Ancient ‘smellscapes’ are wafting out of artifacts and old texts
Ramses VI faced a smelly challenge when he became Egypt’s king in 1145 B.C. The new pharaoh’s first job was to rid the land...
SCIENTIFIC NEWS
Some hamsters are extremely susceptible to COVID-19
Golden Syrian hamsters are highly susceptible to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, a new study shows. While the species is popular among pet owners,...
Lava and frost may form the mysterious lumps on Jupiter’s moon Io
On Jupiter’s moon Io, lava creeping beneath frost may give rise to fields of towering dunes. That finding, described April 19 in Nature Communications,...
The body’s response to allergic asthma also helps protect against COVID-19
Scientists are discovering a surprising bright side for some people with asthma: They are less susceptible to COVID-19. The very same immune system proteins...
Ancient zircons may record the dawn of plate tectonics
Earth’s crust may have gone on the move roughly 3.8 billion years ago. A change in the chemistry of ancient zircon crystals from different...
Science News celebrates its 100th birthday this year. Across the century, we’ve covered the latest advances in science, technology and medicine, from the birth...
How I decided on a second COVID-19 booster shot
Booster shots against COVID-19 are once again on my mind. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that older people and immunocompromised people are...
Pterosaurs may have had brightly colored feathers on their heads
Pterosaurs not only had feathers, but also were flamboyantly colorful, scientists say. That could mean that feathers — and vibrant displays of mate-seeking plumage...
Dog breed is a surprisingly poor predictor of individual behavior
Turns out we may be unfairly stereotyping dogs. Modern breeds are shaped around aesthetics: Chihuahuas’ batlike ears, poodles’ curly fur, dachshunds’ hot dog shape....
Mom’s voice holds a special place in kids’ brains. That changes for teens
Young kids’ brains are especially tuned to their mothers’ voices. Teenagers’ brains, in their typical rebellious glory, are most decidedly not. That conclusion, described...
Fragmented Policies Hold Back Agroecology Adoption in Africa’s Congo Basin 
In the wake of the flood, could Nepal avert the next disaster? 
‘The Deep End’ podcast is back to explore what makes your voice yours 
The Takeaway Day 6: General Debate ends with a plea to turn words into action