Feature
- Oceans
Fish escapes from marine farms raise concerns about wildlife
Farmed salmon, sea bass and other fish frequently escape from sea cages into the ocean. Will these runaways harm native wildlife?
By Roberta Kwok - Microbes
Microbial matter comes out of the dark
Undiscovered bacteria challenge what scientists know about microbial life.
By Laura Beil - Life
CRISPR inspires new tricks to edit genes
CRISPR/Cas9 has been a rockstar gene-editing tool for just four years and it’s already being tweaked to do more things better.
- Neuroscience
What Donkey Kong can tell us about how to study the brain
Neuroscience tools failed to reveal much about a simple microprocessor. What can they really tell us about the brain?
- Physics
The pressure is on to make metallic hydrogen
Scientists are getting close to turning hydrogen into a metal — both in liquid form and maybe even solid form. The rewards, if they pull it off, are worth the effort.
- Environment
New desalination tech could help quench global thirst
Designed with better, more energy-efficient materials, next-generation desalination plants may offer a way to meet the world’s growing need for freshwater.
- Earth
Iron-loving elements tell stories of Earth’s history
By studying geochemical footprints of rare elements, researchers get a glimpse of the planet’s evolution.
- Tech
SPIDER shrinks telescopes with far-out design
Researchers hope new approach to interferometry and photonics will replace standard telescopes and long-range cameras where room is scarce.
- Life
A healthy old age may trump immortality
Despite disagreements about what aging is and isn't, scientists have reached a radical consensus: It can be delayed.
- Neuroscience
The brain’s blueprint for aging is set early in life
The brain's decline may mirror its beginning, offering clues to aging.
- Animals
Organisms age in myriad ways — and some might not even bother
There is great variety in how animals and plants deteriorate (or don’t) over time.
By Susan Milius - Health & Medicine
Vaccines could counter addictive opioids
Scientists turn to vaccines to curb the growing opioid epidemic.
By Susan Gaidos