The Supreme Court Preserves Emergency Abortion Access, and NASA Plays It Safe With Starliner
Emergency access to abortion is preserved—for now. Also, NASA postpones the return of Starliner astronauts, and we’re tracking the spread of bird flu, dengue and mpox.
Life for Researchers on This Icebreaker Is Cold and Fulfilling
Get a behind-the-scenes look at how researchers live and work on a U.S. icebreaker making its way through the waters of West Antarctica.
How We Can Keep Ourselves and Our Communities Cool in the Summer Heat
Heat waves are getting hotter, more frequent and longer. But there are ways to keep yourself and your community cool.
Your Penis Might Be Full of Microplastics, and the Seine Is Definitely Full of Bacteria
Microplastics are everywhere, Olympic ambitions for the Seine River are complicated by poop, and the Starliner spacecraft delays its return to Earth.
Penguins and Ice Samples Make This Research Vessel Paradice
To unravel the effects of melting sea ice, researchers drill the frozen waters around Antarctica and receive a surprise visit from a group of penguins.
What Happens if a Nuclear Weapon Goes Off in Space?
A nuclear explosion in space would cause stunning auroras—and wreak havoc on satellites and space stations.
There’s No Need to Panic over ‘Flying’ Spiders, and Satellites Are Not So Great for the Ozone Layer
Sweltering heat in Greece, ozone-damaging chemicals on the decline and an investigation of what space does to our body are all in this week’s news roundup.
Glacial Melting Could Change the Chemistry of Antarctic Seawater
Researchers are investigating how an iron infusion from glacial meltwater might change Antarctica’s seas and the climate.
Your Tattoo Ink Might Contain Hidden Ingredients
Chemists are hard at work figuring out how to make tattoos last—and ensure they’re safe.
Rock Samples from Far-Side of the Moon and a ‘Morning-After Pill’ for STIs
The Hubble Space Telescope’s woes, moon rocks and antibiotic candidates discovered with AI are all in this week’s news roundup.
Do Plants ‘Think’? We Might Not Know Enough about Consciousness to Be Certain
Zoë Schlanger’s new book The Light Eaters explores the surprising science of plant intelligence.
Snacking on Cicadas Can Be Sustainable and Delicious
Make the best of the “double brood” of cicadas with insect kimchi and tempura-fried bugs.