AnimalsAugust 30, 2023
Male Monkeys Have More Sex with Other Males Than with Females in This Well-Studied Group
Does the prevalence of same-sex encounters in a group of Puerto Rican monkeys enhance their ability to pass along their genes?
Stories by Emily Willingham
Emily Willingham is a science writer and author of the books Phallacy: Life Lessons from the Animal Penis (Avery, Penguin Publishing Group, 2020) and The Tailored Brain: From Ketamine, to Keto, to Companionship: A User's Guide to Feeling Better and Thinking Smarter (Basic Books, 2021).
PsychologyJuly 25, 2023
Teenagers Skeptical of Social Media Have a Lower Risk of Eating Disorders
Young people can counter social media messaging that promotes thinness by bringing a skeptical take to their viewing habits
SleepJuly 3, 2023
Sleep Deprivation Sometimes Relieves Depression. A New Study May Show Why
Understanding why going without sleep eases depression in some people may lead to less taxing methods to boost mood
FitnessJune 14, 2023
Can You Change Your Metabolism?
Though you might not be able to significantly rev up your metabolism, there are ways to boost the energy your body burns while doing nothing
BiotechJune 5, 2023
Ultrasound Puts Animals into a Curious Hibernation-Like State
A state of torpor might rescue oxygen-starved brain cells or aid extended human space missions
Artificial IntelligenceMarch 13, 2023
AI’s Victories in Go Inspire Better Human Game Playing
Famed AI wins in Go let human players rethink their moves in a whole new way
LanguageDecember 6, 2022
The Linguistics of Swearing Explain Why We Substitute Darn for Damn
Languages from Hindi to Korean tone down swear words by inserting gentler consonants into speech. Here’s how “Let’s go Brandon” got started
PoliticsNovember 2, 2022
How to Inoculate against Midterm Misinformation Campaigns
A New York University professor advocates “prebunking”—sounding the alarm before a conspiracy theory spreads too widely
Mental HealthOctober 20, 2022
How Hurricanes Batter Mental Health
Hurricanes and other disasters exact a mental health toll that can persist without strong communities and support networks
Public HealthSeptember 29, 2022
Everything You Need to Know about Polio in the U.S.
People fully vaccinated against polio have little to fear
AnimalsSeptember 1, 2022
How Facebook Is Saving Snakes
Snake-identification groups on social media are turning serpent haters into appreciators
DietAugust 19, 2022
Some Sugar Substitutes Affect Blood Glucose and Gut Bacteria
In an August 2022 study, participants who consumed sugar substitutes showed an altered microbiome and spikes in blood glucose
PsychologyAugust 10, 2022
When Students Acquire Spatial Skills, Their Verbal Abilities Get a Boost
Learning to visualize objects might improve thinking in words, a finding that could enhance teaching methods
BehaviorAugust 2, 2022
Forensic Experts Are Surprisingly Good at Telling whether Two Writing Samples Match
A study to counter the lack of evidence for handwriting analysis shows it is effective if an examiner has the right training
PolicyJune 9, 2022
Sending Health Care Workers instead of Cops Can Reduce Crime
A study shows that first responders who are not police can be more effective for low-level incidents
InequalityApril 27, 2022
People Think Minority Groups Are Bigger Than They Really Are
Overestimating minority populations can lead to reduced support for diversity and inclusion programs
InequalityMarch 15, 2022
U.S. Records Reveal Bias against Muslim and Black Citizenship Applicants
The likelihood of attending a naturalization ceremony is lower for Black people, men and people from Muslim-majority countries
Artificial IntelligenceFebruary 14, 2022
Humans Find AI-Generated Faces More Trustworthy Than the Real Thing
Viewers struggle to distinguish images of sophisticated machine-generated faces from actual humans
SexualityJanuary 3, 2022
People Have Been Having Less Sex—whether They’re Teenagers or 40-Somethings
Among the young, social media, gaming and “rough sex” may contribute to this trend
BehaviorDecember 8, 2021
This Protein Could Boost Brain Function without Exercise
An exercise pill might one day produce health gains without the exertional pain
EvolutionNovember 24, 2021
Physical Activity Could Be an Evolutionary Adaptation for Grandparenting
It may force energy shifts to repair and maintenance, which could slow aging and make us more available to care for younger generations
NeuroscienceNovember 15, 2021
Cannabis Use in Pregnancy Is Linked to Child Anxiety, Hyperactivity
Changes in the activity of immune system genes in the placenta could explain the association, researchers speculate
VaccinesAugust 24, 2021
COVID Vaccines Show No Signs of Harming Fertility or Sexual Function
The novel coronavirus, in contrast, can disrupt both things in unvaccinated men and women
EpidemiologyAugust 19, 2021
Masks Are a Must-Have to Go Back to School during the Delta Variant Surge
Face coverings are essential to protecting children, keeping schools open and slowing the highly contagious coronavirus variant, experts say