Science & Society
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Genetics
Most Americans think it’s OK to tweak a baby’s genes to prevent disease
Americans generally favor tweaking a baby’s genes to reduce the chance of getting a disease, but think boosting intelligence is a step too far.
- Science & Society
People are bad at spotting fake news. Can computer programs do better?
Fake news–finding algorithms could someday make up the front lines of online fact checking.
- Science & Society
What does fake news look like to you?
Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses the importance of being able to illustrate science visually.
- Genetics
50 years ago, scientists took baby steps toward selecting sex
In 1968, scientists figured out how to determine the sex of rabbit embryos.
- Health & Medicine
‘The Poisoned City’ chronicles Flint’s water crisis
A new book examines how lead ended up in Flint’s water and resulted in a prolonged public health disaster.
- Science & Society
In research, detours are a key part of discovery
Editor in Chief Nancy Shute discusses the scientific process and the often contradictory research about Alzheimer's disease.
- Science & Society
Most Americans think funding science pays off
About 80 percent of U.S. adults say that federal spending on scientific and medical research provides value in the long run, a new survey finds.
- Genetics
The study of human heredity got its start in insane asylums
‘Genetics in the Madhouse’ reveals how human heredity research began as a statistical science in 19th century insane asylums.
- Health & Medicine
Medical breakthroughs come with a human cost
Editor in Chief Nancy Shute muses on the risks many medical advances pose in their infancy.
- Health & Medicine
‘Aroused’ recounts the fascinating history of hormones
The new book "Aroused" demystifies hormones, the chemicals that put the zing into life.
- Science & Society
Fighting sexual harassment in science may mean changing science itself
Sexual harassment is disturbingly prevalent in academia. But a course correction may involve tearing down the hierarchy that makes science run.
- Neuroscience
Splitting families may end, but migrant kids’ trauma needs to be studied
The long-term effects of separating children from their parents at the U.S. border need to be studied, scientists say.
