Conservation
What Is Really Killing Monarch Butterflies?
Some scientists suspect that Roundup and milkweed loss aren’t the only culprits
Stories by Gabriel Popkin
Policy
U.S. Government Considers Charging for Popular Earth-Observation Data
Images from Landsat satellites and an agricultural-survey program are freely available to scientists—but for how long?
Biology
Bacteria Use Brainlike Bursts of Electricity to Communicate
With electrical signals, cells can organize themselves into complex societies and negotiate with other colonies
Policy
Nature Videos Help to Calm Inmates in Solitary Confinement
Controversial experiment ignites debate over whether scientific work could be used to justify harsh prison tactics
Space & Physics
Solar System Survey Casts Doubt on Mysterious “Planet Nine”
Orbits of four newfound objects show no signs of gravitational pull from proposed giant planet
The Free Flow of Scientific Information Is Critical for Democracy
It's vital both as a matter of public accountability and also so that citizens can make informed decisions
Space & Physics
What It Would Take to Reach the Stars
A wild plan is taking shape to visit the nearest planet outside our Solar System. Here’s how we could get to Proxima b
Space & Physics
Peru Signals Space Ambitions with Earth-Monitoring Satellite
Spacecraft could help scientists track logging, natural disasters and illegal mining
The Sciences
Gamma-Ray Method Used to Flag Nuclear Stashes
Physicists are investigating a technique to enhance detection of uranium and plutonium in cargo
