Even the Supreme Court's conservative justices are polarized

China’s crackdown on ‘wealth-flaunting’ social media puts pressure on influencers − both on the mainland and in Taiwan − to echo the party line

Gengsong Gao, University of Richmond; Dan Chen, University of Richmond

Regulators in China are scouring social media platforms and censoring those deemed to be engaged in morally corrupt behavior.

Lightning season is here: Fast facts and how to stay safe, from a meteorologist

Chris Vagasky, University of Wisconsin-Madison

What really happens when lightning strikes cars, what to do if you’re out in the open or on a beach, and other tips for National Lightning Safety Awareness Week.

2024’s violent tornado season has been one of the most active on record − a meteorologist explains the weather behind the outbreaks

William Gallus, Iowa State University

Spring 2024 was menacing for large parts of the US, with a tornado nearly every day in May. Tornado outbreaks tore up communities across multiple states.

Do hormonal contraceptives increase depression risk? A neuroscientist explains how they affect your mood, for better or worse

Natalie C. Tronson, University of Michigan

A neuroscientist explains how hormonal contraceptives work − and how stress may increase or decrease depression risk while on them.

Rocks on Rapa Nui tell the story of a small, resilient population − countering the notion of a doomed overpopulated island

Carl Lipo, Binghamton University, State University of New York

Satellite data shows the amount of food the residents of the tiny Pacific island have grown over time, pointing to a small but stable population.

Why do some planets have moons? A physics expert explains why Earth has only one moon while other planets have hundreds

Nicole Granucci, Quinnipiac University

It’s not a competition, but if it were, Saturn would be winning.

Most Philly public school students have college ambitions − but their level of preparation depends on which high school they attend

Joseph Sageman, Princeton University

A sociologist and former high school math teacher found that Philadelphia students face starkly different expectations for college depending on what type of school they attend.

‘I love this work, but it’s killing me’: The unique toll of being a spiritual leader today

Steven Sandage, Boston University; Laura Captari, Boston University

Spiritual leaders’ own pain often goes unnoticed as they tend to their community’s challenges.

What the 3.2 million-year-old Lucy fossil reveals about nudity and shame

Lawsuit could challenge trust in Ozempic and other popular weight loss drugs

Is Earth really getting too hot for people to survive? A scientist explains extreme heat and the role of climate change