Observations
Masks and Emasculation: Why Some Men Refuse to Take Safety Precautions
They think it makes them look weak, and avoiding that is evidently more important to them than demonstrating responsible behavior
Blogs
Observations
How a Landmark Physics Paper from the 1970s Uncannily Describes the COVID-19 Pandemic
Phil Anderson’s article “More Is Different” describes how different levels of complexity require new ways of thinking. And as the virus multiplies and spreads, that’s just what the human race desperately needs...
Observations
The Fight against COVID-19 Threatens to Cause Collateral Health Damage
The pandemic is no excuse to abandon chronic disease management and prevention
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Observations
Surfing a Supernova
In principle, an advanced civilization could use blasts of light from exploding stars to accelerate spacecraft to extraordinary speeds
Extinction Countdown
32 Orchid Species Feared Extinct in Bangladesh
And they’re not the only ones in trouble—orchid species around the world face increasing threats from illegal trade and habitat destruction
Life, Unbounded
Surviving Mars
Settling humans on Mars needs pragmatism at least as much as vision
Rosetta Stones
Cracks in the Caribbean: “The Building Was Shaking like Paper”
What’s up with all the shaking in the Caribbean? It’s business as usual on a geologic timescale
Cross-Check
What’s Wrong with Physics
A physicist slams hype about multiverses, string theory, and quantum computers and calls for more diversity in his field...
Roots of Unity
Forget Meters and Feet
There’s only one truly basic unit of length for earthlings
Voices
Another Example of How Health Care Disparities Kill
Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is treated less aggressively if you’re not white and male
Voices
I Know Some Algorithms Are Biased—because I Created One
Doing so was inadvertent, but it taught me an important lesson
Rosetta Stones
Volcano Awareness Video Mania
Oh, right, Volcano Awareness Month happened while all those exciting earthquakes had us distracted!
Laelaps
Squishy Cephalopod Was Almost a Pterosaur’s Lunch
The fossil of an ancient squid relative tells paleontologists something new about the reptile that tried to feed on it
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STAFFIllustrating science since 1845
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STAFFA science blog, sans blague
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A Blog About the Weird Wonderfulness of Life on Earth
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Exploring and celebrating diversity in science.
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