Physicists take a major step toward making a nuclear clock
The time is nigh for nuclear clocks. In a first, scientists have used a tabletop laser to bump an atomic…
How a 19th century astronomer can help you watch the total solar eclipse
In July 1878, six women scientists, their attendants, a photographer and an artist gathered in Colorado on a panoramic plateau…
‘On the Move’ examines how climate change will alter where people live
On the MoveAbrahm LustgartenFarrar, Straus and Giroux, $30 Ellen Herdell’s nerves were nearing a breaking point. The fortysomething, lifelong Californian…
Bird flu has infected a person after spreading to cows. Here’s what to know
A strain of avian influenza that has likely sickened and killed millions of birds around the globe has popped up…
A new study has linked microplastics to heart attacks and strokes. Here’s what we know
Tiny flecks of plastic inside in the arteries may ramp up the risks of cardiovascular disease. An analysis of artery-clogging…
During a total solar eclipse, some colors really pop. Here’s why
During a total solar eclipse, people may see some strange things. Sure, there’s the main event happening in the sky…
Here’s why some pigeons do backflips
Atoosa Samani started learning about pigeon genetics at a young age. She grew up surrounded by pet pigeons in Isfahan,…
Chickadees use memory ‘bar codes’ to find their hidden food stashes
Much like squirrels, black-capped chickadees hide their food, keeping track of many thousands of little treasures wedged into cracks or…
Here’s how magnetic fields shape desert ants’ brains
For desert ants, Earth’s magnetic field isn’t just a compass: It may also sculpt their brains. Stepping outside their nest…
Earth’s oldest known earthquake was probably triggered by plate tectonics
Scientists studying rocks in South Africa report evidence for the earliest known earthquake triggered by plate tectonics. The temblor struck more…
