Undark Magazine /
Undark Magazine explores science at the point where it intersects — and sometimes collides — with politics, economics and culture. https://undark.org/
Recent stories by Undark Magazine
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The struggle to understand why earthquakes happen in America’s heartland
The New Madrid fault line remains something of an enigma to seismologists.
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The job of pollsters has become much harder. Here’s how they’re responding
Which surveys are solid and which dissolve under scrutiny?
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Is having a pet good for you? The fuzzy science of pet ownership
It turns out the pet care industry has funded a lot of studies.
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May contain nuts: Precautionary allergen labels lead to consumer confusion
Some labels suggest allergen cross-contamination that might not exist.
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Smashing into an asteroid shows researchers how to better protect Earth
Slowing down an asteroid by just one-tenth of a second makes all the difference.
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In the race for space metals, companies hope to cash in
Mining asteroids could reduce the burden on Earth’s resources. Will it live up to its promise?
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The GMO tooth microbe that is supposed to prevent cavities
Some experts have concerns over the safety of the genetically modified bacteria.
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The science behind why people hate Daylight Saving Time so much
Can we use research and policy to change (or not change) the clocks for the last time?
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Building durable basketball players from the ground up (way up)
Can new scientific insights help the newest crop of NBA stars stay healthy?
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Getting “forever chemicals” out of drinking water is expensive
Can water utilities meet the EPA's new standard for PFAS?
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Complex, volatile coast makes preparing for tsunamis tough in Alaska
Educating local residents about the risks carries challenges.
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Getting prescription drugs online is so easy. Are regulators paying attention?
Telehealth prescribers flourish in the wake of the pandemic, regulatory gaps and all.
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Vaccine may save endangered California condors from succumbing to bird flu
Avian flu vaccines are being used on birds for the first time in the US.
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Inside the battle to build a $1.2 billion fish barricade
The Army Corps of Engineers aims to block invasive carp from the Great Lakes.
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Your grocery bag might not have been recycled
Laws encourage recycling plastics, but verifying recycled content relies on tricky math.
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Do masks work? It’s a question of physics, biology, and behavior
A recent review from a prominent scientific source has reignited the debate over masks.
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How an early-warning radar could prevent future pandemics
A tool called metagenomic sequencing can help detect unknown pathogens.
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As Antarctic fieldwork ends, a sexual harassment reckoning looms
A 2022 report described harassment as a “fact of life” on the continent.
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Wanted (by scientists): Dead birds and bats, felled by renewables
Collecting, studying, and storing the carcasses, scientists say, can unlock new insights.
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Experts debate the risks of made-to-order DNA
Advances may make it easier to build dangerous biological materials from scratch.
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Scientists debate the role of a virus in multiple sclerosis
Recent study offers evidence of link between Epstein-Barr and multiple sclerosis.
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For many disabled patients, the doctor is often not in
Some doctors avoid patients with disabilities, and barriers to routine care abound.
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The mysteries of the astronaut biome
How might space travel change the human microbiome, which is linked to so many ailments?
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A scientist’s quest for an accessible, unhackable voting machine
After 19 years of work, Juan Gilbert says he has invented the most secure voting machine.
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New, transparent AI tool may help detect blood poisoning
The algorithm scans electronic records and may reduce sepsis deaths.
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Punishment, puppies, and science: Bringing dog training to heel
Dog trainers have long relied on punishment as a training tool.
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Are Hawaii’s beach showers in violation of the Clean Water Act?
Showers likely a “point source” of sunscreen contamination and a threat to coral reefs.
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In New Zealand, conservation is buoyed by Indigenous knowledge
Blending Māori knowledge into federally funded crayfish research makes for better science.
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Locked-in syndrome and the misplaced presumption of misery
Surveys suggest most LIS patients are happy. Researchers want that more widely understood.
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Mexican farmers and scientists share a mission: Saving a wetland
Farmers, scientists work together to save a key ecosystem—and an endangered salamander.
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How the Yurok Tribe is bringing back the California Condor
Birds' reintroduction offered insight into importance of parenting in species.
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The race to produce green steel
The steel industry is testing new technologies that don’t rely on fossil fuels.
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Are microbes the future of recycling? It’s complicated
Questions linger as enzyme-based recycling technology is poised to go commercial.