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Placebo effect can work as well as real medicine – but your body may need permission to use it
From empty pills to homeopathy to sham surgery, placebos have powerful effects on the body. Irina Marwan/Moment via Getty Images – By Phil Starks, Associate Professor of Biology, Tufts University Published: 2026 Apr 21 – The first time the placebo effect really got …
Intimate partner homicide has clear warning signs – and is often preventable, research shows
Taking away access to firearms is one of the few effective interventions for reducing intimate partner homicide. Nastco/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Kathryn Spearman, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Penn State Published: 2026 Apr 20 – Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax was an accomplished …
Robot smashes human record in half-marathon – as another self-destructs
There was no stopping Lightning – nor the Honor team, which took the top three spots with its humanoid models. Xinhua via China Daily – View 6 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Apr 19 – The era of us laughing at humanoids playing …
Cooler-size survival cube purifies saltwater as well as fresh
This reverse osmosis machine is said to be able to handle both freshwater and saltwater sources. Vital Lyfe – View 4 Images – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2026 Apr 17 – California-based startup Vital Lyfe says its first product, a portable battery-powered filtration system, can …
As renaissance fairs become big business, can they retain their counterculture roots?
King Richard’s Faire in Carver, Mass., was inaugurated in 1982 and is the longest-running renaissance fair in New England. Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images – By Katrina Stack, Ph.D. Candidate in Human Geography, University of Tennessee And by Reagan Yessler, Adjunct Professor …
A giant cat has made itself at home inside Hong Kong’s airport
Even arriving bleary-eyed at midnight, there was no missing “Catzilla.” New Atlas – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Apr 15 – Passengers landing at Hong Kong International Airport this month will be greeted by a surprise friend waiting for them in the arrivals hall – …
Sub-1-oz survival straw is as simple as dunk and sip
Lifestraw’s lightest water filter to date, the Sip Essential is as simple as dunk and sip. Lifestraw – By C.C. Weiss 2026 Apr 15 – Lifestraw is at it again. The company has made some of the world’s lightest, slimmest wilderness survival filters for …
When a president is unfit for office, here’s what the Constitution says can happen
President Donald Trump mimics an Iranian protester being shot while holding a news conference in the White House on 2026 Apr 06. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images – By Kirsten Matoy Carlson, Professor of Law and Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Wayne State …
Antibiotics can trigger bacteria to release bubbles of inflammation tinder, making it harder to treat infection
E. coli is mostly harmless and sometimes beneficial – but some strains can cause serious infection. Photo by Eric Erbe, Colorization by Christopher Pooley/USDA ARS – By Panteha Torabian, Ph.D. Candidate in Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology Published: 2026 Apr 14 …
“Spin-flip” system pushes solar cell energy conversion efficiency past 100%
Photovoltaic panels could soon be capable of generating significantly more electricity, thanks to a new system that radically boosts the energy conversion efficiency of solar cells. Depositphotos – By Etiido Uko 2026 Apr 13 – Energy can never be created or destroyed. That’s basic …
Coffee in your walls? Breakthrough converts grounds to insulation
Usually tossed away, spent coffee grounds could soon find a second life as insulation. Depositphotos – By Michael Franco 2026 Apr 12 – Around the world, over two billion daily cups of coffee are consumed. That means there are a staggering amount of coffee grounds …
Energy storage breakthrough traps sunlight in a molecule
A depiction of solar energy being stored as a chemical bond in a molecule. Image generated using Google AI – By Chelsea Haney 2026 Apr 10 – Beyond the rather low efficiency of today’s solar panels in converting the power of the Sun into electricity, …
Psilocybin mushrooms are going mainstream, but scientific research and regulation lag behind
Psilocybin mushrooms contain numerous chemical compounds that researchers have not yet studied. Smitt/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Hollis Karoly, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus And by Kent Hutchison, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus …
It’s OK to love all the bees (the honey bees, too)
This wild ground bee, Andrena nothoscordi, is typically found in the Central U.S. and Southeast and loves false garlic flowers. Sam Droege/USGS Bee Lab via Flickr – By (see more on Grozinger, Melathopoulos, Rittschof, Patch, and Evans below) Published: 2026 Apr 09 – North America’s …
City animals act in the same brazen ways around the world
A monkey swipes a soda in Thailand. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images – By Daniel T. Blumstein, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles And by Peter Mikula, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Faculty …
China’s ‘Silicon Valley,’ US landmarks stand in a strange world frozen in time
The four presidents sit above one of the world’s most curious theme parks. Window of the World/New Atlas – View 42 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Apr 07 – Mount Rushmore may have its home in South Dakota, but it’s also in Shenzhen, …
Philadelphia’s founding years were rife with conspiracy fears about ‘godless’ Freemasons and the Illuminati
George Washington was initiated into Freemasonry at the age of 20. Strobridge & Co. Lith./Library of Congress via AP – By Derek Arnold, Instructor in Communication, Villanova University Published: 2026 Apr 06 – How conspiracies spread has changed immensely over the history of the …
The Department of Justice is suing states for sensitive voter data − an election law scholar explains why federal efforts are facing resistance
The Trump administration wants a lot of voter information from states. smartboy10/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images – By John J. Martin, Assistant Professor of Law, Quinnipiac University Published: 2026 Apr 01 – In May 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice began sending letters to …
Getting $750 a month didn’t end homelessness – but our study shows it still improved the lives of homeless people
There was no evidence that participants in this experiment squandered the money they received. AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes – By Benjamin F. Henwood, Professor of Social Policy and Health, University of Southern California Published: 2026 Apr 02 – Can giving homeless people US$750 a …
Sea sponge inspires tower rising to supertall height in North America
595 West Georgia Street is a futuristic supertall skyscraper that’s inspired by the sponge reefs found in the waters of British Columbia. Holborn Group – View 5 Images – By Adam Williams 2026 Apr 03 – This remarkable skyscraper draws inspiration from the most …
Natural supplements can be dangerously contaminated, or not even have the specified ingredients
Some supplement products contain substances that are harmful. Getty Images / David Malan – By C. Michael White, Professor and Head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Connecticut Published: 2020 Feb 14 •Updated: 2020 Feb 18 – More than two-thirds of Americans …
Winter’s alarmingly low snowpack offers a glimpse of the changing rhythm of water in the western US
In a good year, the West’s mountain snowpack feeds streams and rivers well into Summer. George Rose/Contributor/Getty Images News – By Imtiaz Rangwala, Senior Research Scientist in Climate, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder Published: 2026 Apr 01 …
Practical Smell-O-Vision could soon be coming to a VR headset near you
The Eight-Channel Wearable Olfactory Display for Virtual Reality (black box at bottom), connected to a commercial VR headset. Takamichi Nakamoto – By Shirl Leigh 2026 Mar 31 – Despite the many improvements in virtual reality (VR) technology, with realistic visual and auditory content that …
Decades of hostility between Iran and the US were preceded by a little‑remembered century‑long friendship
The ouster of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh marked a turning point in U.S.-Iran relations. AP Photo – By Daniel Thomas Potts,Professor of Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology and History, New York University Published: 2026 Mar 30 – The British- and American-backed plot to overthrow …
Gallery: Powerful images from The Nature Photography Contest
“She’s Mine, Back Off” – Jill Hill (Wildlife finalist) Jill Hill/The Nature Photography Contest – View 37 Images By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Mar 29 – The best images of the Nature Photography Contest have been decided, and we can’t imagine it was an easy …
COVID‑19 variant BA.3.2 is spreading quickly across US – a doctor explains what you need to know
