Nostr notes by Laura Helmuth

The International Space Station has been leaking for five years. ...

2024-11-01T12:49:00Z

The International Space Station has been leaking for five years. This is a fun story about the decay of the ISS and the future (or not) of space habitats https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-international-space-station-has-been-leaking-for-five-years/

Almost everyone will eventually have to give or receive long-term ...

2024-10-30T13:49:42Z

Almost everyone will eventually have to give or receive long-term health care. Harris's proposal for supporting at-home care got lost in the chaos of this month. Here's why it is SO important https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-harriss-medicare-plan-could-make-at-home-care-for-older-adults-easier/

Pound for pound, there is more gold in cell phones than in ore ...

2024-10-29T15:12:09Z

Pound for pound, there is more gold in cell phones than in ore from a gold mine. Here's some good news about cleaner new techniques to extract gold from electronics (plus an explanation of the difference between adsorb and absorb) https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/this-sponge-pulls-gold-from-electronic-waste/

This is a good resource for undecided or unmotivated voters, or ...

2024-10-29T11:44:37Z

This is a good resource for undecided or unmotivated voters, or people talking with same: comprehensive analyses of what the 2024 election means for science, health care, technology, education, nuclear weapons and more (issues, not horse race nonsense) https://www.scientificamerican.com/report/how-the-2024-presidential-election-will-shape-science-health-and-the-environment/

The only way to determine whether a new apple variety is worth ...

2024-10-24T18:45:44Z

The only way to determine whether a new apple variety is worth cultivating is to taste it. An apple scientist told me: “At the peak of crunch times, I’ve had to taste 600 apples a day. The first 100 are okay, but after that, it gets to be real work.” https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/apples-have-never-tasted-so-delicious-heres-why/

Apples are SO GOOD now! Here's how we got so many amazing ...

2024-10-24T15:17:45Z

Apples are SO GOOD now! Here's how we got so many amazing varieties. Isn't it wonderful that you can hold a pinnacle of human achievement in your hand and take a bite? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/apples-have-never-tasted-so-delicious-heres-why/

The archaeologists never expected to find a 30-acre medieval city ...

2024-10-24T14:00:01Z

The archaeologists never expected to find a 30-acre medieval city in a relatively inhospitable climate around 7,000 feet above sea level. And then they found a second one, of 300 acres https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lost-silk-road-cities-discovered-high-in-the-mountains-of-central-asia/

"The politicization of science starts with the right's ...

2024-10-23T19:25:39Z

"The politicization of science starts with the right's intolerance for ambiguity - not *Scientific American*'s Harris endorsement." By Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow – No trackers, no ads. Black type, white background. Privacy policy: we don't collect or retain any data at all ever period. [Unofficial] (npub1v5f…a5kk) https://pluralistic.net/2024/10/23/eisegesis/

Sure, things are bad now but 3.26 billion years ago an asteroid ...

2024-10-22T12:15:39Z

Sure, things are bad now but 3.26 billion years ago an asteroid 50-100 times bigger than the one that killed the dinosaurs hit Earth, vaporized rock that rained down as molten droplets, boiled the ocean's upper layers and killed most microbial life. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-earths-early-life-thrived-amid-catastrophic-asteroid-impacts/

We don't really know how lightning starts. New observations ...

2024-10-21T12:55:58Z

We don't really know how lightning starts. New observations from a modified U-2 spyplane in the stratosphere show that gamma ray flashes are involved https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/thunderstorm-gamma-ray-flashes-may-be-missing-link-for-lightning-bolts/

Have you encountered the idea that language is necessary for ...

2024-10-20T14:17:39Z

Have you encountered the idea that language is necessary for thought? It was pretty widely accepted for decades, but new research shows it's not so. This is a fun story about a new way of thinking about thinking https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/you-dont-need-words-to-think/

A "pesky inconsistency" in measurements of how quickly ...

2024-10-18T16:51:53Z

A "pesky inconsistency" in measurements of how quickly the universe is expanding could mean there's something wrong with dark energy and the standard model of cosmology https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/could-early-dark-energy-resolve-the-mystery-of-cosmic-expansion/ by Marc Kamionkowski & Adam Riess on Scientific American

Vaccines are one of humanity's greatest achievements, ...

