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Science

News and updates from the science team. Topics include genetics, infectious disease, psychology, and more.

Human bodies aren’t ready to travel to Mars. Space medicine can help.
Future Perfect

Protecting astronauts in space — and maybe even Mars — will help transform health on Earth.

By Shayna Korol
Human bodies aren’t ready to travel to Mars. Space medicine can help.
Future Perfect

Protecting astronauts in space — and maybe even Mars — will help transform health on Earth.

By Shayna Korol
Podcasts
The importance of space toilets, explainedThe importance of space toilets, explained
Podcast
Podcasts

Houston, we have a plumbing problem.

By Peter Balonon-Rosen and Sean Rameswaram
Climate
How climate science is sneakily getting funded under TrumpHow climate science is sneakily getting funded under Trump
Climate

Scientists are keeping their climate work alive by any other name.

By Kate Yoder, Ayurella Horn-Muller and 1 more
Good Medicine
You can’t really “train” your brain. Here’s what you can do instead.You can’t really “train” your brain. Here’s what you can do instead.
Good Medicine

The best ways to protect your cognitive health might surprise you.

By Dylan Scott

The latest in Science

Future Perfect
Humanity’s return to the moon is a deeply religious missionHumanity’s return to the moon is a deeply religious mission
Future Perfect

Space barons like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk don’t seem religious. But their quest to colonize outer space is.

By Sigal Samuel
Health
Why the new GLP-1 pill is such a big dealWhy the new GLP-1 pill is such a big deal
Health

The FDA just approved Foundayo. Here’s what it can and can’t do.

By Dylan Scott
Today, Explained newsletter
America is going back to the moonAmerica is going back to the moon
Today, Explained newsletter

Artemis II and the new space race, explained

By Caitlin Dewey
Podcasts
What would you do alone in a cage with nothing but cocaine?What would you do alone in a cage with nothing but cocaine?
Podcast
Podcasts

The ‘gray area’ of addiction.

By Sean Illing
Future Perfect
The US slashed research for cancer, Alzheimer’s, mental health — and nearly everything elseThe US slashed research for cancer, Alzheimer’s, mental health — and nearly everything else
Podcasts
The logic of anxietyThe logic of anxiety
Podcast
Podcasts

Don’t be afraid to be anxious.

By Sean Illing
Health
More young women are dying from heart disease — and people are missing these warning signsMore young women are dying from heart disease — and people are missing these warning signs
Health

Women’s heart health needs its pink-ribbon moment.

By Dylan Scott
Future Perfect
NASA’s first medical evacuation is here. It won’t be the last.NASA’s first medical evacuation is here. It won’t be the last.
Future Perfect

Inside the unprecedented early return from the International Space Station.

By Shayna Korol
Good Medicine
The false promise of a “no sugar” dietThe false promise of a “no sugar” diet
Good Medicine

Is sugar really that bad for you? Well, what kind of sugar are we talking about?

By Dylan Scott
Health
Why have Americans turned against this lifesaving medication?Why have Americans turned against this lifesaving medication?
Health

Statin hysteria has made it hard to convince people that this effective drug is actually very safe.

By Dylan Scott
Climate
Scientists have found another alarming pattern in wildfiresScientists have found another alarming pattern in wildfires
Climate

Around the world, the conditions that brew massive blazes are...syncing up?

By Umair Irfan
Future Perfect
One good thing the Trump administration might actually do for scienceOne good thing the Trump administration might actually do for science
Future Perfect

Yes, really.

By Marina Bolotnikova
Health
Why a walk around the block could literally save your lifeWhy a walk around the block could literally save your life
Health

The big health benefits of just a little movement.

By Dylan Scott
Future Perfect
A world without flu is possibleA world without flu is possible
Future Perfect

We’re finally making progress toward a universal flu vaccine.

By Bryan Walsh
Health
We have a miraculous anti-aging vaccine. Why aren’t more people getting it?We have a miraculous anti-aging vaccine. Why aren’t more people getting it?
Health

Research has found that a routine vaccine slows aging and cuts dementia risk.

By Dylan Scott
Explain It to Me
Are we getting stupider?Are we getting stupider?
Podcast
Explain It to Me

Technology is rotting our brains — but there are ways to stop it.

By Jonquilyn Hill
Climate
The tricky science of forecasting extreme winter stormsThe tricky science of forecasting extreme winter storms
Climate

Why forecasters struggled to see this extreme winter storm coming.

By Umair Irfan
Future Perfect
One weird thing that’s been holding drug trials backOne weird thing that’s been holding drug trials back
Future Perfect

What if researchers didn’t have to start from scratch every time?

