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Science Communication Is Central to the Practice of Science

Science communication is not a side activity — it is a core part of scientific practice. At a time when academic institutions are under attack and politicians peddle misinformation, scientists must recognize that explaining and defending knowledge…

26/03/2026

Where There’s Wildfire Smoke, There’s Poor Mental Health

For those who have experienced wildfires, the traumatic imprint they can leave is clear. But scientists still have numerous questions about how the human brain responds to these events, and, today, economists, epidemiologists, and neurologists are…

23/03/2026

The Problem With Promoting ‘Gold Standard Science’

Federal agencies have increasingly branded some of their research and policy work as “gold standard science” in response to an executive order issued in May 2025. But using a simplified label risks misleading the public about how scientific evidence…

20/03/2026

AI Slop Is Infiltrating Online Children’s Content

Nonsensical AI-generated videos, sometimes depicting dangerous behaviors like children walking down the middle of a busy street, or an infant eating whole grapes, are being posted at an rapid clip on YouTube. Child development experts are alarmed by…

20/03/2026

Interview: Sylvia Fogel on Rethinking Autism Research

Sylvia Fogel, the new head of a government committee that advises the secretary of Health and Human Services on autism-related issues and federal activities, including research and social services, believes autism research priorities must change to…

19/03/2026

Why Insect Farming Startups Are Going Bankrupt

In spite of the initial hype surrounding the bug farming boom, the insect agriculture industry has learned just how difficult it is to compete with the incumbent, larger animal-based meat industry — and that, perhaps, it never really made sense to…

17/03/2026

Why the FDA Is Embracing Old Math for New Drugs

Most clinical trials today are analyzed with something called frequentist statistics. But many statisticians say an alternative approach, Bayesian statistics, could cut costs and get good drugs to market more quickly. The FDA recently opened the…

10/03/2026

Under Trump, mRNA Skepticism Threatens a Promising Technology

In the last year, the federal government has become increasingly skeptical of mRNA technology, notably cutting funding for research and development of vaccines and other therapies. With private sector funding unlikely to fill the gap, a migration of…

09/03/2026

Interview: The Enduring Appeal of Alternative Medicine

The enthusiasm of today’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement for wellness products and opposition to their regulation is nothing new, according to Lewis A. Grossman, author of “Choose Your Medicine.” In an interview with Undark, he discusses the…

02/03/2026

What the ‘Birthday Paradox’ Can Teach Us About Black History

Genealogical records can be sparse for colonized and enslaved populations. But a 2025 study, which applies the logic behind the “birthday paradox” to determine the likelihood of Black Americans sharing a common ancestor, shows that statistics could…

27/02/2026

The Big Questions Surrounding Brain Organoid Research

The wide promise of brain organoids — as well as the distinctly eerie element of growing brain tissue in a petri dish — has brought more attention to the field. Some researchers are wary about how their work may be misinterpreted and potentially…

26/02/2026

For a Rare Disorder, Is Language Complicating Care?

People with Morgellons, a condition marked by intense skin irritation, often attribute it to parasitic infections. But most doctors say those infections aren’t real — that they are delusions. The disconnect has pushed patients to unproven…

24/02/2026