Knowable Magazine

RFK Jr. Wants to Overhaul a Vital System That Supports Childhood Immunization The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program stabilizes the nation’s childhood immunization system while paying those harmed by rare side effects. If the program topples, it could threaten access to…

👀 On our radar: An overhaul that could threaten US vaccine supply

✍️ @sheinvestigates.bsky.social, @ProPublica.org

www.propublica.org/article/rfk-...

Moon rocks reveal hidden lunar history As NASA astronauts aim for landings in 2027, geologists find surprises in recently retrieved samples from the far side

As NASA astronauts aim for landings in 2027, geologists find surprises in recently retrieved samples from the far side. ✍️ Nicola Jones

Uncovering the impact of artisanal fisheries Small-scale fishing has long been ignored by public policy, scientific research and global economics, but its potential to help end hunger and poverty is huge. New work is bringing it out of the…

“It is very important to go beyond the catch to change the perception that only money comes out of the water. And to value artisanal fishing in a different way.” — Self-governance and marine sustainability scientist Xavier Basurto

Naturaleza interrumpida: el impacto del muro fronterizo entre EE.UU. y México en la fauna salvaje Científicos de ambos lados de la frontera trabajan para entender cómo la barrera está afectando a la biodiversidad de la zona. Mientras tanto, las comunidades intentan mantener con vida a los…

Lea en español: es.knowablemagazine.org/content/arti... via @revistaknowable.bsky.social

Nature interrupted: Impact of the US-Mexico border wall on wildlife Scientists on both sides of the border are working to understand how the barrier is affecting the area’s biodiversity. Meanwhile, communities try to save animals left without access to water.

Scientists on both sides of the border are working to understand how the barrier is affecting the area’s biodiversity. Meanwhile, communities try to save animals left without access to water.

Learn more from our 2024 report: knowablemagazine.org/content/arti...

A New Border Wall in Arizona Would Block a Key Wildlife Corridor The barrier, in a remote part of Arizona, would threaten one of the most important remaining animal migration routes on the state’s southern border, according to a new report.

“Wildlife cameras have photographed 20 species of wildlife moving freely across the border in this area — including black bears, mountain lions and mule deer — movement that would be sharply curtailed by the planned 30-foot-tall wall, researchers say.”

✍️ @dmain.bsky.social, @nytimes.com

Should you take vitamin D? Here’s the science Some people take too much, and too many get too little. Experts explain who needs D supplements, and why.

Brush up on the science of vitamin D with @katarinazimmer.bsky.social's 2024 explainer 👇
knowablemagazine.org/content/arti...

About a third of pregnant women in the US lack sufficient vitamin D to support healthy pregnancies − new research Vitamin D has long been known to play essential roles in boosting immune health and protecting the nervous system. New research now points to its critical importance in fetal development as well.

Children whose mothers had higher #VitaminD levels during pregnancy scored better on tests of memory, attention & problem-solving skills at ages 7 to 12 compared with those whose mothers had lower levels, writes Melissa Melough, Assistant Professor of Nutrition Science, in @us.theconversation.com

“Man’s best friend is man’s best biomedical friend.”

Canine and human cancers bear many similarities — studies in dogs are helping to develop treatments for both species.

Learn more in our recent report, republished by the @washingtonpost.com👇
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Newsletter Signup Knowable Magazine explores the real-world significance of scholarly work through a journalistic lens. A digital magazine from Annual Reviews.

📬 This feature was highlighted in our Sunday newsletter. Get the next edition: knowablemagazine.org/newsletter-s...

Welcome to the Great Bear Sea After decades of discord, Canada and First Nations are working together to build a network of marine protected areas stretching from Vancouver Island to Alaska.

“[The] the mist is lifting, revealing not just the lay of the land (and sea), but the benefits of working together to protect the whole ecosystem.”

👀 On our radar: Uniting to safeguard the Great Bear Sea

✍️ @serenarenner.com @biographic.bsky.social

Night of the zombie insects A parasitic fungus takes over the brains of flies and controls them for its own sinister ends. Here’s the science behind the horror.

Night of the zombie insects:
A parasitic fungus takes over the brains of flies and controls them for its own sinister ends. Here’s the science behind the horror. | Knowable Magazine knowablemagazine.org/content/arti... #biology #entomology #genetics #SciChat

Mapping the brain to understand the mind New technology is enabling neuroscientists to make increasingly detailed wiring diagrams that could yield new insights into brain function

Read in English 👉 @knowablemag.bsky.social

New technology is enabling neuroscientists to make increasingly detailed wiring diagrams that could yield new insights into brain function

knowmag.org/4mtd3I4

Mapear el cerebro para entender la mente Una nueva tecnología está permitiendo a los neurocientíficos realizar diagramas de cableado cada vez más detallados que podrían aportar nuevos conocimientos sobre el funcionamiento del cerebro.

