Jon Scaccia, Author at This Week in Science

AI

The Slow Creep of AI: How Machines Might Be Quietly Taking Over

What if, little by little, we were losing our grip on power, without even realizing it? This isn’t a hypothetical nightmare—it’s a real concern raised by researchers studying gradual disempowerment, a sneaky form of AI risk that unfolds incrementally rather than explosively. Think of it as death by a thousand paper cuts rather than a […]

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Psychology

Human Judges vs. AI in Criminal Trials: Who Do Jurors Trust More?

In honor of the cracking legal thriller, Juror #2, let’s take a look at some research into the trial process. Imagine stepping into a courtroom, accused of a crime. You glance at the bench, expecting a stern-looking judge in a black robe, but instead, a sleek, glowing AI screen stares back at you. Would you […]

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Announcements

Next Week in Science, February 7, 2025

So we’re watching the news from NSF carefully. The heat on the street is also that HHS is going to be subject to major cut next week. Also, if you haven’t yet, follow us on Bluesky, which is a bit easy for us to keep up in real time. https://bsky.app/profile/thisweekinscience.bsky.social Here’s at least the science […]

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Astronomy

Are We Finally Redrawing the Habitable Zone?

Wait, What?! Alien Planets Smell Like Rotten Eggs? Picture this: You’re floating in space, staring at a beautiful exoplanet orbiting a dim red star. It’s rocky, about the size of Earth, and—if sci-fi movies have taught us anything—it must be teeming with extraterrestrial life, right? Not so fast. Before you start packing for your interstellar […]

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Biology

The Fish That Forgot Where Home Was: How Snapper Are Exposing a Coastal Crisis

Imagine you wake up one morning, and your house is gone. Not just moved or remodeled—completely vanished. You wander your old neighborhood, but everything is unfamiliar. The streets are wider, the buildings taller, and the trees that once lined your block are nowhere to be found. Eventually, you settle somewhere new, but deep down, you […]

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Society

Crime, Partisanship, and Policing: What Really Happens When Cities Change Leadership?

Picture this: a fiery debate at a city council meeting. One side argues that electing a Republican mayor will drastically reduce crime with “tough on crime” policies, while the other insists that Democratic mayors promote equity in policing and justice. It’s a narrative we’ve all heard, plastered across headlines and campaign ads. But does the […]

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Astronomy

Mars Had Rippled Lakes: Ancient Wave Marks That Challenge Everything We Knew About the Red Planet

A Rippling Martian Lake Under a Warm, Breezy Sky It sounds like something out of science fiction, but NASA’s Curiosity rover just rewrote our understanding of Mars’ ancient climate. Buried within the dusty rocks of Gale Crater are tiny ripples—symmetrical wave ripples, to be precise—that could only have been carved by the gentle oscillations of […]

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Announcements

Next Week in Science, January 31, 2025

Most of the recent decisions from the federal administration have impacted our health-focused colleagues. We’ll be digging in to see what the implications are for more of our STEM-focused brethren over the next few days. Here’s what’s coming up next week. Join the Science Adventure: The stakes for science have never been higher. In today’s […]

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Geology

When the Earth Cracked: The Story of the 2023 Türkiye Earthquake

Consider this: the Earth rumbles beneath your feet, cracks appear in the ground, and seismic waves race through the crust at speeds faster than sound. Sounds like a scene from a sci-fi movie, right? But this isn’t fiction—it’s the real-life story of the 2023 Türkiye earthquake, an event so powerful it reshaped our understanding of […]

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Society

Why Are Universities Failing Disabled Students? The Surprising Truth Behind Inclusion Gaps

Imagine applying to college without knowing if you can even access the campus. For many disabled students, that’s the reality. Despite flashy websites boasting diversity stats, a crucial question goes unanswered: Will this school accommodate my needs? A recent study from Johns Hopkins University’s Disability Health Research Center (DHRC) reveals a startling truth: even the […]

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Latest Insights & Research

All Posts

The Slow Creep of AI: How Machines Might Be Quietly Taking Over

Human Judges vs. AI in Criminal Trials: Who Do Jurors Trust More?

Next Week in Science, February 7, 2025

Are We Finally Redrawing the Habitable Zone?

The Fish That Forgot Where Home Was: How Snapper Are Exposing a Coastal Crisis

Crime, Partisanship, and Policing: What Really Happens When Cities Change Leadership?

Mars Had Rippled Lakes: Ancient Wave Marks That Challenge Everything We Knew About the Red Planet

Next Week in Science, January 31, 2025

When the Earth Cracked: The Story of the 2023 Türkiye Earthquake

Why Are Universities Failing Disabled Students? The Surprising Truth Behind Inclusion Gaps

Latest Insights & Research

All Posts

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