2024-10-18T14:25:50Z

Vaccines are one of humanity's greatest achievements, "the most universal innovation that we have across humankind," & have saved more than 154 million lives. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-how-many-lives-vaccines-have-saved-around-the-world/

Marie Curie didn't necessarily aim to hire women in her lab, ...

2024-10-18T13:28:30Z

Marie Curie didn't necessarily aim to hire women in her lab, but she didn't have anything AGAINST women, and so ended up creating a network of more than 45 women trainees who changed (and are still changing) the course of science. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-marie-curie-helped-a-generation-of-women-break-into-science/

Calling all science fiction writers: An ancient slab of seafloor ...

2024-10-17T18:31:32Z

Calling all science fiction writers: An ancient slab of seafloor has been discovered underneath the Pacific Ocean, where it has hovered for more than 120 million years. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ancient-age-of-dinosaurs-seafloor-found-beneath-pacific-ocean/

This collection of clear, accessible, urgent articles explains ...

2024-10-16T13:15:02Z

This collection of clear, accessible, urgent articles explains the stakes of the 2024 election for science, health, education, nuclear weapons, the environment and more. Thanks for sharing if you can and trying to improve the signal to noise ratio of political coverage this election season https://www.scientificamerican.com/report/how-the-2024-presidential-election-will-shape-science-health-and-the-environment/

“These missions are modern cathedrals—they are generational ...

2024-10-14T20:16:26Z

“These missions are modern cathedrals—they are generational quests." This is a thrilling and touching story about the Europa Clipper mission that launched successfully today. Next stop: Jupiter and its watery moon Europa https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasas-europa-clipper-spacecraft-aims-for-jupiters-most-intriguing-moon/ by Nadia Drake (npub1q0v…p00t)

We're running a survey at Scientific American to get feedback ...

2024-10-14T19:35:56Z

We're running a survey at Scientific American to get feedback on what we're doing now and how we can be more useful & fun in the future. Thanks for taking and sharing! It's anonymous but at the end you can volunteer to join a focus group if you like https://springernature.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eg4AOhPgVkt7Aeq?s=16

Early humans weren’t conquerors but wanderers who mingled with ...

2024-10-12T12:15:02Z

Early humans weren’t conquerors but wanderers who mingled with other human species. The new view of human migration is much friendlier, less vicious & competitive. It's important to update pop culture notions human of evolution https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/human-origins-look-ever-more-tangled-with-gene-and-fossil-discoveries/ by Dan Vergano (npub19hz…esu8)

Milton was a terrible, terrible storm. Here's how it spun up ...

2024-10-10T21:41:11Z

Milton was a terrible, terrible storm. Here's how it spun up so many tornadoes on its outer edge, in addition to the high winds and storm surge closer to the center https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-hurricane-milton-caused-so-many-tornadoes/

Trump tried to end and managed to weaken the Affordable Care Act, ...

2024-10-08T13:02:54Z

Trump tried to end and managed to weaken the Affordable Care Act, let states add work requirements for health insurance, tried to cut medical research budgets, and undermined public health efforts. Electing him again would literally be deadly. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-trump-or-harris-would-mean-for-health-care-access-and-affordability/

Myopia has become a global health epidemic. After reading this ...

2024-10-07T18:29:48Z

Myopia has become a global health epidemic. After reading this you might want to go outside ... https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nearsightedness-has-become-a-global-health-issue/

The RNA world is WILD. This is a fun story about the RNA ...

2024-10-07T13:34:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…82s7
_________________________

The RNA world is WILD. This is a fun story about the RNA Revolution and how all these weird little newfound molecules run our genomes. A good way to understand today's Nobel Prize in medicine https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/revolutionary-genetics-research-shows-rna-may-rule-our-genome/

Nobel Prize winners Ambros & Ruvkun “were looking at two ...

