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They Burned All Their Ships
In Alberto Yanez’s short story ‘Burn the Ships,’ the Aztec people of Mexico reanimate the dead to fight their conquerors.
Upgrade Your ‘Dumb House,’ Today
In this excerpt of the sci-fi anthology “New Suns,” Andrea Hairston’s short story ‘Dumb House’ follows a woman who resists upgrading her home with new technology.
Let’s Talk Black Holes, With New Nobel Prize Winner Roger Penrose
Last year, a winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize in physics sat down with Pioneer Works to chat black holes, the universe, Penrose tilings, and consciousness.
When The Dead Stay With Us
Read an excerpt of speculative fiction about literally carrying your dead loved ones with you from the SciFri Book Club pick ‘New Suns.’
A Mile In The Shoes Of A Volcanologist
Meet Kayla Iacovino, a NASA petrologist (and Star Trek superfan) who looks for tiny clues atop volcanoes to understand eruptions on Earth and beyond.
Thermal Imaging The Intense Heat Of Wildfires From Above
Flying through thick smoke in a small aircraft, researchers use thermal imaging to understand how hot the wildfires are burning in Oregon.
How Did The ‘Cosmic Crisp’ Apple Get Its Name?
When it takes 20 years to develop a new apple, you better have a dazzling name to go with it.
Kansas Nursing Home Staff Struggle With COVID-19 Burn Out
Months into the pandemic, nursing home staff in Kansas get little relief due to limited testing and resources.
How Dementia Patients Are Coping During The Pandemic
At a healthcare center in Massachusetts, patients with dementia face the challenges and loneliness of the coronavirus lockdown.
In The Face Of Wildfire, California Nursing Homes Are Unprepared
In 2017, the Tubbs Fire in California raged towards a nursing home with 62 residents. Here’s what they did with no evacuation plan.
The Ribbon Eel
In this excerpt of the book ‘World of Wonders,’ author Aimee Nezhukumatathil describes the life of the colorful ribbon eel—and how these creatures resurface memories of her son.
Preview: The Science Friday Book Club Reads ‘New Suns’
Nisi Shawl edits an exciting collection of science fiction and fantasy by people of color. We’ll read it later this fall.
Why We Built A New SciFri Book Club Community Space
We are creating an online space catered to book clubbers. Join our new community to gather and discuss science books!
When Restaurants Were Chic Soup Spas
The first restaurants were for fancy French people trying not to eat.
What Happens When You Don’t Shower For Five Years
Author James Hamblin hasn’t showered in five years. In this excerpt of his new book, he recounts his approach to personal hygiene.
Why We Should Defend Parasites
From ‘Alien’ to ‘The Last of Us,’ parasites have a gruesome reputation. But parasitologists are finding ways to change the conversation.
Refugee Families Find Shelter After Iowa’s Derecho
After days of sleeping in tents, cars, and on the ground, refugee families in Cedar Rapids have moved to temporary housing and received much needed aid.
Racial Injustice Is Increasing Chronic Disease In Black Americans
Systemic racism directly affects the health of marginalized communities, and it may be the cause of early health issues in Black Americans.
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