-
An ode to a cosmic coincidence
For total solar eclipses, everything that had to go just right for us here on Earth to enjoy the view. -
Why this solar eclipse is the 'most cosmically spectacular show' we'll ever see
"The cosmos is a constant reminder that nature is as magical as we once believed as kids," says astrophysicist Grant Tremblay. -
This small Vermont town is throwing a big solar eclipse party
In the town of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, everyone’s got their head in the clouds, as preparations for a tourism boom during the April 8 total solar eclipse have been underway. -
Biodiversity in the Sixth Mass Extinction
The sixth mass extinction currently underway is due to a combination of climate change and destruction of natural habitats. Both crises are the result of our energy, industrial, and food production systems that have upended Nature. Biologist Michael Reed explains how the vitality of our planet depends on the health of ecosystems. Using migratory birds as an example, he describes the interdependence of different forms of life --- birds, animals, fish, insects, plants --and terrain. Dr. Reed also suggests why some species are better able to adapt to the climate and extinction crises than others. Worldwide action is urgently needed.Partner:Science for the Public -
Virtual
Kingdom of Play
There is much interest today in the purpose of play. For humans, it is widely considered important for development, but for animals the role of play is less certain. In this fascinating description of the imaginative and varied play habits of many species of animals, David Toomey considers the purpose of this behavior, and he explains the major views on the subject.Partner:Science for the Public -
Mass. man receives world's first successful transplant of gene-edited pig kidney
"I saw it not only as a way to help me, but a way to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive,” said Richard Slayman. -
The evidence for an undiscovered ninth planet in our solar system
Smithsonian Astrophysicist and Harvard Lecturer Matthew Holman discusses the search for undiscovered planets at the edge of the solar system. -
Cement has a climate problem, but a Boston startup is changing that
Cement is the second most-consumed resource in the world—second only to water. -
Post-9/11 veterans suffering from head trauma and PTSD need new treatment
TRACTS, or the Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders, aims to develop effective treatments for veterans suffering from co-occurring disorders. -
Boston's centuries-long history of climate activism stems from ancestry and spirituality
19th-century Bostonians realized that deforestation was changing the climate and pushed reforestation efforts visible today in parks like Middlesex Fells and the Blue Hills Reservation.