T/science

A Defender of Darkness in the Darkest Place on Earth
World, Today

A Chilean astronomer has become dedicated to battling light pollution in the Atacama Desert and preserve what is considered the best place on Earth to study space.

En una roca de Marte, la NASA ve ‘la señal más clara de vida’ hasta ahora
En español, Yesterday

Los científicos de la agencia aún no afirman haber encontrado fósiles de microbios marcianos, pero el análisis del espécimen recolectado por el rover Perseverance plantea esa posibilidad.

Tu signo del zodiaco está desfasado por 2000 años
Interactive, Yesterday

Durante milenios, nuestra vista de las estrellas ha cambiado debido a la oscilación de la Tierra. Quizás es tiempo de averiguar qué signo eres.

Building an Octopus Dictionary, One Arm Movement at a Time
Science, Yesterday

Scientists set out to understand all the ways the animals use their eight appendages. It wasn’t easy.

Major Medical Prizes Given to Cell Biology and Cystic Fibrosis Pioneers
Health, Yesterday

Many winners of the annual Lasker Awards have gone on to win a Nobel Prize in medicine or other fields.

En el aniversario del LIGO, se teme por su futuro
En español, Yesterday

Las celebraciones por el décimo aniversario del Observatorio de Ondas Gravitacionales con Interferometría Láser se han visto ensombrecidas por la muerte de uno de sus fundadores y un posible recorte drástico de presupuesto.

Was There Life on Mars? This Rock Keeps Getting More Interesting.
Science, September 10

NASA is still not saying it has found fossils of Martian microbes, but analysis of a rock collected by the Perseverance rover raises that possibility.

Happy Birthday, LIGO. Now Drop Dead.
Science, September 10

Ten years ago, astronomers made an epic discovery with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory. Cosmology hasn’t been the same since, and it might not stay that way much longer.

Trump Weighs Crackdown on Medicines From China
Business, September 10

Behind the scenes, major pharmaceutical companies and Trump-tied billionaires are furiously lobbying in opposite directions over proposed anti-China measures.

Scientists Begin Testing Bird Flu Vaccine in Seals
Science, September 9

If the results are promising, veterinarians hope to give the shots to wild Hawaiian monk seals, which are endangered.

Las empresas tecnológicas se esfuerzan por integrar el futuro sistema de defensa de Trump
En español, September 9

Las empresas tecnológicas están realizando simulacros con IA, láseres y más para demostrar que pueden formar parte de la Cúpula Dorada, el ambicioso plan del presidente de EE. UU. para un escudo antimisiles.

Do You See the Same Colors That I Do?
Science, September 8

Scientists cannot say for certain, but new research suggests that different people’s brains respond similarly when looking at a particular hue.

Tech Companies Show Off for Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’
Technology, September 8

Tech companies are displaying A.I., lasers and more as they compete for a piece of President Trump’s ambitious plan for a missile defense shield.

Hopeful Hint of an Earthlike Atmosphere on a Distant Planet
Science, September 8

Scientists are steadily ruling out habitable conditions on the seven planets of the star Trappist-1. On one of the worlds, a nitrogen gas-rich veil remains a possibility.

A New, ‘Adorable’ Deep-Sea Fish Swims Into View
Science, September 8

The bumpy snailfish, discovered 10,000 feet down off the coast of California, shows that not all denizens of the abyss are frightening.

We Are Watching a Scientific Superpower Destroy Itself
Opinion, September 8

As China threatens to overtake U.S. leadership in science and technology, America has responded by sabotaging its own engines of progress.

Your Zodiac Sign Is 2,000 Years Out of Date
Interactive, September 7

Over millennia, our view of the stars has shifted, because of Earth’s wobble. It may be time to rethink your sign.

Total Lunar Eclipse Seen Across Eastern Hemisphere
Video, September 7

A total lunar eclipse, commonly called a blood moon, crossed the sky in parts of Asia, Australia, Europe and Africa.

David Baltimore, Nobel-Winning Molecular Biologist, Dies at 87
Science, September 7

He was only 37 when he made a discovery that challenged the existing tenets of biology and led to an understanding of retroviruses and viruses, including H.I.V.,

Get to Know the Ratfish and the Forehead Teeth It Uses During Sex
Science, September 6

Scientists studied how the sea creatures, also known as chimaeras or ghost sharks, ended up with one of evolution’s most bizarre appendages.

