Science & Society

Educators and Parents, Sign Up for The Cheat Sheet
Weekly updates to help you use Science News Explores in the learning environment
Thank you for signing up!
There was a problem signing you up.
- Science & Society
Community action helps people cope with Flint’s water woes
Activism, social media and public education are helping residents in the aftermath of the water crisis in Flint, Mich.
- Health & Medicine
9 things to know about lead’s health risks — and how to curb them
Lead has been linked to lower IQ, behavior problems, mental-health disorders, strokes and more health impacts. There are ways to reduce your exposure.
- Brain
Scientists Say: Confirmation Bias
Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out and believe information that agrees with what we already think.
- Environment
Bottled water hosts many thousands of nano-sized plastic bits
The finding emerges from tests of a new tool that identified smaller-than-ever tiny plastic bits in three brands of bottled water.
By Laura Allen - Science & Society
Scientists Say: Model
Models are representations of real-life systems or processes that we use to ask questions, make predictions and test our knowledge.
- Space
This space physicist uses radios to study eclipses
Nathaniel Frissell uses radio data to study how eclipses affect a layer of the atmosphere called the ionosphere.
- Animals
Let’s learn about birdwatching for beginners
One birdwatcher unpacks the personal and scientific rewards of birding, and how to get started.
- Science & Society
Music has the power to move us physically and emotionally. Here’s why
The way music impacts the brain can improve mood and overall health.
- Math
This civil engineer turns to math to make energy more affordable
Destenie Nock uses computer algorithms to help identify households struggling to afford utilities.
- Tech
Let’s learn about the benefits of playing video games
Too much screentime poses health risks, but research suggests playing video games can sharpen some skillsets.
- Health & Medicine
Sad or stressed? Here’s where to find health-ful info
The internet and hotlines have a lot of great resources — if you know where to find them and how to avoid the misinformation.
By Erin Ross - Science & Society
Teen mental health: What role does social media play?
The Surgeon General advises that because social media is being linked to both good and harm, teens can use it — but should do so very carefully.
By Erin Ross