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Science Archive

Archives for December 2022

22 predictions we made in 2022, and the 6 we got wrong
Future Perfect

Plus a couple that are halfway in between.

By Bryan Walsh, Dylan Matthews and 2 more
Politics
5 ways the US can fight climate change in 20235 ways the US can fight climate change in 2023
Politics

The US can tackle methane emissions and deliver on global financing.

By Rebecca Leber
Climate
Winter storms put the US power grid to the test. It failed.Winter storms put the US power grid to the test. It failed.
Climate

America’s aging energy infrastructure and reliance on fossil fuels pushed local power grids to the brink.

By Rebecca Leber
Science
Great news for germsGreat news for germs
Science

The US doesn’t have enough infectious disease doctors — and the situation is about to get worse.

By Keren Landman, MD
Future Perfect
Why are American lives getting shorter?Why are American lives getting shorter?
Future Perfect

US life expectancy got worse during Covid-19, and then kept getting worse.

By Siobhan McDonough
Future Perfect
The tricky business of putting a dollar value on a human lifeThe tricky business of putting a dollar value on a human life
Future Perfect

The EPA’s draft “social cost of carbon” analysis opens up a knotty discussion about US lives versus lives abroad.

By Dylan Matthews
Down to Earth
Can capitalism and nature coexist?Can capitalism and nature coexist?
Down to Earth

The head of the world’s largest environmental organization explains what it will actually take to stop the extinction crisis.

By Benji Jones
Science
America’s most important EV is also its goofiestAmerica’s most important EV is also its goofiest
Science

A new fleet of electric mail trucks heralds the next phase of the EV revolution.

By Umair Irfan
Down to Earth
7 reasons our planet might not be doomed after all7 reasons our planet might not be doomed after all
Down to Earth

Surprise! This environmental story is actually not depressing.

By Benji Jones
Down to Earth
The world has a new plan to save nature. Here’s how it works — and how it could fail.The world has a new plan to save nature. Here’s how it works — and how it could fail.
Down to Earth

At the UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, world leaders agreed to a historic plan to halt biodiversity loss.

By Benji Jones
Science
One of our best Covid-19 treatments doesn’t work anymore. What now?One of our best Covid-19 treatments doesn’t work anymore. What now?
Science

There aren’t any monoclonal antibody drugs that can treat the latest Covid-19 variants.

By Umair Irfan
Climate
Manchin’s permitting reform effort is dead. Biden’s climate agenda could be a casualty.Manchin’s permitting reform effort is dead. Biden’s climate agenda could be a casualty.
Climate

The biggest missed opportunity of the lame-duck Congress, explained.

By Colin Mortimer
Science
5 experts share how to make day care less germy5 experts share how to make day care less germy
Science

Lasting change is going to take more than just good hand hygiene.

By Keren Landman, MD
Down to Earth
World leaders are racing to protect nature — but the definition of one word is tripping them upWorld leaders are racing to protect nature — but the definition of one word is tripping them up
Down to Earth

Want to protect the planet? First, we need to agree on what “conservation” means.

By Benji Jones
Future Perfect
The first lab-grown seafood will be fancyThe first lab-grown seafood will be fancy
Future Perfect

Oceans are under threat. Can cell-cultured fish help?

By Kenny Torrella