All Stories by Alison Pearce Stevens
- Environment
Renewable energy might be able to green a desert
Computer models show that placing wind turbines and solar farms in deserts could increase how much rain falls in nearby areas.
- Health & Medicine
Chigger ‘bites’ may trigger an allergy to red meat
Some people develop a food allergy to red meat, and researchers suspect chiggers bites are to blame.
- Health & Medicine
Here’s what puts teen drivers at greatest risk of a crash
Most teen car crashes trace to distraction and a driver’s inexperience. New studies point to how easily we can be distracted and by which activities.
- Psychology
Smartphones may serve as digital security blankets
In a new study, students in awkward social situations experienced less stress if they had — but didn’t use — their smartphones.
- Psychology
Phones in the classroom hurt everyone’s grades
When students use electronic devices in the classroom, their school performance may suffer. And so might their classmates’ grades, a new study finds.
- Psychology
2016 election stressed out some teens and young adults
Some teens and young adults felt stress, anxiety and fear during the 2016 election — no matter what political candidates they tended to prefer.
- Health & Medicine
Finding and helping teens for whom sadness is a disease
Adolescents should soon be screened for depression at their yearly check-up with their doctor.
- Health & Medicine
Athletes’ head injuries can provoke surprisingly long-lasting harm
Even as symptoms of an athletic head injury fade, the brain may remain impaired, new data show. The harm may last months — perhaps even a lifetime.
- Health & Medicine
Explainer: What is a concussion?
A concussion is a severe type of head injury that can damage a brain for weeks to years — perhaps even a lifetime.
- Plants
Increasingly, chocolate-makers turn to science
Chocolate is delicious and may even have health benefits. To make sure there’s enough to go around, scientists are growing heartier cacao trees.
- Agriculture
How to grow a cacao tree in a hurry
Chocolate is made from the pods of the cacao tree. To reproduce this plant quickly for research, scientists use clones.
- Chemistry
Changing toothpastes? Change your toothbrush
Scientists have found that toothbrush bristles absorb triclosan, then release the potentially toxic chemical when users switch toothpastes.
