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June 13, 2025
US Health Secretary RFK Jr. fired an entire panel that recommends vaccines. Plus, the EPA moves to expedite cleanup of Superfund sites amid budget cuts. Former President Joe Biden’s diagnosis with an aggressive form of prostate cancer has put a spotlight on prostate cancer screening.
Unwinding the Cucumber Tendril Mystery
Researchers use time-lapse photography and a prosthetic plant to understand why cucumber tendrils twist.
Time to Overhaul America’s Aging Bridges?
Experts say some 8000 bridges are in dire need of repair—but at what cost?
Meet Your Ancient Relatives — The Denisovans
Scientists sequenced the genome of a Denisovan—a distant cousin to modern humans and Neanderthals.
David Eagleman Gets Inside Our Heads
Neuroscientist David Eagleman exposes our unconscious minds in his latest book Incognito.
‘Carbon Nation’ Tackles Climate Change, By Ignoring It
‘Carbon Nation’ bills itself as a ‘climate change solutions movie, that doesn’t even care if you believe in climate change.’
Mapping the Birthplace of Modern Languages
Scientists have traced the roots of languages like English and Spanish back to present-day Turkey.
Tree Rings Tell Tales of Ancient Fires and Climate
Are the movements of wildfires as predictable as the weather? And does climate change cause bigger, hotter blazes?
Curiosity Rover Zaps a Rock, Starts to Roll
The rover is on its way to Glenelg, an area where scientists hope to drill into bedrock.
Arbiter of ‘Interestingness’ Navigates the ‘Net
Internet “curator” Maria Popova describes her brand of “combinatorial creativity.”
Massive “Phoenix Cluster” Supersizes Star Creation
Astronomers have found a massive galaxy cluster that’s making stars at a record pace.