Life

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

Briefing: Exploding primordial black holes might have reshaped the early universe, and created all matter as we know it

Strategic angle: The early universe was a chaotic mix of quarks and gluons, potentially influenced by primordial black holes.

editorial-staff Apr 5

Life

Briefing: Scientists found a protein that drives brain aging — and how to stop it

Strategic angle: A new study reveals the role of the FTL1 protein in brain aging and potential interventions.

editorial-staff Apr 5

Life

Briefing: Rice’s whales predate modern humans. Now Trump could make them extinct

Strategic angle: The US has invoked national security to remove protections for the endangered cetacean, of which only about 50 are left.

editorial-staff Apr 5

Life

Briefing: These rock-climbing fish can shimmy up a 50-foot waterfall

Strategic angle: New research from the Democratic Republic of Congo offers a behavioral and anatomical portrait of a species that can achieve surprising athletic feats.

editorial-staff Apr 5

Life

Briefing: Artemis II toilet acts up again as astronauts speed toward the moon to break Apollo 13's record

Strategic angle: Now more than halfway to the moon, the Artemis II astronauts prepared for their historic lunar fly-around to push deeper into space than even the Apollo astronauts.

editorial-staff Apr 5

Life

Briefing: How Paris swapped cars for bikes – and transformed its streets

Strategic angle: Under outgoing mayor Anne Hidalgo, the French capital added bike lanes, cut traffic and reclaimed public space, but not without resistance.

editorial-staff Apr 5

Life

Briefing: Mars dust storms are sparking electricity and rewriting the planet’s chemistry

Strategic angle: Mars may look like a quiet, dusty world, but it’s actually buzzing with hidden electrical activity.

editorial-staff Apr 5

Life

Briefing: NASA finalizes science plans for Artemis 2 lunar flyby

Strategic angle: NASA's science team outlines key observations for astronauts during the upcoming lunar mission.

editorial-staff Apr 5

Life

Briefing: Scientists built a quantum battery that breaks the rules of charging

Strategic angle: A working prototype of a quantum battery utilizes quantum physics for energy management.

editorial-staff Apr 5

Life

Briefing: AI makes rewilding look tame—and misses its messy reality

Strategic angle: Humans have always imagined the natural world. From Ice Age cave paintings to the modern day, we depict the animals and landscapes we value—and ignore those we don't.

editorial-staff Apr 4

Life

Briefing: Insects in the tropics are already near their heat limits. Climate change could push many beyond survival

Strategic angle: Insects, comprising up to 90% of all animal species, face critical survival challenges due to rising temperatures in tropical regions.

editorial-staff Apr 4

Life

Briefing: Two's company: Scientists identify new class of star remnants

Strategic angle: Research reveals a new category of stellar remnants that challenge previous understandings of star evolution.

editorial-staff Apr 4

Life

Briefing: Atlas 5 launches Amazon Leo satellites

Strategic angle: An Atlas 5 launched the latest set of satellites for Amazon’s broadband constellation as the company seeks to accelerate deployment.

editorial-staff Apr 4

Life

Briefing: Bilby boom: breeding trial to reintroduce species to Mallee Cliffs national park shows signs of success

Strategic angle: Fifty ‘founder’ bilbies were released in fenced breeding area in 2019 with the aim of establishing first wild population there in a century.

editorial-staff Apr 4

Life

Briefing: Thermal justice: New report examines threat of extreme heat, suggests culturally informed policies

Strategic angle: Extreme heat kills more people in the U.S. each year than hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes combined.

editorial-staff Apr 4

Life

Briefing: NASA Answers Your Most Pressing Artemis II Questions

Strategic angle: The first crewed test flight under NASA’s Artemis program is underway.

editorial-staff Apr 4

Life

Briefing: Humans' closest invertebrate ancestors date back much further than thought

Strategic angle: New research reveals that the origins of human ancestors among invertebrates extend back millions of years earlier than previously believed.

editorial-staff Apr 4

Life

Briefing: Humor helps older adults navigate aging, research suggests

Strategic angle: Humor plays a vital role in helping older adults cope with the challenges of aging and staying socially connected, according to new research.

editorial-staff Apr 4

Life

Briefing: A simple ECG test could flag racehorses at risk of exercise arrhythmias

Strategic angle: A quick heart trace taken during a warm-up trot could identify racehorses at risk of cardiac arrhythmias during high-intensity exercise.

editorial-staff Apr 4

Life

Briefing: How we came to be: Scientists get first look at the evolution of early complex animals

Strategic angle: Newly discovered fossils have given scientists their first real glimpse of when Earth made a crucial transition from simple life forms to complex creatures.

editorial-staff Apr 4