How to Understand Your Child’s Screenings for Autism and Other Conditions
The predictive value of childhood screenings for autism and other conditions depends on how common the condition is, a limit that parents need to understand
Vote for Kamala Harris to Support Science, Health and the Environment
Kamala Harris has plans to improve health, boost the economy and mitigate climate change. Donald Trump has threats and a dangerous record
Read all the stories you want.
Was Life on Earth Inevitable or Incredible?
We can’t yet tell how life got its start on Earth. That’s one great reason to keep looking for life elsewhere
Elon Musk Owes His Success to Coming in Second (and Government Handouts)
The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, owes his superstar success to self-satisfied competitors who blew obvious opportunities
Why This Great Mathematician Wanted a Heptadecagon on His Tombstone
Mathematician Gauss left behind a trophy case of mathematical achievements to highlight on his tombstone, but above all he wanted a regular heptadecagon etched on it
‘Forever’ Pesticides Threaten Worse Environmental Harms Than DDT
A looming and poorly regulated PFAS threat comes from these chemicals’ common use in pesticides on farms nationwide
Kamala Harris’s Ascent Shows How Political Hardball—And Smart Polling—Pays Off
So far, enthusiasm for the Harris campaign has vindicated Democratic Party elites’ decision to push Joe Biden out of the race. Was this just a lucky guess based on political vibes? Or were there actual data supporting the decision?
We Must Secure Our Future in a Hotter, More Dangerous World
Defending the U.S. is much more complicated in an era of climate change
Kids Should Be Taught to Think Logically
Training in symbolic logic is critical in many careers, for responsible citizenship and better lives. It is also an underexploited antidote to today’s bizarre conspiracy thinking
Black Hole Detectors Fulfill Moore’s Law
A famous prediction that microchips improve exponentially over time can be applicable in unrelated developments, such as the technology used to discover colliding black holes
The Olympics Breaking Fiasco Undermined Serious Hip-Hop Artists and Scholars
The “Raygun” Olympics fiasco points to how hip-hop scholarship is at risk of being colonized and undermined in academia
Kids Are Headed Back to School. Are They Breathing Clean Air?
Clean indoor air protects against diseases such as COVID and flu, but we’re not doing enough to ensure it