Una nueva tecnología está permitiendo a los neurocientíficos realizar diagramas de cableado cada vez más detallados que podrían aportar nuevos conocimientos sobre el funcionamiento del cerebro.

knowmag.org/40Qo7Xk

How did eastern North America form? With many collisions and much crumpling of rock, down the ages. The story holds lessons for how the edges of continents are built and change over time.

Read in English 👉 @knowablemag.bsky.social

With many collisions and much crumpling of rock, down the ages. The story holds lessons for how the edges of continents are built and change over time.

knowmag.org/4mp9pi3

¿Cómo se formó el este de Norteamérica? Con muchas colisiones y muchos desprendimientos de rocas a lo largo de los siglos. El relato revela lecciones sobre cómo se construyen los bordes de los continentes y cómo cambian con el tiempo.

Con muchas colisiones y muchos desprendimientos de rocas a lo largo de los siglos. El relato revela lecciones sobre cómo se construyen los bordes de los continentes y cómo cambian con el tiempo.

knowmag.org/3RKCHuA

Soda taxes can’t reverse the obesity epidemic OPINION: They might be able to help, but only if well-designed and in combination with other policies

Read in English 👉 @knowablemag.bsky.social

OPINION: They might be able to help, but only if well-designed and in combination with other policies

knowmag.org/4m4dKI2

Los impuestos a las gaseosas no pueden revertir la epidemia de obesidad OPINIÓN: Pueden ser útiles, pero solo si están bien diseñados y se combinan con otras políticas.

OPINIÓN: Pueden ser útiles, pero solo si están bien diseñados y se combinan con otras políticas.

knowmag.org/40O57J3

Crafting Clear and Conversational Q&As - The Open Notebook The Q&A story format allows writers to act as mediums between experts and audiences, tackling both broad and nuanced topics and exploring through conversation the expert’s story, thought processes,…

Working on a Q&A? @theopennotebook.bsky.social has some tips... including advice from Knowable's own executive editor @rosiemestel.bsky.social

Check it out 👇
www.theopennotebook.com/2025/07/29/c...

Newsletter Signup Knowable Magazine explores the real-world significance of scholarly work through a journalistic lens. A digital magazine from Annual Reviews.

📬 This story was featured in our Sunday newsletter. Sign up today to stay in the know: knowablemagazine.org/newsletter-s...

Spain bids €400 million to host mega telescope at risk in US budget cuts New Canary Islands home could save controversial Thirty Meter Telescope first proposed for Hawaii.

“The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), a major international project long slated for construction in Hawaii, might be getting a new home.”

👀 On our radar: Hawaii telescope threatened by US cuts may get EU home

✍️ @lizziegibney.bsky.social, @nature.com

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

El vuelo de regreso del cóndor de California El ave más grande de América del Norte desapareció de la vida silvestre a finales de los años ochenta. El trabajo de reintroducción en Estados Unidos y México la ha devuelto a los cielos. Esta es la…

Lea en español 👉 @revistaknowable.bsky.social

El ave más grande de América del Norte desapareció de la vida silvestre a finales de los años ochenta. El trabajo de reintroducción en Estados Unidos y México la ha devuelto a los cielos. Esta es la historia de su retorno.

buff.ly/0qhXZVX

A condor spreads its wings on the summit of a mountain.

North America’s largest bird disappeared from the wild in the late 1980s. Reintroduction work in the United States and Mexico has brought this huge vulture back to the skies. This is the story of its comeback.

✍️ Iván Carrillo

buff.ly/M9qnDMe

ICYMI: Knowable Magazine contributor Bob Holmes joined @think.kera.org on KERA to discuss his recent article about cancer and companion dogs. It was a great conversation!

🎧 Listen on demand
think.kera.org/2025/08/01/h...

Here at Knowable Magazine, we believe that scientific knowledge should be accessible to all. Which is why, we welcome — and encourage! — the republication of our content.

Learn more about how you can bring our award-winning science journalism to your audience👇 knowablemagazine.org/republish

Viruses That Roam the Fungal Kingdom Mushrooms and other fungi can harbor hidden companions—and some of these may fight pesky or dangerous molds

Mushrooms and other fungi can harbor hidden companions—and some of these may fight pesky or dangerous molds.

Learn more in our recent report, republished by @nautil.us:
nautil.us/viruses-that...

Bringing the hospital into the home A movement to provide hospital-level care for sick patients in their own beds, in the comfort of familiar surroundings, is growing in the United States — a trend already embraced in some other…

A movement to provide hospital-level care for sick patients in their own beds, in the comfort of familiar surroundings, is growing in the United States — a trend already embraced in some other countries.

✍️ Lola Butcher

👀 On our radar: EPA aims to end regulation of greenhouse gases

✍️ Jake Spring and @anushamathur.bsky.social, @washingtonpost.com

www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

Pursuing the electrical fluid: How scientists discovered the electron A celebration of 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Mechanics and Science would be remiss without a look at how the carrier of electricity finally yielded its secrets — paving the way to the…

Electrons have always been around, in abundance. But despite their ubiquity, no human knew very much about them until nearly the 20th century.

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