2024-10-07T12:01:05Z

Nobel Prize winners Ambros & Ruvkun “were looking at two worms that looked a bit funny and decided to understand why, and then they discovered an entirely new mechanism for gene regulation,” Kämpe said. “I think that’s beautiful.” https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nobel-prize-in-physiology-or-medicine-awarded-for-discovery-of-microrna-gene/

Google keeps getting worse. Here are alternative search engines ...

2024-10-06T13:29:16Z

Google keeps getting worse. Here are alternative search engines and how they work: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/google-is-a-monopoly-should-you-use-another-search-engine/

Take this week's fun science quiz to see how much you know ...

2024-10-04T16:38:00Z

Take this week's fun science quiz to see how much you know and to learn even more: https://www.scientificamerican.com/game/science-quiz-black-holes-bug-infestations-2024-10-04/

It happened before and it will happen again: an asteroid will ...

2024-10-03T16:55:23Z

It happened before and it will happen again: an asteroid will crash into Earth and cause a global catastrophe. Unless we can stop it. Fun conversation with "How to Kill an Asteroid" author Robin George Andrews https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-save-the-world-from-apocalyptic-asteroids/

The next president faces hard choices & hard treaty deadlines ...

2024-10-03T13:14:40Z

The next president faces hard choices & hard treaty deadlines on nuclear weapons. We should be talking about this a LOT more. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hard-nuclear-weapons-choices-await-harris-or-trump-as-president/ by [@dvergano](https://sciencemastodon.com/@dvergano )

Enjoy these brilliant linguistic analyses of Harris, Walz and ...

2024-10-03T12:58:53Z

Enjoy these brilliant linguistic analyses of Harris, Walz and those other guys from their speaking styles during the debates https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-linguistic-analysis-from-the-2024-debates-reveals-about-harris-trump/

Media attention to hurricanes ends shortly after the wind and ...

2024-10-02T20:35:11Z

Media attention to hurricanes ends shortly after the wind and flood, but the death toll continues to rise for years. A new analysis shows 7K+ excess deaths per major storm in the U.S. since the 1950s & it's not getting better. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hurricanes-kill-people-for-years-after-the-initial-disaster/

The debate technique of telling lies quickly, shamelessly & ...

2024-10-02T14:30:33Z

The debate technique of telling lies quickly, shamelessly & confidently comes from creationists, and it has a name: the Gish Gallop. Vance has perfected it. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trumps-weird-debate-strategies-come-from-creationist-tactics/

This is an important and clear analysis of how the 2024 election ...

2024-10-02T13:30:31Z

This is an important and clear analysis of how the 2024 election will change access to abortion, fertility treatments and other reproductive health care across the U.S. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-2024-election-will-affect-ivf-and-abortion-access/

Because every story is a science story: a delightful interview ...

2024-10-02T12:38:44Z

Because every story is a science story: a delightful interview with Professor Pickleball on the physics of pickleball. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pickleball-physics-explained-from-balls-and-paddles-to-shots/

Photons can spend a negative amount of time zipping through a ...

2024-10-01T13:29:30Z

Photons can spend a negative amount of time zipping through a cloud of chilled atoms -- they seem to exit a material before entering it. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/evidence-of-negative-time-found-in-quantum-physics-experiment/

Here's why flooding in the Appalachians from Helene is so ...

2024-09-30T23:54:23Z

Here's why flooding in the Appalachians from Helene is so catastrophic. It will take decades to recover. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-appalachia-flooded-so-severely-from-helenes-remnants/

This is a generous, humane, clarifying story & graphics about ...

2024-09-30T17:21:36Z

This is a generous, humane, clarifying story & graphics about how people do and should think about medical risks https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/rare-diagnoses-change-peoples-perception-of-medical-risk/

Grateful to the good people at @npub18za…adtj for endorsing our ...

2024-09-30T14:34:08Z

Grateful to the good people at cenmag (npub18za…adtj) for endorsing our right and responsibility to endorse Kamala Harris for president. The piece is focused on Scientific American but makes a strong case for scientists speaking out https://cen.acs.org/policy/Editorial-Scientific-American-right-endorse/102/web/2024/09

Good morning, we have a new moon! ...

