Science

Most genetic research is done on people of European descent. That’s led to misdiagnoses, inaccurate tests, and missed opportunities for new treatments.

Keeping wounds covered can help them stay clean. But if bacteria grow beneath the bandages, things can get dangerous.

Paul Bishop vomited his false teeth into a Spanish bin 11 years ago. Then a DNA analysis seemingly returned them to his home in the UK. But the truth, it turns out, is even weirder.

An experiment to change the blood type of donated organs could be a first step to shortening transplant wait times.

The discovery of the first wind-driven aurora sheds light on a strange phenomenon playing out below Saturn’s stormy atmosphere.

A new simulation aims to determine whether the standard view of dark matter can explain how unique our galaxy’s neighborhood is.

After successfully launching and maneuvering the spacecraft, JWST researchers still have months of prep work to do before they can start taking pictures.

The International Astronomical Union launched a new organization tasked with limiting reflected light and radio interference from big satellite networks.

While the Russian military is unlikely to target Ukrainian reactors, a stray missile or a power outage could spark a disaster.

Researchers ran an outdoor experiment to see if diesel exhaust and ozone would interfere with pollinators’ search for floral scents.

Scientists have way more DNA from ancient Europeans than Africans. Now analysis of a genome from nearly 20,000 years ago is answering questions about the continent’s past.

Faster-growing, fatter critters could provide the protein needed to raise more climate-friendly livestock and pets.

The UN's latest IPCC report paints a dire picture for the species of Earth. But it also suggests how urban areas can help humanity face down the threat.

Once nonexistent in the northwest part of the state, beavers are both benefiting from and changing a warming landscape.

A chilling new report predicts a foot of sea level rise in the US by 2050. But quirks of physics mean everyone will suffer in different ways.

In the EU, phasing out emissions often means paying someone to take over polluting plants—and keep them running.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to the EU has been scrapped. It is far from clear what will replace it.

The Google-backed AI firm taught a reinforcement learning algorithm to control the fiery plasma inside a tokamak nuclear fusion reactor.

The dominant trend in EV batteries is that bigger is better. Maybe with speedier charging, automakers could do more with less.

Researchers believe that if the chemical is made with renewable energy, it could be used as a clean source for fertilizer, fuel, and heat.

The electrical chatter of our working memories reflects our lack of confidence about their contents.

NASA plans to deorbit the International Space Station in 2031 by crashing it into the ocean. But is there another way?

In computer simulations, researchers have discovered that a neural network can infer the amount of matter in a whole universe by studying just one galaxy.

How might our universe emerge like a hologram out of a two-dimensional sheet? An infinitely distant “celestial sphere” could hold answers.

A controversial California case has raised questions about police use of DNA databases and the need for better genetic privacy laws.

Cell grafts can help people fighting leukemia—but they risk a dangerous immune reaction. An experimental way to filter donors’ cells might offer a solution.

Many insects, like the mosquitoes that spread malaria, have evolved a tolerance to chemical sprays. What if we could reboot their genes?

Researchers filtered the air around two zoos and identified genetic material from dozens of species, a technique that could help track and conserve wildlife.

Can a scrappy team of robotics undergrads play to win against the best-funded labs in the world? At the Darpa Challenge, it’s anyone’s game.

The bizarre robots look like cobbled-together Tetris pieces. A new system "evolves" them to run, climb, and throw stuff better.

What do you get when you slap 3D-printed raptor legs on a quadcopter? A robot that can land like a falcon to keep an eye on the forest.

Here's how engineers got the car-sized Benthic Rover II to roam the seafloor 13,000 feet deep without immediately breaking down.

Scientist and writer Camilla Pang explains what the rationality of science showed her about making better decisions, processing feedback, and feeling like an outlier.

Harvard researchers used lab-grown clumps of neurons called organoids to reveal how three genes linked to autism affect the timing of brain development.

After six globe-trotting decades spent probing “the phenomenon,” the French information scientist is sure of only one thing: The truth is really, really out there.

The point is to give youngsters tools to channel their feelings into something more constructive, like taking action in their own communities.