Cómo ver el eclipse lunar total y la luna de sangre
En español, September 5

Los habitantes del hemisferio oriental podrán ver pasar la sombra de la Tierra sobre la superficie lunar, cubriendo de rojo el satélite natural de nuestro planeta.

How to Watch the Blood Moon and Total Lunar Eclipse
Science, September 5

People in the Eastern Hemisphere may see Earth’s shadow pass over the lunar surface, covering our world’s natural satellite in a flush of red.

A. James Hudspeth, Who Unlocked Mysteries Behind Hearing, Dies at 79
Science, September 5

He was pivotal in discovering how sound waves are converted into signals that the brain can perceive as a whisper, a symphony or a thunderclap.

A Zap of Blue Light Shows Promise Against Food and Sweat Stains
Science, September 5

Researchers hope the technique could offer a more environmentally friendly approach to cleaning up messy clothing.

I Was a D.E.I. Skeptic. Here’s What Changed My Mind.
Opinion, September 5

It’s about more than figuring out the right or wrong answers to questions.

Quakes on Mars Reveal New Features of the Planet’s Interior
Science, September 4

Using data from NASA’s retired InSight lander, two separate teams of researchers found evidence of a sluggish Martian mantle and a solid inner core.

Humans Are Altering the Seas. Here’s What the Future Ocean Might Look Like.
Interactive, September 4

Some marine ecosystems could soon be unrecognizable, according to new research. We mapped the possibilities.

3 Psychiatric Tools That Could Boost the Brain’s Natural Healing
Science, September 4

They work for depression and P.T.S.D. Could they also help the brain repair itself after a neurologic catastrophe?

Could a Pill Fix the Brain?
Science, September 4

Neurologists are exploring medications that would help the brain heal itself after a stroke or traumatic injury.

In Yellowstone, Migratory Bison Reawaken a Landscape
Science, September 3

A recent study hints at the potential benefits of restoring bison to an ecosystem.

Reduced Screening May Have Led to Rise in Advanced Prostate Cancer Diagnoses
Science, September 2

Changes in screening recommendations over a decade ago may have inadvertently resulted in later diagnosis of the most common cancer in men, a new study has found.

Unas científicas brasileñas cazan meteoritos para la ciencia nacional
En español, September 2

Un grupo de investigación formado exclusivamente por mujeres, As Meteoriticas, recorre el interior del país sudamericano con el objetivo de conservar meteoritos para su estudio científico y su exhibición pública.

The Space Rock Stars of Brazil
Science, September 2

An all-female research group, As Meteoriticas, scours the South American country’s interior aiming to preserve meteorites for scientific study and public display.

Historians See Autocratic Playbook in Trump’s Attacks on Science
Science, August 31

Authoritarians have long feared and suppressed science as a rival for social influence. Experts see President Trump as borrowing some of their tactics.

You Don’t Need to Be Good at Math to Enjoy It
Science, August 30

In her latest book, Eugenia Cheng, a mathematician, explores the choices we make to determine if two things — numbers, shapes, words and even people — are equal.

An Environmental Villain, Reconsidered
Books, August 30

The award-winning science writer Peter Brannen makes the case for an often vilified compound in “The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything.”

Margaret W. Rossiter, 81, Dies; Wrote Women Scientists Into History
Science, August 29

In her groundbreaking trilogy, “Women Scientists in America,” she told the stories of numerous accomplished but largely invisible women.

Sept. 23: NASA could launch a mission to map the solar system’s boundaries.
Science, August 29

Sept. 29: Blue Origin could launch twin NASA satellites to Mars.
Science, August 29

‘El mar todavía tiene cosas que nos van a sorprender’: un tiburón naranja muy inusual fue visto en Costa Rica
En español, August 28

Unos científicos publicaron este mes un estudio sobre el tiburón nodriza con un color singular que fue capturado y fotografiado por pescadores deportivos el año pasado.

Fishermen Pulled In an Orange Shark Off Costa Rica: ‘My God, What Is This?’
World, August 28

Scientists published a study this month on the nurse shark, which was caught and photographed by sport fishermen last year.

Es una luz de noche. Es una planta. Es una suculenta que brilla
En español, August 28

En una prueba de concepto, los investigadores demostraron que con bioingeniería podían inyectar un par de horas de luz en una planta común.

