Playing God With the Atmosphere
Interfering with Earth’s climate systems is becoming more possible—and less predictable—than ever.
Life Up Close
Detective Fiction Has Nothing on This Victorian-Science Murder Mystery
William Saville-Kent was a pioneering coral photographer. Was he also hiding a grisly secret?
A New Declaration of Animal Consciousness
A group of prominent scientists believes fruit flies, fish, and mollusks might experience pain and pleasure.
A Dentist Found a Jawbone in a Floor Tile
Fossils are quite common in this type of stone, but human-looking ones are not.
It’s Really Hard to Rebuild a Marsh
Scientists hope a gentler approach can save those in San Francisco Bay.
A New Proposal to Bring the Ocean Back to Life
Pumping a clean-energy by-product into “dead zones” could restore local ecosystems.
Maine Is a Warning for America’s PFAS Future
New federal rules require public systems to measure and mitigate certain harmful man-made chemicals. Maine is already learning how hard that can be.
So You Looked Directly Into the Sun
Scientists may have overstated eclipse risk.
Totality Is Worth It
A total solar eclipse is a rare opportunity to experience unadulterated communion with the cosmos.
Drones Could Unite Ranchers and Conservationists
Flying robots could offer a nonlethal way to keep wolves away from cattle.
Why a Cognitive Scientist Put a Head Cam on His Baby
The perspective of a child could help AI learn language—and tell us more about how humans manage the same feat.
A Secret Code May Have Been Hiding in Classical Music for 200 Years
A violinist believes he has discovered a previously unknown system of dynamics in Beethoven’s original manuscripts.
The Coming Birth-Control Revolution
An abundance of new methods for men could transform women’s contraception too.
A 600-Year-Old Blueprint for Weathering Climate Change
During the Little Ice Age, Native North Americans devised whole new economic, social, and political structures.
What’s So Bad About Asking Where Humans Came From?
Human origin stories have often been used for nefarious purposes. That doesn’t mean they are worthless.
The Most Dazzling Eclipse in the Universe
Anyone who watches the moon glide over the sun on April 8 will be witnessing the planetary version of a lightning strike.
The Clock Is Running Out on Migratory Birds
Climate change is creating a mismatch between these travelers and their food supply.
Everything You Know About Killer Whales Is Wrong
The predators might not be a single species, but three—or more.
The CDC Is Squandering the Breakthrough RSV Vaccine
New RSV shots could make winter much safer for infants, but experts think current guidelines may be too strict.
Too Few Americans Are Eating a Remarkable Fruit
Breadfruit is a staple in tropical places—and climate change is pushing its range north.
Daniel Kahneman Wanted You to Realize How Wrong You Are
The late psychologist gave the world an extraordinary gift: admitting his mistakes.
A Drug Half as Good as Ozempic for One-30th the Price
New obesity drugs are remarkable. But few people realize how useful the old ones can be.