I had an acquaintance in my early twenties who was clever, charming, Ivy-educated, and wealthy, the heir to a family fortune. I’m going to call him Gallagher. He was free to do anything he pleased. He dabbled in subjects such as neurology, law, philosophy, and others. But he was so critical and picky that he…
With recent studies arguing for immaculate observing conditions tucked in the uplands, Chinese astronomers seek to create a massive observatory program on the world’s roof, the Tibetan Plateau. The research focuses on a study site near Lenghu Town in Qinghai Province, which is located 1,900 miles (3,000 kilometers) west of Beijing at an altitude of…
The #ScienceUpFirst campaign was designed to help individuals make educated health decisions by providing, supporting, and amplifying correct scientific information. Over four million people have died as a result of COVID worldwide, with over 34 million cases and over 610,000 deaths in the United States alone. Worse, the pandemic does not appear to be nearing…
New technology is sometimes created by pushing the boundaries of what science can do. Sometimes, however, it takes the form of something very ancient. One group of scientists combined the two approaches in their search for improved ways to peek inside living cells. They genetically altered something very old—gas-propelled bacteria, one of the earliest mobile…
When a crime witness names the wrong person, it might result in the death of an innocent person while allowing the true culprit to go free. Eyewitnesses are frequently asked to choose the face they recall from a list of probable suspects and “fillers.” This usually entails staring at a line of individuals behind a…
The argument over the ethics of the famous material’s iconic material is one of the only things that seem to be more ageless than a leather jacket. Leather, like actual animal fur and feathers, is hotly disputed in the fashion business. It is primarily manufactured from the skins of bulls and calves. Veganism and the…
In my work as a scientist, I owe a great lot to serendipity. In 2012 I was in the right place (IBM’s Almaden research laboratory in California) at the right time—and I did the “wrong” thing. I was meant to be combining three chemicals in a beaker to generate a recognized substance. The objective was…
As scientists and engineers, we consider ourselves fortunate to work in fields that advance knowledge and understanding. Participating in research and discovery, as well as mentoring young scientists, has enormous benefits. Science is a unique and vital institution in and of itself. It thrives after centuries of human ingenuity and effort and continues to make…
It has a plastic appearance, a plastic feel, and a plastic capacity to hold your favorite beverage. However, there is a label on the cup you were given that says “100% biodegradable.” Is that even possible? Simply defined, this plastic-like substance is polylactic acid (PLA), a polymer made up of many small lactic acid molecules…
In normal times, there would be no doubt that a medication having opioid-like effects should be shown safe and effective before being extensively promoted and authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But these aren’t ordinary times, and kratom, a herbal supplement, isn’t a regular medication. In reality, whether or not to prohibit kratom…