Science

The Rise of Greenflation

Extreme weather and energy uncertainty are already sending prices soaring.

Should We Go All In on Omicron Vaccines?

A shot designed for Omicron can teach the immune system about Omicron. But it might not prepare us for whatever comes next.

Endemicity Is Meaningless

The coronavirus will be with us forever. But we still have no idea what happens next.

We Almost Forgot About the Moon Trees

A collection of tree seeds that went round and round the moon was scattered far and wide back home.

Is California on the Verge of a Second Gold Rush?

Gold mines are reopening in places where mining was once thought to be economically unfeasible.

Omicron Is Driving Delta Into the Ground

But the older variant isn’t quite dead yet.

Not Even Free Money Can Fix a Carbon Tax

A carbon dividend seemed like a great way to solve climate politics. But it might not work.

The Utility of White-Hot Rage

Living in the era of climate change might make us feel guilt, or grief, or anger. How do those who think about these problems every day keep going?

Astronomy’s Most Dazzling Era Is About to Begin

The James Webb Space Telescope is now about 1 million miles from Earth, and almost ready to scan the cosmos.

Idaho Is Sitting on One of the Most Important Elements on Earth

The clean-energy revolution is unleashing a rush on cobalt, reviving old mines—and old questions—in a remote forest.

How a Rare Brain Mutation Spread Across America

The Bowlin family knew they had a history of malformations in the brain. But they had no idea how far back it went.

How Can Something So Small Live So Long?

Ant queens break the rules of aging.

Satellites Are Spotting the Beached Whales We Never Would Have Found

Especially in remote areas, dead whales often go unnoticed until it’s too late to know what went wrong.

Why a Three-Dose Vaccine for Young Kids Might Actually Work Out

We still don’t know when exactly the shots are coming, but there’s reason to hope that vaccine makers’ current plans are on the right track.

Will Omicron Leave Most of Us Immune?

The variant is spreading widely, but won’t necessarily give us strong protection from new infections.

Lumber Prices Are off the Rails Again. Blame Climate Change.

“This is a supply-side problem. This is unlike any other market that any of us lumber traders have ever experienced.”

We Booped the Sun

For such a familiar celestial body, the sun is still very mysterious—but we’re getting closer to it than ever before.

A Human Can Befriend an Octopus. Can an Octopus Befriend a Human?

We still know very little about what goes on inside the mind of one of the ocean’s smartest creatures.

The Worst of the Omicron Wave Could Still Be Coming

A long descent from a peak in cases could exact a larger toll than even Omicron’s blistering ascent.

Calling Omicron ‘Mild’ Is Wishful Thinking

We are far past the point of hoping that this variant will spare us.