Life

Health, science, climate, and society-focused reporting.

Briefing: Where did the ancient Greeks and Romans think lightning came from? Hint: not just the gods

Strategic angle: Ancient civilizations had unique interpretations of lightning, often attributing it to divine forces.

Briefing: JWST Probes Emerging Young Star Clusters in Nearby Spiral Galaxy NGC 628

Strategic angle: An international team of astronomers uses the James Webb Space Telescope to observe the spiral galaxy NGC 628, revealing insights into young star clusters.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Musk's Twitter takeover highlights danger of owner-dominated social media platforms

Strategic angle: A new study warns that Elon Musk's transformation of Twitter into X signifies the emergence of a potentially authoritarian control over social media.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Why drawing eyes on food packaging could stop seagulls stealing your chips

Strategic angle: The increasingly urban lifestyles of seagulls in the UK and around Europe have made them experts at grabbing food from unsuspecting outdoor diners.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Dishwashing with side effects: Kitchen sponges release microplastics

Strategic angle: A study reveals that kitchen sponges may be a significant source of microplastics in households.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Mussel-inspired glue from recycled plastics can be detached and reused

Strategic angle: Researchers develop a tough, reusable adhesive from waste polymers that performs well in various environments.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Dogs can overdose too: Naloxone training can save pets as well as humans

Strategic angle: Opioid-class drugs pose overdose risks for both humans and pets, highlighting the importance of Naloxone training.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Two buried Iron Age hoards reveal first evidence for four-wheeled wagons in Britain

Strategic angle: A significant archaeological discovery in North Yorkshire sheds light on ancient transportation.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Motivated employees get more out-of-role work, even when it costs bonuses

Strategic angle: A study reveals that motivated employees are willing to take on additional tasks without expecting financial rewards.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Superconducting altermagnets could carry spin without energy loss

Strategic angle: Researchers propose a new class of magnetic materials that may enhance superconductors' capabilities.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Artemis 2 returns to the pad for April launch attempt

Strategic angle: The Artemis 2 launch vehicle and spacecraft have returned to the launch pad for a launch as soon as April 1.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Scientists create wheat-only gel from bran fiber and gluten protein

Strategic angle: A breakthrough in utilizing wheat by-products for nutritious applications.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Predicting RNA activity expands therapeutic possibilities

Strategic angle: With AI, researchers can now predict RNA activity, opening new avenues for therapeutic development.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: A student volunteer and a mesh suit helped us figure out how mosquitoes reach their targets

Strategic angle: Undergraduate Chris Zuo's experiment reveals insights into mosquito behavior through a unique mesh suit.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Moons orbiting wandering exoplanets could be habitable—with one catch

Strategic angle: Provided they host thick, hydrogen-dominated atmospheres, moons orbiting free-floating exoplanets could retain much of the heat generated deep within their interiors by tidal forces.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Expert opinion on AI, automation, and the future of work

Strategic angle: Yale economist Pascual Restrepo discusses the implications of AI on labor markets in a comprehensive Q&A.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Critically endangered monkey gives birth after surgery saves her foot

Strategic angle: A 15-year-old roloway monkey at Chester Zoo has welcomed a baby following life-saving surgery.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Long overlooked as crucial to life, fungi start to get their due

Strategic angle: As efforts to study and conserve fungi expand, researchers say a 'shroom boom' is underway.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: US and Israel’s war on Iran is a disaster for the environment, analysis shows

Strategic angle: Exclusive: War has led to 5m tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in two weeks and is draining the global carbon budget faster than 84 countries combined.

Editorial Staff Mar 21

Life

Briefing: Kimchi-derived probiotic found to promote binding and excretion of intestinal nanoplastics

Strategic angle: A lactic acid bacterium from kimchi may aid in removing harmful nanoplastics from the body.

Editorial Staff Mar 21