We look into the engineering reasons why the Francis Scott Key bridge collapsed after a ship crashed into it. Also, a new analysis finds that more viruses spread from humans to animals than from animals to humans.

Baltimore Bridge Collapse | Mapping How Viruses Jump Between Species

Natural Sciences

Science & Medicine

Science

Life Sciences

Earth Sciences

Researchers are trying to develop a better picture of what’s happening in the regions closest to a black hole’s event horizon.

Visualizing A Black Hole’s Flares In 3D

For her new book, Aarathi Prasad spent years researching the past and future of silk—and even grew her own silkworms.

The 4,000-Year History of Humans and Silk

While progress has been made in replacing water pipes in Flint, Michigan, many residents say they still don’t know if their tap water is clean or not. Also, scientists are adding sensors to an underwater cable network to monitor changes in the ocean and quickly detect earthquakes and tsunamis.

Flint’s Water Crisis, 10 Years Later | Underwater Cables Could Help Detect Tsunamis

America’s most-consumed fruit is at risk from a fungal disease. Researchers in North Carolina are on a mission to save Cavendish bananas. Also, birds move their vocal organs while they sleep, mimicking how they sing. Scientists have translated those movements into synthetic birdsong.

Fighting Banana Blight | Do Birds Sing In Their Dreams?

Plastics are everywhere, in packaging, clothing, and even our bodies. Could they be made less integral to manufacturing and more recyclable?

Baltimore Bridge Collapse | Mapping How Viruses Jump Between Species

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