Category Science

Recycling is important, yes. But it is also utterly insufficient to meet our needs. We tend to think of it as the best alternative to using virgin materials. In fact, it often can be one of the worst. Consider a…

In a fusion of old-world craft and modern engineering, Columbia University researchers have accomplished something remarkable: they’ve used traditional knitting techniques to create sophisticated radio-frequency antennas that could revolutionize how we communicate in remote locations. These lightweight, foldable devices perform…

From whale teeth to sponge skeletons, from seal whiskers to seashells, marine organisms have been quietly recording Earth’s environmental history in their bodies. Now, an international research team led by the University of South Australia has revealed how these “natural…

Beliefs and practices about music’s ability to heal the mind, body, and spirit date back to the Upper Paleolithic period, about 20,000 years ago. Music was widely used by shamans and other healers to treat a variety of ailments, from…

A comprehensive genetic study of Europe’s earliest farming communities has unveiled remarkable insights into their social structure: these ancient societies appear to have lived without social hierarchy or inequality. The research, led by scientists from the University of Vienna and…

Learning to play a musical instrument does more than create beautiful sounds – it helps children develop crucial cognitive abilities, particularly their capacity to focus and resist distractions. A comprehensive analysis of research spanning four decades reveals that musical training…

An analysis using satellite data has provided compelling evidence that climate change-induced toxic algae blooms caused the mysterious deaths of 350 African elephants in Botswana during 2020. The research, led by King’s College London, reveals how an extreme shift from…

A remarkable discovery in Kenya’s Turkana Basin has provided the first direct evidence that different human species coexisted and shared the same habitats 1.5 million years ago. The finding, described by Kevin Hatala and colleagues, offers unprecedented insights into the…

The UK experienced a record-breaking heatwave in July 2022 DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images We should brace for worse-than-expected heatwaves in the years ahead, as climate models are underestimating the potency of these events in some areas, including the UK…

Being an astronomer is fun. You get to feel comfortable under the night sky, and after a few years, you’re able to make your way across the starry vault with a familiarity similar to walking around your own neighborhood. That’s…