The Great Green Wall is the biggest tree planting project in human history by far and has already reversed the net growth of deserts in China. It seems to be a big success but it’s difficult to be 100% certain as plenty of businesses and government agencies have strong incentives to tout its succeess while those…
On the evening of January 2, a Chinese lander named for an ancient moon goddess touched down on the lunar far side, where no human or robot has ever ventured before. China’s Chang’e-4 mission launched toward the moonon December 7 and entered orbit around our cosmic companion on December 12. Now, the spacecraft has alighted onto the lunar…
Biological Science has been under the spell of Newton’s atomistic view of the universe since the late 17th century. Yet revolutionary new discoveries in molecular biology reveal a connectivity and proportionality embedded within our bodies and the biosphere as a whole reminiscent of ideas once held by visionaries like Leonardo da Vinci. Biological atomism is a…
The idea of scientists tinkering with the genes of babies was once the provenance of science fiction, but now it’s apparently entered the realm of reality: On Nov. 26, Chinese scientist He Jiankui reported the historic live births of twin girls whose genes he had edited. The goal may have been noble: to use CRISPR…
Scientists have come up with a new and ingenious way of fighting global warming: use chemicals to blot out the sun. Whether we’ll then have to fight (and do everything else) in the shade, the research doesn’t quite spell out. Since the world can’t seem to agree on reducing CO2 emissions, why not tackle the…
DNA is supposed to be the gold standard of evidence. Supposedly so distinct it would be impossible to convict the wrong person, yet DNA evidence has been given far more credit than it’s earned. Part of the problem is that it’s indecipherable to laypeople. That has allowed crime lab technicians to testify to a level…