This Crocodile Relative Was One of Dinosaurs’ Most Fearsome Predators
Science, August 27

A fossil found in Argentina shows that up to the very end of the age of dinosaurs, they faced serious competition from other reptile species.

Uncovering the Genes That Let Our Ancestors Walk Upright
Science, August 27

A new study reveals some of the crucial molecular steps on the path to bipedalism.

It’s a Night Light. It’s a Plant. It’s a Glowing Succulent.
Science, August 27

In a proof of concept, researchers demonstrated that they could bioengineer a couple of hours of light into a common plant.

In Every Tree, a Trillion Tiny Lives
Science, August 27

Scientists have found that a single tree can be home to a trillion microbial cells — an invisible ecosystem that is only beginning to be understood.

SpaceX Set to Attempt Critical Test Launch of Mars Rocket Again
Science, August 26

After two consecutive scrubs, the Starship vehicle is due for its 10th test flight as Elon Musk’s company aims to overcome earlier setbacks.

Rainer Weiss, Who Gave a Nod to Einstein and the Big Bang, Dies at 92
Science, August 26

He shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on gravitational waves, which helped confirm Einstein’s general theory of relativity and how the universe began.

Even on a Rough Construction Site, Honeybees Figure It Out
Science, August 26

Honeycomb, a mathematical marvel, is made by worker bees. A new study shows that the insects are very good at adapting to wonky foundations.

This Golden Worm Fights Poison With Poison
Science, August 26

To blunt the toxic arsenic in the waters where it lives, a deep-sea worm combines it with another chemical to produce a less toxic compound.

SpaceX Readies for Critical 10th Test Launch of Mars Rocket
Science, August 25

Elon Musk’s company is trying again to overcome setbacks faced by its Starship prototype after a Sunday night scrub of a test flight.

How the Pygmy Sea Horse Lost Its Snout
Science, August 25

The genome of a small, remarkable sea horse offers a surprising lesson in nature’s creativity.

Scientists Find a Quadruple Star System in Our Cosmic Backyard
Science, August 25

Two of the objects in the arrangement are cold brown dwarfs, which will serve as a benchmark for others throughout the Milky Way.

SpaceX Prepares for Critical 10th Test Launch of Mars Rocket
Science, August 24

After setbacks in its last three flight attempts, Elon Musk’s company has a lot riding on the latest trip of its Starship prototype.

When the Gilded Age Went Mad for Mars
Books, August 24

Life on the red planet? “Bosh and nonsense,” said one astronomer. But according to “The Martians,” plenty of self-appointed experts argued otherwise.

Scientists Split Giraffes Into Four Species. Three Are in Trouble.
Science, August 22

A reassessment of the iconic species has “some dramatic implications for how we view giraffe conservation across Africa,” a new study concludes.

Was Head-Binding an Ancient Way to Get a Leg Up?
Science, August 22

For some cultures, the practice of cranial deformation may have offered individuals a path to privilege later in their lives.

Una explosión espacial en capas podría ser un nuevo tipo de supernova
En español, August 21

La inusual explosión desprendió las capas internas de una estrella moribunda y ofreció pistas sobre cómo se forjaron los elementos que componen la vida en la Tierra.

New Origami Design Could Help With Space Engineering
Video, August 20

Researchers discovered a new type of origami called bloom patterns, which are repeating tiles of creased patterns that rotate symmetrically around a center. Engineers are working on real-life applications, like a collapsable space telescope for NASA.

These Bats Like to Give Hugs and Play With Bugs
Science, August 20

Rare footage of spectral bats, known also as great false vampire bats, revealed animals with a cuddly, social side.

Onionlike Space Explosion May Be a New Type of Supernova
Science, August 20

The rare blast peeled back the inner layers of a dying star, offering clues to how the elements that make up life on Earth were forged.

Uranus Was Hiding a Moon Outside Its Rings
Science, August 20

The 29th moon found to be orbiting the solar system’s 7th planet is about six miles wide.

Newly Discovered Origami Patterns Put the Bloom on the Fold
Science, August 19

Bloom patterns could be useful, as engineers build folding structures to send to outer space. They’re also very pretty.

