Tryptophan Isn’t What Puts You Under on Thanksgiving. It’s the Carbs
Turkey takes the blame for you ending up as a crumpled mess on the couch, but the real culprits are elsewhere on your plate.
What Tech Has—and Hasn’t—Done for Puerto Rico
Balloons, batteries, and the crypto invasion. A progress report on the industry's aid to the island.
How Plastic Straws Slip Through the Cracks of Waste Management
Straws may not be the worst type of litter. But they are remarkably good at escaping from the waste stream and into the wild.
NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly Explains How the ISS Is Like Harris County Jail
In Scott Kelly’s new book, Endurance, the veteran astronaut writes about all the weird quirks of life in space.
UPDATED: How Will Houston Handle the Deluge of Hurricane Harvey?
This weekend’s flooding threatens to overrun both the built and natural systems in Houston and its surrounding county.
Your Brain Cells Hear the Ups and Downs of Language
Scientists have found groups of neurons that listen for changes in someone’s speaking tone—and turn it into meaning.
California Proves That Environmental Regulations Don’t Kill Profits
Will California's long-term green ambitions turn its economy as chilly as a San Francisco summer?
Why the US Solar Industry Doesn’t Want Government Protection
A tariff on international solar panels threatens to curb an important contributor to the nascent clean energy boom.
Explore the Moon Using Augmented Reality
The sun's getting a lot of the spotlight these days. It's time to give the moon its due.
The US Won’t Pay For the World’s Best Climate Science
Historically, the biggest chunk of money for the IPCC climate report has come from the US. Or rather, it used to.