Climate Disasters Only Slightly Shift the Political Needle
Researchers tracking the social and political impacts of storms, floods, and heat waves say their effects are often transient and short-lived. But for those who’ve experienced disasters, some recent...
View ArticleCould AI Help Curb Conspiracy Theory Beliefs?
A new study found promise in the “DebunkBot” — an AI chatbot used to challenge beliefs in conspiracies, such as that the 2020 election involved voter fraud. But experts say that while artificial...
View ArticleHow Kamala Harris’ Economic Plan Would Protect Children From Harm
More than one-third of children in the U.S. experience a visit from child protective services during their childhoods. Most of these reports don’t stem from allegations of abuse but rather from signs...
View ArticleBook Review: Why the Medical Establishment Often Gets It Wrong
Marty Makary, a surgeon, author, and one of medicine’s most prolific iconoclasts, takes aim at the medical establishment in “Blind Spots,” deploying behind-the-scenes case studies to reveal the many...
View ArticleIntroducing Undark’s New Podcast: Entanglements
The Undark podcast is back with a new format and a new name: Entanglements. Tune in as our hosts explore some of the most contentious topics in science today. Our first 8-episode season will launch...
View ArticleThe Great American Nuclear Weapons Upgrade
A $1.7 trillion military program is advancing the American nuclear arsenal. While some analysts argue that the program is crucial to building — or rebuilding — a formidable arsenal that deters other...
View ArticleAn Honest Discussion of Covid Vaccine Side Effects Is Overdue
Severe side effects of Covid-19 vaccinations, like Guillain-Barré syndrome, are very rare. But, writes journalist Anthony Flint, the government currently does not sufficiently document or provide...
View ArticleAre Schools With Armed Police Actually Safer?
In 2022, more than 41,000 U.S. schools employed at least one officer. But recent research has questioned whether such policing actually promotes safety, and shows that the approach increases punitive...
View ArticleThe Nobel Prizes Tell a Story About Scientific Discovery
The Nobel Prizes have long been celebrations of scientific innovation. In this month’s Selective Pressure column, C. Brandon Ogbunu explores how this year’s awards have highlighted the increased...
View ArticleBook Excerpt: How Circadian Rhythms Make Life on Earth Tick
Circadian rhythms are essential to all living things. For humans, our inner clocks regulate everything from the ebb and flow of hormones to the rise and fall of blood pressure and heart rate, and help...
View Article