Category Science

Magnet fisher James Kane cradles a shiny, four-pound magnetic disk: a stainless-steel shell housing an alloy of iron, neodymium and boron. He hucks it into a lake in a public park in New York City, then tugs it slowly toward…

We humans may be the only species that is aware of our mortality. We are obsessed with how to postpone the inevitable and, failing that, how to make the most of our lives. For much of our existence as a…

What happens when you point the world’s most powerful space telescope at a galaxy that resembles a Mexican hat? The James Webb Space Telescope’s latest observation of the Sombrero galaxy has transformed our view of this celestial landmark, revealing not…

In 2025, we will see AI and machine learning begin to amplify the impact of Crispr genome editing in medicine, agriculture, climate change, and the basic research that underpins these fields. It’s worth saying upfront that the field of AI…

Black plastic coffee lids and food containers may finally have a path out of landfills. Scientists have discovered that the very additive that makes these plastics black – carbon black – can help break them down into reusable materials when…

November 25, 2024 5 min read Confronting the Dangers of Silent Spread Is Necessary to Prevent Future Pandemics We need targeted public health interventions to reduce transmission from asymptomatically infected individuals. Like COVID, silently spreading pathogens can lead to far…

The human brain maintains a complex security system that keeps out harmful substances – but this same barrier also blocks life-saving medications. Now, researchers at Mount Sinai have developed an innovative delivery system that acts like a molecular key, unlocking…

New York City’s East river is polluted and contains higher than average levels of carbon dioxide Ed Rooney/Alamy On 14 November, I toured a shipping container bristling with tubes and wires, perched beside New York City’s East river. It is…

Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said that “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” That’s a simple, profound and true statement. Moynihan’s words have particular relevance for our country and society after Donald’s Trump’s shocking…

NASA’s Europa Clipper, which launched Oct. 14 on a journey to Jupiter’s moon Europa, is already 13 million miles (20 million kilometers) from Earth. Two science instruments have deployed hardware that will remain at attention, extending out from the spacecraft, for…