Yosemite Biologist Who Hung Trans Pride Flag From El Capitan Is Fired
U.S., August 18

The National Park Service terminated Shannon Joslin over the May 20 demonstration, which it said took place in a prohibited area and lacked the required permits.

These Majestic Seabirds Never Stop Pooping
Science, August 18

Streaked shearwaters keep a very regular rhythm throughout their daily foraging flights, shedding about 5 percent of their body mass every hour.

America Is Abandoning One of the Greatest Medical Breakthroughs
Opinion, August 18

Giving up on mRNA is a dangerous decision.

China’s Biotech Is Cheaper and Faster
Opinion, August 17

China’s biotechnology sector has established a bright future by focusing not on breakthrough cures and treatments but on speed and efficiency.

Meet the Beautiful Dragonfly That Thrives in Your Pollution
Science, August 16

New research outlines how the savvy blue dasher lives happily in storm drains and park ponds others flee.

A Lifelong Party of ‘Puzzle-Making Tomfoolery’
Science, August 16

In 1978, Jerry Slocum assembled the first International Puzzle Party in his living room. Now it’s a global event.

SpaceX recibe miles de millones del gobierno de EE. UU. Pero devuelve poco o nada en impuestos
En español, August 15

La empresa de Elon Musk depende de los contratos federales, pero es muy probable que años de pérdidas le hayan permitido evitar el pago de impuestos federales sobre la renta.

SpaceX Gets Billions From the Government. It Gives Little to Nothing Back in Taxes.
Technology, August 15

Elon Musk’s rocket company relies on federal contracts, but years of losses have most likely let it avoid paying federal income taxes, according to internal company documents.

The Third Rock From Another Sun Shows No Signs of Life So Far
Science, August 14

Astronomers had hoped to observe an atmosphere on one of the seven planets known to orbit Trappist-1, a red dwarf star. A new study found nothing to write home about.

Margaret Boden, Philosopher of Artificial Intelligence, Dies at 88
Science, August 14

A cognitive scientist, she used the language of computers to explore the nature of human thought and creativity, offering prescient insights about A.I.

For Some Patients, the ‘Inner Voice’ May Soon Be Audible
Science, August 14

In a recent study, scientists successfully decoded not only the words people tried to say but the words they merely imagined saying.

You Can Buy One of the C.I.A.’s Greatest Mysteries at an Auction House
Science, August 14

Sleuths have solved three of the panels of the Kryptos sculpture at the agency’s headquarters. Now the artwork’s creator is announcing the sale of the solution to the fourth.

Rabbits With Hornlike Growths Are Hopping Around Colorado. Are They OK?
Science, August 14

The unsightly bunnies are infected with cottontail rabbit papillomavirus, which can cause growths that resemble warts or tentacles.

How Scientists Are Using Drones to Study Sperm Whales
Science, August 13

A new tagging method called tap-and-go allows researchers to gather more data on the health and behavior of whales, with less disruption.

F.D.A. Approves Novavax Covid Vaccine With Stricter New Conditions
Science, May 17

The agency narrowed who can get the shot and added new study requirements that could cost the company tens of millions.

Genetic Study Retraces the Origins of Coronaviruses in Bats
Science, May 7

As China and the United States trade charges of a lab leak, researchers contend in a new paper that the Covid pandemic got its start, like a previous one, in the wildlife trade.

On New Website, Trump Declares Lab Leak as ‘True Origins’ of Covid
Science, April 18

The White House has thrown its weight behind the lab leak theory, an idea that has divided intelligence agencies.

Covid Learning Losses
N Y T Now, February 11

We explain the ways students haven’t recovered.

American Children’s Reading Skills Reach New Lows
National, January 29

With little post-pandemic recovery, experts wonder if screen time and school absence are among the causes.

U.S. Students Posted Dire Math Declines on an International Test
National, December 4

On the test, American fourth and eighth graders posted results similar to scores from 1995. It was a sign of notable stagnation, even as other countries saw improvements.

Hoping for Allies Among Trump’s Health Picks, Pharma Faces Hostility
Science, November 27

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other candidates for top health posts are at odds with the drug industry, setting the stage for tense battles over regulatory changes.

The Education Crisis Neither Candidate Will Address
Op Ed, October 9

Covid learning loss and chronic absenteeism aren’t going to fix themselves

Fauci Grilled by Lawmakers on Masks, Vaccine Mandates and Lab Leak Theory
Science, June 3

Dr. Fauci testified before a House panel investigating Covid’s origins. The panel found emails suggesting that his aides were skirting public records laws.

