Mathematical ‘Hocus-Pocus’ Saved Particle Physics

Renormalization, a technique that helps bridge the big and the small, has become perhaps the single most important advance in theoretical physics in 50 years.

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Mathematicians May Have Figured Out How ‘Stone Forests’ Form

An NYU team thinks it's finally unlocked the secret to how these mysterious landforms get their interesting shape.

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What’s Causing the Mass Bird Die-Off in the Southwest?

Thousands of migrating birds have died, perhaps starved by drier conditions related to climate change or by having to fly inland to avoid wildfire smoke.

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The 943-Dimensional Chess of a Trustworthy Covid-19 Vaccine

Scientists want public confidence. The White House wants an October Surprise. The FDA wants to avoid looking political. Big Pharma wants a win. You’re in the middle.

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What’s in Wildfire Smoke, and How Dangerous Is It?

Blazes on the West Coast are spewing a haze clear across the country. Along the way, the complex chemistry of what we inhale gets even more complex.

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Rocket Lab Could Beat NASA Back to Venus in the Search for ET

After years of neglect, Earth’s other neighbor is back in the spotlight following a major discovery. A private rocket company may be the first to visit.

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The NIH Launches a Global Hunt for Animal-to-Human Diseases

It’s a reversal for an administration that’s been loath to prepare for pandemics or cooperate with China, where Covid-19 jumped from wildlife to people.

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Want to Save the Whales? Eavesdrop on Their Calls

A clever new system called Whale Safe listens for the cetacean chorus to alert vessels to slow down, potentially preventing deadly ship strikes.

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Hey Students! Here's How to Deal With School in a Pandemic

Obviously this situation sucks for everyone, but I have a few tips to help you make the most of a bad situation. (Also, don't cheat.)

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Netflix's 'Challenger' Is a Gripping Look at NASA in Crisis

A new four-part documentary about the ill-fated Challenger mission highlights the risk of putting bureaucracy before science in human spaceflight

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