Show Your Immune System Some Love
Antibodies are great and all, but macrophages, B cells, and helper T cells deserve some attention too.
So Much Hinges on the Existence of Ancient Black Holes
If real, these massive, invisible objects could help unravel the mystery of dark matter.
The Weekly Planet: An Outdated Idea Is Still Shaping Climate Policy
Biden’s team is split on how to think about climate change.
No, You’re Crying About a Helicopter on Mars
NASA just flew a tiny (and totally lovable) robot on another planet for the first time.
The Future of American Radio Astronomy Now Depends on China
After Puerto Rico’s Arecibo telescope collapsed late last year, the researchers who depended on it are in a tough position.
The Danger of a ‘Dudes Only’ Vaccine
We still don’t know who’s most at risk of getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine blood clots.
The Blood-Clot Problem Is Multiplying
So are theories to explain it.
COVID-19 Vaccines Are Entering Uncharted Immune Territory
Some people’s bodies aren’t set up for vaccines.
A Tiny Ant Brain Is Still Too Big for Reproduction
Disturbingly light is the head that wears the crown.
3 Different Futures for the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
A pause is just that—a pause—in which health officials can reevaluate the data at hand.
The Weekly Planet: The 1 Thing to Understand About Biden’s Infrastructure Plan
This is the only climate bill coming. Also: Why methane levels surged last year.
A Portal to Mars on the Tip of Iceland
A volcano erupting on the island is a living replica of what once happened on Mars.
The Sand Octopus Was Hiding in Plain Sight
And yet it took a 19th-century naturalist, a 21st-century grad student, and some Brazilian fishers to crack the mystery.
You Probably Have an Asymptomatic Infection Right Now
No, not COVID-19. Many, many viruses can infect humans without making us sick, and how they do that is one of biology’s deepest mysteries.
The Pandemic Is Undoing Field Researchers’ Oldest Assumption
With the right partners, scientists don’t have to visit their study sites to get good data.
An Interstellar Visitor Had a Sad Story to Tell
A hint of warmth from our sun helped reveal a mysterious comet’s secrets.
You Won’t Remember the Pandemic the Way You Think You Will
The stories you hold on to will be colored by your own experience—but also by the experiences of those around you.
The Biggest Party of 2021 Is About to Start
Billions of bugs will soon burst out of the ground to begin the mass gathering of a lifetime. It’s hard not to feel jealous.
Vaccine Cheat Days Are Adding Up
Vaccinated and unvaccinated people are getting more lax with behavior at a time when vigilance really matters.
So What’s the Point of Playtime?
Scientists think it’s valuable, but they’re not quite sure why.