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A Close Encounter with a Flame-Bright Egyptian Vulture
On a bright March morning as wildlife photographer Oriol Alamany tucked into breakfast on the island of Socotra, an Egyptian vulture landed on a nearby rock. Caught without proper equipment, Alamany crawled across the ground to photograph the bird from below at close range with a small camera he kept in his pocket. The vulture […]
NASA Is on the Cusp of a New Era
A planetary scientist explains why SpaceX’s Starship will transform her field.
Torn Muscle? Hold the Drugs or Surgery—Massage May Be the Best Medicine
If you’re an athlete—even a very occasional one—odds are you’ve dealt with a muscle injury at some point. After all, muscle injuries account for 10 to 55 percent of sports traumas. Often they’re just a nuisance—say, a minor strain that takes you a couple days to get back on your feet. But severely injured muscles, […]
All the Biomass on Earth
Our planet supports 8.7 million species. Here’s how they break down.
Why AI Needs a Genome
AI could learn and adapt like humans with algorithms that work like genes.
A Lab of Her Own
In her bedroom during WWII, she discovered how the nervous system is wired.
The Power of the Waves
Understanding how oceans move is key to understanding life on Earth.
What Industrial Societies Get Wrong About Childhood
Age-based classes are not the only way to learn—and may not be the most effective.
Fantastic Beasts Brought to Life by the Wind
An artist’s moving tribute to nature’s powerful resource.
What Impossible Meant to Richard Feynman
What I learned when I challenged the legendary physicist.