Science
How Long Droughts Make Flooding Worse
Parched ground is less likely to absorb water and increases the risk of dangerous flash floods. But there are ways to mitigate these conditions.
By Amit Katwala
Europe’s Plan to Wean Itself off Russian Gas Just Might Work
Russia has made good on threats to reduce supply—leaving the EU to navigate several tough winters of energy squeezes.
Is Oxygen the Answer to Long Covid?
Treatment options for lasting Covid symptoms are limited, but initial studies suggest hyperbaric oxygen could help.
By Adam Popescu
New Evidence Points to the Moon Once Being Part of Earth
Gases trapped in lunar meteorites hint that the moon was formed out of material displaced from Earth after a planetary collision.
Doctors Are Pioneering a Better Way to Perform Autopsies on Kids
Hi-res imaging can help determine cause of death in very young babies—giving parents answers without the distress of an invasive autopsy.
By Grace Browne
Tunnel Vision
Swarms of Mini Robots Could Dig the Tunnels of the Future
The underground excavation industry is exploring mini robots, plasma torches, and superheated gas to replace the massive boring machines now in use.
Public Health
Everything You Need to Know About Paxlovid
This antiviral is very effective at protecting vulnerable people from Covid, despite the small possibility of rebound symptoms.
By David Cox
Public Health
The Chaotic Monkeypox Vaccine Pipeline Is Leaving Everyone Short
A Danish company that’s the sole producer of the only approved vaccine has sold nearly all its supplies to the US, and it won’t be making new doses until 2023.
By Grace Browne
Swap Meats
Plant-Based Burgers Aren’t Denting Our Beef Addiction
Alternative proteins were meant to reduce the carbon footprint of our diets. But it doesn’t look like people are switching ... yet.
Origin Story
The Origins of Covid-19 Are More Complicated Than Once Thought
Scientists used painstaking research, genomics, and clever statistics to definitively track two distinct strains of the virus back to a wet market in Wuhan.
By Amit Katwala
Constant Change
A Minimalist Approach to the Hunt for Dark Matter
In a new experiment, researchers looked for tiny flickers in the fundamental constants of nature.
By Sophia Chen
Mind Reader
The Age of Brain-Computer Interfaces Is on the Horizon
Synchron has implanted its BCI in a US patient for the first time—bringing it a big step closer to distribution.
By Grace Browne
Future Proofing
How to Prevent Another European Transport Meltdown
This summer’s heat wave knocked roads, railways, and runways out of action. But existing solutions could help shore up critical infrastructure.
Public Health
Everything You Need to Know About Monkeypox
Here’s how to recognize monkeypox’s symptoms, how to prevent and treat the disease, and what to do if you think you’ve been exposed to it.
By David Cox
Second Life
Your Final Resting Place Could Be a Coffin Made of Mushrooms
Loop wants to rebuild the world with ecological structures made of fungal mycelium. Its proof of concept? Living coffins.
Extreme Ways
A Tool for Fighting Superbugs Has Been Found Deep in the Desert
Scientists are turning to the world’s most extreme environments to find new ways of combating drug resistance.
Nature Did It First
Architects Are Copying Nature to Make Low-Carbon Buildings
Plants and animals have adapted to their environments—and some hope biomimicry tools will help humans do the same.
By Suchi Rudra
Climate Change
A Deadly Glacier Collapse Sends a Dire Climate Warning
After 11 people were killed and eight hospitalized by a glacier in early July, Italian scientists are asking how future tragedies can be avoided.
Public Health
Embryonic Research Could Be the Next Target After Roe
Stem cell research has underpinned IVF’s success, but legal experts, clinicians, and potential donors worry about its future.
Roam Free
Meet the UK’s New Woodland Rangers: a Herd of Wild Bison
A rewilding project in Kent thinks that introducing bison to the UK can supercharge biodiversity. But how wild can introduced animals ever be?
Hot and Bothered
How Heat Waves Are Messing Up Your Sleep
Higher nighttime temperatures don’t just make it harder to drift off, they can disrupt your sleep cycles and leave you with low-quality rest.
Rare Find
Turkey Probably Hasn’t Found the Rare Earth Metals It Says It Has
The deposits discovered reportedly contain enough resources to meet global demand for 1,000 years—surpassing even China’s reserves. But experts are skeptical.
Infinite Quest
Quantum Advantage Showdowns Have No Clear Winners
A series of recent experiments between quantum and classical computers shows the term’s ever-evolving meaning.
By Sophia Chen
Mental Health
The Climate Anxiety Discussion Has a Whiteness Problem
Marginalized groups often think about the mental impact of the climate crisis in different terms—meaning they end up crowded out of the conversation.
By Grace Browne
Bitter Pill
Could Your Old Poop Cure You of Future Diseases?
Fecal transplants can fix gut diseases, but finding the right donor stool is tricky. The solution, some scientists believe, is to keep a store of your own.