Did the Hardest A.I. Problem Just Get Much Easier?
A prominent researcher claims to have a revolutionary approach to “interpretability,” or the science of why A.I. models do what they do. Other experts aren’t so sure.
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It’s Docktober. Do You Know Where the Sea Slugs Are?
Where there are floating docks, there are often communities of colorful marine organisms just below — and a community of curious people just above.
The Science Behind Your Reaction to Art
The Honolulu Museum of Art is showing how art can influence thinking, perspective and mood, in an exhibition that is part of a trend by museums to mix science and art.
Gaze at the Cosmic Dawn in Dizzying Detail
A new simulation offers a highly immersive look at what happened during the first couple of billion years following the Big Bang.
Neutrinos Are Everywhere. A Physicist Explains.
Dr. Francis Halzen, the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics, sheds some light on the mysterious, subatomic particles that whiz through us everyday.
Shiny Glass Skyscrapers Are a Hot Thing. Literally.
They’re transforming cities with million-dollar views and a message of modernity. But climate change makes cooling them tricky and costly.
What Happened to the Neanderthals?
Scientists now know that they shared many of the sophisticated abilities of Homo sapiens. So why are we the only humans left standing?
Time expert Philippe Richard on why scientists are changing how we keep time
Scientists have voted to change how the world keeps time, but most people won't even notice. NPR's Scott Simon talks to Philippe Richard, director of Switzerland's Federal Institute of Metrology.
What Amy Poehler’s New Series, ‘Dig,’ Gets Right About Archaeology
To get the science right, classical archaeologists, who excavate the world of the ancient Mediterranean, consulted on the show, which also stars Hugh Laurie.
Some Buy Telescopes. These People Build Them From Scratch.
For a century, amateur telescope makers have gathered at the Stellafane convention to celebrate their craft. Will the event last another 100 years?
NASA Is Still Aiming for the Next Moon Landing in 2028
Administrator Jared Isaacman said that the space agency was exploring ways to keep Artemis III on target without compromising safety.
The latest in space science: We look back at the Big Bang
In this edition of Spacing Out, the team from Short Wave shares the latest developments in space science, including the theory on why the universe is made of matter
Melanoma Vaccine Ushers in New Hope for Cancer Patients
Beyond melanoma, scientists are studying cancer vaccines for glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer and more.
Are Fewer Teens Identifying as Gay or Bisexual? It’s Complicated.
New data have prompted questions about changes in teens’ sexual orientations. But researchers disagree on how much the numbers can really tell us.
Will a macaque eat a grape sitting on a pile of poo? A study on germaphobia
When an outbreak strikes, humans try to avoid germs. (Remember wiping off groceries at the start of the pandemic?) What about ... monkeys? (Image credit: Stephan Kaufhold)
Chimps Steal Less Often From Their Friends, Even When Offered Pineapple
The discovery may hint at the roots of human norms around fairness and friendship.
Why Has This Teenager Tracked Down 11,377 Moths Since April?
Violet Clinton is doing field research that one Cornell entomologist said would “outlive her.” Her dad still has to buy the beer for her moth bait.
Should 'bird brain' be a compliment? Here's how crows think fast
New research in the journal Science finds that crows turn visual information into decisions twice as fast as humans and primates. They also process information is quite similarly to humans.
Losing Ground in the Climate Fight
From Brazil to the North Sea, economic interests have been edging out climate priorities this week.
The Little Girl With the Radioactive Backyard
A young family thought they had escaped the toxic legacy of Love Canal with a dream house near a creek in the suburbs. Then the men in the hazmat suits showed up.
I.U.C.N. Red List Classifies Most Shallow Coral Reefs as Critically Endangered
If climate change continues apace, 96 percent of shallow coral reef ecosystems may collapse within 50 years, including in Australia’s Great Barrier reef.
Earth and Mars May Have Formed in Weirdly Different Ways
Chemical clues and computer simulations suggest the two rocky planets have unique origin stories.
Alzheimer’s Researchers Look at an Unusual Data Point: Head Shape
Could the geometry of our brains increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease? It’s a provocative question, but one that some scientists are beginning to explore.
C.D.C. Ignored Request From States to Validate a New Measles Test
The agency replied two months later, saying it had “competing priorities,” officials from a coalition of Western states said.