2024-09-30T12:11:41Z

Good morning, we have a new moon! https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tiny-asteroid-will-briefly-become-earths-mini-moon/

Friday science quiz! If you get the answers, you're a ...

2024-09-27T18:53:29Z

Friday science quiz! If you get the answers, you're a freaking genius. If you don't, you'll learn something fun https://www.scientificamerican.com/game/science-quiz-mini-moons-spooky-action-2024-09-27/

If you've ever wondered WTF is up with all the attention to ...

2024-09-27T15:11:48Z

If you've ever wondered WTF is up with all the attention to UFOs in the past few years, this explains it nicely. It's worth knowing how pseudoscientific thinking spread and grew through mythologists, bad government decisions, credulous media coverage & more https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-really-happened-at-the-pentagons-once-hidden-ufo-office/

These are some of our favorite SciFi books at Scientific ...

2024-09-27T14:45:47Z

These are some of our favorite SciFi books at Scientific American. Lots of great recommendations here, but please let us know what we missed https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/science-fiction-books-scientific-americans-staff-love/

This is a scary-big storm with a scary-high storm surge. #Helene ...

2024-09-26T23:24:35Z

This is a scary-big storm with a scary-high storm surge. #Helene is now a Cat 4 and heading for Florida's Big Bend but sending flood waters all along the Gulf Coast https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hurricane-helene-will-bring-strong-winds-flash-flooding-and-storm-surge/

Is H5N1 bird flu spreading from human to human? Here's what ...

2024-09-26T19:06:14Z

Is H5N1 bird flu spreading from human to human? Here's what we know so far about some confusing cases that might be nothing but might not be nothing https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/second-health-care-worker-exposed-to-person-with-bird-flu-had-symptoms-heres/

Just after 4 P.M. EDT on September 29, asteroid 2024 PT5 will ...

2024-09-26T15:00:24Z

Just after 4 P.M. EDT on September 29, asteroid 2024 PT5 will enter a path around Earth and briefly become another satellite—a mini moon. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tiny-asteroid-will-briefly-become-earths-mini-moon/

Excellent analysis of how quackery has gone full MAGA. "The ...

2024-09-26T14:02:02Z

Excellent analysis of how quackery has gone full MAGA. "The alt-medicine world and fascism share a fantasy of a glorious past that is allegedly being stolen from us by modern progress. In both tellings, the past was better—utopian, even—because people stuck to the 'natural' order" by Amanda Marcotte (npub19uv…0rmu)
https://www.salon.com/2024/09/26/rfk-jrs-tour-with-jordan-peterson-make-america-healthy-again-shows-why-alt-medicine-went-maga/

Well now, this is fun. I've been a birder for decades and ...

2024-09-26T13:21:32Z

Well now, this is fun. I've been a birder for decades and never noticed just how weird they are when they run. A new study shows why they're being efficient and not just entertaining: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/birds-are-goofy-runners-and-dinosaurs-might-have-been-too/

Hurricane Helene is starting out big and is likely to be in the ...

2024-09-25T20:35:08Z

Hurricane Helene is starting out big and is likely to be in the top 10% size-wise for hurricanes at this latitude. It's sucking up more moisture and heat over the Gulf of Mexico and will cause storm surges and flooding well inland. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hurricane-helene-will-bring-strong-winds-flash-flooding-and-storm-surge/

Asking AIs questions "is not going to lead us to correct ...

2024-09-25T13:49:06Z

Asking AIs questions "is not going to lead us to correct information, because their goal during training is to sound correct and be probable, and there’s not really anything fundamentally tied back to real-world accuracy." Great conversation with a scholar of AI absurdity https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/has-generative-ai-lost-its-strange-charm/

Just FYI strawberries have eight copies of every gene & the ...

2024-09-25T13:23:42Z

Just FYI strawberries have eight copies of every gene & the genetic-diversity equivalent of four different species in every cell. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strawberries-have-8-sets-of-chromosomes-to-thank-for-their-survival/

Brace yourself for this one: Black holes the size of an atom (!) ...