The BA.3.2 variant of SARS-COV-2, nicknamed Cicada, is gaining ground across the U.S. and globally. Grafissimo/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Kyle B. Enfield, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia Published: 2026 Mar 28 – A variant of COVID-19 called BA.3.2, which …
Cameras have quietly appeared in thousands of US cities – now, their integration with AI is sounding alarms
A small, black license plate recognition camera is mounted on a light pole in Boulder, Colo. Matthew Jonas/MediaNews Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images – By Jess Reia, Assistant Professor of Data Science, University of Virginia Published: 2026 Mar 27 – For decades, …
Vagus nerve stimulation shows promise as a way to counter Alzheimer’s disease‑ and age‑related memory loss
The vagus nerve, which carries information between the brain and heart, lungs and other organs, might regulate the activity of a tiny brain region called the locus coeruleus. Sebastian Kaulitzki/Science Photo Library via Getty Images – By Elizabeth Riley, Lecturer in Psychology, Cornell …
Teens are driving the demand for online abortion pills via telehealth – new research
Abortion pills have been shown to be safe and effective. MementoJpeg/Moment via Getty Images – By Dana Johnson, Postdoctoral Fellow in Health Disparities Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison And by Laura D. Lindberg, Professor of Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rutgers University Published: 2026 Mar …
HBO’s ‘The Pitt’ nails how hospital cyberattacks create chaos, endanger patients and disrupt critical care
In its second season, ‘The Pitt’ grapples with a surprisingly common type of hospital emergency. Warrick Page/HBO Max By Jeffrey Tully, Associate Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego And by Christian Dameff, Associate Professor of Emergency Medical Services, University of …
Can you survive inside a tornado? This scientist did by accident – he’s lucky to be alive
Tornadoes can be erratic and extremely dangerous. Brent Koops/NOAA Weather in Focus Photo Contest 2015, CC BY – By Perry Samson, Professor Emeritus of Atmospheric Science, University of Michigan Published: 2026 Mar 23 – Curious Kids is a series for children of all …
Wild history of unknown superfood that’s now destined for fame
The most delicious little morsel of nature you may never have heard of. New Atlas – View 4 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Mar 22 – Resembling something more like green grapes with thicker and darker skin, the kiwiberry may be one of …
The national and regional Sony World Photo Awards winners are all killer, no filler
“Fishing Together,” Myanmar National winner, Sony World Photography Awards 2026. Kyaw Zayar Lin – View 11 Images – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2026 Mar 21 – The Sony World Photography Awards competition has been attracting immensely talented creatives from across the globe since 2008, and …
Federal judge temporarily blocks RFK Jr.’s vaccine agenda – an epidemiologist answers questions parents may have
A lawsuit brought by six medical organizations seeks to block several changes that federal health officials made to vaccine policy. Jackyenjoyphotography/Moment via Getty Images – By Katrine L. Wallace, Epidemiologist, University of Illinois Chicago Published: 2026 Mar 20 – Public health advocates have …
Power outages can threaten the lives of medical device users – knowing who is most at risk will help cities respond
Many older adults rely on electric-powered medical equipment, such as portable oxygen and nebulizers that help them breathe. Westend61 via Getty Images – By Matthew D. Dean, Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Irvine And by Katherine Asmussen, Research Assistant …
Humans evolved with their microbiomes – like genes, your gut microbes pass from one generation to the next
The gut microbiome may also play a role in personalized medicine. nopparit/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Taichi A. Suzuki, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Biology And by Ruth Ley, Director, Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck …
The first modern rocket launched 100 years ago, beginning a century of both innovations and challenges for spaceflight
Robert Goddard, considered the father of modern rocketry, standing with a rocket in 1935. Esther Goddard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images – By Michael Carrafiello, Professor of History, Miami University Published: 2026 Mar 16 – Apollo 11 first landed astronauts on the Moon in 1969, but …
Dr. Robert H. Goddard the “Father of Modern Rocketry” in New Mexico
