Engineering
Streetlights Are Mysteriously Turning Purple. Here’s Why
Newly purple streetlights might seem innocuous, but they could affect driver and pedestrian safety
Stories by Karen Kwon
Electronics
Do Blue-Light Glasses Help with Eyestrain?
An analysis of previous trials suggests blue-light-filtering lenses may not reduce eyestrain or sleep problems
Biology
Queen Bee Sperm Storage Holds Clues to Colony Collapse
Analyzing fluid from queen bees’ specialized sperm sacs can expose stressors
Biotech
Metal-Breathing Bacteria Synthesize High-Tech Material
Bacterial breathing helps to build a futuristic “2-D” semiconductor
Space & Physics
Science Pinpoints Global Metal Deposit Locations
Miners can find new deposits with less effort
Electronics
Cheap, Self-Powered Fire Sensor Could Sound an Early Alarm
A new sensor printed on an ordinary piece of paper can send a wireless alert
Environment
Warbler Species Fires Up Song Diversity
Hermit warblers in California have developed 35 different song dialects, apparently as a result of wildfires temporarily driving them out of certain areas.
Environment
Weird Mystery Seeds Arriving by Mail Sprout Biodiversity Concerns
An invasive plant expert explains what could happen if enigmatic seeds shipped from China are released
Space & Physics
Scientists Unveil First Ever Pictures of Multiple Planets around a Sunlike Star
The two giant worlds, each much larger than Jupiter, constitute only the third multiplanet system ever imaged
Neuroscience
The Beautiful Things inside Your Head: Winners of the 10th Annual Art of Neuroscience Contest
The top works—and our favorites—range from interactive pieces to a pen-and-paper drawing
Space & Physics
The Best Way to Watch Comet NEOWISE, Wherever You Are
Astronomer Jackie Faherty shares her tips for an ideal viewing experience
Public Health
Second Coronavirus Strain May Be More Infectious—but Some Scientists Are Skeptical
Researchers question whether a mutated viral strain that infected more cells in a lab dish is necessarily more transmissible among humans
Public Health
How to Protect Yourself during Protests
Demonstrators face tear gas, flash bangs, coronavirus and surveillance
Space & Physics
Black Astronomers Highlight Achievements and Obstacles
One of the forces behind #BlackInAstro week shares her optimism for the future
Space & Physics
China Reaches New Milestone in Space-Based Quantum Communications
The nation’s Micius satellite successfully established an ultrasecure link between two ground stations separated by more than 1,000 kilometers
