Economists have long suspected that the Olympics can induce a feel-good effect that results in an economic boost. But a new study suggests there’s something else going on, as well. Yes, people purchase items from sponsor companies, and that creates revenue. But it appears that, in addition to the feel-good effect, the Olympics, particularly gold medals, have a distracting effect that can actually lower trade volumes on the stock market the following day. The strength of the distraction effect

A new study highlights a side-effect of winter weather that is, on one hand, totally logical and, on the other hand, rather shocking. The U.S. uses some 19 million tons of salt each year for de-icing roads and other infrastructure. Now, that practice has been linked to widespread changes in the chemistry of American rivers and streams, particularly their salinity and alkalinity.

It’s been almost a year since President Trump took office. For some, it has been a year spent tallying what they say are attacks by the administration on science – ranging from nominating non-scientists to lead science-heavy agencies, to changing the data and language presented on federal websites.

Allegations of sexual abuse, harassment, and misconduct rocked one industry after another in recent months . It usually doesn ’ t garner the same headlines as Hollywood stars or federal legislators , but several high profile scientists have been the subject of these kinds of accusations. And sexual abuse and harassment appear to be prevalent in academia.

During the summer of 2012, a raft of newly formed volcanic rock one and a half times the size of Boston appeared in the Pacific Ocean near New Zealand. It was scientists’ clue that a volcano was erupting deep below the sea surface. Five years later, scientists have released their first in-depth analysis of what appears to have been the largest eruption of its kind in the past century. Adam Soule is chief scientist for the National Deep Submergence Facility at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

We’re one week into the New Year, and there are no doubt plenty of people struggling with their New Year’s resolution to quit smoking. A new study in the journal Cancer Epidemiology suggests that electronic cigarettes could help. The small, pilot study found that smokers who were provided with e-cigarettes smoked fewer cigarettes and were more likely to quit smoking. While e-cigarettes expose users to fewer harmful chemicals than traditional cigarettes, they are controversial. Another study

More than 20,000 Americans die of antibiotic-resistant infections each year, and that number is expected to rise. Efforts to overcome antibiotic resistance have largely focused on finding new ways to treat the most deadly infections. But a new analysis suggests that focusing on alternative treatments for mild infections might actually be more fruitful, and could reduce antibiotic resistance overall. Kristofer Wollein Waldetoft, a postdoctoral researcher at Georgia Institute of Technology and

2017 brought a new president, a second gravitational wave detection, and advances in human gene editing. What science headlines might 2018 hold? Jane Lee, news editor for Nature News, talks through some of the likely candidates – from moon missions, to the spread of early humans, to the redefinition of the kilogram.

First came the cold. The last week of December and the first week of January brought a prolonged stretch of unusually cold temperatures across the northeast. Looking at the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer , it looks like the Arctic spilled all its cold down onto the eastern side of North America.

The March for Science drew thousands of science supporters, but the science event of the year was the Great American Eclipse, with millions of viewers highlighting an unexpected enthusiasm. Missions to Jupiter and Saturn also grabbed headlines. Gravitational wave researchers scored a Nobel Prize, and then announced an even bigger accomplishment – both seeing and hearing a neutron star collision. And President Trump calls for a return to deep space, at the expense of earth science. We talk with