July 23, 2021
Biden’s Surgeon General talks about the COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond. Plus, whistleblowers allege “atmosphere of fear” at the EPA. And how the humpback whale says hello.
The Origin Of The Word ‘Tuberculosis’
Why did we stop calling the disease ‘consumption’?
Powering Up…With A Microbial Fuel Cell
Researchers used river mud–and the bacteria that live in it–to power a fuel cell.
Desert Military Bases Could Be Boon To Solar
Bases in California could host seven gigawatts of solar power farms, according to a new report.
Should Sugar Be Regulated Like Alcohol?
Pediatrician Robert Lustig says fructose can be as harmful as alcohol, if taken in large quantities.
Air Pollution Ups Risk Of Stroke, Impaired Memory
Exposure to smog may trigger strokes and accelerate cognitive declines, two new studies say.
Where’s The Cuttlefish
Biologist Sarah Zylinski studies how cuttlefish see the world by looking at their skin.
Approved Reactors Could Power Up Nuclear Industry
Federal agency approves a license to build two nuclear reactors designed to provide cooling in absence of electricity.
Concrete’s Role As A Building Block In History
A look at concrete — from its use in the Paleolithic Age to today’s greener alternatives.
Digital Tools Help Document Vanishing Languages
A linguist unveils thousands of audio recordings of words and sentences from dying languages.
Where’s the Cuttlefish?
Cuttlefish change the patterns on their body for courtship rituals, when they eat a snack, and most famously when they want to blend in.
Drug Rapidly Counters Effects of Alzheimer’s In Mice
A drug given to mice with Alzheimer’s quickly improved memory deficits and behavior resulting from the disease.
The Science Of Yoga: The Risks And The Rewards
New York Times science writer William Broad’s book investigates popular health claims about yoga.
Next Supercontinent Could Form At The North Pole
A study in Nature challenges existing theories on where the next supercontinent will form.
Valentine’s Day Special: Look Of Love
Our pupils change size in response to light, and thoughts.
Notes From A Former ‘Guitar Zero’
Why it’s not too late to learn how to play a musical instrument.
Why Vinyl Sounds Better Than CD, Or Not
Two experts explain the audio science behind the music.
Drone Technology Reaches New Heights
Experts discuss the military and commercial applications of increasingly sophisticated drones.
Listening In On The Brain To Decode Speech
A study in PLoS Biology details how researchers decoded the brain’s electrical activity to reconstruct speech.
Study Tracks Alzheimer’s Progression In Mice
A new study looks at the role a corrupted protein plays in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
What’s So Cool About Frozen Water?
Ice can be hard to get a handle on, literally and figuratively.