Supernova or Coronavirus: Can You Tell the Difference?
Science, May 21

A scientist finds beauty in the “visual synonyms” that exist in images seen through microscopes and telescopes.

U.S. Tightens Rules on Risky Virus Research
Science, May 7

A long-awaited new policy broadens the type of regulated viruses, bacteria, fungi and toxins, including those that could threaten crops and livestock.

Republicans Step Up Attacks on Scientist at Heart of Lab Leak Theory
Science, May 1

A heated hearing produced no new evidence that Peter Daszak or his nonprofit, EcoHealth Alliance, were implicated in the Covid outbreak.

Biotech Exec Gets 7 Years in Prison for False Claims About Rapid Covid-19 Test
Express, April 13

Prosecutors said Keith Berman falsely claimed he had invented a blood test that could detect Covid-19 in 15 seconds. His lawyer said he had put “genuine effort” into developing such a test.

¿Cuál es la siguiente fase del coronavirus?
En español, March 23

Los científicos que estudian la evolución continua del virus y las respuestas inmunitarias del organismo esperan evitar un rebrote y comprender mejor la covid prolongada.

What’s Next for the Coronavirus?
Science, March 22

Scientists studying the virus’s continuing evolution, and the body’s immune responses, hope to head off a resurgence and to better understand long Covid.

Where the Wild Things Went During the Pandemic
Science, March 18

A new study of camera-trap images complicates the idea that all wildlife thrived during the Covid lockdowns.

A Fern’s ‘Zombie’ Fronds Sprout Unusual Roots
Science, February 25

In the Panamanian rainforest, scientists found the first known plant species to transform decaying tissue into a new source of nutrients.

Before the Coronavirus Pandemic, Overlooked Clues From Chinese Scientists
Science, January 18

Newly released documents indicate that a U.S. genetic database had received the sequence of the coronavirus two weeks before it was made public by others.

Omicron, Now 2 Years Old, Is Not Done With Us Yet
Science, November 21

The dominant variant of the coronavirus has proved to be not only staggeringly infectious, but an evolutionary marvel.

Lab Leak Fight Casts Chill Over Virology Research
Science, October 16

Scientists doing “gain-of-function” research said that heightened fears of lab leaks are stalling studies that could thwart the next pandemic virus.

Inside a High-Security Virus Lab
Interactive, October 16

High-security labs, like this one at Penn State, are at the center of a debate over research that alters viruses to make them more dangerous.

The Nation’s Top-Performing Public School System
N Y T Now, October 10

Schools run by the Defense Department educate 66,000 children of civilian employees and service members.

We Can Fight Learning Loss Only With Accountability and Action
Op Ed, September 5

Let’s bring back an era of accountability.

U.S. Students’ Progress Stagnated Last School Year, Study Finds
National, July 11

Despite billions in federal aid, students are not making up ground in reading and math: “We are actually seeing evidence of backsliding.”

What the New, Low Test Scores for 13-Year-Olds Say About U.S. Education Now
National, June 21

The results are the federal government’s last major data release on the academic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wild Mammals Roamed When Covid Kept Humans Home
Science, June 8

Strict pandemic lockdowns may have allowed animals to range more widely and spend time closer to roads, a new study suggests.

Schools Received Billions in Stimulus Funds. It May Not Be Doing Enough.
Washington, June 5

Pandemic aid was supposed to help students recover from learning loss, but results have been mixed.

Many Women Have an Intense Fear of Childbirth, Survey Suggests
Science, May 16

Tokophobia, as it’s called, is not often studied in the United States. But a new survey finds that it may be very common, particularly among Black women and in disadvantaged communities.

We Could Easily Make Risky Virological Research Safer
Op Ed, May 10

Lab safety doesn’t need to torpedo scientific progress.

It’s Not Just Math and Reading: U.S. History Scores for 8th Graders Plunge
National, May 3

The latest test results continue a nearly decade-long decline. Try a sample quiz to test your knowledge.

Scientist Revisits Data on Raccoon Dogs and Covid, Stressing the Unknowns
Science, April 29

After analyzing genetic data swabbed from a Wuhan market in early 2020, a virologist said it was unclear if animals for sale there had been infected.

