Planetary Science
Inside the New Missions to Jupiter’s Moons
Spacecraft will explore hidden oceans and the possibility of life on the moons of Jupiter
Latest Stories
Culture
New Understandings of Witch Trials, Synthetic Morphology and the Moons of Jupiter
Physicists attempt to weigh a vacuum and resolve the “worst theoretical prediction in the history of physics”
Ecology
This Fleeting Ecosystem Is Magical, and You Have Probably Never Heard of It or Even Noticed It
Vernal pools are home to spectacular residents such as fairy shrimp, but these unusual natural wonders are under threat.
Biotech
Proteins Never Seen in Nature Are Designed Using AI to Address Biomedical and Industrial Problems Unsolved by Evolution
Bioengineers are drawing on rapidly evolving machine-learning tools, deep reservoirs of data and the firepower of a program called AlphaFold2 to pursue more sophisticated de novo protein designs...
Climate Change
These Are the Places at Greatest Risk from Extreme Heat
Communities in certain spots around the world, such as Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and Central America, are likely to experience record-breaking heat events but may not be prepared
Space Exploration
With a Planned Moon Launch, NASA Must Put Safety First
NASA is again sending people to the moon. The agency must revamp its safety reporting procedures to protect everyone involved
Energy
This Pioneering Nuclear Fusion Lab Is Gearing Up to Break More Records
Here’s what’s next after the U.S. National Ignition Facility’s breakthrough on nuclear fusion last year
Mathematics
Information Theory Finds the Best Wordle Starting Words
Information theory can help people mathematically calculate the best starting guess for a popular online game
History
This 19th-Century Obscenity Law Is Still Restricting People's Reproductive Rights
The Comstock Act is part of a federal case over access to abortion pills. A historical science-fiction writer weighs in on the legacy of 19th-century prudishness
Animals
The Lifesaving Sled Dog Balto Had Genes unlike Those of Dog Breeds Today
The genome of the 1920s Siberian husky Balto suggests that greater genetic diversity and less inbreeding contribute to better health
