Shark Skin Is Engineered for Speed
And humans are desperately trying to mimic its properties in boats and swimsuits.
The Infinite Possibilities in a Tiny Smudge From Outer Space
Astronomers have captured a poignant view of another planetary system in the making.
China Accidentally Made Our Gas Much Cheaper
Xi Jinping’s zero-COVID lockdowns have been an unexpected gift to Joe Biden.
There Are Too Many Jellyfish in the Mediterranean. Why Not Eat Them?
Italian chefs are trying to adapt their cuisine for a world with fewer fish.
The Russian Space Program Is Falling Back to Earth
The storied space superpower was already stalling. Then came the Ukraine war.
Pregnancy Is a War; Birth Is a Cease-Fire
Fetuses want more than their mother can safely give.
The Masks We’ll Wear in the Next Pandemic
N95s are good. Some scientists want to do much better.
There Are No ‘Five Stages’ of Grief
Losing my son left me in a state of infinite sadness. The internet of grief didn’t help.
Frankenstein’s Hummer
The company's new electric pickup truck is an unwieldy mix between an ambulance and a race car.
Scientists Can No Longer Ignore Ancient Flooding Tales
Indigenous stories from the end of the last Ice Age could be more than myth.
A UV Lamp That’s Bad for COVID but Not for You
Researchers are testing lights that have the early potential to transform the pandemic.
There’s Hope for Life on Europa, a Distant Moon
Beneath its frozen surface could be a salty ocean—and maybe a comfortable home for small life forms.
I Was Allergic to Cats. Until Suddenly, I Wasn’t.
No one quite knows why some allergies disappear and others don’t.
Why Is Everyone Stealing Parrots?
It’s a weirdly common crime—and, commonly, a weird one.
The Climate Economy Is About to Explode
A new report suggests that the Inflation Reduction Act could be even bigger than Congress thinks.
Why Is the Most American Fruit So Hard to Buy?
With a bit of science, maybe someday we will all eat pawpaws.
Can Invasive Species Ever Be Good?
Some scientists say fear of invasive species is nativist; others call that criticism “unconvincing if not tortuous.”
Wild Birds in North America Are Dying Like Never Before
Scientists are concerned for North American wildlife as the worst avian flu outbreak since 2015 rages on.
America’s Lost Crops Rewrite the History of Farming
Our food system could have been so different.
Well, That’s One Way to Save a Space Telescope From Falling Back to Earth
The beloved Hubble observatory could get the SpaceX treatment.