Last spring, a team of nearly 1,000 cosmologists announced that dark energy — the enigmatic agent propelling the universe to swell in size at an ever-increasing rate — might be slackening. The bombshell result, based on the team’s observations of the motions of millions of galaxies combined with other data, was tentative and preliminary. Today,… Continue reading Is Dark Energy Getting Weaker? New Evidence Strengthens the Case.
The Latest Attacks on America Follow a Familiar Playbook
The tragic pickup truck ramming in New Orleans and the subsequent explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck in Las Vegas remind us that terrorist threats remain a deadly reality in the United States. There are no indications yet that the two attacks were coordinated. More likely, they are coincidental, although that will not prevent linking them… Continue reading The Latest Attacks on America Follow a Familiar Playbook
The Latest on Bird Flu Strains and Sick Cats
February 12, 2025 3 min read The Latest on Bird Flu Strains and Sick Cats Scientists have reported a new strain of bird flu in Nevada dairy cattle. And viral spread in pet cats has fueled worries over increased risk of exposure to humans By Tanya Lewis edited by Lauren J. Young Editor’s Note (2/20/25):… Continue reading The Latest on Bird Flu Strains and Sick Cats
How the United States Can Help to Save Georgia from the Brink
An outbreak of street protests in Georgia has turned violent recently, as Georgian Dream (GD) party leaders unleashed masked thugs to brutalize peaceful demonstrators. If this continues, the results could be deadly. The West could do more to stand by the Georgians who are protesting the GD’s authoritarian rule and its refusal to expand ties… Continue reading How the United States Can Help to Save Georgia from the Brink
How Did Multicellular Life Evolve?
At first, life on Earth was simple. Cells existed, functioned and reproduced as free-living individuals. But then, something remarkable happened. Some cells joined forces, working together instead of being alone. This transition, known as multicellularity, was a pivotal event in the history of life on Earth. Multicellularity enabled greater biological complexity, which sparked an extraordinary… Continue reading How Did Multicellular Life Evolve?
Dune and Decisionmaking: The Classic’s Sci Fi Connection with RAND
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part II, the sequel to his 2021 Dune film, released to box-office triumph and critical acclaim. The films are based on the popular 1965 science fiction novel Dune by Frank Herbert, which tells the story of a young prince, Paul Atreides, and his battle to control the universe’s all-powerful spice resources. While… Continue reading Dune and Decisionmaking: The Classic’s Sci Fi Connection with RAND
How Metabolism Can Shape Cells’ Destinies
“Those chemical modifications that decorate [histones] and modify gene expression — they’re metabolites, full stop,” said Finley, the cancer biologist. “Chemical modifications themselves are metabolites, and their removal is dependent on metabolites.” Fifteen years ago, when Kathryn Wellen was a postdoc studying cancer cells, she discovered that the epigenetic marks on histones change in response… Continue reading How Metabolism Can Shape Cells’ Destinies
As Fires Continue to Burn Around Los Angeles, Here Are Some Recovery Tips and Resources
As a horrific week in Los Angeles closes, firefighters are still on the front lines of numerous blazes flanking the city and tens of thousands of people remain displaced from their homes. While it can be hard to turn an eye toward the future at times like this, recovery is, in many ways, already beginning.… Continue reading As Fires Continue to Burn Around Los Angeles, Here Are Some Recovery Tips and Resources
Trump Gives EPA One Week to Decide on Abandoning Climate Pollution Regulation
CLIMATEWIRE | EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has one week to tell President Donald Trump whether the agency could abandon its authority to regulate climate pollution under the Clean Air Act. His decision stands to cast EPA into a monumental fight over its ability to reduce carbon emissions, potentially reverberating beyond Trump’s presidency. If Zeldin attempts… Continue reading Trump Gives EPA One Week to Decide on Abandoning Climate Pollution Regulation
An Alleged Comey ‘Honeypot’ Sex Sting Against Trump Smells Fishy
Asked if any of his witnesses have testified in closed-door sessions to corroborate the claims in his letter, Siuzdak said they have not been asked by committee investigators to be interviewed. But he said they’ve been too discouraged by recent events to give any statements. “When the disclosure occurred, the whistleblowers were willing to talk… Continue reading An Alleged Comey ‘Honeypot’ Sex Sting Against Trump Smells Fishy