Our evolutionary path to parenting—and sharing the load
“The Creatures’ Guide to Caring” explores how communal child-rearing allowed animals from wasps to humans to evolve and thrive.
A virus hunter in Nigeria has thoughts on the Ebola outbreak
A Nigeria-based molecular biologist breaks down the current Ebola outbreak, and what’s needed to improve disease monitoring across Africa.
How did Neanderthals deal with illness and injuries?
Up to 94% of Neanderthals suffered at least one traumatic injury in their lifetime. How did their healthcare keep up?
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.