By Pratik Pawar
Future Perfect
50,000 clandestine Starlink terminals are keeping Iranians in touch with the rest of the world50,000 clandestine Starlink terminals are keeping Iranians in touch with the rest of the world
Future Perfect

Satellites are our only insight into the ongoing conflict — and worth protecting.

By Shayna Korol
Health
We have to stop freaking out about every new microplastics studyWe have to stop freaking out about every new microplastics study
Health

Microplastics are bad for us. But scientists are still figuring out the rest of the story.

By Dylan Scott
Future Perfect
The new food pyramid is lying to youThe new food pyramid is lying to you
Future Perfect

It’s also a contradictory mess.

By Marina Bolotnikova
The problem with blaming everything on inflammation
Health

What your favorite TikTok influencer gets right — and wrong — about this widespread concern.

By Dylan Scott
26 things we think will happen in 2026
Future Perfect

From the state of democracy to the chance of a recession, here’s what could happen in 2026.

By Bryan Walsh, Izzie Ramirez and 11 more
The 19 predictions that came true in 2025 — and the 4 that didn’t
Future Perfect

The 25 forecasts we made in 2025, revisited.

By Bryan Walsh, Dylan Matthews and 4 more
The Highlight
People taking Ozempic are losing muscle mass — and it’s freaking them outPeople taking Ozempic are losing muscle mass — and it’s freaking them out
The Highlight

Yes, there is a downside to GLP-1 drugs — if you aren’t careful.

By Dylan Scott
Today, Explained newsletter
10 of the best Vox stories of 202510 of the best Vox stories of 2025
Today, Explained newsletter

Vox staff picks for favorite stories of the year, from Madagascar’s coral reefs to Hungary’s lessons for the US.

By Cameron Peters
Future Perfect
The 10 most read stories on Future Perfect in 2025The 10 most read stories on Future Perfect in 2025
Future Perfect

De-extinction, drinking, and a whole new thing that could end the world.

By Bryan Walsh
Explain It to Me
Can you trust your brain?Can you trust your brain?
Explain It to Me

Your brain interprets reality for you. But how good of an interpreter is it?

By Jonquilyn Hill
Future Perfect
2025 felt like a disaster — but the numbers tell a very different story2025 felt like a disaster — but the numbers tell a very different story
Future Perfect

From a CRISPR baby to a closing ozone hole, 5 actually good things from 2025.

By Bryan Walsh
The Case for Growth
We’re running out of good ideas. AI might be how we find new ones.We’re running out of good ideas. AI might be how we find new ones.
The Case for Growth

What if the best use of AI is restarting the world’s idea machine?

By Bryan Walsh
Future Perfect
Will AI make research on humans…less human?Will AI make research on humans…less human?
Future Perfect

It’s been a long road to ensure that testing on human subjects is ethical. AI could send us backward.

By Shayna Korol
Future Perfect
Where lab-made DNA is created — and barely policedWhere lab-made DNA is created — and barely policed
Future Perfect

DNA synthesis is going global. The biosecurity rules aren’t keeping up.

By Shayna Korol
The quest to solve the mysteries of teen minds
Podcast
Podcasts

A decade-long study is trying to figure out what exactly is happening inside teen brains.

By Byrd Pinkerton and Julia Longoria
Future Perfect
Why you should donate blood, briefly explainedWhy you should donate blood, briefly explained
Future Perfect

Giving — it’s in your blood.

By Shayna Korol
The surprisingly profound debate over whether fish feel pain
Eating the Ocean

We can never prove that other animals are conscious. What do we do with that?

By Marina Bolotnikova
Future Perfect
The US is still a magnet for top foreign students — for nowThe US is still a magnet for top foreign students — for now
Future Perfect

New data shows foreign PhD enrollment remains steady, but the risks to America’s foreign talent pipeline are growing.

By Bryan Walsh
Podcasts
How the brain builds your world of soundHow the brain builds your world of sound
Podcast
Podcasts

The Sound Barrier is a four-episode series where we explore the limits of hearing and the ways we can break through.

By Noam Hassenfeld
Podcasts
Why women are embracing testosteroneWhy women are embracing testosterone
Podcast
Podcasts

Can the hormone be an effective treatment for menopause?

By Miles Bryan and Noel King
Future Perfect
Pandemics are a choicePandemics are a choice
Future Perfect

The end of pandemics is within reach. Why aren’t we acting like it?

By Stephanie Psaki
The tragedy of Laika, the first animal to orbit the earth
Future Perfect

Space dogs paved the way for human astronauts. Was it worth it?

By Shayna Korol