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Taxi drivers rarely die of Alzheimer’s – how complex mental maps and spatial reasoning protect your brain
Figuring out a circuitous route between point A to point B can strengthen your brain. justhavealook/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Hatim Sharif, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio Published: 2026 Aug 06 – Taxi …
Boulder is opening homes to Sundance visitors through a new license – who stands to benefit?
The Boulder Theater is one of many locations that will host screenings for the Sundance Film Festival in January 2027. Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images – By Tim Komarek, Associate Professor of Economics, Colorado State University Published: 2026 Aug 05 – …
How hackers attack municipal water systems – and why the utilities are so vulnerable
A July 2026 cyberattack targeted more than 30 water systems in Minnesota municipalities, including Plymouth. AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt – By William Akoto, Assistant Professor of Global Security, American University School of International Service Published: 2026 Aug 04 – Hackers tried to break into at …
Why the Spokane wildfires became so catastrophic
Andrew Rowley watches a wildfire burning from a distance after evacuating his home in Spokane, Wash., on 2026 Aug 01. AP Photo/Young Kwak – By Mojtaba Sadegh, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, Boise State University; United Nations University And by John Abatzoglou, Professor of …
Bird droppings were a foundation of modern agriculture and American empire
An advertisement for guano to be used as fertilizer depicts not only seabirds but also a guano island. Bradley Fertilizer Company via Garden History – By Edward D. Melillo, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of History and Environmental Studies, Amherst College Published: 2026 Jul …
Wildfires can generate tornadoes, lightning and other extreme weather, sometimes miles from the flames
A fire whirl, or fire tornado, rises from flames near Wofford Heights, Calif., in August 2021. David McNew/Getty Images – By Yunyao Li, Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas at Arlington Published: 2026 Jul 30 – We often think …
Foldable synthetic molecules could infiltrate and bust apart the toxic protein clumps causing Parkinson’s
Toxic clumps of abnormal proteins damage neurons and cause dementia. Juan Gaertner/Science Photo Library via Getty Images – By Sunil Kumar, Associate Professor of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Denver Published: 2026 Jul 31 – Current therapies for Parkinson’s disease and related …
Should you wash your prewashed lettuce? An infectious disease expert explains how to eat your greens safely during the cyclospora outbreak
Prewashed greens are extremely convenient, but whole heads of lettuce may be less risky during a cyclospora outbreak. CostaPPPR via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA – By Lisa Cuchara, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Quinnipiac University Published: 2026 Jul 29 – Salads – along with other …
Compact 3D printer produces full-color models right on your desktop
The HeyGears G1X produces full-color 3D prints, so you don’t need to manually paint or finish them. HeyGears View 7 Images – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2026 Jul 27 – HeyGears’ upcoming 3D printer has a load of tricks up its sleeve, but the most …
Porous compound pulls 2 liters of water from air, and is factory-ready
The new material could help ease drought by extracting up to 1.8 liters of water from the air per day. Michaela St – Pexels View 5 Images – By Omar Kardoudi 2026 Jul 16 – The Mediterranean is getting hotter and drier, pushing scientists …
Simple outdoor flood alarm protects homes from rising waters
The battery-powered RiseAlert would simply be mounted on a pole, fence post, etc. downslope from a residence – no Wi-Fi connectivity or app would be required. Daniella Rempe – View 3 Images – By Maryna Holovnova 2026 Jul 27 – Climate change is reshaping …
A fraction of world’s seawater could meet energy needs for generations
There’s magnesium, lithium, nickel and platinum in that thar seawater. Depositphotos View 5 Images – By Etiido Uko 2026 Jul 26 – “Under the sea, Darling it’s better, Down where it’s wetter, Take it from me!” sang a certain Jamaican crab in The Little …
Creating synthetic life in a lab? SpudCell falls short of the goal, but raises even more useful questions
If synthetic cells are ever made, they may look like this illustration of translucent bubbles under the microscope. Westend61/Getty Images – By Tara Deans, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology Published: 2026 Jul 08 – Nature is beautiful, powerful and essential. …
‘Critically stressed’ US earthquake fault reaches 1,000-year pressure peak
The San Andreas Fault stretches 750 miles (1,200 km) through California, indicating where the Pacific plate and the North American plate meet. Ian Kluft/Wikimedia Commons/(CC By-SA 4.0) – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Jun 28 – The volatile seismic zone along the roughly 750-mile (1,200-km) …
The US has acknowledged Bears Ears and Grand Staircase as sacred for over a century, but keeps stripping away protections
A view of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument near Escalante, Utah. John Fowler from Placitas, New Mexico, U.S. via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY – By Kerri J. Malloy, Assistant Professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies, San José State University Published: 2026 Jul …
Daylight saving could affect your risk of developing eye disease
Losing sleep from a daylight saving time transition could raise the risk of eye diseases. E M R A L K Y/Pexels/Canva – By Mike McRae 2026 Jul 22 – While daylight saving may give us a little extra sunshine at the end of …
The antifa terrorism threat the Trump administration describes does not exist
