Scientists Are Trying to Grow Crops in the Dark
Powering plant growth with solar panels instead of photosynthesis could be a more efficient way of using the Sun’s energy for food. But it’s not all good news.
The Almighty Squabble Over Who Gets to Name Microbes
Scientists are just starting to uncover the vast diversity of microbes out there. The only problem? No one can agree on how to name them.
You Don’t Have to Quit Meat to Save the Planet—Just Eat Less
If everyone ate just 20 percent less beef, deforestation rates by 2050 could be half as bad.
It’s Not Too Late to Stop Mass Extinction in the Ocean
A quarter of a billion years ago, rising temperatures emptied the oceans of life. The planet now faces a similar threat, but the outcome is in human hands.
The Energy Crisis Is Pushing Solar Adoption—for Those Who Can Pay
Rooftop solar panels are gaining popularity as the UK faces higher energy prices. But lower-income people are being left behind once again.
A Bold Idea to Stall the Climate Crisis—by Building Better Trees
Changing the genetic makeup of trees could supercharge their ability to suck up carbon dioxide. But are forests of frankentrees really a good idea?
These Ukrainians Are Stuck in Antarctica as War Rages at Home
At the Vernadsky research base, a crew of 12 Ukrainians watch from thousands of miles away as their country is battered by Russian attacks.
Africa’s Oldest DNA Is Helping Address Science’s Racial Bias
Scientists have way more DNA from ancient Europeans than Africans. Now analysis of a genome from nearly 20,000 years ago is answering questions about the continent’s past.
The True Story of the Viral False Teeth That Fooled the World
Paul Bishop vomited his false teeth into a Spanish bin 11 years ago. Then a DNA analysis seemingly returned them to his home in the UK. But the truth, it turns out, is even weirder.