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November 22, 2024
On the 50th anniversary of Lucy’s discovery, paleoanthropologists reflect on what she means to science, and what she taught us about ourselves. Plus, divers have recovered seeds of a long-lost rye variety from a 146-year-old shipwreck in Lake Huron. And, just in time for Thanksgiving, a potato researcher explains potato varieties, potato nutrition, and some tubular tuber facts.
11:53
Bonobos Are Gentler Than Chimps? Maybe Not.
A study found aggression between male bonobos to be more frequent than aggression between male chimpanzees.
5:12
Art Meets Ecology In A Mile-Long Poem
Visual artist Todd Gilens created a walkable poem along Reno’s Truckee River that draws parallels between urbanism and stream ecology.
16:33
The 4,000-Year History Of Humans And Silk
For her new book, Aarathi Prasad spent years researching the past and future of silk—and even grew her own silkworms.
12:12
Progress Toward A Clean Energy Transition
Global temperature increases are slowing, electric vehicle sales are growing, and renewable energy is now cheaper than some fossil fuels.
12:12
Why Is Solving The Plastic Problem So Hard?
Plastics are everywhere, in packaging, clothing, and even our bodies. Could they be made less integral to manufacturing and more recyclable?
11:22
Why Avian Flu In Cattle And Humans Has Scientists Concerned
In a recent outbreak of avian flu, the virus has jumped from birds to cows, and to one dairy worker. A disease ecologist provides context.
6:11
Fighting Banana Blight In A North Carolina Greenhouse
America’s most-consumed fruit is at risk from a fungal disease. Researchers in North Carolina are on a mission to save Cavendish bananas.
12:12
Do Birds Sing In Their Dreams?
Birds move their vocal organs while they sleep, mimicking how they sing. Scientists have translated those movements into synthetic birdsong.
8:37
Assessing The Global Mental Health Toll Of Climate Change
An explosion of research is painting a clearer picture of how climate change is affecting mental health across the globe.
8:27
Citizen Scientists Will Capture DNA From 800 Lakes In One Day
The project aims to find species that have gone unnoticed by sampling the waters of hundreds of lakes worldwide for environmental DNA.