2024-09-24T13:38:50Z

Brace yourself for this one: Black holes the size of an atom (!) that contain the mass of an asteroid (!!) may fly through the inner solar system about once a decade (!!!) and could explain dark matter (!!!!) and if one flies by the moon or Mars, we should be able to detect them (!!!!!) https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dark-matter-black-holes-could-fly-through-the-solar-system-once-a-decade/

Have you stood up and walked around lately? Because you should ...

2024-09-23T15:49:56Z

Have you stood up and walked around lately? Because you should probably stand up and walk around. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sitting-in-a-chair-all-day-can-lead-to-disease-standing-up-and-moving-around/

NASA should shut down its rocket and capsule system for being ...

2024-09-22T18:02:24Z

NASA should shut down its rocket and capsule system for being absurdly over-budget and under-safe, abandon unrealistic schedules to return to the moon & get back to innovating. This is a smart and clear analysis of space travel by Dan Vergano (npub19hz…esu8) https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-next-president-should-end-nasas-space-launch-system-rocket/

Oh this is fun: It turns out lots of asteroids have moons. And ...

2024-09-21T11:44:01Z

Oh this is fun: It turns out lots of asteroids have moons. And the reason why might have to do with the power of *sunlight* to speed up an asteroid's rotation and fling bits away fun fun fun https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-so-many-tiny-asteroids-have-moons/ by Phil Plait (npub1ctj…de0g)

Quiz time! Just for fun, it doesn't count toward your grade. ...

2024-09-20T13:36:42Z

Quiz time! Just for fun, it doesn't count toward your grade. Test your science knowledge and maybe learn some things (or take pride that you already did) https://www.scientificamerican.com/game/science-quiz-seeds-arctic-sports-moon-2024-09-20/

While we're at it, the "alpha wolf" is a myth. ...

2024-09-19T20:52:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…ueq3
_________________________

While we're at it, the "alpha wolf" is a myth. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-alpha-wolf-idea-a-myth/

The misogynistic alt-right uses "cuck" as synonym for ...

2024-09-19T20:50:20Z

The misogynistic alt-right uses "cuck" as synonym for weakness and an indication of female treachery. This is a really interesting explanation of extra-pair partnerships across history and cultures & why a pop evolutionary psychology theory is wrong https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heres-what-the-manosphere-gets-wrong-about-cuckoldry/

“Put simply, regardless of your views on taxes or Ukraine or ...

2024-09-19T13:13:55Z

“Put simply, regardless of your views on taxes or Ukraine or the deficit, a candidate who rejects established science and seeks to corrupt truth (either through unqualified flunkies in government or propaganda) disqualifies himself from the presidency" https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/09/19/scientific-american-endorsement-harris-trump/

Scientists recorded a mysterious sound in the Mariana Trench 10 ...

2024-09-18T23:03:25Z

Scientists recorded a mysterious sound in the Mariana Trench 10 years ago, a low grunt followed by a squeaky echo, and called it the "biotwang." Now they've figured out which whale makes the sound, which you can hear here: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mystery-of-deep-ocean-biotwang-sound-has-finally-been-solved/

Carolina chickadees and black-capped chickadees interbreed where ...

2024-09-18T19:54:42Z

Carolina chickadees and black-capped chickadees interbreed where their ranges overlap, making hybrid chicks. I hope this is some comfort for birdwatchers (like me) who have a hard time telling them apart https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hybrid-chickadees-reveal-how-species-boundaries-can-shift-and-blur/

Keep stomping on spotted lanternflies, everybody -- it might be ...

2024-09-18T12:57:52Z

Keep stomping on spotted lanternflies, everybody -- it might be making a difference https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-are-there-fewer-spotted-lanternflies-in-new-york-city/

We're publishing crossword puzzles now on Scientific American ...

2024-09-18T12:44:58Z

We're publishing crossword puzzles now on Scientific American and they're FUN & science-y https://www.scientificamerican.com/game/science-crossword-cosmic-goals-2024-10/

A rare flip in wind direction contributed to record flooding in ...

