The Science of 2024's Epic Solar Eclipse, the Last for a Generation

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January 5, 2024

Astronomy The Science of 2024's Epic Solar Eclipse, the Last for a Generation Unique studies of gravity waves, atmospheric holes and dazzling coronal displays will accompany April's total solar eclipse across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada By Jonathan O'Callaghan

Cognition Stop Asking If the Universe Is a Computer Simulation We will never know if we live in a computer simulation; here is a more interesting question By Simon Duan

Materials Science See-Through Wood Is Stronger Than Plastic and Tougher Than Glass Transparent wood material is being exploited for smartphone screens, insulated windows, and more By Jude Coleman, Knowable Magazine

Astronomy Behold--the Best Space Images of 2023 This year's most interesting space images include infrared views of galactic "bones," an asteroid's double moon, Jupiter's giant polar vortex, and more By Phil Plait

Genetics Sperm Cell Powerhouses Contain Almost No DNA Scientists discover why fathers usually don't pass on their mitochondria's genome By Sneha Khedkar

Epidemiology Vaccination Dramatically Lowers Long Covid Risk Several new studies reveal that getting multiple COVID vaccine doses provides strong protection against lingering symptoms By Shannon Hall

Water Why Are Alaska's Rivers Turning Orange? Streams in Alaska are turning orange with iron and sulfuric acid. Scientists are trying to figure out why By Alec Luhn

Electronics Scientists Finally Invent Heat-Controlling Circuitry That Keeps Electronics Cool A new thermal transistor can control heat as precisely as an electrical transistor can control electricity By Rachel Nuwer

Archaeology Ancient Indigenous 'Songlines' Match Long-Sunken Landscape off Australia Researchers have found ancient watering holes that were long ago buried by rising seas. The watering holes may be ones referred to in an Indigenous Australian songline By Nancy Averett

Public Health How Much Vitamin D Do You Need to Stay Healthy? Most people naturally have good vitamin D levels. Overhyped claims that the compound helps to fight diseases from cancer to depression aren't borne out by recent research By Christie Aschwanden

Renewable Energy There's a Better Way to Mine for Electric Vehicle Batteries We do not want to trade the harm of emissions from gasoline vehicles for the harm caused by unsustainable mining practices By Beia Spiller, Sangita Kannan

Public Health Heat-Related Death of Postal Worker Leads to Controversial Fine OSHA says the U.S. Postal Service failed to teach mail carriers about heat safety By Ariel Wittenberg, E&E News

BRING SCIENCE HOME Lighten the Load with a Pulley Heave-ho no more: Build a simple machine that can help you do the heavy lifting. Credit: George Retseck Before the industrial age people largely had to rely on muscle power to move and lift heavy objects. Simple machines such as pulleys, levers and ramps made it easier for humans to lift heavy objects like rocks and logs. In this project you will use simple household materials to explore one of these classic machines: the pulley.

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