Science & Society

  1. Health & Medicine

    High school vapers often become heavy smokers

    New studies show e-cig ads promote vaping by teen — and their conversion to smoking tobacco.

    By Lindsey Konkel Neabore
  2. Psychology

    Racism hurts

    Hate crimes and harassment since the 2016 election affirm that racism still exists in America. Here’s what racism is, how it hurts and how people who witness it can respond.

    By Kathiann Kowalski
  3. Health & Medicine

    Five things students can do about racism

    Racism plagues societies around the world and has since ancient times. But scientists who have studied its impacts offer suggestions on how to make it stop.

    By Kathiann Kowalski
  4. Brain

    What makes a pretty face?

    Beautiful faces are symmetrical and average. Do we prefer them because this makes them easier for our brains to process?

    By Alison Pearce Stevens
  5. Health & Medicine

    Simpler way to screen for hidden hearing loss?

    Many teens today walk around with undiagnosed hearing damage. But some Boston-based researchers have come up with a low-tech approach to screening these individuals so they can get help.

    By Lela Nargi
  6. Physics

    Hack: How to spy on a 3-D printer

    Computer scientists have found that a hacker can eavesdrop on a 3-D printer using a smartphone. The technique uses sound and energy data produced by the printer.

    By Stephen Ornes
  7. Animals

    Our shocking eel story wins international prize

    Roberta Kwok’s story on the shocking (and surprising) behaviors of electric eels was honored with a win for outstanding science writing.

    By Janet Raloff
  8. Science & Society

    Broadcom MASTERS awards honor science, invention and teamwork

    Each year, 30 middle school science fair winners work together to show off their science knowledge and innovation skills.

    By Bethany Brookshire
  9. Computing

    How computers get out the vote

    Increasingly computers play a role in voting. Here’s why that concerns scientists, even as they acknowledge that computers may be increasingly essential.

    By Kathiann Kowalski
  10. Humans

    Big Viking families got away with murder

    The most deadly Vikings came from families that were big enough to discourage revenge.

    By Bruce Bower
  11. Science & Society

    Women in science are living life by the numbers

    These women show that math, physics and technology are definitely a girl thing.

    By Bethany Brookshire
  12. Health & Medicine

    Pokémon no! Playing the popular game while driving is risky

    Dangerous moves: Over a recent 10-day period, tens of thousands of people were playing Pokémon Go while driving — and tweeting about it.

    By Tina Hesman Saey