Surveying wildlife along Lewis and Clark’s route, 220 years later
A new wildlife survey follows Lewis and Clark’s route, 220 years later. And, cell and GPS data show how animals react to humans’ presence.
Pope Leo’s encyclical on AI, and the Vatican science advisors
On the release of Pope Leo’s encyclical about AI, we peek inside the Vatican academy that helps inform the pope’s scientific views.
Is that spooky old house full of ghosts, or just infrasound?
Low-frequency noises that humans can feel, but not hear, may be behind the spooky feeling of old houses—and serve as a warning to animals.
Who’s composing music for my washing machine?
Why are appliances playing elaborate tunes, and where do they come from? Two sonic designers explain how they compose for your vacuum.
Sci-fi thriller combines aliens, robots, and Cherokee culture
The sci-fi thriller “Hole in the Sky” imagines an alien first-contact scenario set in the heart of Cherokee Nation.
In a never-ending stream of data, a nonhuman voice emerges
In “Hole in the Sky,” a threat forecaster confined to a bunker deciphers a mysterious code. One day, a new kind of voice comes through.
Beavers could be humans’ biggest ally, if we let them
Beavers and humans tend to clash over landscape management. Pixar’s “Hoppers” captures the struggle, and Oregon proves coexistence is possible.
Writing science fiction with Daniel H. Wilson
On May 29 we’ll discuss Wilson’s book, “Hole in the Sky” and his life as an author, robotics engineer, and Cherokee citizen.
What urban design tells us about democracy
Archaeologists can use the design of ancient temples, plazas, and cities to piece together the story of how a place was governed.
How do you describe nature? Two poets help us
For Earth Day, we wanted to know how to best put our feelings about nature into words. Two poets help us out.