Can Africa Get Close to Vaccine Independence? Here’s What It Will Take.
Science, April 25

Leaders on the continent have vowed that if there is another pandemic, they won’t be shut out of the vaccine market.

China Publishes Data Showing Raccoon Dog DNA at Wuhan Market
Science, April 5

Scientists from the Chinese C.D.C. confirmed that DNA from raccoon dogs and other animals susceptible to the coronavirus was found at the market in early 2020.

Wuhan Market Samples Contained Covid and Animal Mixtures, Report Says
Science, March 21

In a much-anticipated study, experts described a swab that was positive for the coronavirus and contained loads of genetic material from raccoon dogs.

New Data Links Pandemic’s Origins to Raccoon Dogs at Wuhan Market
Science, March 17

Genetic samples from the market were recently uploaded to an international database and then removed after scientists asked China about them.

Biden Proposal Would Ban Online Prescribing of Certain Drugs
Science, February 25

Some medications, like Ritalin and Vicodin, would require an in-person doctor’s visit under the new rules, a reaction to the pandemic-era rise of telemedicine.

After Long Delay, Moderna Pays N.I.H. for Covid Vaccine Technique
Science, February 23

Moderna has paid $400 million to the government for a chemical technique key to its vaccine. But the parties are still locked in a high-stakes dispute over a different patent.

She Helped Unlock the Science of the Covid Vaccine
Science, February 9

Kizzmekia Corbett helped lead a team of scientists contributing to one of the most stunning achievements in the history of immunizations: a highly effective, easily manufactured vaccine against Covid-19.

When Animals Are Used in Research
Letters, January 31

Readers discuss experimentation on lab animals. Also: Racism in America; preparing for the next pandemic; maternal deaths; Amazon’s donations.

Expert Panel Votes for Stricter Rules on Risky Virus Research
Science, January 27

The White House will decide whether to adopt the panel’s recommendations on so-called gain of function experiments.

N.I.H. Did Not Properly Track a Group Studying Coronaviruses, Report Finds
Science, January 26

An internal federal watchdog said that the health agency had not given adequate oversight to EcoHealth Alliance, which had been awarded $8 million in grants.

Health Experts Warily Eye XBB.1.5, the Latest Omicron Subvariant
Science, January 7

A young version of the coronavirus makes up one-quarter of Covid cases across the United States and over 70 percent of new cases in the Northeast.

Your Tuesday Briefing: China’s Space Push
N Y T Now, December 12

Plus China’s vaccination pivot and the year’s most stylish “people.”

Your Monday Briefing: The World Cup Semifinals Loom
N Y T Now, December 11

Plus, China’s sluggish economy and the arrest of the Lockerbie bombing suspect.

Ómicron cumple un año. Así ha evolucionado
en Español, November 29

Al cumplirse el aniversario del descubrimiento de la variante, los expertos en virología siguen intentando ponerse al día con la rápida transformación de ómicron.

Happy Birthday, Omicron
Science, November 26

One year after the variant’s discovery, virologists are still scrambling to keep up with Omicron’s rapid evolution.

The Pandemic Generation Goes to College. It Has Not Been Easy.
National, November 1

Students missed a lot of high school instruction. Now many are behind, especially in math, and getting that degree could be harder.

Pandemic Learning Loss Is Not an Emergency
Op Ed, October 29

In a vacuum, test score declines look like bad news. But none of this happened in a vacuum.

G.O.P. Senator’s Report on Covid Origins Suggests Lab Leak, but Offers Little New Evidence
Science, October 27

The report, signed by Senator Richard Burr, foreshadows a new wave of political wrangling over Covid’s origins if Republicans gain control of the House or Senate.

Math Scores Fell in Nearly Every State, and Reading Dipped on National Exam
National, October 24

The results, from what is known as the nation’s report card, offer the most definitive picture yet of the pandemic’s devastating impact on students.

Lab Manipulations of Covid Virus Fall Under Murky Government Rules
Science, October 22

Mouse experiments at Boston University have spotlighted an ambiguous U.S. policy for research on potentially dangerous pathogens.

How One School Is Beating the Odds in Math, the Pandemic’s Hardest-Hit Subject
National, October 15

Benjamin Franklin Elementary in Connecticut overhauled the way it taught — and the way it ran the classroom. Every minute counted.

