How to Tackle Conspiracy Theories in Politics
Americans' beliefs about politics are as inaccurate and bizarre as ever. Is there a way to fix that?
Nathan Collins
Nathan Collins studied astrophysics and political science and managed to get a job as a tenure-track professor before realizing he wanted to learn about all kinds of science while avoiding faculty meetings as much as possible. He's written for Scientific American, ScienceNOW, and others.
Your Turkey Dinner's Environmental Impact
Researchers tally the greenhouse gas emissions associated with that pile of Thanksgiving delights.
We’ve Finally Found a Dinosaur Brain
A rock picked up on a Sussex beach in 2004 looked a whole lot like part of a reptile brain. In a manner of speaking, it was.
Why Did We Start Farming?
A new study argues population booms drove the advent of agriculture in prehistoric North America.
Was Alexander Hamilton President?
No, of course not. But nearly three quarters of Americans think so.
How to Win a Science Contest
Your best strategy depends on whether you're an outsider—but don't forget the hard work.
Is Conservation Research Happening Where It Should?
Not remotely, a team of biologists argue.
How Cities Affect the Stomach Flu
A study in Bangladesh highlights markedly different disease dynamics in the urban core versus the more rural periphery.
Lucy Goes East
The discovery of bones in the Kenyan highlands suggest early human relatives were even more adaptable than anthropologists thought.
We're Not Investing Enough in Renewable Energy
While investment in renewable energy is up in developing countries, it's actually down in developed economies, according to a U.N. report.
Aren't You Dying to Know What This Story Is About?
Further adventures in human curiosity.
Americans Are Less Religious Than Ever
Yet slightly more of us believe in an afterlife.
Vastly Underreporting Police Homicides
But a CDC database that began in 2003 may help solve that problem.
Is Academic Research in the U.K. About to Die Off?
New rules that go into effect in May could prevent scientists from discussing their work with Parliament, public-health researchers say.
Mixed-Race People Are Confusing to White People
An experiment suggests that confusion about mixed-race faces underlies prejudice against people with mixed-race backgrounds.
How Did Our Early Ancestors Eat Their Food?
Dietary changes and simple stone tools may have helped our early ancestors chew more efficiently.
How Your Name Could Cost You a Mortgage Loan
Mortgage loan originators discriminate against people with black-sounding names, according to a new study.
The Benefits of Statistical Models
An applied mathematician wonders whether his environmental management models are doing anyone any good. Turns out, they probably are.
Consensus Is No Match for False Balance
Quoting both sides leads people to think there's controversy, even when they're told there's consensus.
How One Little Number Erodes Trust in Science
Statisticians say it's time to end the cult of "statistical significance."
Is There a Downside to Human Connection?
Overly-connected groups may stifle innovation, new experiments suggest.
Yes, Mind-Controlled Wheelchairs Are a Thing
Building on past work, scientists create wheelchairs controlled directly by electrical signals inside monkeys' brains.
Sometimes, It's Best to Be Irrational
Theoretical psychologists show that when the world is being random, the best option leads to oddly inconsistent preferences.
Writing Letters to Break Vicious Cycles
Economists in Germany find that expressing feelings to someone who hurts you could make you more generous to others.
The Part We Play in—Not Just on—Our Environment
A study of ancient inhabitants of Sanak Island, Alaska, points to a new understanding of our impact on the natural world.
Is a Treatment for Ebola on the Way?
Researchers find the disease may have long-term effects on the brain, but a treatment may be on the way.
Parents Need to Let Their Emotions Out
Holding back tears and pretending to be overjoyed is bad for parents' well-being, according to new research.
How Barking Dogs Could Restore Marine Ecosystems
Basically, by scaring the crap out of raccoons (but really we should let the bears do that).
Will Adolescent Dads Live With Their Kids?
It depends on their attitudes toward risky sex, pregnancy, and birth control, a new study finds.
Our Understanding of Ice Streams
A new study of the ancient Laurentide Ice Sheet suggests that Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets may not accelerate as quickly as previously thought.
An Echo Chamber on Both Sides of the Salt Debate
A new analysis finds mixed evidence that salt is bad for you—and, more importantly, that the two sides in the debate aren't talking to each other.
What Does Having Grit Really Get You?
A new study suggests that "grit," the now-celebrated ingredient to success in education and life, isn't so important for academic success.
Your Brain's Got Tasty Treats on Its Mind
A new study shows the brain's learning mechanisms make distractions like snack foods—or drugs—harder to avoid.
Who Benefits From AirBnB?
The sharing economy continues to evolve, suggesting a need for "algorithmic regulation."
Test Scores Drop as the School Day Drags on
A Danish study finds a small but important effect of the time of day on standardized test scores.
Are Peanuts the Answer to Preventing Malnutrition?
A study finds "ready to use treatment foods" may help prevent malnutrition—in certain circumstances.
Highlighting the Best and the Brightest Can Backfire
Research finds exposing students in a massive open online course to the best of their peers' work lowers their grades and increases dropout rates.
Don't Tase My Brain, Bro
The electrical weapons prevent people from thinking clearly, raising concerns about Miranda warnings, a new study argues.
Women Are Seen More Than Heard in the News
A massive study finds women's voices are less likely heard in news stories. Curiously, it's a little bit less of an issue for their faces.
Is It Time for Biologists to Stop Thinking About Race?
While social scientists should continue to study the social meaning of race, the concept has no place in biology, scientists argue.
Super Bowl Fever (of 102 Degrees)
Wash your hands, football fans: Sending a team to the Super Bowl increases a town's flu deaths by 18 percent.
Happy Thoughts Can Make You Sad
Not today, not tomorrow, but positive daydreaming may lead to depression down the road.
Winners Become Cheaters
After besting their opponents, winners become more likely to cheat.
Our Hottest Summers Since Before the Romans
A new study puts recent European summer heatwaves in ancient context.
Babylonians Were Really Good at Astronomy
They figured out a math problem related to the path of Jupiter—14 centuries before top British and French scientists did.