Fact or fantasy? Tales from the linguistic fringe
Paranormal claims and other pseudoscience often bedevil the study of language
Oct. 21, 2020 • ~17 min
society qa
Wanted: Online gamers to help build a more stable Covid-19 vaccine
People beat artificial intelligence hands-down at puzzling out new ways to fold molecules for a potential SARS-Cov-2 immunization. Thousands more players are needed.
Oct. 20, 2020 • ~8 min
health-disease reset
What legacy lies ahead for Black Lives Matter?
Historically, the road to reform has often begun with protesters taking to the streets. A sociologist and a political scientist take stock of whether today’s activism will lead to actual change.
Oct. 16, 2020 • ~17 min
society qa
Seeking surprises in comets and asteroids
Exploring small bodies in the solar system provides clues to origins
Oct. 16, 2020 • ~18 min
space-astronomy physical-world
AI’s next big leap
The unlikely marriage of two major artificial intelligence approaches has given rise to a new hybrid called neurosymbolic AI. It’s taking baby steps toward reasoning like humans and might one day take the wheel in self-driving cars.
Oct. 14, 2020 • ~22 min
technology
The blueprint for life, neatly folded
Bit by bit, biologists are deciphering the complex 3-D — and 4-D — architecture of the genome and learning how all the squeezed-together stuff of DNA keeps itself in order. What they find could lead to medical advances.
Oct. 12, 2020 • ~18 min
living-world
The danger lurking in an African lake
Kivu is no ordinary lake, with dense depths packed with methane and carbon dioxide gas. Its features hold aquatic puzzles, explosive hazards and the capacity to provide valuable energy.
Oct. 7, 2020 • ~11 min
story-behind-a-picture physical-world
The pernicious contagion of misinformation
False statements — about Covid-19 and so much else — spread like a virus online. Scientists should study them like one.
Oct. 2, 2020 • ~12 min
society qa
Solving the growing plastics waste puzzle
When polymers prove resistant to recycling, new chemical techniques can do the job of breaking them down for reuse
Oct. 1, 2020 • ~7 min
technology food-environment
Recycling meets reality
Modern industry has made great strides in turning trash into tomorrow’s new products, but the process is still a long way from perfect. New technologies can help. Plus, updates on chemical recycling, design for recycling and dirty recycling.
Oct. 1, 2020 • ~27 min
climate-change technology food-environment
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