Week in Science: Addiction risk can be seen in kids' brains

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July 11—This week, the risk of addiction can be seen in the brain structures of kids, before they ever try drugs. Plus, the crazy math of stacking blocks, and we explain how Texas flood waters rose so quickly last weekend. All that and more below! —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor

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Massive Study Flips Our Story of Addiction and the Brain Brain differences in children and teens who experiment with drugs early show up before they take their first puff or sip Maia Szalavitz

Sponsor Content Provided by Archaeological Paths An Evening with President Lech Walesa Meet the man who defended freedom and became one of the world's greatest leaders. Lech Walesa, the living legend who pushed the world toward democracy, is coming to the U.S. and Canada on his first-ever Grand Lecture Tour. Register now!

This Block-Stacking Math Problem Has a Preposterous Solution You Need to See to Believe In principle, this impossible math allows for a glue-free bridge of stacked blocks that can stretch across the Grand Canyon—and into infinity Jack Murtagh

Researchers Identify Four Autism Subtypes with Distinct Genes and Traits Autism has at least four subtypes, an analysis of more than 5,000 children's genes, traits and developmental trajectories has shown Allison Parshall

When the Sun Becomes a Red Giant, Will Any Planet Be Safe? The future is bright—too bright—for life as we know it once the sun transforms into a red giant star Phil Plait

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Why Did Waters Rise So Quickly in the Texas Flash Floods? Flash floods happen when heavy rains unleash more water than the ground can absorb, causing that water to pile up and flow to low-lying areas Andrea Thompson

The Benefits of Raising Conscientious Kids Being conscientious will serve kids in the long run. Here are some tips to help them learn that trait Jasmine Mote

Japan Wires the Ocean with an Earthquake-Sensing 'Nervous System' Japan's new earthquake-detection network lengthens warning times, and researchers in Wales have harnessed nuclear blast detectors to gauge tsunami risks. But the U.S. lags in monitoring the massive Cascadia megathrust fault Deni Ellis Béchard

Most U.S. Babies Are Deficient in Key Gut Microbes Essential for Their Health Babies lacking in key gut bacteria are at greater risk of developing asthma, allergies or eczema Rachel Nuwer

Magma Pulses Are Tearing Africa Apart Chemical fingerprints from volcanic rock offer hints of what's happening in the mantle below the area where three rift zones meet in East Africa Nora Bradford

The Geology of Texas' 'Flash Flood Alley' Explained A hydrologist explains why Texas Hill Country is known as Flash Flood Alley and how its geography and geology can lead to heavy downpours and sudden, destructive floods Hatim Sharif, The Conversation US

Each AI Chatbot Has Its Own Distinctive Writing Style—Just as Humans Do ChatGPT and Gemini AI write in different idioms, linguists find Karolina Rudnicka

A Thought Experiment Reveals the Fingerprints of Climate Change Came Early Climate change left its signature on the atmosphere early in the industrial revolution, reveals a thought experiment investigation Ben Santer, Susan Solomon, David W. J. Thompson, Qiang Fu

Human Gut Bacteria Can Gather Up PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' When tested on their own and in mice, these bacterial strains from the human microbiome show promise in accumulating PFAS Nora Bradford

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