All Stories

  1. Readers ask about the James Webb Space Telescope and cosmic cannibalism

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  2. Rethinking psychedelics and mental health

    Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses the growing scientific interest in psychedelics as a treatment for mental health problems such as depression and PTSD

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  3. Environment

    50 years ago, corporate greenwashing was well under way

    Concerns about companies distorting their environmental record are nothing new. Environmental ads were flagged as deceptive back in 1971.

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  4. Life

    Albatrosses divorce more often when ocean waters warm

    In one part of the Falkland Islands, up to 8 percent of the famously faithful birds ditch partners in years when the ocean is warmer than average.

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  5. Astronomy

    Astronomers have found the Milky Way’s first known ‘feather’

    Named for the glacier that feeds India’s longest river, the Gangotri wave spans up to 13,000 light-years and bridges two of our galaxy’s spiral arms.

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  6. Space

    A space rock called Kamoʻoalewa may be a piece of the moon

    New observations reveal the possible origins of a mysterious object called Kamoʻoalewa. It could be the wreckage from an ancient impact on the moon.

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  7. Quantum Physics

    Scientists finally detected a quantum effect that blocks atoms from scattering light

    When all available quantum states are full, atoms can’t scatter light, thanks to the Pauli exclusion principle, new experiments show.

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  8. Climate

    How climate change may shape the world in the centuries to come

    Climate projections need to be pushed long past the established benchmark of 2100, researchers argue.

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  9. Climate

    A new map shows where carbon needs to stay in nature to avoid climate disaster

    Scientists have mapped the location of key natural carbon stores. Keeping these areas intact is crucial to fighting climate change.

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  10. Astronomy

    How massive stars in binary systems turn into carbon factories

    A massive star with an orbiting partner star ejects on average twice as much carbon, an element crucial for life, into space compared with a solo star.

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  11. Chemistry

    This eco-friendly glitter gets its color from plants, not plastic

    Using cellulose extracted from wood pulp, researchers have created a greener alternative to traditional glitter.

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  12. Science & Society

    How missing data makes it harder to measure racial bias in policing

    Police officers rarely record nonevents, such as drawing a gun without firing. Failing to account for that missing information can obscure racial bias.

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