2024-09-18T11:25:38Z

A rare flip in wind direction contributed to record flooding in the Carolinas, and an atmospheric block caused catastrophic flooding in Europe. Weird weather explained here: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/record-breaking-rainfall-in-carolinas-and-europe-explained/

Scientists: SciLine from AAAS is offering free workshops on how ...

2024-09-17T11:54:43Z

Scientists: SciLine from AAAS is offering free workshops on how to share your knowledge with journalists for election-related stories https://www.sciline.org/learn/navigating-election-season-interviews-a-guide-for-scientists/

Scientific American endorses Kamala Harris for president. ...

2024-09-16T16:25:08Z

Scientific American endorses Kamala Harris for president. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/vote-for-kamala-harris-to-support-science-health-and-the-environment/

If you would like a fun little break, we are publishing jigsaw ...

2024-09-15T16:47:57Z

If you would like a fun little break, we are publishing jigsaw puzzles every Sunday with an image from a recent Scientific American article. The puzzle makes a satisfying, crunchy click sound when you fit pieces together https://www.scientificamerican.com/game/science-jigsaw-2024-09-15/

Happy Confusing Fall Warblers season, everybody ...

2024-09-15T15:24:47Z

Happy Confusing Fall Warblers season, everybody

Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss figured out how to make a ...

2024-09-15T14:07:28Z

Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss figured out how to make a heptadecagon (a symmetrical 17-sided shape) & used it to solve a 2,000-year-old problem. He was 18. And he considered this his greatest achievement. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-this-great-mathematician-wanted-a-heptadecagon-on-his-tombstone/

I mean, the moon is always super. The Sept. 17 supermoon will ...

2024-09-13T19:06:43Z

I mean, the moon is always super. The Sept. 17 supermoon will also have a minor eclipse! Phil Plait (npub1ctj…de0g) sorts out the hype from the legitimage reasons to howl at the supermoon https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-a-supermoon-really-special/

I understand not wanting to read about that creep who owns the ...

2024-09-13T12:41:41Z

I understand not wanting to read about that creep who owns the other place, but this is a brilliant and funny explanation of Elon Musk, EVs, rocket ships, failures of regulation, and how second-arriving doofuses can succeed https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/elon-musk-owes-his-success-to-coming-in-second-place/ by Dan Vergano (npub19hz…esu8)

"The majestic view from on high had been to die for. ...

2024-09-12T12:57:22Z

"The majestic view from on high had been to die for. Thankfully, however, it didn’t come to that." This is a fun recap of the first private space walk, by a billionaire and engineer, who along with the rest of the crew did not (yet) die of the bends https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/polaris-dawn-astronauts-perform-first-private-spacewalk-in-a-stellar-success/

The world's first nuclear clock is ticking. “It was close ...

2024-09-11T14:56:03Z

The world's first nuclear clock is ticking. “It was close to midnight when we saw the first indication of the signal....Nobody could sleep after the experiment.” Fun physics with lasers pew pew pew https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-worlds-first-nuclear-clock-could-unlock-the-universes-dark-secrets/

Kidney stones are one of the many physiological barriers to ...

2024-09-11T13:11:15Z

Kidney stones are one of the many physiological barriers to living on Mars. Human bodies are much more complicated than rocket science https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mars-missions-may-be-blocked-by-kidney-stones/

This, of course, is Trump's concept of a plan & it is ...

2024-09-11T10:41:06Z

This, of course, is Trump's concept of a plan & it is very dangerous https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/project-2025-plan-for-trump-presidency-has-far-reaching-threats-to-science/

In case you're wondering why Penzey's is in the news, ...

2024-09-10T14:48:09Z

In case you're wondering why Penzey's is in the news, Wonkette (npub1q9c…vg5j) has the best & funniest explanation (as usual) https://www.wonkette.com/p/oh-penzeys-what-did-you-do-now-oh

Job opening: @npub17rv…w9lk is hiring an associate news editor ...

