Beyond the black hole picture (FiveThirtyEight)
by Maggie Koerth-Baker
The world’s first picture of a black hole was made possible by some incredible technology and innovative methods of scientific collaboration. The process could change how researchers solve problems on Earth, too.

The trouble with bag bans (NPR)
by Greg Rosalsky
Banning plastic grocery bags is a good solution to unsightly plastic in fences and trees. But when it comes to large-scale environmental problems, the bans run into trouble.

Should you let a computer tell you what to eat? (The Cut)
by Edith Zimmerman
A diet that’s healthy for one person may be a bad idea for someone else. Artificial intelligence could help—if we’re willing to give it enormous amounts of data about ourselves.

Where Sudanese soldiers’ loyalty lies (Washington Post)
by Jean-Baptiste Gallopin
As protest shifts toward all-out popular uprising in Sudan, the outcome of the conflict may come down to which side individual members of military and police forces join. And that, previous conflicts suggest, will depend on who looks most likely to win.

What’s killing black abalone? (Hakai Magazine)
by Drew Harvell
As warming global temperatures and species extinctions disrupt ecosystems, diseases often find ways to spread more easily. In the ocean, where pathogens can swim in the water, it’s a particularly troubling problem.

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