Life

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

Briefing: Sea turtle shells reveal hidden records of ocean change

Strategic angle: Techniques developed to study the distant past are now being repurposed to help us better understand the lives of modern sea turtles.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: Fiber-optic sensors reveal how farming destroys soil's natural structure

Strategic angle: Soil is a dynamic, living system, but agricultural practices threaten its integrity.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: Study Maps Particulate Thiols Across Western North Pacific

Strategic angle: Research reveals the primary source of particulate thiols in the ocean is marine phytoplankton.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: Palm oil, cocoa, coffee… Who's going to tend to tomorrow's large tropical plantations?

Strategic angle: Palm oil plantations are struggling with declining attractiveness, echoing issues from the colonial era.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: A lysosome switch could reshape research on cancer and neurodegenerative disease

Strategic angle: An international research team has uncovered a previously unknown regulatory mechanism in human cells that could impact cancer and neurodegenerative disease research.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: Transformational Tools and Technologies Resources

Strategic angle: Explore Vision Studies, Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) Studies, and White Papers from NASA.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Blue Origin joins the orbital data center race

Blue Origin proposes a constellation of up to 51,600 satellites for an orbital data center system.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: All 5 fundamental units of life's genetic code were just discovered in an asteroid sample

Strategic angle: A new study reveals all five fundamental nucleobases—the molecular 'letters' of life—have been detected in samples from the asteroid Ryugu.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: Analysis of 1.4 million interactions shows how employees achieve sophisticated AI collaboration

Strategic angle: A study reveals key differences in AI usage that can help organizations enhance their AI strategies.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: China's earliest Bronze Age meteoritic iron artifact unearthed at Sanxingdui sacrificial site

Strategic angle: A significant archaeological discovery reveals the largest meteoritic iron artifact from the Bronze Age in China.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: How birds send heat into space measured for the first time—a hidden reflectance of feathers

Strategic angle: Understanding avian temperature regulation is crucial for conservation amidst climate change.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: The silver lining in Europe's deforestation law delay: A chance to build fairer supply chains

Strategic angle: Exploring the complexities behind 'palm-oil-free' labels and the opportunity for improved supply chains.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: Pike Eat More as Water Warms, Threatening Native Species

Strategic angle: Rising temperatures in Southcentral Alaska rivers lead to increased predation by invasive northern pike, endangering native fish populations.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: A Hall 'rectenna' can detect signals over a 100 GHz frequency range

Strategic angle: This innovative technology enhances wireless communication and sensing capabilities.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: Indigenous wisdom can guide Indonesia's efforts to build a sustainable ocean economy

Strategic angle: Solutions for a sustainable future can sometimes be found in centuries-old traditions.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: Trying your best in a second language? Here's why native speakers seem so rude

Strategic angle: Rudeness, whether real or perceived, can deeply affect cooperation, trust, and workplace culture.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: Novel approach allows studying the DNA of otters without disturbing them

Strategic angle: A new method enables researchers to analyze the DNA of endangered otters while minimizing disruption to their natural habitat.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: Why mosquitoes always find you and how they decide to attack

Strategic angle: Scientists have cracked the code on how mosquitoes locate their targets, revealing their reliance on visual cues and carbon dioxide.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: Beavers are turning rivers into powerful carbon sinks

Strategic angle: New research highlights the role of beavers in combating climate change through wetland creation.

editorial-staff Mar 22

Life

Briefing: This 67,800-year-old handprint is the oldest art ever found

Strategic angle: Researchers have uncovered the world’s oldest known cave art—a 67,800-year-old hand stencil in Indonesia, hinting at early symbolic thinking.

editorial-staff Mar 22