2024-09-09T20:42:38Z

Job opening: The Transmitter (npub17rv…w9lk) is hiring an associate news editor to cover neuroscience research. It's a great team doing important & fascinating work for & with the research community https://simonsfoundation.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/simonsfoundationcareers/details/Associate-News-Editor_R0001667

A lot of news stories basically say, "here's something ...

2024-09-09T11:17:24Z

A lot of news stories basically say, "here's something awful you should pay attention to." It's nice to see "for now we're good" sometimes. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/atlantic-hurricane-lull-puzzles-scientists/

Quiz time! Don't worry, it's a fun quiz & doesn't ...

2024-09-06T15:25:38Z

Quiz time! Don't worry, it's a fun quiz & doesn't count toward your final grade & anyway you all get an A+ in science in my opinion https://www.scientificamerican.com/game/science-quiz-spacewalks-irrational-numbers-2024-09-06/

Gossip is good, actually ...

2024-09-06T14:22:00Z

Gossip is good, actually https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-surprising-benefits-of-gossip/

And here's Matt's video of auroras from the International ...

2024-09-05T13:54:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…mgzu
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And here's Matt's video of auroras from the International Space Station. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/drop-everything-and-watch-this-stunning-video-of-northern-lights/

Today at 10:15 a.m. Eastern, astronaut Matt Dominick, who ...

2024-09-05T13:52:37Z

Today at 10:15 a.m. Eastern, astronaut Matt Dominick, who recently captured an amazing video of auroras on Earth from the International Space Station, will be talking with Scientific American--the first ISS interview from the cupola, the beautiful room of windows https://plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-video/nasa-astronaut-matt-dominick-talks-with-scientific-american/

Phoenix has had 100+ straight days of 100+ Fahrenheit days. Las ...

2024-09-04T19:16:33Z

Phoenix has had 100+ straight days of 100+ Fahrenheit days. Las Vegas broke records by “just about any metric you look at ... It’s been brutal.” https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/brutal-southwest-heat-wave-will-extend-streak-of-100-days-of-100-degrees-f/

This is a nice testimonial about what it's like to write a ...

2024-09-01T22:44:41Z

This is a nice testimonial about what it's like to write a piece for Scientific American https://ruthpearce.net/2024/08/07/out-now-in-scientific-american-the-u-k-s-cass-review-badly-fails-trans-children/

Steve Silberman had so much more to say. His NEUROTRIBES is one ...

2024-08-30T00:01:23Z

Steve Silberman had so much more to say. His NEUROTRIBES is one of the most important books of this century. We were honored to publish him as a columnist at Scientific American--he was so humane, generous, insightful
https://www.scientificamerican.com/author/steve-silberman/

What are memories made of? New research identifies a pair of ...

2024-08-28T13:55:21Z

What are memories made of? New research identifies a pair of molecules responsible for the persistence of memory https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/brain-scientists-finally-discover-the-glue-that-makes-memories-stick-for-a/

We rightly complain about lousy election coverage but do you know ...

2024-08-28T12:12:05Z

We rightly complain about lousy election coverage but do you know what's great? Wonkette's election coverage. Sign up now for thorough, funny, righteous journalism plus excellent subject lines in your inbox https://www.wonkette.com/p/wake-up-babe-superseding-indictment by Wonkette (npub1q9c…vg5j)

Scientific American is the oldest continuous publication in the ...

2024-08-28T11:53:04Z

Scientific American is the oldest continuous publication in the U.S. and it's our birthday! We're 179 years old. Here's a gif showing how our logo has evolved from 1845 to today:

This is a delightful conversation with Brian May (yes, that Brian ...

2024-08-27T21:14:53Z

This is a delightful conversation with Brian May (yes, that Brian May) about badgers, astrophysics, tuberculosis & more https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/queens-brian-may-is-a-champion-for-badgers-and-science/

We're about to have some of the worst heat of a terribly hot ...

2024-08-26T23:03:02Z

We're about to have some of the worst heat of a terribly hot summer. Adding to the misery in the Midwest is "corn sweat" -- corn & soybeans & other crops release moisture through evapotranspiration when they get hot & that adds to the humidity https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/corn-sweat-and-climate-change-bring-sweltering-weather-to-the-midwest/

I wish we didn't have to say this, BUT: Please don't use ...

