On the heels of the Oscars, we dive into three films that take us to other worlds: A planetary scientist compares Arrakis from 'Dune' to real planets and analyzes whether life could exist on such a sandy, scorching-hot world. And, in a new documentary, NASA psychologists try to find solutions for the mental health challenges of a three-year trip to Mars. Finally, in the movie “65,” an alien crashes on Earth during the Jurassic era, shocked to discover dinosaurs. An astrobiologist has questions.

Triple Feature: Dune, Mars, And An Alien On Earth

Natural Sciences

Science & Medicine

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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?

Triple Feature: Dune, Mars, And An Alien On Earth

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