Life

Health, science, climate, and society-focused reporting.

Briefing: Plastic washing at recycling plants can spike phthalates in wastewater, study suggests

Strategic angle: A new study reveals that cleaning plastics at recycling facilities may lead to increased levels of harmful chemicals in wastewater.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Parental advice on interacting with police varies widely by race

Strategic angle: Advice from parents on how to interact with police differs significantly across racial lines, highlighting disparities in societal experiences.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Shell-cracking turtles defied mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period

Strategic angle: The mass extinction at the boundary between the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods was catastrophic, wiping out much of life on Earth.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Amazon wildfire emissions may be up to three times higher than estimated

Strategic angle: Fires in central South America are intensifying due to drought and deforestation, with 2024 marking a peak in wildfire activity.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Terran Orbital Introduces New Star Tracker Product Line at SATSHOW 2026

Strategic angle: Terran Orbital Corporation unveils innovative star tracker technology at the annual SATSHOW event.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Rare mountain gorilla twins born in DR Congo: park authorities

Strategic angle: In a rare occurrence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, twin mountain gorillas were recently born in the Virunga National Park, renowned for its biodiversity but threatened by conflict.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: A captive chimp's instrumental performances hint at the evolution of vocal externalization

Strategic angle: Ayumu, a 26-year-old chimpanzee, showcases musical talent, shedding light on human vocal evolution.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Significant grade inflation may be occurring in graduate education, according to decades' worth of data

Strategic angle: Analysis of two decades of student data at a large U.S. university suggests that grade inflation exists in graduate education.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Dancing to invisible choreography, quantum computers can balance the noise

Strategic angle: Large-scale quantum computers are on the horizon, but noise in quantum hardware remains a significant challenge.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Massive insect body size 300 million years ago may not have been due to high atmospheric oxygen

Strategic angle: Research challenges the long-held belief linking insect size to atmospheric oxygen levels in ancient Earth.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Extreme global climate outcomes are possible even at 2°C warming, study warns

Strategic angle: A new study reveals that significant climate impacts can occur even with a 2°C increase in global temperatures.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: How the body senses cold has been a mystery—until now

Strategic angle: New research reveals the role of the TRPM8 protein in cold sensation.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Unusual signal may prove existence of primordial black holes

Strategic angle: A pair of University of Miami astrophysicists could be on the verge of a cosmic breakthrough confirming primordial black holes.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Polymer uses movable molecular rings to overcome durability–degradability trade-off

Strategic angle: Innovative design in polymer materials addresses the challenge of balancing strength and environmental impact.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: DNA Origami Positions Single-Photon Emitters for Quantum Technologies

Strategic angle: A breakthrough method using DNA self-assembly allows for unprecedented precision in positioning molecules on ultrathin materials.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Infinity Avionics Unveils Aquila: The Next-Generation Space Imaging Solution for Complex Orbital Operations

Strategic angle: Infinity Avionics announces the commercial launch of Aquila, a cutting-edge space imaging system designed for advanced orbital operations.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Project Hail Mary meets reality: 45 planets could harbor alien life

Strategic angle: Astronomers have narrowed down the cosmic search for life, identifying fewer than 50 rocky planets among thousands of known exoplanets that may have the right conditions to support life.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Does a company's political power affect its success in obtaining federal contracts?

Strategic angle: A study published in Contemporary Economic Policy investigates the influence of political investments on federal contract success.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Eight amino acids may explain salamanders' reduced cold sensitivity

Strategic angle: Research reveals how specific amino acids contribute to temperature sensing in salamanders.

Editorial Staff Mar 25

Life

Briefing: Are mercury levels elevated across US conservation lands?

Strategic angle: A study reveals varying risks to wildlife from mercury pollution in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Editorial Staff Mar 25