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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.
‘Escape Fire’ Exposes Flaws of American Healthcare
The film tells the stories of a soldier addicted to painkillers, and a doctor with no time for her patients.
No Joke — Why Even Tragedy Gets a Laugh
A comedian and a neuroscientist walk into a bar… er, nevermind. Tig Notaro and Robert Provine talk about why we laugh at even the grimmest of subjects.
SciFri Book Club Has ‘The Right Stuff’
Join the SciFri Book Club regulars for a look back, er…up, at ‘The Right Stuff.’
Photographer James Balog on Climate Change and ‘Chasing Ice’
A new documentary explores how climate change is affecting the world’s glaciers.
Perhaps Another Reason to Spike That Eggnog?
A perennial holiday mystery: will alcohol kill bacteria in homemade eggnog?
What Obamacare Means for Patients — And Their Docs
The law has many protections for patients—but could it cause higher premiums and doctor shortages?
Waste Not: The Ugly Truth About Food Waste in America
Food waste is a growing problem in the U.S., so what can we do to fix it?
Steven Strogatz: The Joy Of X
Did you know some infinities are bigger than others? Or that one is equal to .99999999999 repeating? Just a few of the math mysteries in The Joy of X, a new book by Steven Strogatz.
Ig Nobel Prizes Celebrate Somewhat Suspect Science
Ponytail physics, the sloshing in a coffee cup, and an opera about the universe feature in this year’s Ig Nobel Prize ceremony.
A Millipede That (Almost) Lives Up to the Name
No millipede has 1000 feet—but the species Illacme plenipes comes closest, with up to 750.