In 1925, a small town in Tennessee became the center of a big debate. A teacher, John Scopes, was put on trial for teaching evolution. This was a big deal because Tennessee had a law against it. The trial was like a showdown between science and religion. Two famous figures, Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan, went head-to-head. Darrow was a defense attorney w...
Breath tests for cannabis are not new, but they usually focus on smoking. Now, researchers wanted to see if these tests could also detect THC from edibles. They had people eat cannabis-infused treats and then tested their breath at different times. Before eating the edibles, some participants already had THC in their breath. After eating, THC levels changed in diffe...
Crime scene investigations just got a high-tech makeover. Scientists have found a clever way to detect blood using a smartphone and a special glowing chemical called luminol. When luminol meets blood, it lights up, and a smartphone can record the whole process in a video. This new method is not just cool; it's also eco-friendly. It uses a tiny amount of luminol comp...
In Ghana, students in health sciences face a big problem: sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). This is not just a personal issue; it's a matter of human rights and social fairness. Sadly, not enough is being done to stop it. Most efforts to prevent SGBV are not tailored to fit the local culture and context. This is especially true in sub-Saharan Africa. Universi...
Seven former heads of NASA's science programs have joined forces to protest a huge budget cut. They want Congress to say no to a 47% reduction in NASA's 2026 science budget. This cut could stop many space missions and hurt thousands of scientists and engineers. It could also make the U. S. fall behind other countries in space science. These leaders point out that NA...
Suaeda salsa, a plant that thrives in salty soils, has a special talent. It can soak up and store lots of nitrate, a type of salt. This makes it great for cleaning up polluted, salty lands. But how does it do this? Scientists wanted to find out. They looked at a specific gene in the plant, called SsCLCb. When exposed to high salt levels, this gene becomes much more ...
The Hanjiang River in China is facing a hidden problem: tiny plastic particles. These small bits, called microplastics, are less than 500 micrometers in size. They are everywhere in the river and can harm aquatic life. A recent study used advanced technology to find out more about these microplastics. The study found a lot of these tiny plastics in the river. On ave...
A big problem in chemistry is separating ethane (C2H6) from ethylene (C2H4). These gases are similar, but important for different industries. Scientists have been working on ways to do this better. One approach is using special materials called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These are like tiny sponges that can pick out specific molecules. A new study focused on a...
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have become a hot topic in research lately. Scientists are digging deep to understand how these chemicals affect our health. They are found almost everywhere, from the food we eat to the water we drink, even in the air we breathe. These chemicals can sneak into our bodies through many ways, and their effects can be quite ...
Hot cars in summer are no joke. The heat can be unbearable, and relying on air conditioning isn't always an option. Maybe your car's A/C is broken, or you want to save energy. Whatever the reason, there's a science-backed trick to cool down your car quickly. Here's how it works: Open the rear passenger window, step out of the car, and use the driver's side door as a...