Blogs - Page 8 of 67 - This Week in Science

Environment

Smarter Flood Maps Could Change How We Prepare For Disasters

In the eastern state of Bihar lies the Kosi Megafan, sometimes called the “Sorrow of Bihar.” This giant, fan-shaped floodplain has been built up over thousands of years by the Kosi River, which spills out of the Himalayas. Unlike calmer rivers, the Kosi is restless—it frequently jumps course, breaking embankments and carving new channels. Entire […]

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Biology

Dreaming Under Anesthesia

Do you stop being conscious when you’re put under anesthesia? For decades, many assumed the answer was yes. But new research from the University of Oslo suggests something more complicated: patients often continue dreaming even in deep sedation—yet our best brain-based tests of consciousness can’t tell the difference. From “Lights Out” to Dream Reports When […]

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Environment

Understanding the Impact of the High Seas Treaty

The global community recently witnessed a historic milestone with the ratification of the High Seas Treaty, marking a significant step forward in marine conservation. This comprehensive treaty aims to safeguard marine biodiversity by establishing protected areas across the high seas, areas that had thus far been largely unregulated. As we explore the implications of this […]

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Biology

How Tiny Worms Could Improve Decision Science

Picture a worm crawling across a plate dotted with food. You’d expect it to stop at the first bite, right? Yet in a surprising twist, Caenorhabditis elegans—a millimeter-long nematode with just 302 neurons—often walks right past its dinner. Why? Because even worms run complex “accept–reject” strategies when making decisions. Everyday Choices, Worm-Sized Lessons In Nigeria, […]

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News

Next Week in Science, September 26, 2025

Look, we’ve been super depressed recently. Who can blame us? I know my anxiety has been off the roof for the last 6ish weeks. But, we have some really good news. We’re headed back to the moon. NASA’s Artemis 2 mission is gearing up to make history as the first crewed lunar flight in over […]

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Health

The Controversy Over Tylenol Use During Pregnancy: Separating Fact from Fiction

The recent debate surrounding the use of Tylenol during pregnancy and its alleged links to autism has captured widespread attention. President Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have fueled the discussion with claims suggesting a connection between acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, and increased autism rates [New York Times]. However, the scientific community remains […]

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Astronomy

NASA’s Upcoming Artemis II Mission: A New Era in Lunar Exploration

In an exciting development for space exploration enthusiasts, NASA is set to launch its Artemis II mission in February 2026. This mission marks the first crewed mission in over 50 years to orbit the Moon, setting the stage for future lunar landings. Look, we have had nothing but bad news recently. Going back to the […]

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Psychology

When Cooperation Gets Complicated

Why do we help others when it costs us something? For decades, scientists answered this with a simple formula: altruism evolves when the benefit to others, weighted by relatedness, is greater than the cost to the helper. This neat rule, called Hamilton’s rule, became one of biology’s most famous equations. But new work shows the […]

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Biology

What Happens When Elephants Face Stress

Across Asia, elephants are losing ground. Since the 1700s, farming and cities have eaten away 64% of their habitat. But here’s the twist: elephants aren’t just changing where they walk or what they eat: they’re changing inside. New research shows their bodies respond in striking ways to human-altered landscapes. When the Forest Turns Into Fields […]

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