EvolutionOctober 28, 2019
Lush Okavango Delta Pinpointed as Ancestral Homeland of All Living Humans
Genetic evidence traces our origins to a hunter-gatherer community that lived 200,000 years ago, but the study has generated controversy
Stories by Richard Conniff
is an award-winning science writer. His books include The Species Seekers: Heroes, Fools, and the Mad Pursuit of Life on Earth (W. W. Norton, 2011).
Public HealthOctober 23, 2019
Two Strains of Polio Down, One to Go
It could be the second human disease we eradicate—but if we don’t finish the job, resurgence is possible
EngineeringJune 17, 2019
In the Wiggle of an Ear, a Surprising Insight into Bat Sonar
It could lead to drones that fly like bats
Climate ChangeApril 30, 2019
Could Air-Conditioning Fix Climate Change?
Researchers propose a carbon-neutral “synthetic oil well” on every rooftop
Public HealthFebruary 20, 2019
Should We Kill Off Disease-Causing Pests? Not So Fast
Eradicating harmful species may have unintended consequences
EarthJanuary 1, 2019
Scrubbing Carbon from the Sky
Can we remove enough CO2 from the atmosphere to slow or even reverse climate change?
EvolutionDecember 17, 2018
Pterosaurs Just Keep Getting Weirder
They beat birds at powered flight. Were they also a step ahead with feathers?
BiologyDecember 6, 2018
Germs of Genius—a Masterpiece’s “Microbiome” Can Spell Its Demise
But microbes living on canvases may also help preserve irreplaceable works of art
BiologyOctober 17, 2018
Death of a Fossil Hunter
Junchang Lü was is one of the most important dinosaur researchers of the past half century
ChemistrySeptember 28, 2018
Take a Deep Breath and Say Hi to Your Exposome
Researchers begin to explore the unique cloud of airborne microbes and chemicals that surrounds each of us
CultureSeptember 6, 2018
Museum Digs Out a Future from Charred Scientific Ruins
Brazil’s tragic fire sends a wake-up call to neglected national museums worldwide
EvolutionAugust 22, 2018
When a Neandertal Met a Denisovan, What Happened Was Only Human
Scientists describe the hybrid child of two starkly different human groups
ConservationJune 21, 2018
Here’s Why Expanding Protected Areas Isn’t Saving Nature
A new study proposes tools to gauge when an ecosystem is “intact”—and what might happen if that changes
MedicineJune 13, 2018
New Probiotic Cholera Vaccine Can Outrace the Infection’s Rapid Spread
Rapid-response therapies use the lethal bug’s own speed to crowd it out of the gut
Public HealthMay 14, 2018
Is Malaria's Peculiar Odor Key to Its Conquest?
The smell attracts mosquitoes, and may help identify hidden cases
ConservationMay 7, 2018
U.S. Cities Lose Tree Cover Just When They Need It Most
Urbanization is on the rise; so is the urban heat island effect—a situation that is worsening with the decline of tree cover in U.S. metropolitan areas
PolicyFebruary 26, 2018
Guns Kill Kids in Cities, Too
New evidence shows green spaces in urban neighborhoods increase outdoor usage and lessen the opportunity for crime
EvolutionJanuary 10, 2018
Triassic Butterfly Park?
Fossil find questions the idea that flowers drove the evolution of butterflies and moths
EvolutionNovember 30, 2017
Eggs in 1 Basket: China Fossil Find Opens Up Lost World of Pterosaurs
Researchers think the winged reptiles may have nested in colonies and cared for their young
ConservationNovember 1, 2017
The Trouble with Fish Stocking
Stocking rivers and lakes with game fish is good for anglers. But it is wreaking ecological havoc
ConservationOctober 1, 2017
Our Love of Exotic Pets Is Driving Wildlife Decline
The wild pet trade may surpass habitat loss as a factor in the growing silence of the natural world
BehaviorMay 17, 2017
Pushy AI Bots Nudge Humans to Change Behavior
Researchers use artificially intelligent bot programs to stimulate collaboration and make people more effective
EvolutionApril 19, 2017
Scientists Launch Worldwide Search for Lost Species [Slide Show]
A new initiative sets out to find and save long-missing animals before they really disappear
EvolutionMarch 28, 2017
Of Mice and Men: Study Pushes Rodents’ Home Invasion to 15,000 Years Ago
Scientists provide a new estimate for when the common house mouse took up residence with humans