An unprecedented avian flu outbreak in Argentine Patagonia devastated a stable elephant seal colony, highlighting the rising threat of infectious disease to wildlife in a warming world. Elephant Seals -- Ecohotel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Claudio Campagna, Valeria Falabella and Julieta Campagna In the spring of 2023, we returned to Península Valdés, a rugged coastal region in Argentine Patagonia, expecting to witness the familiar sights and sounds of southern el

Millions of African children are born into overlapping crises, and true climate justice must begin with birth equity to uphold human rights, sovereignty, and reparative action. Nigerian children doing a class exercise -- Ibukshizzy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Esther Afolaranmi In July 2025, the International Court of Justice held its first hearings on states’ climate responsibilities in decades. A lead judge described climate change as an “ urgent and existential

Responding to a population seeking practical knowledge and tools, the death literacy movement is filling a much-needed void by offering clarity, comfort, and confidence. Public domain image By Caren Martineau and Sarah Parker Ward Note by Caren Martineau: Having explored the implications of America’s aging demographic in my introductory article , I wanted to follow up with a piece that continues to provide information, clarity, and encouragement in support of personal and cul

Humanity’s evolution into a super predator has reshaped ecosystems and instilled a primal fear in much of the animal kingdom. Representational image - public domain By John Divinagracia Hunting is considered critical to human evolution by many researchers who believe that several characteristics that distinguish humans from our closest living relatives, the apes, may have partly resulted from our adaptation to hunting, including our large brain size. Over time, however, the

Simple daily practices can help us slow down, notice, and build empathy with the more-than-human world—fostering both personal well-being and planetary care. Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) in Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn NY USA -- Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bridget A. Lyons One morning, I was walking in a friend’s yard in Idaho and saw a monarch butterfly. I stopped to watch him flutter above a purple coneflower—one of his favorite sourc

From hands to feet, voice to vision, our digital tools extend, transform, and sometimes erase the human body. By Vanessa Chang The influential computer scientist Mark Weiser once wrote that “a good tool is an invisible tool. By invisible, I mean that the tool does not intrude on your consciousness; you focus on the task, not the tool.” By this definition, many of our digital tools seem to have succeeded completely; they liberate our bodies by becoming invisible to users. By c

Near-death experiences blend science, spirituality, and the unknown, raising profound questions about what it means to be alive, what it...

Facing habitat loss, climate change, and shifting livelihoods, Maasai women are leading a transformative program that links sustainable...

Lands vital for climate resilience and the forestry industry are also critical habitats for declining bird species, offering a rare...

Michael Levin delivering the Tufts University Parents and Family Weekend Keynote Address in October, 2019 -- image via video screenshot...

The least humane way of culling poultry and pigs has become increasingly common. Image via Otwarte Klatki, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia...

These scholars are fighting the rampant exploitation and high article processing charges in traditional academic publishing. TIB/C....

Mammuthus primigenius -- Smithsonian Institution, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons By Brenna R. Hassett There is an incredible amount of...

From the sacred peaks of Aotearoa to the rivers of Colombia and the contested waters of Lake Erie, a global movement is emerging to grant...

Human-related causes leave birds susceptible to injury and death. By Jairus James During their spring migration, billions of birds fly...

By Marjorie Hecht The rapid growth of digital technologies in the last quarter-century has multiplied the number and types of possible...

For centuries, physicians used urine to diagnose disease, predict death, and even determine sexual history—analyzing its color,...

Reintroducing European bison to Britain, despite their absence from its history, could help restore ecological balance by fostering...

After weeks of watching young tendrils slowly corkscrew their way toward the sun, Charles Darwin invented a system for making botanic...

We forget most of our dreams. So why do we have them? By Leslie Alan Horvitz No one knows why we dream. It stands to reason that dreams...