What Defines a ‘Pandemic,’ and How Are They Stopped?
Pandemic does not equal panic. Here’s the science behind the term as the novel coronavirus starts spreading more widely in the United States. ...read more
Author: Vishay Singh
Before We Settle Mars, Scientists Must Perfect Growing Space Salad
A new study offers fresh hope in the decades-long quest to grow healthy and nutritious produce in orbit. By next year, NASA astronauts could be eating space-grown lettuce, tomatoes and peppers. ...read more
Perseverance is the New Name of the Mars 2020 Rover
The name was chosen from 28,000 entries submitted by school children across the U.S. ...read more
Learning to Code? Strong Language Skills Matter More Than Being Good at Math
A new study tested first-time computer code learners to see what skills predicted their success. They found that language abilities were more important than mathematical acumen. ...read more
Why Sequencing the Human Genome Failed to Produce Big Breakthroughs in Disease
Early proponents of genome sequencing made misleading predictions about its potential in medicine. ...read more
Thirdhand Smoke: Study Finds Smokers’ Clothes are Carrying Cigarette Chemicals Indoors
A new study reveals chemicals from cigarettes linger on a person’s clothes in higher amounts than we realized. As a result, nonsmokers are unknowingly being exposed to the toxins. ...read more
Images From Space Reveal the Dramatic Extent of Flooding in the Mississippi Valey
Two months of heavy rains — part of a pattern that spawned Tennessee's deadly tornadoes — have caused misery across the South. ...read more
Why So Many Epidemics Originate in Asia and Africa — and Why We Can Expect More
COVID-19 is not the first — nor likely the last — to emerge from the two continents. ...read more
What Science Says About the Weight-Loss Potential of ‘OMAD’ Fasting — The One-Meal-a-Day Diet
More and more people are singing the praises of eating one meal a day. But is this extreme form of intermittent fasting a healthy and effective way to lose weight? ...read more
Poor Sleep Habits? For Older Adults, That Could Double Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
A new study suggests that irregular sleep patterns may pose serious threats to heart health. ...read more