We’re All Being Played By Metrics
A new book explores what we lose when we’re always keeping score—at work, in life, even within ourselves. Can games help set us free?
What’s Lost When We Trade Play For Metrics And Optimization
For C. Thi Nguyen, rock climbing brought joy and satisfaction—until he started chasing scores and focusing on “leveling up.”
Untangling The History Of Dog Domestication
A new study suggests dogs began to diversify about 11,000 years earlier than we thought. Plus, a long-running experiment to domesticate foxes.
A Science Historian Tackles Ghostwriting In Scientific Papers
A science historian looks to the past to understand our current moment, and how ghostwriting in scientific papers is harming public trust.
Secrets Of Ancient Concrete, And… Data Centers In Space?
What can we learn from a Pompeii construction site preserved in ash? Plus, tech companies look to build solar-powered data centers in space.
Mushroom Foragers Find Connection And Belonging Outdoors
Mushroom hunting is increasingly popular. A new wave of foraging groups by and for people of color could also help close the “nature gap.”
How Did Ancient Humans Use The Acoustics Of Spaces Like Caves?
What did a vulture-bone flute sound like inside a cave? How about singing inside a tomb? Researchers are bringing ancient sounds back to life.
2025’s Best Science Books For Kids
Kid lit experts weigh in on some of the year’s best science titles. Plus, what to look for when choosing a book for the child in your life.
How To Tap Into The Hidden Histories Of Rocks
Geologist Anjana Khatwa explains how embracing wonder and awe adds to our scientific understanding of the rocks that form our planet.
Bearded Vulture Nests Hold Trove Of Centuries-Old Artifacts
Picking through a dozen vulture nests, scientists discovered hundreds of artifacts, including a sandal that could be more than 700 years old.