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during the political terrorism conference on 2026 Jul 16, in Washington. Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images – By Jason M. Blazakis, Professor of Practice and Director of Center on Terrorism, Extremism and Counterterrorism, Middlebury College …
How hot does it get in the desert? A climate scientist explains its blazing heat
Travelers to Death Valley are warned of the extreme heat conditions they may encounter. tobiasjo/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Shuang-Ye Wu, Professor of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, University of Dayton Published: 2026 Jul 20 – Curious Kids is a series for …
How America’s newspapers lost their voice
What happened to newspaper editorials? RapidEye, iStock/Getty Images – By Ken Paulson, Director of the Free Speech Center, Middle Tennessee State University Published: 2026 Jul 20 – Hazel Brannon Smith was almost certainly the most unpopular woman in Mississippi when she wrote an editorial …
As the US turns 250, a forgotten founding influence helps explain its current unease
This painting depicts the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The Founding Fathers leaned on French philosopher Montesquieu as they designed the Constitution. GraphicaArtis/Archive Photos via Getty – By Robert A. Ballingall, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Maine Published: 2026 Jul 02 – As …
Bees of many species contain tiny magnetic particles – suggesting they may have an innate magnetic compass for navigation
Scientists don’t know how insects use a magnetic sense to navigate. Laura Russo – By Laura Russo, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee Published: 2026 Jul 17 – A surprisingly large number and diversity of bee species – 74 out …
It became too easy to shout ‘aliens’, so SETI changed its rules
SETI has changed its rules regarding announcements of alien contact. Thinkstock Images/Photo Images/Canva – By Chris Young 2026 Jul 07 – For the first time in more than 15 years, the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) committee has significantly …
A perfect storm of factors is driving up US produce prices, but shoppers can still save
While U.S. produce prices are rising across the board, tomatoes are among the most affected. AP Photo/Marco Ugarte – By Elizabeth Canales, Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University Published: 2026 Jul 16 – From tomatoes and berries to lettuce and peppers, …
What does it mean to be ‘quantum’? A physicist explains the basics behind Einstein’s spooky actions at a distance
In quantum entanglement, you can learn something about one particle by observing the other in its pair, even across vast distances. koto_feja/E+ via Getty Images – By Aldo Romero, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University Published: 2026 Jul 15 – Imagine …
EastDiet lowers risk of heart disease by 22% and belly fat by 17%
The eastern coastal region of China is an area associated with lower obesity, cardiovascular risk and higher life expectancy – and localized eating habits appear to be linked to this. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Jul14 – China’s eastern coastal region is associated …
Why is Venus hotter than Mercury, when Mercury is closer to the Sun?
The surface of Venus, as reconstructed from radar data collected by NASA’s Magellan mission. NASA/JPL, CC BY-NC-SA – By Vahe Peroomian, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Published: 2026 Jul 13 Curious Kids is a series for …
Gallery: Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year finalists
Animal Behavior: “Strutting Tern” (Lord Howe Island, NSW), by Georgina SteytlerGeorgina Steytler/Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year/South Australian Museum. View 29 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Jun 21 – Charged with sorting through 2,129 images from more than 500 people, judges have …
Cacti spines, snake fangs, snail love darts – oh my! How function drives the evolution of nature’s puncture tools
Jumping cholla cacti spines are a prime example of how evolution creates specialized puncture tools. Tony Cyphert/Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA – By Philip Anderson, Associate Professor of Biology and Biomechanics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Published: 2026 Jul 08 – Most people probably aren’t thinking about …
Teleoperated humanoid robots complete first-ever live surgery
Surgeons controlled the movements of the robots remotely to perform the procedures. UC San Diego. View 4 Images – By Omar Kardoudi 2026 Jul 10 – Surgeons at UC San Diego just handed the scalpel to two humanoid robots, who went on to complete …
Floating capsule auto-disinfects water without chemicals or battery
Scientists have developed a low-cost water detection and disinfection capsule that’s powered with a quick shake. Image rendered by ChatGPT – By Simon Heptinstall 2026 Jul 09 – An international team of scientists has created a portable water purifier that works simply by shaking …
Chronic pain eased by a common sleep supplement
Scientists unlock a new area of research into how melatonin works. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Jul 08 – A supplement best known for helping some people get a better night’s sleep may also have a surprising painkilling effect on individuals with chronic …
Your old coffee grounds get blasted into fuel in 90 seconds
Scientists have developed a method that rapidly turns the wet grounds into solid biofuel. Depositphotos – By Etiido Uko 2026 Jun 30 – Humans drink approximately 400 billion cups of coffee annually, leaving behind 18 million tonnes (19.8 million tons) of wet coffee grounds, …
Go-anywhere survival pod fends off bullets, bombings and worse
The LifePods B-01 is a protective capsule designed for immediate shelter on land. Momentum Technologies View 5 Images – By Omar Kardoudi 2026 Jul 06 – A new class of survival capsule wants to turn disaster-proofing into something you can order rather than build. …
Origami-like pot grows as your plant does – and takes care of watering
