Why Some Plants Are Parasites
Tap into the underground network of plants and fungi with mysterious myco-heterotrophes.
How Technology Got Its Modern Meaning
If we give technology credit for changing history, does that mean we give ourselves less?
The Trouble with “Native DNA”
Genetic testing to determine who is Native American is problematic, argues Native American studies scholar Kim TallBear.
Verbatim: Jonas Salk
Virologist Jonas Salk led the team that developed the breakthrough vaccine for polio. He was also a social critic.
These Good News Medical Stories Got Us through 2020
The science of COVID-19 vaccines, the 1957 flu vaccine that controlled that outbreak, eradicating polio in India with oral vaccines, and more.
How Scientists Tried to Find a Universal Flu Vaccine
The quest to “conquer” influenza with a shot that could be used every year started out with high hopes, and ended up a hot mess.
Wren Folklore and St. Stephen’s Day
The tiny winter songbirds are clever kings to the Irish. They're also fodder (literally) for post-Christmas ritual.
Plant of the Month: Venus Flytrap
The carnivorous plant, native to the Carolinas, has beguiled botanists and members of the public alike since the eighteenth century.
The COVID-19 Vaccines Arrived at Warp Speed
Are they safe if they were developed so quickly? Research-backed answers to your virus questions.