Wildfire Brought Wolves Back to Southern California after 150 Years
Wolves and other animals seeking easy meals and ideal habitat can flock into areas burned by wildfire
The State of the Planet in 10 Numbers
Here is a snapshot of the warming world, from sea-level rise to fossil fuel subsidies to renewable energy growth
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-state-of-the-planet-in-10-numbers/
SpaceX Starship's Second Flight Was an Explosive Milestone
SpaceX’s Starship—the most powerful rocket ever built—experienced a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” in its otherwise successful second full-scale launch, triggering a federal investigation into what went wrong
A Black Physician Takes on Racism in Medicine
Physician Uché Blackstock talks about her experience of the huge health disparities faced by Black Americans in her new book Legacy
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-black-physician-takes-on-racism-in-medicine/
A Flawed Way of Diagnosing Dyslexia Leaves Thousands of Kids without Help
Changing how dyslexia is diagnosed could help many more children learn to read
If You Had a Nuclear Weapon in Your Neighborhood, Would You Want to Know about It?
The Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota has had nuclear missile silos on its land for decades. Now the U.S. government wants to take the old weapons out and replace them with new ones, and it’s unclear how many living there know about that.
Cranberries Are a Scientific Delicacy
From self-pollination to bogs, cranberries are a Thanksgiving classic with many fascinating botanical and genetic features
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cranberries-are-a-scientific-delicacy/
New Results Reveal How to Build a Nuclear Clock
Nuclear clocks could shatter timekeeping records. Now physicists are learning how to build one
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-results-reveal-how-to-build-a-nuclear-clock/
'Heartbreak' Stars Cause Enormous, Tumultuous Waves in Their Partners
Two orbiting stars are causing unsustainably large tides as they draw closer together
COVID Caused a Baby Bump when Experts Expected a Drop. Here's Why
During the COVID pandemic, the U.S. initially saw a drop in births followed by a bump
Science News Briefs from around the World: December 2023
The explosive secret behind Saturn’s rings, a Scandinavian arrow frozen for 4,000 years, the world's deepest-known virus, and much more in this month’s Quick Hits
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/science-news-briefs-from-around-the-world-december-2023/
New Models Could Predict Climate Change Effects with Unprecedented Detail
Scientists have proposed a network of supercomputing centers that would focus on local climate impacts
Poem: 'In Conversation with Elizabeth Fulhame'
Science in meter and verse
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/poem-in-conversation-with-elizabeth-fulhame/
Short Naps Have Major Benefits for Your Mind
A light midday snooze boosts memory and other types of cognition—and your mood
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/short-naps-have-major-benefits-for-your-mind/
Superconductor Research Is in a 'Golden Age,' Despite Controversy
The search for room-temperature superconductors has suffered scandalous setbacks, but physicists are optimistic about the field’s future
New Space Station Sensor Can Reveal Hidden Greenhouse Gas Polluters
An instrument mounted to the International Space Station was built to map dust in the atmosphere, but it’s also giving scientists a wealth of information about methane and carbon dioxide emissions
Net-Zero Emissions Would Save 32,000 Lives and $1 Trillion in the U.S. Alone
The U.S. will see “fewer emergency room visits, fewer asthma attacks” and will save money if it cuts carbon emissions, a new Union of Concerned Scientists analysis says
Weight-Loss Drug Wegovy Slashes Risk of Death in Some People with Heart Disease
The active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic reduced the risk of heart attacks and strokes in a large trial of people with cardiovascular disease who were considered overweight or had obesity, but the cost and side effects remain barriers
Transgender People's Neurological Needs Are Being Overlooked
Migraine, stroke and epilepsy disproportionately affect members of the transgender community—but neurologists are often unprepared to respond
'Olfactory Training' during Sleep Could Help Your Memory
Participants who smelled odors while they slept performed better on word-recall tests
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/olfactory-training-during-sleep-could-help-your-memory/