Knowable Magazine /
Knowable Magazine explores the real-world significance of scholarly work through a journalistic lens. A digital magazine from Annual Reviews. https://knowablemagazine.org/
Recent stories by Knowable Magazine
-
Nature interrupted: Impact of the US-Mexico border wall on wildlife
Scientists are working to understand how the barrier is affecting the area’s biodiversity.
-
Radioactive drugs strike cancer with precision
Tumor-seeking radiopharmaceuticals promise targeted treatments with fewer side effects.
-
Cleaning up cow burps to combat global warming
New tools for lowering methane emissions from livestock are on their way.
-
A scientific mission to save the sharks
Despite protection measures, these fish are among the most endangered animals.
-
To pee or not to pee? That is a question for the bladder—and the brain
The basic urge to pee is surprisingly complex and can go awry as we age.
-
The hornet has landed: Scientists combat new honeybee killer in US
Researchers are working to limit the threat while developing better eradication methods.
-
The wasps that tamed viruses
Some insects have transformed wild viruses into tiny biological weapons.
-
Swimming and spinning aquatic spiders use slick survival strategies
Some make nests inside seashells, others tote bubbles of air on their backs.
-
Why do some people always get lost?
Experience may matter more than innate ability when it comes to sense of direction.
-
How new tech is making geothermal energy a more versatile power source
Geothermal has moved beyond being confined to areas with volcanic activity.
-
Why are there so many species of beetles?
Diet played a key role in the evolution of the vast beetle family tree.
-
A big boost to Europe’s climate-change goals
A new policy called CBAM will assist Europe's ambition to become carbon-neutral.
-
A new look at our linguistic roots
A controversial analytic technique offers new answers for Indo-European languages.
-
Why interstellar objects like ‘Oumuamua and Borisov may hold clues to exoplanets
Two celestial interlopers in Solar System have scientists eagerly anticipating more.
-
Why scientists are making transparent wood
The material is being exploited for smartphone screens, insulated windows, and more.
-
Where the heck did all those structures inside complex cells come from?
There are competing theories about the origin of the nucleus and endoplasmic reticulum.
-
The quest to understand tornadoes
Scientists hope technology furthers their understanding of how and why tornadoes form.
-
What would signal life on another planet?
The James Webb Space Telescope may help us find the answer.
-
How climate change could make fungal diseases worse
Disease-causing fungi are likely to thrive in a warmer, stormier world.
-
What can we do about ultraprocessed foods?
Researchers are figuring out the features of these foods that harm our health.
-
A look into the REM dreams of the animal kingdom
Animals' "active" sleep phases look very much like REM.
-
Why we desperately need wild bees
Native pollinators are crucial for both ecology and agriculture.
-
Could there be upsides to being a psychopath?
It may be that all of us have a little psychopathology inside—with some positives.
-
Probing the mysteries of neutron stars with a surprising earthly analog
Ultracold gases in the lab could help scientists better understand the universe.
-
Clever DNA tricks
As cells divide, they must copy all of their chromosomes only once or chaos will ensue.
-
A shocking number of birds are in trouble
We know better than ever how to help endangered birds, with notable conservation successes.
-
The neurons that make you feel hangry
Brain area that stimulates appetite could be a target for eating-disorder therapies.
-
The challenges and promises of climate lawsuits
Suing governments and fossil fuel companies is a key tool in the climate change battle.
-
The long-awaited mission that could transform our understanding of Mars
Next-gen gear on delayed Martian rover may help answer the question of life on Mars.
-
Mysteries of the poisonous amphibians
How do frogs and other amphibians survive their own noxious weapons?
-
A warmer planet, less nutritious plants and… fewer grasshoppers?
Higher levels of carbon dioxide are changing micronutrients in grasses, trees, and kelp.
-
As glaciers retreat, new streams for salmon
Insects move in, alders and willows spring up, and spawning fish arrive in thousands.
-
Animal personalities can trip up science, but there’s a solution
Individual behavior patterns may skew studies, but a new approach could help.
-
The rise of green hydrogen in Latin America
Several projects are underway in the region to produce this clean energy source.
-
Scientific highs and lows of cannabinoids
Hundreds of cannabis-related chemicals now exist, inspiring researchers—and users.
-
COVID, RSV and the flu: A case of viral interference?
Viruses, it turns out, can block one another and take turns to dominate.