Brain Maps Are a Trap
Memory and other mental functions can’t simply be reduced to one part of the brain.
Schrödinger’s Planet
We’ll never have a final answer on whether Pluto is a planet.
Hummingbirds Have an Easy Way to Fool Harassers
Male white-necked jacobins sport bright-blue feathers. So do the stealthiest females.
How the U.S. Could Slash Climate Pollution by 2030
Democrats will soon reveal how the Biden administration’s plans could cut U.S. climate pollution in half this decade. Is that goal even possible?
This Wasp Nest of Mine, I’m Gonna Let It Shine
Under ultraviolet light, the silk that covers the base of paper-wasp nests turns neon green.
The Coronavirus Could Get Worse
Delta is far from the last variant. But what shape the virus takes next depends on us.
The FDA Really Did Have to Take This Long
If vaccine approval feels maddeningly scrupulous, that’s because the alternative is worse.
‘What Is This Doing to Their Lungs?’
Wildfire smoke is taking a toll on cows in the West, potentially even diminishing how much milk they produce.
Jeff Bezos Needs NASA to Listen to Him
NASA picked SpaceX to build its lunar lander, but the Amazon billionaire really, really wants the job too.
In Some Places, People Talk in Whistles Louder Than Car Horns
More than 80 communities around the world have turned entire languages into whistles as a way to communicate over long distances.
I Spent 5 Months Trying to Coax a Cat From My Ceiling
The whole time, I misunderstood what was keeping her up there.
Delta Has Changed the Pandemic Risk Calculus
If you’re confused about what you can do right now, you should be.
The Bill That Could Truly, Actually Bring Back U.S. Manufacturing
And help the climate, too
Why Wait 8 Months?
You could probably sneak in a COVID-19 booster shot right now. But there are a few good reasons to hold off.
The Best Kind of Aging Brain
Unlike humans, cuttlefish can form crystal-clear memories even in their final weeks.
The Coronavirus Is Here Forever. This Is How We Live With It.
We can’t avoid the virus for the rest of our lives, but we can minimize its impact.
‘Flora and Fauna’ Is So Outdated
It’s time to give fungi the respect they’re due.
Near-Death Experiences Can Scar Animals for Life
Humans may not be the only creatures who get PTSD.
Someone Show NASA a Calendar
The agency has said it’s going to make it to the moon in 2024. That’s simply not possible.
Vaccines Are Like Sunscreen … No, Wait, Airbags … No, Wait …
Everyone is bad at describing the vaccines, including me.