The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST): A New Era for Astrophysics

10/04/22 The most sophisticated telescope ever created is now producing its first deep-space images, revealing an astonishing universe. Silas Laycock

Two Paul Steinhardt Projects: The "Cyclic Universe" and "Quasicrystals"

04/30/13 One of our foremost physicists discusses two projects: the cyclic universe and quasicrystals

Infant Fossil Teeth: Clues to Ancient Human Development

11/13/13 Ancient infant teeth reveal the importance of weaning patterns in human evolution. Tanya Smith

The Evolution of Photosynthesis

10/19/10 How photosynthesis --and life-- emerged in Earth's ancient chemical environment. Tanja Bosak and Alexander Petroff

Addressing the Threat to Earth System Boundaries

09/12/23 The breaching of most of the Earth system boundaries (ESBs) is destroying the planet and the crisis must be addressed immediately. Solutions must include justice for those who suffer displacement, health and economic impacts of the crisis. Diana Liverman

Space Debris Alert!: The Potential Impact on the Ozone Layer and Earth’s Climate

05/27/25 Thousands of satellites orbit Earth. At the end of their missions, they drop into and burn up in the stratosphere, depositing ash that contains oxides and pollutants that are affecting both the ozone layer and the planet's climate. Atmospheric scientists are working to analyze the aerosols and their worrisome impact. Daniel Cziczo

How Effective Are Vitamin D Supplements?

04/23/24 Promoted for years as a means to strengthen bones and lower risk of multiple diseases, improved studies by JoAnn Manson and others revealed that Vitamin D supplements were not very effective at all. Natural sources, including sunshine, are much better. It’s important to understand why. JoAnn Manson

Probing the Health Molecules of Plants: The Weng Lab at Whitehead Institute

02/10/19 A visit to the Weng Lab at Whitehead Institute to learn how researchers exploit the mechanisms and molecules of plants contributing to medical innovations. Jing-Ke Weng

The Great Potential of Offshore WInd Farms

05/07/19 How effective are offshore wind farms in nations that have developed them, and why has the US been especially slow to adapt such an important energy resource? Andrew Myers

The D-Lab at MIT: Engineering by and for Developing Nations

11/01/11 An award-winning MIT lab engineers practical necessities for impoverished nations. Amy Smith

Today's Featured Contributors

Featured Author

Daniel Fornari, Ph.D.

A distinguished geophysicist who has been instrumental in discoveries of deep-sea volcanoes and other ocean ridge geological phenomena.

Featured Guest

William Detrich, PhD

An outstanding scientist reveals how the "anti-freeze" adaptations in Antarctic icefish can shed light on the relationship between climate and evolution and also on resistance to disease