Science & Society
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Science & Society
Science’s questions rarely have clear, easy answers
Acting Editor in Chief Elizabeth Quill discusses science's complexities.
- Genetics
Human gene editing therapies are OK in certain cases, panel advises
A panel of experts says clinical gene editing to correct and prevent human disease should move forward, but enhancements should not be allowed.
- Science & Society
Analysis finds gender bias in peer-reviewer picks
The peer-review process aims to avoid bias, but it turns out there’s gender bias in who is picked to review the papers.
- Astronomy
In 20th century, astronomers opened their minds to gazillions of galaxies
Telescopes in the U.S. West opened astronomers’ eyes to a vast, expanding universe containing countless galaxies.
- Science & Society
Trump administration clampdowns on research agencies worry scientists
Mixture of bans on federal research communications create confusion and fear.
- Life
Mouse cells grown in rats cure diabetes in mice
Mixing cells of two species produces pig and cattle embryos with some human cells.
- Environment
Humans’ stuff vastly outweighs humans
The human-made technosphere weighs 30 trillion tons and surpasses the natural biosphere in mass and diversity, researchers estimate.
- Science & Society
Cancer studies get mixed grades on redo tests
Replications of cancer studies fail to reproduce some results.
- Health & Medicine
Promise and perils of marijuana deserve more scientific scrutiny
Report outlines medical potential and health dangers of cannabis and its components.
- Earth
Mapping the future of continents and batteries
Editor in chief Eva Emerson discusses how science provides new perspectives on the past and the future.
- Physics
‘Time Travel’ tours a fascinating fiction
James Gleick’s entertaining book Time Travel focuses more on fantasy than real science.
- Math
Hidden Figures highlights three black women who were vital to the U.S. space program
"Hidden Figures" tells the untold story of the "human computers" who were essential to the launch of the U.S. space program.
