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Science

News and updates from the science team. Topics include genetics, infectious disease, psychology, and more.

Climate

Climate change is already making parts of America uninsurable

By Umair Irfan

Climate

A big El Niño is looming. Here’s what it means for our weather.

By Umair Irfan

Down to Earth

In defense of flies. Yes, really.

By Benji Jones

UN numbers say meat is bad for the climate. The reality is worse.

By Sophie Kevany May 27

Is weed safe in pregnancy?

By Keren Landman May 26

A message just arrived from outer space. Can you decode it?

By Sigal Samuel May 24

4 unexplainable mysteries of pregnancy and parenting

By Byrd Pinkerton and Brian Resnick May 24

The cancer-reducing birth control method you might not have heard of

By Anna North May 24

Volcanoes have erupted in Mexico and Italy. Here are 7 things to know about volcanoes.

By Umair Irfan May 23

America’s best idea to protect its oceans has one big problem: It’s not working

By Benji Jones May 23

Why more mammograms aren’t the solution to breast cancer

By Keren Landman May 19

Half the world is at risk of dengue. Why is there no universal way to prevent it?

By Rachel DuRose May 18

It’s not just climate disasters. “Normal” weather is getting weirder, too.

By Umair Irfan May 17

A giant patch of seaweed is growing to record sizes in the Atlantic. Sorry, Florida.

By Benji Jones May 11

A frightening virus is killing a massive number of wild birds

By Benji Jones May 9

Why most car dealers still don’t have any electric vehicles

By Umair Irfan May 8

What the ending of the WHO’s Covid emergency does (and doesn’t) change

By Keren Landman May 5

The most mysterious forests on Earth are underwater

By Benji Jones May 3

A leading cause of maternal mortality is something few moms worry about

By Keren Landman May 2

Smaller, cheaper, safer: The next generation of nuclear power, explained

By Umair Irfan May 1

Bringing back woolly mammoths and dodos is a bad idea

By Dayton Martindale April 26

How new vaccine technologies could reduce the massive death toll from malaria

By Kelsey Piper and Rachel DuRose April 25

What the new Covid-19 vaccine guidance means for you

By Keren Landman April 22

Why SpaceX doesn’t see its rocket explosion as a failure

By Li Zhou April 21

7 ways we’ve made the Earth better since the last Earth Day

By Umair Irfan and Rebecca Leber April 21

These 8 species depend on the Colorado River. What happens as it dries up?

By Benji Jones April 21

The devil lurking in the dust

By Keren Landman April 20

Are 8 billion people too many — or too few?

By Bryan Walsh April 19

Lab-grown blood could (one day, maybe) save your life

By Marion Renault April 18

The pregnancy risks of Ozempic and Wegovy need more attention

By Julia Belluz April 18

These adorable tiny owls are thriving in the most unlikely place

By Benji Jones April 15

Colorado River states brace for the biggest water cuts ever

By Benji Jones April 13

The EPA’s new plan to cut car pollution has an SUV problem

By Umair Irfan April 12

Mifepristone is safe

By Keren Landman April 11

The case against pet ownership

By Kenny Torrella April 11

The largest habitat on Earth is finally getting protection

By Benji Jones April 10

Why this toxic algae is quietly ruining all your beach days

By Rachel DuRose April 7

Humanity’s return to the moon is a deeply religious mission

By Sigal Samuel April 3

The thread that ties the recent chemical spills together

By Rebecca Leber April 2

The number of uninsured Americans is about to jump dramatically

By Dylan Scott March 31

Why don’t we have vaccines for fungal infections?

By Keren Landman March 24

Yes, there was just a tornado near Los Angeles. Is climate change to blame?

By Li Zhou March 23

How the US can stop the spread of Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus

By Nicole Narea March 23