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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 …
What James Madison can teach Americans about religious freedom today
Painting in the Wisconsin State Capitol of ‘The Signing of the American Constitution.’ George Washington is seen presiding over the occasion, and on the right in the foreground is James Madison. E. R. Curtiss/Wisconsin Historical Society/Getty Images – By Corey D. B. Walker, …
Lamprey-inspired suction cup lifts 850 times its own weight
A lamprey’s ever-so-attractive oral disc. Depositphotos – By Ben Coxworth 2026 Mar 11 – Lampreys are able to stay securely attached to whales and sharks as they hurtle through the ocean, so you’d think they could teach us a thing or two about suction. …
‘The Tibetan Book of the Dead’ is actually not just about death
Tibetan fabric painting from the 17th or 18th century depicting a Bardo Cycle deity, representing transitional states between death and rebirth in Tibetan Buddhist belief. Dea/ V. Pirozzi/DeAgostini via Getty Images – By Jue Liang, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Case Western Reserve University …
What does the appendix do? Biologists explain the complicated evolution of this inconvenient organ
Most people get acquainted with their appendix when it’s inflamed and about to rupture. Sebastian Kaulitzki/Science Photo Library via Getty Images – By Phil Starks, Associate Professor of Biology, Tufts University And By Lilia Goncharova, Master’s Candidate in Biology, Tufts University Published: 2026 …
Wild scenes from the 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Lorea Hausheer (Switzerland) – Shortlist, Open Competition in Motion. Lorea Hausheer/Sony World Photography Awards 2026 – View 14 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Mar 10 – The Sony World Photography Awards, put together by the World Photography Organisation, are now in their …
Welcome to the ‘gray zone’ − home to nefarious international acts that fall short of outright conflict
Nefarious acts in all shades … as long as they are gray. Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images – By Andrew Latham, Professor of Political Science, Macalester College Published: 2026 Mar 03 – Hostile acts don’t always arrive with a clear signature. Nefarious actors shape elections without leaving …
Watch: World’s first robot movie found after more than a century
Gugusse et l’Automate is thought to be the very first movie to feature a robot. Library of Congress – By David Szondy 2026 Mar 08 – A piece of techno-cinematic history has emerged as the US Library of Congress releases the restored video of …
How Instagram addictiveness lawsuit could reshape social media – platform design meets product liability
Is the social media platform she’s using, rather than the content she’s viewing, a threat to her well-being? Fiordaliso/Moment via Getty Images – By Carolina Rossini, Professor of Practice and Director for Program, Public Interest Technology Initiative, UMass Amherst Published: 2026 Mar 06 – …
Prefabricated retreat pops up in Inner Mongolia’s volcanic landscape
The Volcano-In Hotel of Arrivals is scattered across the Baiyinkulun Steppe supplied by PLAT ASIA – View 19 Images – By Bridget Borgobello 2026 Mar 06 – PLAT ASIA has completed a 1,634-square-meter (17,588-sq-ft) hotel in the Baiyinkulun Steppe of Inner Mongolia, China. Dubbed …
Trauma patients recover faster when medical teams know each other well, new study finds
When someone is badly hurt, their potential for survival often depends on what happens in the first minutes after they arrive at the hospital. SDI Productions/E+ Collection/via Getty Images – By Linda Argote, Thomas Lord Professor of Organizational Behavior and Theory; Director, Center of …
GLP‑1 drugs may fight addiction across every major substance, according to a study of 600,000 people
With GLP-1 drugs becoming more accessible and affordable, they could also be within reach for substance use treatment. Michael Siluk/Universal Images Group via Getty Images – By Ziyad Al-Aly, Clinical Epidemiologist, Washington University in St. Louis Published: 2026 Mar 04 – A patient of …
Ingenious invention turns wheelchair users into Steadicam operators
Besides offering employment opportunities to wheelchair users, the Caerus Steadicam provides features not offered by conventional Steadicam rigs. Diverse Made Media – View 5 Images – By Shirl Leigh 2026 Mar 02 – If Caerus, the son of Zeus and the Greek god of …
What are HeLa cells? A cancer biologist explains
Cancer-causing viruses like HPV can cause cells to divide indefinitely and, in the case of Henrietta Lacks, become immortal. Tom Deerinck/NIH via Flickr, CC BY-NC – By Ivan Martínez, Associate Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University Published: 2022 Mar …
Bonkers omnidirectional electric ‘bike’ balances on a single ball wheel
James Bruton halved his ball bike’s wheels and doubled his problems. James Bruton/YouTube – View 4 Images – By Omar Kardoudi 2026 Mar 01 – British inventor and YouTuber James Bruton has a habit of solving problems nobody asked him to solve – and …
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 …