The rising flood of space junk is a risk to us on Earth – and governments are on the hook

The amount of space junk will increase as we continue to launch objects into space, but there are ways to curb damage on the ground.

Thomas Cheney, Vice Chancellors Research Fellow, Northumbria Law School, Northumbria University, Newcastle • conversation
April 17, 2024 ~6 min

Climate engineering carries serious national security risks − countries facing extreme heat may try it anyway, and the world needs to be prepared

The big question: Would climate engineering like sending reflective particles into the stratosphere or brightening clouds help reduce the national security risks of climate change or make them worse?

Tyler Felgenhauer, Research Scientist in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University • conversation
April 4, 2024 ~9 min


Food fraud is a growing economic and health issue – but AI and blockchain technology can help combat it

Food fraud costs billions globally. But blockchain and machine learning offer hope for a more transparent and safer food system.

Milind Tiwari, Lecturer in Fraud and Financial Crime Studies, Charles Sturt University • conversation
April 2, 2024 ~7 min

Atmospheric observations in China show rise in emissions of a potent greenhouse gas

Global warming potential of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is more than 24,000 times that of carbon dioxide.

Mark Dwortzan | MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change • mit
March 28, 2024 ~5 min

Women favour climate actions that benefit future generations more than men – new study

Attitudes towards climate policies partly depend on a consideration of future, as yet unborn, descendants. Women tended to show more ability to think about how future generations could benefit.

Emma A. Renström (prev. Bäck), Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg • conversation
March 13, 2024 ~6 min

We’re working out how to solve crimes in space – the final frontier of forensic science

If we need to use forensic techniques in space, we’ll need to understand how things behave differently in microgravity.

Zack Kowalske, PhD Researcher, Staffordshire University • conversation
March 7, 2024 ~7 min

Spacesuits need a major upgrade for the next phase of exploration

The next generation of spacesuit needs to do more than simply protect an astronaut from the vacuum of space.

Yang Gao, Professor of Robotics, Head of Centre for Robotics Research, King's College London • conversation
March 6, 2024 ~7 min

A careful rethinking of the Iraq War

Roger Petersen’s new book details military operations and political dynamics in Iraq, shedding new light on the challenges of state-building.

Peter Dizikes | MIT News • mit
March 1, 2024 ~8 min


I’ve been studying astronaut psychology since Apollo − a long voyage to Mars in a confined space could raise stress levels and make the journey more challenging

Can astronauts spend prolonged time in close quarters millions of miles from Earth without killing each other?

Nick Kanas, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco • conversation
Feb. 21, 2024 ~8 min

Nonprofit hospitals have an obligation to help their communities, but the people who live nearby may see little benefit

Standards are vague, and the IRS, which is tasked with enforcement, hasn’t provided much oversight.

Daniel Skinner, Associate Professor of Health Policy, Ohio University • conversation
Jan. 29, 2024 ~10 min

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