2024-08-26T17:59:02Z

I wish we didn't have to say this, BUT: Please don't use AI to make investment decisions https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ai-makes-unreliable-investment-decisions/

Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore took the first crewed ...

2024-08-26T16:52:40Z

Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore took the first crewed Boeing Starliner trip to the International Space station on June 5 for an 8-day mission. They're still there. NASA just announced they will get a ride home ... sometime next year. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasas-stranded-astronauts-will-fly-home-on-spacexs-dragon/

You should be able to make an appointment now to get the new ...

2024-08-26T13:12:57Z

You should be able to make an appointment now to get the new COVID booster shot. Vaccines reduce the risk of death, pregnancy complications, long COVID and more. The virus keeps evolving and immunity wanes, so get boosted as soon as you can https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fall-covid-vaccines-and-the-latest-guidance-on-tests-and-treatment/

Kenan Thompson at the DNC is a comedian but Project 2025 deadly ...

2024-08-22T01:05:38Z

Kenan Thompson at the DNC is a comedian but Project 2025 deadly serious: it "would sabotage science-based policies that address climate change, the environment, abortion, health care access, technology and education." https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/project-2025-plan-for-trump-presidency-has-far-reaching-threats-to-science/

Project 2025 advocates for “a biblically based, social ...

2024-08-22T00:59:50Z

Project 2025 advocates for “a biblically based, social science-reinforced definition of marriage.” The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would become a “Department of Life” that would explicitly reject abortion and promote the heterosexual nuclear family structure as “ideal.” https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/project-2025-plan-for-trump-presidency-has-far-reaching-threats-to-science/

Andy Kim reminds me of this poem by Wislawa Szymborska: After ...

2024-08-22T00:48:51Z

Andy Kim reminds me of this poem by Wislawa Szymborska: After every war, someone has to clean up https://www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/poet-laureate/poet-laureate-projects/poetry-180/all-poems/item/poetry-180-141/the-end-and-the-beginning/

Amanda Gorman is coming up soon on the Democratic National ...

2024-08-22T00:09:32Z

Amanda Gorman is coming up soon on the Democratic National Convention. If you haven't seen her spoken-word poem EARTHRISE (or haven't seen it in a while) oh you are in for a treat https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/amanda-gormans-climate-poem-says-act-now-now-now/

Has anybody read JUMPNAUTS by Hao Jingfang? There was one small ...

2024-08-22T00:04:43Z

Has anybody read JUMPNAUTS by Hao Jingfang? There was one small detail I got a huge kick out of: in the future, the study of dark energy and dark matter is a scientific backwater because nobody could figure it out and, um, she might not be wrong https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dark-matter-hunters-may-never-find-the-universes-missing-mass/

Remember the "Wow!" signal detected by SETI, the Search ...

2024-08-21T13:46:51Z

Remember the "Wow!" signal detected by SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence? It's still not aliens, but the intense radio burst might have been a magnetar colliding with a cloud of hydrogen gas https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-wow-signal-seti-mystery-might-at-last-be-solved/

This is really important and I don't think it's widely ...

2024-08-20T20:42:48Z

This is really important and I don't think it's widely enough known: kids with dyslexia, ADHD, autism or other differences can thrive when they understand how their brain works https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/neurodivergent-kids-flourish-when-theyre-taught-how-their-brains-work/

There's a name for Trump's endless stream of lies and ...

2024-08-20T12:06:44Z

There's a name for Trump's endless stream of lies and nonsense: the Gish Gallop. It came from creationists: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trumps-weird-debate-strategies-come-from-creationist-tactics/ by Madhusudan Katti, he/him (npub1j99…6tdx)

A doctor / public health expert recommends these 5 (plus) items ...

2024-08-19T18:29:18Z

A doctor / public health expert recommends these 5 (plus) items to include in a home First Aid kit https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/here-are-the-five-health-and-wellness-tools-everyone-needs-now/