July 12, 2024
Rising temperatures shut down some conchs’ impulse to reproduce. So scientists are ferrying them to colonies in deeper, cooler waters. Plus, there are currently 323 ongoing drug shortages in the U.S., leaving patients scrambling for necessary medications. And, new research shows that cats’ tendency to scratch is affected by stress, certain kinds of play, and how active they are at night.
11:29
Protecting A Flickering Symbol Of Summer Nights
Researchers used citizen science observations and machine learning to understand where fireflies are and what they need to thrive.
16:59
Why Do Cephalopods Make Ink?
Squid, octopuses, and cuttlefish use ink to confuse predators and to communicate. But there’s still a lot we don’t understand about inking.
How AI Supercharges Drug Research
Machine learning can quickly analyze millions of compounds, helping researchers bring drugs to clinical trials sooner.
12:43
México eligió a una presidenta científica. ¿Qué significa esto?
La comunidad científica del país Latinoamericano está dividida sobre la elección de Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
What Will Emerge From The Wreckage Of The Arecibo Telescope?
In 2020, Puerto Rico’s massive Arecibo radio telescope collapsed. The research facility may now be on the cusp of a new chapter.
The Bird Call That Music Producers Love To Use In Pop Songs
The eerie calls of the common loons have been heard in songs by Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, and more.
11:37
A Week Of Milestones For Spaceflight
Boeing’s Starliner successfully launched and docked at the ISS, SpaceX’s Starship rocket launched and returned, and Hubble had a hiccup.
8:01
A Tiny Fern Has The Largest Genome Ever Discovered
The little fern from New Caledonia is just a few inches tall, and its genome has 160.45 billion base pairs—50 times more DNA than a human.
8:14
Mexico Has Elected A Scientist President. What Will That Mean?
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo brings scientific expertise to the presidency. How will her leadership shape science policy?
12:07
How Metal-Absorbing Plants Could Make Mining Greener
Plants called “hyperaccumulators” have evolved to absorb high levels of metals. Scientists want to harness them for greener metal mining.
17:20
How Sound Rules Life Underwater
In her new book, science journalist Amorina Kingdon explores the astonishing variety of sound in the ocean, and how it affects ecosystems.
16:56
Step Aside, DNA. It’s RNA’s Time To Shine.
The COVID vaccines proved that RNA could be extremely powerful. A new book explores even more medical applications for the tiny molecule.
17:13
How Psychological Warfare Moved From Battlefields To Politics
A new book looks at the history of psychological warfare, its connections to science fiction, and how it’s been adapted to modern politics.
How Messenger RNA Made The COVID Vaccines Possible
In his new book, “The Catalyst,” Dr. Thomas Cech describes how mRNA in the COVID vaccines encodes the virus’s spike protein.
What Listening To The Ocean’s Sounds Can Teach Us
For many marine creatures, sound may be the best way to communicate and learn about the world. Humans have just started listening in.
A History Of Turning Minds Into Battlegrounds
Author Annalee Newitz shows how stories can be weapons if they can change human behavior—whether in the street or in the voting booth.
Plan An Ink-Credible STEAM Adventure For Cephalopod Week
Celebrate cephalopods anytime with fun party tips, mind-blowing videos, book suggestions for all ages, and exciting STEAM activities.
The State Of Space Research In Latin America
Sustainable development is the driving force of space research across the region, which has a lack of investment, but no lack of talent.
12:20
Starliner Crewed Test Flight Rescheduled For This Weekend
The much-delayed crewed test flight is back on the calendar, despite a helium leak.
8:27
Which Animals Like Cities Most? Slugs And Snails Top The List.
Researchers used data from the crowd-sourcing nature observation app iNaturalist to rank animals’ tolerance of urban environments.