Category Archives: STEM News
Winter Arctic Sea Ice Peaks at 7th Skimpiest on Record
The ice has likely reached an “uneventful maximum,” but the long-term decline due to human-caused warming continues. Continue reading
Iconic Cherry Blossoms Are Blooming Earlier Than Ever in Washington, D.C.
And in Japan, this year’s arrival was the earliest in 1,200 years
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Why Does It Rain So Much in Spring?
Ah, springtime: The sun is finally out, birds are chirping, buds are blooming — and your plans are likely getting rained on. Here’s why the onset of spring is followed by months of rain. Continue reading
The Erection of a Placebo
When yesterday’s placebo is tomorrow’s treatment Continue reading
A City in Brazil’s Amazon Rain Forest Is a Stark Warning about COVID to the Rest of the World
Manaus and cities like it will continue to generate dangerous viral variants if vaccination campaigns are not expanded to broadly reach all nations, rich or poor
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The Inside Story Behind the Historic First Flight on Mars
Even if the Ingenuity helicopter fails, it is already a success — an engineering resource for a grand future of flight on other worlds. Continue reading
The Science of Migraines
Everything you need to know about the latest research on the causes, triggers, and treatments for migraine headaches. Continue reading
Data and Technology Can Help Us Make Progress on COVID Inequities
The pandemic gives an opportunity to turn the tide for our nation’s most vulnerable communities
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Don’t Count on Evolution to Save Us from Toxic Chemicals and Pollution
Chemicals and pollutants are just about everywhere in our environment. And the pace of evolutionary change in our bodies appears to be too slow for humans to adapt to them. Continue reading
Your Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines, Answered
Are coronavirus vaccines safe? What’s in them? Is one option better than another? Will a vaccine make me immune? How long will they remain effective? Has anyone died after getting the vaccine? Continue reading
Four Crazy Stars Astronomers Think Might Really Exist
From stars made of dark matter to stars literally living inside their partners, these stellar systems are theoretically possible. Continue reading
President Biden Should Push for the Human Exploration of Mars
Robotic rovers such as Perseverance are great, but they can’t answer the most fundamental questions about the Red Planet
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
High Precision Star Maps Boost Interstellar Navigation System
Navigation for starship commanders just got easier. Continue reading
How At-Home Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests Compare to Colonoscopies
At-home colonoscopy alternatives are gaining popularity. Here’s what to consider. Continue reading
After You Die, Your Body Could Be Turned Into a Diamond
Cremation diamonds: Here’s how science can give you an afterlife in the form of shiny compressed carbon. Continue reading
After You Die, Your Body Could Be Turned Into a Diamond
Cremation diamonds: Here’s how science can give you an afterlife in the form of shiny compressed carbon. Continue reading
What The Shade-Grown Label Means on Your Coffee
It alludes to a specific type of farming that could have significant benefits to the ecosystem that houses our favorite caffeinated beverage. Continue reading
New Images of M87’s Black Hole Reveal Its Swirling Magnetic Field
The Event Horizon Telescope’s newest images of M87’s supermassive black hole hint at how its jets are fired far into space. Continue reading
Is Estrogen Deficiency Really a Thing?
The catchall term plays into a cultural notion that estrogen is what makes a woman a woman
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The Cancers That Are Contagious
Cancer generally cannot be passed from one person to another. But among certain animals, a few rare types of cancer can spread like bacteria or viruses do. Continue reading
COVID-19 Vaccine: What Side Effects — or No Side Effects — Mean
Everyone’s body responds to the COVID-19 vaccines differently. Continue reading
Programming Language Converts Laws Into ‘Provably Correct’ Computer Code
Some legal text is so highly prescribed that it functions like an algorithm. So a team of computer scientist have created a programming language that can capture and execute these laws. Continue reading
The Search for a Cause of Transness Is Misguided
It can be well-intentioned, but it’s a dangerous path that leaves little room for a real understanding of gender and gender identity
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Life Elsewhere in the Universe: When Did We First Consider the Possibility?
Ancient people looked up at the night sky and pondered the question of alien life, too. Continue reading
Should You Walk or Run for Exercise?
Walking is good for you, but running might be twice as beneficial. Here’s why. Continue reading
Climate Anxiety Is an Overwhelmingly White Phenomenon
Is it really just code for white people wishing to hold onto their way of life or to get “back to normal?”
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
We Need Social Science, Not Just Medical Science, to Beat the Pandemic
Human behavior and social inequity are huge confounding factors
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Why Less Exercise Can Bring Better Results
As long as we keep up the intensity, both pro athletes and the general population can occasionally benefit from fewer workout sessions. Continue reading