Dr. Robert H. Goddard tows his rocket to the launching tower behind a Model A Ford truck, at Mescalero Ranch, about 15 miles northwest of Roswell, New Mexico. Circa 1930-1932. Commons.Wikimedia.Org By “AI” and Skip Whitson 2026 Mar 18 Between 1930 and 1941, …
Paul Ehrlich, often called alarmist for dire warnings about human harms to the Earth, believed scientists had a responsibility to speak out
Biologist Paul R. Ehrlich in 2010. Paul R. Ehrlich/Wikipedia, CC BY – By William J. (Bill) Kovarik, Professor of Communication, Radford University Published: 2026 Mar 16 – Stanford University biologist Paul Ehrlich, who died 2026 Mar 13, in Palo Alto, California, was a …
Why are so many statues naked? An art historian explains this tradition’s ancient roots
Artists have represented human bodies without clothes for a very long time. Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC BY – By Anna Swartwood House, Associate Professor of Art History, University of South Carolina Published: 2026 Mar 02 – Curious Kids is a series for children …
Placebo effect can work as well as real medicine – but your body may need permission to use it
From empty pills to homeopathy to sham surgery, placebos have powerful effects on the body. Irina Marwan/Moment via Getty Images – By Phil Starks, Associate Professor of Biology, Tufts University Published: 2026 Apr 21 – The first time the placebo effect really got …
Intimate partner homicide has clear warning signs – and is often preventable, research shows
Taking away access to firearms is one of the few effective interventions for reducing intimate partner homicide. Nastco/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Kathryn Spearman, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Penn State Published: 2026 Apr 20 – Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax was an accomplished …
Robot smashes human record in half-marathon – as another self-destructs
There was no stopping Lightning – nor the Honor team, which took the top three spots with its humanoid models. Xinhua via China Daily – View 6 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Apr 19 – The era of us laughing at humanoids playing …
Cooler-size survival cube purifies saltwater as well as fresh
This reverse osmosis machine is said to be able to handle both freshwater and saltwater sources. Vital Lyfe – View 4 Images – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2026 Apr 17 – California-based startup Vital Lyfe says its first product, a portable battery-powered filtration system, can …
As renaissance fairs become big business, can they retain their counterculture roots?
King Richard’s Faire in Carver, Mass., was inaugurated in 1982 and is the longest-running renaissance fair in New England. Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images – By Katrina Stack, Ph.D. Candidate in Human Geography, University of Tennessee And by Reagan Yessler, Adjunct Professor …
A giant cat has made itself at home inside Hong Kong’s airport
Even arriving bleary-eyed at midnight, there was no missing “Catzilla.” New Atlas – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Apr 15 – Passengers landing at Hong Kong International Airport this month will be greeted by a surprise friend waiting for them in the arrivals hall – …
Sub-1-oz survival straw is as simple as dunk and sip
Lifestraw’s lightest water filter to date, the Sip Essential is as simple as dunk and sip. Lifestraw – By C.C. Weiss 2026 Apr 15 – Lifestraw is at it again. The company has made some of the world’s lightest, slimmest wilderness survival filters for …
When a president is unfit for office, here’s what the Constitution says can happen
President Donald Trump mimics an Iranian protester being shot while holding a news conference in the White House on 2026 Apr 06. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images – By Kirsten Matoy Carlson, Professor of Law and Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Wayne State …
Antibiotics can trigger bacteria to release bubbles of inflammation tinder, making it harder to treat infection
E. coli is mostly harmless and sometimes beneficial – but some strains can cause serious infection. Photo by Eric Erbe, Colorization by Christopher Pooley/USDA ARS – By Panteha Torabian, Ph.D. Candidate in Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology Published: 2026 Apr 14 …
“Spin-flip” system pushes solar cell energy conversion efficiency past 100%
Photovoltaic panels could soon be capable of generating significantly more electricity, thanks to a new system that radically boosts the energy conversion efficiency of solar cells. Depositphotos – By Etiido Uko 2026 Apr 13 – Energy can never be created or destroyed. That’s basic …