Warning: This Lab May Cause Injury or Death
Many of the hundreds of thousands of aspiring and early-career scientists — students, postdocs, and technicians — who labor in the labs, shops, and field stations of the nation’s universities appear to...
View ArticleUnsung: William Claytor
Largely unknown to the broader public, William Claytor — only the third African American to receive a Ph.D. in mathematics — typifies both the importance of peer mentoring in advancing the careers of...
View ArticleMobilizing Green Latinos
Using culturally-relevant messages that highlight the very real public health consequences of climate change, pollution, and other environmental concerns, environmental organizations have been working...
View ArticleAbstracts: Nutella, Social Sharks, Bionic Spinach, and More
Scientists are tracking sharks’ social networks. The FDA is researching how much Nutella people consume to decide whether to update the serving size. Researchers have engineered bionic spinach to...
View ArticleThe Claws Come Out
Peter Marra's new book, “Cat Wars,” makes a convincing case that unconfined felines are taking a major toll on wildlife — and putting the growing ranks of cat lovers and bird lovers on an ugly...
View ArticleIn the Final Push to Mobilize Voters, It’s the Personal Touch That Counts
In the waning days of the election, Americans are being inundated in phone calls, emails and mailbox stuffers. But researchers say most of the money spent on boosting voter turnout is wasted because...
View ArticleOne Last Look: The Candidates on Climate and Energy
Science journalist Vanessa Schipani of SciCheck, a project of FactCheck, takes one last look at the candidates’ stances on climate change and a variety of related topics, from extreme weather and the...
View ArticleAbstracts: Science Writers, Supermoons, and More
Members of the National Association of Science Writers voted down a contentious proposal that divided the organization to its core. Meanwhile, a young Earth may have been "whacked" by a Mars-size...
View ArticleThe Marijuana Vote: Legalize First, Ask Questions Later?
Pro-cannabis groups are hailing Tuesday's ballot initiatives to legalize marijuana as yet more evidence that the tides have turned in their favor. But the market for medical and recreational marijuana...
View ArticleCan Donald Trump Dismantle the EPA? It’s Been Tried Before.
As Donald Trump mulls candidates for top energy and environmental posts, climate activists and green groups are girding for a wave of deregulation not seen since Reagan's E.P.A. administrator tried to...
View ArticleAbstracts: Snails in Love, Election Polls, Speedy Bats, and More
If the results of the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election caught you by surprise, that may be because the polls were way off. Jeremy, the “lonely snail,” has finally found love. The Brazilian free-tailed...
View ArticleAbstracts: Red Squirrels, Zika, Climate, and More
Some scientists discover that red squirrels harbor leprosy, while others investigate why certain flus are particularly lethal in young adults. Another condition, PTSD, may affect veterans as well as...
View ArticleIn Antarctica’s Shallows, a Climate Paradox
Less than 160 feet below the surface of Antarctica's frigid coastal waters, the seafloor teems with life. That life — from sea worms to colonial creatures called bryozoans — has the potential to slow...
View ArticleHopes for Nuclear Power, However Unlikely, Blossom With Trump’s Rise
Donald Trump is likely to shake up the nation's energy portfolio, and the nuclear power industry is hoping for a new shot at growing its market share. That's something that even some green groups are...
View ArticleTrump and the Social Psychology of Prejudice
Social and psychological research suggests that individual expressions of prejudice depend highly on perceived social norms. After a bitter campaign in which Donald Trump disparaged numerous social and...
View ArticleThe Return of Stem Cell Politics
Under President-elect Donald Trump, stem cell research could see the return of Bush-era restrictions. Scientists developed a number of funding and access workarounds during that time, which may prove...
View ArticleAbstracts: Political Facebook, CRISPR in Humans, Moody Pigs, and More
The Trump campaign digital director explains how social media helped them win the presidency. Chinese scientists have become the first to test CRISPR gene-editing in a human subject. Pessimistic pigs'...
View ArticleThe Clean Power Plan Might Die, But Its Goals Are Being Realized
The Obama administration's signature Clean Power Plan is now tied up in the courts and will likely be gutted by Donald Trump. But market forces are already largely achieving the carbon dioxide...
View ArticleAbstracts: Extinction, Standing Rock, Craters, and More
Protesters clash with police in North Dakota. Sixty-six million years ago, a comet decimated the dinosaurs but created a niche for other forms of life. Today, another mass extinction is on its way, and...
View ArticleSteering Public Sentiment on Genetically Modified Mosquitoes
Public health authorities in Florida are contending with a small but vocal group of opponents to the release of genetically modified mosquitoes to combat diseases like Zika. But earlier experiments in...
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