All Stories

Environment

Let’s learn about plastic pollution

The world is cluttered with plastic waste. All that junk kills animals far and wide.

Life

Even raised by people, wolves don’t tune into you like your dog

Dog puppies outpace wolf pups at engaging with humans, even with less exposure to people, supporting the idea that domestication changed dogs’ brains.

Chemistry

Lots of makeup may contain potentially harmful ‘forever chemicals’

Hints of PFAS compounds have turned up in about half of tested makeup products. Waterproof mascaras and lipsticks were very likely to contain them.

Earth

New beetle species found in fossil poop of this dino relative

Whole beetles preserved in fossilized reptilian poop suggest that ancient droppings may deserve a closer look.

Climate

New UN climate report finds no time for denial or delay

It links extreme weather around the globe to Earth’s changing climate.

Animals

Here’s how sea otters stay warm without blubber or a large body

For the smallest mammal in the ocean, staying warm is tough. Now, scientists have figured out how the animals’ cells rise to the challenge.

Health & Medicine

One key change may have helped the coronavirus become a global menace

One key mutation may have helped the virus behind COVID-19 better infect human cells.

Animals

Abdominal fuzz makes bee bodies super slippery

Scientists find that tiny hairs on a honeybee’s abdomen reduce wear and tear as a bee’s outer skeletal parts rub against each other all day long.

Space

Born in deep shadows? That could explain Jupiter’s strange makeup

Dust that blocked sunlight might have caused the gas giant to form in a deep freeze, a new study suggests.

Humans

How torchlight, lamps and fire illuminated Stone Age cave art

Experiments with stone lamps and torches are helping scientists see 12,500-year-old cave art with fresh eyes.