Life

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

Briefing: Early Southwest heat is latest in parade of weather extremes as Earth warms

Strategic angle: The dangerous heat wave shattering March records all over the U.S. Southwest highlights the increasing frequency of extreme weather due to global warming.

Editorial Staff Mar 20

Life

Briefing: NASA returns moon rocket to pad, eyeing April 1 launch

Strategic angle: NASA on Thursday began returning its towering SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft to its Florida launch pad ahead of a planned flyby of the moon, after completing necessary repairs.

Editorial Staff Mar 20

Life

NASA's Artemis missions promise a return to the moon—but when?

NASA's Artemis II mission plans to fly around the moon and back this April.

Editorial Staff Mar 20

Life

Briefing: Restless Kīlauea Launches Lava and Ash

Strategic angle: Episode 43 of the Hawaiian volcano’s current eruption was marked by high lava fountains and widespread ash dispersal.

Editorial Staff Mar 20

Life

Briefing: What happens after Ozempic shocked researchers

Strategic angle: A large study reveals that stopping Ozempic may not lead to significant weight regain for most users.

Editorial Staff Mar 20

Life

Briefing: Mind over metal: Staying wary of metal-related toxicities for pets

Strategic angle: Pets encounter various risks, including invisible threats from metal-related toxicities that owners may underestimate.

Editorial Staff Mar 20

Life

Briefing: Death of the front yard: The quiet change sweeping Sydney suburbs

Strategic angle: A new study reveals a significant shift in Sydney's suburban landscapes, with a decline in greenery and front gardens.

Editorial Staff Mar 20

Life

Physicists trace the sun's magnetic engine, 200,000 kilometers below its surface

Every eleven years, the sun's magnetic field flips, influencing solar activity and eruptions.

Editorial Staff Mar 20

Life

Briefing: Scientists thought ravens followed wolves. They were wrong

Strategic angle: New research reveals that ravens are more strategic in finding food than previously believed.

Editorial Staff Mar 20

Life

Briefing: A water solution for drought‑prone South Africa: We designed systems to replenish aquifers

Strategic angle: South Africa is the 30th driest country in the world. Over 400 towns rely on aquifers for their water supply.

Editorial Staff Mar 20

Life

Briefing: Bird flu risk to Danish cattle: New tool can warn farmers before infection spreads

Strategic angle: A new tool aims to alert farmers to potential bird flu outbreaks in cattle, helping to mitigate risks.

Editorial Staff Mar 20

Life

Briefing: Moral metrics: Are corporate algorithms becoming our new moral authorities?

Strategic angle: Exploring the influence of corporate algorithms on personal and societal decision-making.

Editorial Staff Mar 20

Life

Briefing: Why the gender wealth gap is still so stubborn, and what it means for women's well-being

Strategic angle: Inequality in wealth between men and women persists, impacting women's overall well-being.

Editorial Staff Mar 20

Life

Briefing: Workplace nature breaks may cut stress, study finds

Strategic angle: A new Cornell study highlights the benefits of nature breaks in reducing workplace stress.

Editorial Staff Mar 20

Life

Briefing: Chemical pollutants are rife across the world’s oceans

Strategic angle: A new study reveals alarming levels of chemical pollutants affecting marine ecosystems globally.

Editorial Staff Mar 20

Life

Briefing: How birds are spreading plastic pollution

Strategic angle: Gulls adapt to human habits, contributing to plastic waste spread.

Editorial Staff Mar 19

Life

Briefing: Clearing the nanoscale bottleneck holding back next-gen electronics

Strategic angle: UCLA researchers improve electrical current entry in perovskite semiconductors, paving the way for advanced electronics.

Editorial Staff Mar 19

Life

Briefing: Project Hail Mary is packed with hard science. An astrophysicist breaks it down

Strategic angle: An astrophysicist critiques the scientific accuracy of Project Hail Mary, exploring its themes and concepts.

Editorial Staff Mar 19

Life

Briefing: Engineered nanoparticles show enhanced intrinsic luminescence for biomedical imaging and cancer treatment

Strategic angle: Researchers at the University of São Paulo have developed a method to enhance the luminescence of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles for medical applications.

Editorial Staff Mar 19

Life

Briefing: Ultra-thin MoSe₂ grating traps infrared light in a 40-nanometer layer

Strategic angle: Controlling light at the micro- and nanoscale opens up opportunities for a better understanding of the world and the development of technology.

Editorial Staff Mar 19