Light pollution has cut humanity's ancient connection with the stars – but we can restore it

People travel hundreds or thousands of miles and spend a fortune to see the night sky in all its splendor. But we are literally blocking out the cosmic beauty above our homes.

Or Graur, Reader in Astrophysics, University of Portsmouth • conversation
Feb. 9, 2023 • ~7 min

What the world would lose with the demise of Twitter: valuable eyewitness accounts and raw data on human behavior, as well as a habitat for trolls

If Twitter were to go dark, with it would go a valuable source of data as well as a means of sharing information relied on by activists, journalists, public health officials and scientists.

Anjana Susarla, Professor of Information Systems, Michigan State University • conversation
Nov. 18, 2022 • ~8 min

Monarch butterflies join the Red List of endangered species, thanks to habitat loss, climate change and pesticides

The iconic monarch butterfly has been added to the Red List of endangered species, but hasn’t received protection in the US yet. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Kristen A. Baum, Professor of Integrative Biology and Associate Dean for Research, Oklahoma State University • conversation
July 26, 2022 • ~9 min

Citizen science volunteers are almost entirely white

The homogeneity of citizen science volunteers undercuts the ability of these projects to bring science to underserved communities.

Caren Cooper, Associate Professor of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University • conversation
June 22, 2022 • ~5 min

How is snowfall measured? A meteorologist explains how volunteers tally up winter storms

It’s hard to get accurate measurements, but a nationwide network of more than 8,000 volunteers with rulers and specific standards reports after every storm.

Bill Syrett, Associate Teaching Professor of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science and Manager of the Joel N. Myers Weather Center, Penn State • conversation
Jan. 27, 2022 • ~10 min

Five chemistry research projects that you can get involved in

Getting involved in citizen science projects can be a great way to have a positive impact on the world.

Samantha Richardson, Lecturer of Analytical Chemistry, University of Hull • conversation
Jan. 5, 2022 • ~8 min

'Dataraising' – when you're asked to chip in with data instead of money

Informed data donations are different from the usual online data experience. They’re easier to manage because of technological advances.

Lucy Bernholz, Senior Research Scholar of Philanthropy and Civil Society, Stanford University • conversation
Jan. 4, 2022 • ~9 min

What's the record for how long it's ever rained without stopping?

Extended periods of rain are most likely found in locations where mountains are near oceans.

Joe Boomgard-Zagrodnik, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University • conversation
Dec. 20, 2021 • ~6 min

How a volcano and flaming red sunsets led an amateur scientist in Hawaii to discover jet streams

The Rev. Sereno Edwards Bishop mobilized ship captains to track the extraordinary sunsets appearing around the world after Krakatau erupted in 1883.

Kevin Hamilton, Emeritus Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Hawaii • conversation
Aug. 16, 2021 • ~7 min

Pooling society's collective intelligence helped fight COVID – it must help fight future crises too

The WHO is creating a Global Pandemic Radar – an example of collective intelligence that must learn lessons from this pandemic.

Kathy Peach, Director of the Centre for Collective Intelligence Design, Nesta • conversation
June 24, 2021 • ~16 min

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