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From Whence Lightning
Researchers may have elucidated the long-mysterious chain of events that gives us bolts from the heavens
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What Poseidon Is Telling Us
Weather is what humans experience over our short lives. Climate is a matter for the gods.
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These “Junk” Proteins May Fuel Adaptation
And they could help some creatures adjust to changing climates
The Porthole
Short sharp looks at science
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A Glittering Cave Holds Ancient Stories
New technology reveals traces of spiritual journeys through the underground world
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Mom on the Menu
Centipede mothers don’t just protect their young—some become their offspring’s first meal
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Technology SPONSORED
How to Thwart Internet Scams
The workings of our brains render us vulnerable to scamming, but data removal services offer a digital barricade.
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AI Already Knows Us Too Well
Chatbots profile our personalities, which could give them the keys to drive our thoughts—and actions
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What We Misunderstand About Robots
Sci-fi master Adrian Tchaikovsky on evolution, other minds, and the politics of science
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Is It Cake? How Our Brain Deciphers Materials
Neuroscientists are discovering how this basic ability, essential to our survival, works
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How To Tell If You’re Dead
The line between life and death has never been clear—and modern technology blurs it further
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Evolution and Guinea Pig Toes
How one animal’s oddity inspired Sewall Wright to take on one of Darwin’s big ideas
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Hope Catches a Tailwind
Dona Bertarelli brings her intimate knowledge of the high seas to advocate for conserving ocean ecosystems
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Our Boiling Seas
Scientists are getting better at predicting marine heatwaves. But is it enough to save ecosystems and vulnerable species?
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Stranger Things in the Universe
New data about dark energy is a reminder that cosmology is a never-ending story
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Neutron Stars Hint at Another Dimension
Are the mysterious stars clues to one of the greatest mysteries in the universe?
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This Cloud Forest Should Not Exist
The story of an Ecuadorean forest that fought annihilation and won
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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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People Really Want to Be Good
Good motivations for altruistic acts are cross-culturally pervasive -
The First Lunar Road Trip
In 1971, NASA made history with the first moon cruise—and the relic remains -
Pedestrians Are Walking Faster
How we behave in the urban wilds has changed -
The Beauty of Martian Rocks
What scientists are learning from these dazzling samples -
A Living Gown
Iris van Herpen’s new bioluminescent dress made of algae debuts in Paris -
The Dangers of Hot Air
What happens when we backpedal on basic science -
Stabbing Starfish to Save the Reefs
Coral decimating crown-of-thorns starfish are increasingly descending on reefs in the Pacific—so divers are fighting back -
The Dawn of Bathtub Cosmology
A phenomenon that captured the imaginations of generations of bathers may be key to understanding planetary formation -
What We Still Get Wrong About Psychopaths
Many scientists portray psychopathy as a brain disorder, despite a lack of evidence -
How Optimists Are Alike
Your brain and the Anna Karenina effect -
The Exoplanet That Wasn’t
When humility launched a new age of space exploration -
Can You Name That Tune?
A new online game could help researchers solve the mysteries of musical memory -
The Oldest Rock on Earth
A finding in the Arctic could push the formation of Earth’s crust back by 130 million years -
Our Windy Planet
Watch this mesmerizing animation of winds blowing across the globe -
Viruses That Roam the Fungal Kingdom
Mushrooms and other fungi can harbor hidden companions—and some of these may fight pesky or dangerous molds -
Anteaters Have Evolved More Than a Dozen Times
Unlike people, these mammals found a diet they can actually stick to -
The “We Evolved to Eat Meat” Argument Doesn’t Hold Up
The evolutionary story behind meat consumption is less convincing than it sounds -
The Inner Lives of Cells
New microscopes are giving scientists a better understanding of human biology and disease -
New Sea Slug Species or Gummy Candy?
These additions to the tree of life look positively scrumptious -
The Heaven and Earth Bird
These flying jewels have fascinated scientists and inspired devotion across the ages
