Is Earth primarily a planet of life, a world stewarded by the animals, plants, bacteria, and everything else that lives here? Or, is it a planet dominated by human creations? Certainly, we’ve reshaped our home in many ways—from pumping greenhouse ...
Read More »How do you keep a spacesuit clean? One answer is antimicrobial fabric.
Sealed safely inside the International Space Station, astronauts dress for comfort and convenience. Their typical getups—short-sleeve collared shirts and long cargo pants—are regular Earth clothes, sourced from retailers that include Cabela’s and Lands’ End. But astronauts require exceptional attire when ...
Read More »Turns out kombucha SCOBYs could make good water filters
If you’ve ever tried making kombucha tea at home, you’re likely familiar with the SCOBY, or symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. SCOBYs are the fermentation powerhouse of the age-old Chinese drink—but as it turns out, that floating, slimy substance ...
Read More »How do you track a salmonella outbreak? A data journalist followed the DNA trail to slaughterhouses.
This story originally featured on ProPublica. It’s part of their investigative series Unchecked: America’s Broken Food Safety System. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your ...
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