Snakes Could Be the Original Source of the New Coronavirus Outbreak in China
A study of the virus’s genetic sequence suggests similarities to that seen in snakes, but the origin must still be verified
Stories by The Conversation US
Why New Zealand’s White Island Erupted Without Warning
Steam volcanic eruptions like this one can only be detected seconds or minutes in advance
British Columbia’s Vaping Crackdown Could Offer a Roadmap for the Rest of the World
The provincial government has an expansive plan that ranges from limiting nicotine to raising taxes on the products
Destructive Amazon Fires Do Not Threaten Earth’s Oxygen, Expert Says
There is enough oxygen in the air to last for millions of years
Blood Tests for Alzheimer’s: Two Experts on Why New Studies Are Encouraging
Diagnoses could be made of individuals with AD pathology years before the first symptoms
Meet the Eye Microbiome
Bacteria live on our eyeballs, and understanding their role could help treat common eye diseases
Climate Change Sends Great Lakes Water Levels Seesawing
Six years ago, lake levels were low, now lakeside communities face widespread flooding
Why Giant Human-Sized Beavers Died Out 10,000 Years Ago
The now-extinct animals once lived from Florida to Alaska, and weighed as up to 100 kilograms
El Niño Is Now Stronger and Stranger, Coral Records Show
Changes to El Niño influence precipitation and temperature patterns around the globe
Why the “Child of Krakatau” Volcano Is Still Dangerous
The Dec. 22 landslide at the Indonesian volcano led to a predictable tsunami in the area
Illuminating the Dark Web
It might sound scary, but the ‘dark web’ is not much different from the rest of the internet
Yellowstone Rebounded from an Epic 1988 Fire—That May Be Harder in Future
As bigger wildfires occur more frequently, even ecosystems adapted to fire may have difficulty recovering
Why Is Glioblastoma, the Cancer That Killed John McCain, So Deadly?
Most people diagnosed with the disease survive less than two years
Wildfires Are Inevitable—Fatalities and Homes Losses Are Not
California needs to be better prepared for fires and change how it develops communities
Red Light Cameras May Not Make Streets Safer
Fear of fines may fuel more sudden stops and rear-end accidents
Computer Programmers Get New Tech Ethics Code
The guidelines come from the Association for Computing Machinery
Where the Pacific Northwest’s “Big One” Is More Likely to Strike
Differences observed along the Cascadia Fault explain why certain areas see more rumbling
A Perfect Storm of Factors Is Making Wildfires More Expensive to Control
Longer wildfire seasons and development are driving up firefighting costs
Why Do Paper Cuts Hurt So Much?
The injury is too shallow to impair pain signals
Who Owns the Moon? A Space Lawyer Answers
Did the Stars and Stripes on the moon signify the establishment of an American colony?