Russia’s New Onslaught Against Ukraine
Letters, October 10

Readers respond to the latest Russian attacks in Ukraine. Also: The wonders of math; pandemic spending; Republicans and crime.

¿Quién tenía la culpa de que los alumnos de la Universidad de Nueva York estuvieran reprobando química orgánica?
en Español, October 5

Maitland Jones, un profesor respetado, defendió sus estándares. Pero los estudiantes hicieron un reclamo y la universidad lo despidió.

At N.Y.U., Students Were Failing Organic Chemistry. Who Was to Blame?
National, October 3

Maitland Jones Jr., a respected professor, defended his standards. But students started a petition, and the university dismissed him.

N.Y.C. Children Held Ground in Reading, but Lagged in Math, Tests Show
Metro, September 28

The first standardized test results that capture how most city schoolchildren did during the pandemic offered a mixed picture.

¿La variante ómicron llegó para quedarse?
en Español, September 27

La decimotercera variante con nombre del coronavirus parece tener una capacidad sorprendente para evolucionar con nuevas particularidades.

Why Omicron Might Stick Around
Science, September 22

Omicron, the 13th named variant of the coronavirus, seems to have a remarkable capacity to evolve new tricks.

The Quiet Cost of Family Caregiving
Science, September 4

Many employees reduce their hours or stop working to help ailing family members. But it may be years before they fully return to the work force, studies indicate.

The Pandemic Erased Two Decades of Progress in Math and Reading
National, September 1

The results of a national test showed just how devastating the last two years have been for 9-year-old schoolchildren, especially the most vulnerable.

How Bad Is the Teacher Shortage? Depends Where You Live.
National, August 29

Urgently needed: teachers in struggling districts, certified in math or special education. Perks: maybe a pay raise, or how about a four-day week?

Wastewater Disease Tracking: A Photographic Journey From the Sewer to the Lab
Interactive, August 17

Here’s how a scrappy team of scientists, public health experts and plumbers is embracing wastewater surveillance as the future of disease tracking.

El viaje evolutivo de la COVID-19 ha sido funesto e impresionante
en Español, August 11

El coronavirus, como muchos otros virus, evoluciona deprisa. ¿Los seres humanos y su ingenio podrían adaptarse más rápido a él?

We Are Still in a Race Against the Coronavirus
Op Ed, August 10

Human ingenuity must keep up with the coronavirus.

Combined nasal and throat testing swabs would detect more Omicron infections, two papers suggest.
Science, July 22

The papers, which have not yet been published in scientific journals, suggest that testing just a single type of sample is likely to miss a large share of infections.

Students Are Learning Well Again. But Full Recovery? That’s a Long Way Off.
National, July 19

A new report estimates that it may take students at least three to five years to recover from the pandemic. Federal relief money will most likely have run out by then.

Did Nature Heal During the Pandemic ‘Anthropause’?
Science, July 16

Covid precautions created a global slowdown in human activity — and an opportunity to learn more about the complex ways we affect other species.

Bat Virus Studies Raise Questions About Laboratory Tinkering
Science, July 15

Working in a laboratory in Paris, scientists gave a close relative of the Covid virus the chance to evolve to be more like its cousin.

The pandemic kept many children less active around the world, researchers find.
Express, July 11

Pandemic shutdowns and restrictions led to a 20 percent drop in average daily physical activity among children and adolescents, a new analysis shows.

The U.S. government will buy 3.2 million doses of Novavax’s Covid vaccine.
Science, July 11

The vaccine has not yet been authorized but is expected to be soon.

Think All Viruses Get Milder With Time? Not This Rabbit-Killer.
Science, June 20

The myxoma virus, fatal to millions of Australian rabbits, is a textbook example of the unexpected twists in the evolution of viruses and their hosts.

Unexplained hepatitis is not more common in U.S. children than before the pandemic, a C.D.C. study suggests.
Science, June 14

Officials have also been trying to determine whether the cases represent a new phenomenon or are simply a new recognition of one that has long existed; there have always been a subset of pediatric hepatitis cases with no clear cause.

Mysteries Linger About Covid’s Origins, W.H.O. Report Says
Science, June 9

“The lack of political cooperation from China continues to stifle any meaningful progress,” one expert said.