Stay updated with the latest public health research, commentary, and field notes from our editorial team.
July 28, 2025 · 5 min read
I just spent a week at the beach staring at the ocean and really starting to think: Why is a sip from the ocean a terrible idea, while lake water (if clean) is okay? In this post, we’ll dive (pun intended) into what sets freshwater and saltwater apart, why the Earth has both types, how […]
I just spent a week at the beach staring at the ocean and really starting to think: Why is a sip from the ocean a terrible idea, while lake water (if clean) is okay? In this post, we’ll dive (pun intended) into what sets freshwater and saltwater apart, why the Earth has both types, how […]
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Every year, storms, floods, and heatwaves darken millions of homes. But here’s the shocker: not everyone loses power equally. In China, new research shows that poor counties suffer blackouts more often and for longer than their wealthier neighbors. The same could be true wherever vulnerable communities face fragile power systems. Why This Matters to Everyone […]
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In the humid understory of a Thai rainforest, entire graveyards of ants cling to leaves in eerie silence. Their jaws are locked in a “death grip,” stalks of fungus bursting grotesquely from their heads. These aren’t ordinary corpses. They are the casualties of a parasite that doesn’t just kill—it controls minds first. But here’s where […]
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Around the world, millions of people avoid the dentist. In fact, about 15% of adults suffer from dental anxiety, and 3% live with a full-blown dental phobia. On the surface, it may sound like a minor issue—simply a case of nerves before sitting in the dental chair. But new research from a German team reveals […]
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Every living thing on Earth—bacteria, plants, humans—depends on phosphorus. It’s in our DNA, our cell membranes, even the energy molecule ATP. But here’s the puzzle: before life existed, how did phosphorus hook onto simple organic molecules to form the first steps toward life? A new study brings us closer to the answer, and the surprising […]
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Think of a soda bottle: when closed, the carbon dioxide (CO₂) dissolves into the liquid under pressure. But when you open it, bubbles rush out. Deep lakes near volcanic areas can behave similarly—except instead of fizz at your party, you get a cloud of invisible gas that can suffocate an entire village. In India or […]
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So here’s some cool news for the week. The discovery of KNM-ER 101000 in Kenya provides the first fossil hand and foot bones definitively linked to Paranthropus boisei, revealing that this species shared key features of dexterity and bipedalism with early Homo. The hand’s proportions indicate that P. boisei could perform human-like grips suitable for […]
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Every year, murder victims are left undiscovered for weeks, months, or even years. But what if the answer to solving these crimes lies in something as eerie as a field full of rotting corpses? Welcome to the unsettling world of body farms—research facilities where human cadavers are left to decompose in controlled conditions. These sites […]
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In recent years, the scientific community has been abuzz with exciting developments in the field of nuclear fusion. This potential game-changer in energy production promises a clean and virtually inexhaustible energy supply, which could power the future without the adverse environmental impacts of fossil fuels. This week, several advancements have propelled nuclear fusion closer to […]
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NASA has been making significant strides toward restarting humanity’s presence in space. With a series of recent missions, the space agency is pushing the boundaries of what is possible and inspiring a new generation of explorers. The IMAP Mission: Mapping and Monitoring On September 24, 2025, NASA successfully launched the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe […]
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