We boil crabs and lobsters alive because it tastes better, and also because we assume they can’t feel pain. But a new study sheds doubt on that idea and should make us pause before our next meaty meal
Weather Patterns on a Cosmic Oddball
The almost-stars known as brown dwarfs have a lot more going on than we knew
Federal Forecast for Climate Change: It’s Getting Hot in Here
A new draft report suggests that the climate change we’ve experienced so far is nothing compared to what’s in the pipeline. Can we make a dent in global warming—or is time to just prepare for the worst?
Denizens of the Deep: Alexander Semenov’s Pictures of Undersea Creatures
A Russian diver and zoologist produces astounding photography of undersea creatures.
Stellar Dust Ring Could Promise Big Things
A familiar formation around the nearby star Vega may herald a solar system much like ours.
The Pacific Bluefin Tuna Is Going, Going…
The valuable—and flavorful fish is a favorite of sushi chefs around the world. But the very popularity of bluefin tuna could mean its doom.
Planetary Census: Hundreds of Billions in the Milky Way?
A generation ago he had never detected even a single planet orbiting a distant star. Now the population has exploded
2012 Was the Hottest Year in U.S. History. And Yes — It’s Climate Change
Last year was the hottest ever for the continental U.S. — and it wasn’t even close. Just in case you needed more evidence that the climate really is changing
Adapt or Die: Why the Environmental Buzzword of 2013 Will Be Resilience
Memories of Superstorm Sandy are already fading — and with them, political will to adapt to the growing threat posed by global warming. But the need is greater than ever to establish resilient societies, cities and economies in …
Big Brains: What You and (Some) Guppies Have in Common
It can be awfully expensive to maintain an oversized brain—and the body pays for that.