Life

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

Nairobi Airport Ant Seizure Sheds Light on Insect Trafficking Trends

The recent confiscation of 2,000 garden ants at Nairobi airport underscores the rising trend of insect trafficking, particularly for exotic pets in Europe and Asia.

Editorial Staff Apr 8

Life

Concerns Grow Over New North Sea Oil and Gas Fields and Their Climate Impact

Experts warn that opening new oil and gas fields in the North Sea could jeopardize global climate initiatives, potentially encouraging fossil fuel exploitation in developing nations.

Editorial Staff Apr 8

Life

Study Suggests Climate Change Could Accelerate Evolution Through Genetic Changes

Recent research indicates that climate-induced changes in animal development may have lasting effects across generations, potentially speeding up evolutionary processes.

Editorial Staff Apr 8

Life

Exploring the Volcanic Landscape of Mammoth Lakes

The eastern Sierra Nevada is characterized by a significant caldera and various newer craters, contributing to its unique geological features.

Editorial Staff Apr 8

Life

Drought Parches Florida

The state was unusually dry for much of 2025, but the intensity of the drought has ratcheted up since January 2026.

Editorial Staff Apr 8

Life

Judge refuses to block sending abortion pill by mail for now, but says FDA must finish review

A federal judge Tuesday refused to block filling prescriptions for the abortion pill mifepristone by mail across the U.S. — at least for now.

Editorial Staff Apr 8

Life

Climate change does not polarize opinions: 'In fact, we are increasingly in agreement'

Strategic angle: A study reveals that differences of opinion on climate change among the Dutch have decreased over the past 40 years.

Editorial Staff Apr 8

Life

Scientists map the brain’s hidden wiring using RNA barcodes in major breakthrough

Strategic angle: Researchers have developed a cutting-edge technique that uses RNA “barcodes” to map how neurons connect, capturing thousands of links with single-synapse precision.

Editorial Staff Apr 8

Life

Swipe right? Dating apps linked to body image pressures

Strategic angle: New research from Adelaide University reveals the impact of dating apps on young adults' self-image.

Editorial Staff Apr 8

Life

Scientists discover reversible male birth control that stops sperm production

Strategic angle: Researchers at Cornell University have developed a nonhormonal method that halts sperm production in mice, marking a significant advancement in male contraception.

Editorial Staff Apr 8

Life

'Vegan leather' isn't as sustainable or eco‑friendly as brands might claim

Strategic angle: The allure of vegan leather may mask its environmental impact, challenging the perception of sustainability in fashion.

Editorial Staff Apr 8

Life

Molecular editing tool relocates alcohol groups to neighboring sites while preserving 3D structure

Strategic angle: MIT chemists develop a precision technique for relocating alcohol functional groups in molecules.

Editorial Staff Apr 7

Life

Planting trees to remove carbon can harm the environment or protect it: Study highlights trade‑offs

Strategic angle: A new study reveals the complex impacts of tree planting on carbon emissions and environmental health.

Editorial Staff Apr 7

Life

Molecular 'leash' measures force-sensing protein activation at about 15 piconewtons

Strategic angle: Researchers at NUS develop a molecular tool to study Piezo1 protein activation under mechanical force.

Editorial Staff Apr 7

Life

African frogs haven't forgotten the ice ages. Scientists can tell by where they live.

Strategic angle: Why are frogs diverse in some parts of Africa's rainforests and less so in others? The patterns of cooling and glaciation during the last ice age hold the key.

Editorial Staff Apr 7

Life

New study reveals why housing booms and busts are built into the system

Strategic angle: A new study shows that the ups and downs in house prices are far more dramatic than most people think—and that government policies play a big role in making them happen.

Editorial Staff Apr 7

Life

Researchers clarify how cells remove damaged endoplasmic reticulum

Strategic angle: New insights into the process of ER-phagy reveal how cells maintain protein synthesis and calcium storage by eliminating damaged endoplasmic reticulum.

Editorial Staff Apr 7

Life

Fly ball: Drosophila can learn while playing with tiny spheres

Strategic angle: Research reveals that fruit flies can learn through play, enhancing our understanding of their cognitive abilities.

Editorial Staff Apr 7

Life

Experiment indicates new type of mesic nuclei that could reveal how matter acquires mass

Strategic angle: A groundbreaking study sheds light on the origins of mass in matter through the discovery of new mesic nuclei.

Editorial Staff Apr 7

Life

Who got the meat? What 10,000 years of European bones suggest about diet inequality

Strategic angle: Access to nutritious food has been historically unequal, with meat being a coveted resource in pre-industrial Europe.

Editorial Staff Apr 7