Life

Health, science, climate, and society-focused reporting.

Briefing: Mining Rush for Critical Minerals Threatens Amazon Land Reform Settlements

Strategic angle: A survey reveals a surge in mining requests for critical minerals in Brazil's Carajás region, endangering land reform settlements.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: Fetuses likely have more ‘forever chemicals’ in blood than thought – report

Strategic angle: New research reveals alarming levels of PFAS compounds in fetal blood samples.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: Some top US lobbying firms are working both sides of the Pfas issue at the same time

Strategic angle: Review from non-profit finds range of scenarios of firms simultaneously lobbying for and against Pfas regulations.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: Study documents record 118-kilometer dispersal by young female fisher in New Hampshire

Strategic angle: Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have documented the farthest trek of a young female fisher moving 118 kilometers from Durham to Lincoln.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: Scientists discover giant swirling plumes hidden deep inside Greenland’s ice sheet

Strategic angle: New research reveals the formation of mysterious plume-like structures through thermal convection in Greenland's ice.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: Study finds abusive bosses can make workers feel 'dehumanized,' fueling burnout

Strategic angle: New research reveals the profound impact of toxic leadership on employee perception and well-being.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: Bacteria that generate electricity: How a shellfish-based gel could monitor wastewater and food

Strategic angle: Microbial bioelectronic sensors utilize living bacteria to create electrical signals in response to target substances, offering advantages over traditional biosensors.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: New Panama tree species identified after 25 years is already endangered

Strategic angle: A newly discovered tree species in Panama faces immediate threats despite being identified only recently.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: Pi Day: From rockets to cancer research, here's how the number pi is embedded in our lives

Strategic angle: Math nerds and dessert enthusiasts unite to celebrate Pi Day every March 14, the date that represents the first three digits of the mathematical constant pi.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: A lab mistake at Cambridge reveals a powerful new way to modify drug molecules

Strategic angle: Cambridge scientists have discovered a light-powered chemical reaction that allows for safer modifications of complex drug molecules.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: Scientists discover ancient DNA “switches” hidden in plants for 400 million years

Strategic angle: Researchers uncover a vast archive of plant DNA, revealing over 2.3 million regulatory sequences.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: ‘Drinking from a fetid pond’: superbug-creating genes found in UK’s largest lake

Strategic angle: Genes capable of creating antibiotic-resistant superbugs have been detected in Lough Neagh, which supplies drinking water for 40% of Northern Ireland.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: Gut bacteria that make serotonin may hold the key to IBS

Strategic angle: Researchers have identified two gut bacteria that can produce serotonin, a key chemical that regulates bowel movements.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: Australia added to global sharks and rays database

Strategic angle: A global database documenting the location of critical habitats for sharks, rays, and chimeras has recently expanded to include Australia.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: Scientists warn Australia’s “zombie tree” could vanish within a generation

Strategic angle: A newly identified Australian tree, dubbed the “zombie” tree, is alive but unable to reproduce due to myrtle rust, threatening its survival.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: Why swimmers still dive in: Research shows how UK communities navigate polluted waters

Strategic angle: More than 7.5 million people immerse themselves in lakes, rivers, seas and lidos every year in the UK, despite pollution risks.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: Microplastics may be quietly damaging your brain and fueling Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

Strategic angle: New research suggests that tiny plastic particles could trigger inflammation and damage in the brain.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: Top brass in China reaffirm goal to be world leaders in tech, AI

Strategic angle: Chinese leadership emphasizes commitment to technological and artificial intelligence supremacy.

editorial-staff Mar 14

Life

Briefing: iMetalX emerges from stealth with technology to model resident space objects

Strategic angle: Northern California startup iMetalX Inc. announces collaboration with Psionic for autonomous navigation technology.

editorial-staff Mar 13

Life

Briefing: Horse IVF milestone in Florida: Frozen-thawed sperm fertilizes an egg

Strategic angle: A breakthrough in equine reproductive technology offers new hope for performance horses unable to conceive naturally.

editorial-staff Mar 13