Archivo: The Atlantic
The Brain-Eating Amoeba Is a Nearly Perfect Killer
The single-celled menace rarely infects humans. That’s what makes it so hard to treat.
The Secrets of Moondust
Lunar samples, untouched by Earth’s atmosphere for decades, will soon emerge from a NASA vault.
The Human Brain Project Hasn’t Lived Up to Its Promise
Ten years ago, a neuroscientist said that within a decade he could simulate a human brain. Spoiler: It didn’t happen.
The Disturbing Sound of a Human Voice
Hearing people talk can terrify even top predators such as mountain lions, with consequences that ripple through entire ecosystems.
Neanderthals Were About as Right-Handed as Modern Humans
In one study, at least 85 percent of Neanderthal tools appeared to be made for a user whose right side was dominant.
The Pioneering Female Doctor Who Argued Against Rest
Physicians once advised menstruating women against mental exertion, fearing it would ravage their health.
For Smart Animals, Octopuses Are Very Weird
A new hypothesis suggests that their vaunted intelligence and short-lived, solitary nature are all linked to a fourth trait.
A Robot Has Been Stuck on Mars for Months
NASA will conduct a delicate rescue mission to free a probe trapped just inches below the Red Planet’s surface.
Another Brutal Fact About the Ice Age Arctic: The Hyenas
As if saber-toothed cats weren’t enough.
What If We Gave Up on the Stars?
The night sky is already dotted with shiny satellites and other artificial lights. One day, maybe that’s all there will be.