Sep 27 How alcohol, time and trying to forget trauma can change what we remember By Nsikan Akpan Here’s what science says about how alcohol, age and memory interplay, and how trying to forget a memory can reinforce or corrode it. Continue reading
Sep 26 Watch 9:36 Why it will take more than basic recycling to cut back on plastic By Amna Nawaz, Lorna Baldwin In the 70 years that plastic has been around, humans have created 9 billion tons of it -- most of which still exists. Are the existing strategies for tackling plastic pollution -- namely reusing and recycling -- really making any… Continue watching
Sep 25 Watch 6:02 Plastic lasts more than a lifetime, and that’s the problem By Amna Nawaz, Lorna Baldwin Around the world, waves of plastic are washing ashore and clogging landfills. Even though plastic pollution is now one of the largest environmental threats facing humans and animals, our appetite for the virtually indestructible material keeps growing. Amna Nawaz and… Continue watching
Sep 25 What if we could put our plastic trash to good use? By Jamie Leventhal Humans produce 420 million tons of plastic annually, most of which lands in the environment. With these two innovations, plastic could have a useful second life. Continue reading
Sep 23 Watch 4:23 Scientists study the impact of hidden plastic to curb pollution By PBS News Hour Microplastics -- tiny fragments of plastic contained in microbeads and microfibers of everyday household products -- have infiltrated the landscape, oceans and living organisms. By studying microplastics, scientists hope to better understand their impact and how to limit their damage. Continue watching
Sep 22 Puppies are making people sick — and it’s people’s fault By Helen Branswell, STAT Antibiotic-resistant bacteria that have infected more than 100 people and that have been linked to pet store puppies appear to have spread at least in part because healthy dogs were given antibiotics — a decision that all but surely fostered… Continue reading
Sep 20 In Kavanaugh debate, ‘boys will be boys’ is an unscientific excuse for assault By Nsikan Akpan Scientists debunk four myths about teenage brains, sexual aggression and what we remember about assault. Continue reading
Sep 20 Scientists gave octopuses some molly. Here’s what happened. By Jamie Leventhal Two scientists drugged some cephalopods and were surprised to find that their reactions to MDMA were similar to those of humans, despite massive evolutionary differences. Continue reading
Sep 19 Watch 8:21 How a warming world may have caused Hurricane Florence to stall By Miles O'Brien What is causing weather systems like Harvey and Florence to slow down and produce historic rainfall and flooding? Science correspondent Miles O’Brien looks at the growing risk of hurricanes and the evidence that it’s tied to climate change. Continue watching
Sep 18 World’s largest scientific society adopts policy against harassment. Will it work? By Jamie Leventhal In response to a #TimesUp movement, the American Association for the Advancement of Science passed measures on Saturday to tackle harassment. Continue reading