations of Oliver Sacks
A neurologist reckons with recent revelations about the celebrated doctor and author
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I Turn Scientific Renderings of Space into Art
Illustrator Luís Calçada walks a fine line between scientific truth and imagination
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We’re Evolving Beyond This Rock Right Now
Life is already busy making its transition to being interplanetary
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Tiny Evidence Upends a Controversial Stonehenge Theory
Researchers curious about the monument’s origins stuck their heads in the sand—for good reason
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The First Person to Get Hit by Space Junk
Decades later, extraterrestrial rubbish is quickly piling up
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Short sharp looks at science
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Space Exploration Speaks to the Core of Who We Are
Astrobiologist Caleb Scharf’s 3 greatest revelations while writing his latest book, The Giant Leap
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Crick and Watson Did Not Steal Franklin’s Data
Matthew Cobb’s 3 greatest revelations while writing his book Crick: A Mind in Motion
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The Nautilus Reading List About the Cosmos
Our writers have read a universe of books on space and astronomy. Here are their favorites.
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Naked Clams and Sunken Ships
A brazen plan to grow an animal that has been the bane of sailors for centuries—to feed the world
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The Problem with Farmed Seafood
We’re decimating the ocean to feed farmed fish. But an innovative solution has surfaced.
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The Hidden Landscape Holding Back the Sea
The fate of our planet’s coasts rests on Antarctic bedrock
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Gaia’s Got a Fever
An aging Earth, like an aging body, is increasingly vulnerable to heat’s fatal strikes
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Genetic Ancestry Doesn’t Tell Your Whole Story
If you’re looking for your genetic origin story, your DNA will only take you so far.
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AI’s Innate Bias Against Animals
Chatbots and robots are a setback to animal welfare—but have the potential to be a step forward
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The Psychedelic Scientist
High on ayahuasca, Bruce Damer saw how life on Earth began. He may very well be right.
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Will Trump’s Immigration Policies Hurt US Nobel Chances?
Drastic cuts to science funding and immigration restrictions could hobble the country’s research enterprise
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He Erased Memory in Mice. Then Thought About Erasing His Own
Sunk in grief and alcoholism, this neuroscientist discovered the power of memory in himself
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To Be More Creative, Immigrate
Creativity flourishes when people cross borders—and when those borders blur through deep, human connection
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The Pretense of Political Debate
Grandstanding acts of persuasion restrict free speech and real learning. Just ask Socrates.
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In the Land of the Eyeless Dragons
The cave-dwelling olm is a canary in the coal mine for environmental change
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Visit the 7 Most Extreme Planets in the Universe
From molten glass rain to oceans of lava, an intergalactic tour of the most terrifying and beautiful climates out there
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The Sean Carrolls Explain the Universe
Why are we here? Is there life on other planets? The renowned scientists who share a name share their answers to life’s big questions.
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The Soviet Rebel of Music
He composed on a computer in a dangerous time. His echo is still heard today.
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How Whales Could Help Us Speak to Aliens
Learning to decode complex communication on Earth may give us a leg up if intelligent life from space makes contact.
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A Closer Look at an Elusive Ancient Plague
Teeth have revealed that victims traveled from far-off homelands -
Motivation Can Profoundly Shape Your Memories
Different moods may determine what details you remember and how you recall them later -
How Giant Kangaroos Moved Across Ancient Australia
Structure of fossil foot and ankle bones was robust enough for occasional hopping -
When Passenger Planes Surpassed the Speed of Sound
We might soon see a revival of these beloved, brisk aircraft in the US -
The Brain Might Not Function Like We Thought It Did
Complex thought may be organized by connection, not anatomy -
Detailed View of Solar Flare Birth Caught for the First Time
They start small and end huge -
The Promiscuous Lives of Beluga Whales
A peek into their private lives reveals mate-switching from season to season -
How Being a Good Dad Makes for Healthier Children
Paternal warmth before the age of 1 can set the tone for the family and influence physical health years later -
Heartworms Might Be Much More Ancient Than We Thought
Understanding their intricate past could be key to future treatments for pups -
Your Voice Gives Away Valuable Personal Information
The privacy risks of always-listening voice control systems—and how to protect against them -
This Fish Really Does Need a Hole in Its Head
It’s a resonating chamber for drumming with its ribs -
Your Favorite Zoo Animals Are Getting Old
Humans aren’t the only mammal species with aging populations -
Tiny Mars has a Big Impact on Our Climate
New research shows the red planet plays an outsized role in Earth’s climate -
The “Far Side” Had It All Wrong—Cows Really Can Use Sophisticated Tools
Upending Gary Larson’s premise that cows are too daft to use tools -
How Having Kids Makes Parents Disgust-Proof
All those dirty diapers make it pretty hard to get grossed out about anything else -
Your Infant Knows Exactly What Your Baby Talk Means
It may help infants learn vowel sounds -
Spaceflight Prematurely Ages Astronauts
New research looks at the effects of spaceflight on biological age -
Why the Do Nothing Challenge Doesn’t Do Much for You
Boredom lab researcher James Danckert says our collective obsession is misplaced -
How Coastlines Shape the Extinction Risk for Marine Invertebrates
Invertebrates that lived on north-south coastlines had better chances of survival -
Some Doctors Are Using Emojis With Patients More Often
Smileys are especially popular
