Book Review: The Dazzling Complexity of the Frozen World
In “Ends of the Earth,” popular science writer and paleontologist Neil Shubin travels north and south to explore the frontiers of polar research, as well as the extraordinary biological adaptations of...
View ArticleTo Curb Online Sexual Abuse of Children, Experts Look to AI
Some experts say the online abuse of children is rampant, and that police and lawmakers need more tools to catch perpetrators. Now, researchers in several countries are training artificial intelligence...
View ArticleAmid NOAA Cuts, Scientists Warn of Weather and Climate Risks
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration supports everything from emergency preparedness to weather apps to climate science. Many meteorologists say that recent reductions in funding and...
View ArticleNow Is the Time for a Covid-19 Synthesis
More than five years ago, the Covid-19 virus reached U.S. shores. Talking about the pandemic has become overwhelming, writes columnist C. Brandon Ogbunu. But now is the time to extract meaningful...
View ArticleMating and Monogamy: The Tricky Sex Lives of Birds
Even among the most durable migratory bird pairings, sexual exclusivity is rarely part of their relationship. One of the most remarkable evolutionary strategies is brood parasitism, or the sneaking of...
View ArticleThe Melatonin-ification of Childhood Bedtimes
Academic surveys suggest that as many as one in five preteens in the U.S. now take melatonin at least occasionally, and that some younger children consume it multiple times per week. Companies and...
View ArticleWhy Did the CDC Bury Its Latest Measles Forecast?
The move — along with the CDC’s explanation — is a sign that the nation’s top public health agency may be falling in line under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of vaccines.
View ArticleFor Health Apps, Questions Over Privacy and Efficacy
Apps that help track health information, provide diagnostic assistance, and facilitate care may have benefits, but with a patchwork of regulations, there’s potential for harm. Experts say more...
View ArticleIn Western Wildlife, Bird Flu Deaths Highlight Uncertainties
In Washington state, The closely-spaced deaths of two cougars who tested positive for the H5N1 avian flu suggest the virus is likely more widespread than thought. “There’s just so much about this virus...
View ArticleYour Genome Is a Specimen. Let’s Treat It Like One
The impending bankruptcy of genetic testing company 23andMe prompted worries about consumers’ personal data being sold. It has also raised the argument that genetic data shouldn’t be treated as assets...
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