Science touches so many aspects of modern life that it’s hard to keep up. Through our programs and this website, Science for the Public provides up-to-date information about scientific innovations, discoveries, and issues that are shaping modern knowledge.
A cell's size and the proportions of its components are strictly determined, but where do the rules come from? Scientists are still trying to figure that out.
Forests are the lungs of our planet. Adrien Finzi discusses how the different components of a forest ecosystem --including soil, microbes, plants and creatures -- must co-adapt and respond to rapidly changing climate conditions.
India has some of the most biodiverse regions of the world and contains four of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots. Kamaljit Bawa, founder of the prominent conservation organization ATREE, discusses the real challenge to preserve biodiversity as climate change alters Nature.
How the world-class Sustainable Design Lab at MIT combines architecture, engineering, physics --and creative genius-- to develop the optimal urban environment.
What's so important about an atmosphere? Find out here.
Many of the most important advances in scientific understanding were initially rejected or ignored.
In an era of global science, other nations are increasing their science budgets. Why aren't we?
From ancient traditions to modern pharmaceutical labs, certain plants have been valued for their therapeutic qualities. The Weng Lab analyzes the unique chemistry --and evolution-- of such plants.
Dark matter is believed to comprise five-sixths of the matter in the universe, but cannot be "seen." Now, however, technical innovations offer the potential for real observation and maybe new physics.
The destabilization of Earth's complex carbon cycle is associated with past mass extinctions. This mathematical model predicts a coming sixth mass extinction.
Nectar and pollen are sources of food for bees, but some of these sources may also help to reduce certain pathogens.
Paradoxical objects that underscore the mystery of the universe, black holes seem the ultimate destructive force, but may be essential to the stability of galaxies...
Viruses, prions, bacteriophages ... all behave like living organisms but are not quite alive...
Your generous donations help to support our mission.
Science for the Public is a 501(c)(3) organization and your donation is
tax-deductible.
The concept that all matter is composed of an invisible but fundamental entity was resisted for a very long time.
The Large Hadron Collider probes the most fundamental level of nature... Steven Nahn
An exploration of the quantum realm in computation, the cosmos, and biology. Seth Lloyd
The acquisition of even one language is very complicated. But there are some --called hyperpolyglotals-- who learn dozens of languages. How does the brain do this? Evelina Fedorenko
How photosynthesis --and life-- emerged in Earth's ancient chemical environment. Tanja Bosak and Alexander Petroff
A fascinating explanation of the complex relationship between the oceans and atmosphere --and how that balance makes the planet function. Amala Mahadevan
How vested interests have misled and confused the public over the years about many issues: DDT, tobacco, the ozone hole, environment, climate change. Naomi Oreskes
The Connor Lab at Boston University is a leader in the effort to understand how viruses infect and how cells learn how to block infection. John Connor
Endocrine disruptors such as BPA cause developmental problems and disease. How does this damage occur? Ana Soto and Carlos Sonnenschein
A panel of experts presents the known scientific, health and environmental facts about fracking. Phartiyal_Pallavi, Aaron Bernstein, William Moomaw, Andrew Rosenberg
How effective are offshore wind farms in nations that have developed them, and why has the US been slow to recognize the enormous potential of this energy resource? NEU researcher Andrew Myers presents the facts.
An excellent resource on cosmology for the general reader, co-authored by one of the greatest theoretical physicists of our time
A scientist who combines engineering and neural science skills to develop a brain-computer interface