The Helix is not just stylish but functional. Kickstarter – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Jul 02 – A company known for its stylish origami-style planters has come up with something completely new – a self-watering pot that actually grows and transforms as the plant …
Review: I kicked myself out of my house to test this Jackery Explorer battery
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 power station is a beast. Mike McRae/New Atlas – By Mike McRae 2026 Jul 04 – Let’s get one thing out of the way. I’m your resident science writer. Alien comets, tiny universes, and body parts are the sort of …
Alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs, yet its presence is ubiquitous in social settings and celebrations
Alcohol is woven into the thread of American life, from work events to major holidays and everything in between. TravisLincoln/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Emma Fenske, Addiction Medicine Fellow and Internal Medicine Physician, Oregon Health & Science University Published: 2026 Jul …
Canada’s little‑known role in helping to spur American independence in 1776
A John Trumbull painting of the death of Gen. Richard Montgomery in Quebec on 1775 Dec 31, during the American war of independence. DeAgostini/Getty Images – By Sarah M.S. Pearsall, Professor of History, Johns Hopkins University Published: 2026 Jul 02 – Strange as …
Lifespan-extending human trial to rejuvenate old and tired immune cells
Active proteins on a T cell (blue), including CD-4 (light blue). Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Jul 01 – A landmark study due to start in the coming months aims to test a method for rejuvenating our immune system in older age. The …
How a tiny Caribbean island made American independence possible
On 1776 Nov 16, the Andrew Doran, coming from the fledgling United States, was acknowledged with the firing of a cannon from St. Eustatius. This event is now known as the ‘First Salute.’ Painting by Phillips Melville, USMC (Retired) via Wikimedia Commons – …
As Route 66 turns 100, what is it that we’re actually celebrating?
A stretch of Route 66 in Albuquerque, N.M., pictured on 2026 Jun 07. Towns and cities located along the highway are gearing up to celebrate the iconic road’s centennial. Heather Diehl/Getty Images – By Daniel Milowski, Adjunct Professor of History, Arizona State University …
Taxi drivers rarely die of Alzheimer’s – how complex mental maps and spatial reasoning protect your brain
Figuring out a circuitous route between point A to point B can strengthen your brain. justhavealook/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Hatim Sharif, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio Published: 2026 Aug 06 – Taxi …
Boulder is opening homes to Sundance visitors through a new license – who stands to benefit?
The Boulder Theater is one of many locations that will host screenings for the Sundance Film Festival in January 2027. Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images – By Tim Komarek, Associate Professor of Economics, Colorado State University Published: 2026 Aug 05 – …
How hackers attack municipal water systems – and why the utilities are so vulnerable
A July 2026 cyberattack targeted more than 30 water systems in Minnesota municipalities, including Plymouth. AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt – By William Akoto, Assistant Professor of Global Security, American University School of International Service Published: 2026 Aug 04 – Hackers tried to break into at …
Why the Spokane wildfires became so catastrophic
Andrew Rowley watches a wildfire burning from a distance after evacuating his home in Spokane, Wash., on 2026 Aug 01. AP Photo/Young Kwak – By Mojtaba Sadegh, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, Boise State University; United Nations University And by John Abatzoglou, Professor of …
Bird droppings were a foundation of modern agriculture and American empire
An advertisement for guano to be used as fertilizer depicts not only seabirds but also a guano island. Bradley Fertilizer Company via Garden History – By Edward D. Melillo, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of History and Environmental Studies, Amherst College Published: 2026 Jul …
Wildfires can generate tornadoes, lightning and other extreme weather, sometimes miles from the flames
A fire whirl, or fire tornado, rises from flames near Wofford Heights, Calif., in August 2021. David McNew/Getty Images – By Yunyao Li, Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas at Arlington Published: 2026 Jul 30 – We often think …
Foldable synthetic molecules could infiltrate and bust apart the toxic protein clumps causing Parkinson’s
Toxic clumps of abnormal proteins damage neurons and cause dementia. Juan Gaertner/Science Photo Library via Getty Images – By Sunil Kumar, Associate Professor of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Denver Published: 2026 Jul 31 – Current therapies for Parkinson’s disease and related …
Should you wash your prewashed lettuce? An infectious disease expert explains how to eat your greens safely during the cyclospora outbreak
Prewashed greens are extremely convenient, but whole heads of lettuce may be less risky during a cyclospora outbreak. CostaPPPR via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA – By Lisa Cuchara, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Quinnipiac University Published: 2026 Jul 29 – Salads – along with other …
Compact 3D printer produces full-color models right on your desktop
The HeyGears G1X produces full-color 3D prints, so you don’t need to manually paint or finish them. HeyGears View 7 Images – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2026 Jul 27 – HeyGears’ upcoming 3D printer has a load of tricks up its sleeve, but the most …
Porous compound pulls 2 liters of water from air, and is factory-ready
The new material could help ease drought by extracting up to 1.8 liters of water from the air per day. Michaela St – Pexels View 5 Images – By Omar Kardoudi 2026 Jul 16 – The Mediterranean is getting hotter and drier, pushing scientists …