Betelgeuse: The Supernova That Wasn’t
One of the brightest stars in our sky darkened, and soon there was talk of a supernova. ...read more
Month: December 2020
The Curve Appears to Be Flattening on CO2 Emissions. What Does That Mean?
Annual CO2 emission rates appear to be leveling off. Now they need to rapidly decline. ...read more
Physicists Detect the “Spooky Popcorn of the Universe”
For the first time, physicists measured fluctuations in the quantum realm. ...read more
Page-Turning Science Books: The First Female Physicians, Breaking Drug Taboos, and a Look Inside Crime Labs
Having your nose in a book is the perfect way to kick off a new year. You also won't want to miss another editor's pick for the month: a podcast with fresh insights on climate change. ...read more
The Origins of Plate Tectonics May Stretch Further Back in Earth’s History
Many of our planet's features are thanks to tectonic plates bumping and grinding together. Two new studies revealed that this movement may have kicked off earlier than geologists previously thought. ...read more
Thousands of People Have Rallied to Save This Giant Tree in a Portland Neighborhood
“Unfortunately, property rights protect things that people build, not things that we grow." ...read more
Physicists Prove Anyons Exist, a Third Type of Particle in the Universe
Physicists give us an early view of a third kingdom of quasiparticles that only arise in two dimensions. ...read more
Top Science Photos From 2020: Natural Disasters, CRISPR Squids and an Interstellar Visitor
A look back at an unprecedented year. ...read more
Magic Mushrooms Are Expanding Minds and Advancing an Emerging Field of Science
Science on psychedelic fungi is thawing after decades of prohibition. Here’s what we know so far. ...read more
Why Some People Are Still on the Fence About the New Vaccine for COVID-19
An epidemiologist explains the psychology behind why millions of Americans — not just "anti-vaxxers" — are hesitant to get shots. ...read more