PolicyAugust 5, 2019
Environmental Activists Have Higher Death Rates Than Some Soldiers
Killings of those protecting nature are highest in countries with corruption and weak rule of law
Stories by Rachel Nuwer
Rachel Nuwer is a science journalist and author. Her latest book is I Feel Love: MDMA and the Quest for Connection in a Fractured World (Bloomsbury, 2023). Follow her on Bluesky @rachelnuwer.bsky.social
ConservationJune 7, 2019
As Predicted, Some of Australia’s Turtles Are Going Extinct
Turtles’ famed longevity can mask their decline—until it is too late
PollutionJune 6, 2019
The Deep Ocean Harbors a Mountain of Microplastic Pollution
Four times as many plastic particles turned up in the deep waters of a “clean” patch of ocean than on the surface in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
BiologyApril 29, 2019
Slime Thinks Fast and Slow
Slime molds display surprisingly complex decision-making behavior
CognitionApril 1, 2019
How to Turn Failure into Success
Research reveals strategies for staying motivated in the face of challenges
EnvironmentFebruary 1, 2019
Livestock Act Like Ghosts of Wildlife Past
In Kenya, wild animals and livestock can coexist and even benefit each other
BiologyDecember 1, 2018
Rolling under the Sea: Scientists Gave Octopuses Ecstasy to Study Social Behavior
Cephalopods on the recreational drug behave much like humans do, even touching and hugging their peers
Public HealthAugust 24, 2018
Sometimes Mosquitoes Are Just Thirsty
Mosquitoes want your blood for its proteins...or simply to hydrate on a hot, dry day.
BiologyAugust 1, 2018
The Other Reason Mosquitoes Want to Suck Your Blood
Mosquitoes are more likely to bite hosts when they are thirsty, possibly increasing disease spread
ConservationMay 1, 2018
Tracing Thailand’s Illegal Rosewood Trade
Rosewood is heavily smuggled, but resources to curb its trafficking are lacking
BiologyFebruary 21, 2018
Programming a DNA Clock
Engineers have created a DNA-based chemical “oscillator,” opening the door to molecular computing
Public HealthJanuary 1, 2018
Gun Terrorism Is the Deadliest Kind
Firearms kill more people per attack in high-income countries than any other method
ConservationDecember 20, 2017
Massive Fish Orgy Produces One of the Loudest Noises under the Sea
The Gulf corvina’s record-setting underwater spectacle may soon disappear due to overfishing
BehaviorDecember 1, 2017
Healthy Choices? Storefront Placement Plays a Role
Supermarket displays tip customers toward or away from healthful purchasing decisions
ConservationAugust 1, 2017
Where’s My Elephant? High-Tech Collars Track Wildlife in Real Time
Devices and accompanying software, now being tested in Kenya and beyond, could help conservationists outsmart poachers
TechnologyJune 14, 2017
Where's My Elephant? High-Tech Collars Track Wildlife in Real Time
The devices and accompanying software, now being tested in Kenya and beyond, could help conservationists outsmart poachers
ConservationFebruary 1, 2017
The Trauma of Saving Animals
A clinical psychologist treats shell-shocked rangers engaged in Africa's poaching wars
BehaviorSeptember 20, 2016
Stress Training for Cops’ Brains Could Reduce Suspect Shootings
Police shot Terence Crutcher, an unarmed man, and police academies often do not prepare officers to make the right call
Mental HealthSeptember 1, 2016
Why You Should Work from Home
Ditching the office at least part-time can boost profitability and personal happiness—provided it’s done right
BehaviorAugust 5, 2016
Coaching Can Make or Break an Olympic Athlete
Competitors at the most elite level require more than technical support
Space & PhysicsJuly 1, 2016
Ancient Documents Reveal Sunspots, Auroras and Other Solar Activity before Galileo
Some references to the phenomena date as early as the seventh century
BiologyJune 1, 2016
Mother Birds May Teach Their Chicks to Sing before They Hatch
The young of red-backed fairy wrens emerge from their eggs mimicking mom’s tune
EvolutionMay 1, 2016
A Monster Comes out of Hiding
Researchers solve a long-standing phylogenetic mystery
ComputingMay 1, 2016
Now Computers Can Tell When You're Bored
That ability could lead to more engaging coursework and machines that better understand human emotions