Are GM Crops Worth It?
GM crops have been controversial from the beginning. Proponents argue they are better commercially, but that analysis is coming into question.
Navigating Traumatic Events Online
We need to approach our online conversations with an awareness of the different levels of risk and vulnerability each of us bring.
The Problem With Nuclear Fusion
For decades physicists have pursued a long-shot approach to clean power—nuclear fusion.
Mustangs: Celebrated Western Icon or Ecological Disaster?
Mustangs, as the wild horses of the American West are known, represent something different for everyone.
The Glowing Mystery of Bioluminescence
Bioluminescence, an animal's ability to create and use light, exists exclusively in the lower branches of the tree of life.
Why Getting to Mars is Not So Easy
There is a reason Mars has a reputation as a graveyard for spacecraft.
How To Wrap Your Head Around Even The Most Complex Subjects
A 2x2 matrix is a great way of mapping just about any idea, research topic, or set of observations on two dimensions.
Plants Know When They Are Being Eaten. (And They Fight Back.)
Plants have long employed a variety of defensive strategies against herbivores, but the scope and sophistication of these defenses is still being understood.
Who Was Antony Van Leeuwenhoek?
Antony Van Leeuwenhoek is considered the first microbiologist. Some of his original letters can be read here.
The Weirdest Dwarf Planets Discovered So Far
The solar system is apparently more crowded than we thought: astronomers have discovered a new dwarf planet. Some dwarf planets don't play by the rules.