ScientistPankaj: Week in Science: Why aren't we losing our minds over the plastic in our brains?

Friday, February 21, 2025

February 21—This week, a cosmic bubble that could destroy the universe, why broken legs and ankles heal better when you walk on them, and the latest on bird flu. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

--Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor

Top Stories

New research on microplastics in brains reminds us that while scientists compile safety data, our leaders should still act

Multiple-study analysis looks at why men's emotional intimacy is much more difficult outside of romantic relationships

If you want to read all these stories and more, consider a subscription to Scientific American. You'll never miss a discovery!

Physicists are finding new ways to model false vacuum decay, a terrifying, albeit remote, cosmic endgame

The right kind of silence can be golden, revitalizing and strengthening a relationship

People are surprisingly bad at guessing knot strength, a study found

Materials scientists have found a way to perfectly cook an egg white and egg yolk simultaneously

Using crutches for months is largely a thing of the past. Early weight-bearing has real benefits

The Department of Energy, Forest Service and Office of Personnel Management are among agencies that have begun firing staffers

Asteroid 2024 YR4's risk of hitting Earth is shifting with new data, astronomers say

Lee Billings, staff editor

Norovirus infection rates are extremely high this year, raising the question: Why can't a vaccine protect us from the stomach bug?

What happens in your mind when insight strikes?

Bird flu headlines include three new human cases, millions of dead birds in poultry flocks and new personnel moves from the Trump administration

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