‘Maybe they’re waiting for something that only happens thousands of years later’: The hidden life ‘sleeping’ deep beneath Earth for millions of years
Beneath Earth’s surface lies a kingdom of undiscovered microscopic life. These “intraterrestrials” survive in some of the harshest conditions on the planet — and scientists are hunting for these microbes. In this excerpt from “Intraterrestrials: Discovering the Strangest Life on Earth” (Princeton University Press, 2025), author Karen G. Lloyd, a microbial biogeochemist at the University […]
History of Science: “Father of Modern Genetics” Describes Experiments with Peas That Prove Heredity is Transmitted in Discrete Units – February 8, 1865
Milestone: Discovering the principle of inheritance Dates: February 8 and March 8, 1865 Location: Brno, now Czech Republic People: Gregor Mendel On a cold February day, the Augustinian monk described his experiments in breeding garden varieties of plants, which gave rise to the modern field of genetics. Gregor Mendel was an Austrian priest who spent […]
Anglo-Saxon children found buried with warrior equipment in Britain – perhaps as a nod to ‘the men these children might have become’
Four early Anglo-Saxon swords, discovered during a recent archaeological excavation I participated in, each tell a story about how weapons were viewed at the time. There was also the surprising discovery of a child buried with a spear and shield. Was the kid an underage fighter? Or were weapons for them more than just instruments […]
‘Second eyes’: AI-assisted breast cancer screening can detect more cancers earlier, groundbreaking trial finds
A first-of-its-kind trial demonstrates that AI-assisted mammography can improve outcomes for breast cancer patients, especially those with advanced disease. Although many people have only recently begun using artificial intelligence (AI) in their daily lives, the use of this technology in healthcare began about a decade ago, particularly in the field of image-based diagnostics. Researchers have […]
‘There’s no reason to ban us from playing’: Analysis debunks the idea that transgender women have an inherent physical advantage in sports
The most comprehensive analysis of its kind to date shows that transgender women who receive hormone therapy exhibit physical fitness comparable to cisgender women. The review, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine on Tuesday (February 3), examined 52 published studies that assessed body composition, muscle strength and aerobic capacity in approximately 6,500 individuals, […]
Clean energy is booming with or without President Trump.
On the way to President Donald Trump’s mission to eliminate renewable energy, a funny thing happened. The use of solar and wind energy is rapidly increasing, especially globally and in the United States. According to an analysis by Ember Energy Research, solar and wind power generation increased by 109% worldwide last year, making these renewables […]
This week’s science news: Anomalies inside Earth, the Artemis II leak and how psychedelics can help treat PTSD
This week’s science news was full of surprising discoveries hidden deep within the Earth, including a potential answer to the age-old mystery of how Colorado River tributaries seem to defy gravity. The Green River, which begins in Wyoming and joins the Colorado River in Utah, carved a path through the Uinta Mountains rather than bypassing […]
Why do children eat boogers?
Everyone has seen it. A child shoves one finger into his nostril, digs a nugget out of the cavity, pulls it out, and devours it like a delicious snack. It may be terrible for adults, but most kids don’t seem to be fazed by it at all. So why do kids eat boogers? And could […]
Psychedelics may rewire the brain to treat PTSD. Scientists are finally beginning to understand how.
EDITOR’S NOTE This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. For researcher Lynnette Averill, the quest to find a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) […]
The psychedelic drug ayahuasca may be able to treat PTSD, early research suggests. But it’s not clear how exactly it works.
Editor’s note — This article contains discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, you can reach America’s National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat online at 988lifeline.org. In 2014, Navy fighter pilot Keegan “Smurf” Gill was piloting an F/A-18 Super Hornet after a fatal […]