
How the war in Ukraine has made flying worse for the climate
Some long-haul flights connecting Europe and Asia are emitting 40% more CO₂ since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, my new study shows. The spike is largely due to airspace closures above conflict zones...

AI is transforming the search for new materials that can help create the technologies of the future
From the bronze age to the Industrial Revolution and beyond, the discovery and development of new materials has been a driving force in human history. These novel materials have helped advance technology and shape...

Gut-wrenching love: What a fresh look at the ‘Good Samaritan’ story says for ethics today
The Bible story of the Good Samaritan is more than a mainstay of Sunday school courses. Good samaritan is the catch-all way to describe a do-gooder someone who stops to change the tire of a stranded motorist, helps a lost...

How the human neck became a locus of power, beauty and frailty
I broke its neck. When making a vase at the potters wheel, I torqued its slippery neck clear off the pot as I tried to thin it into a graceful curve. I find vases gratifying to make and their shapes especially pleasing to...

Russia’s shrinking world: The war in Ukraine and Moscow’s global reach
Russia President Vladimir Putin sent a guarded message of congratulations to Donald Trump on inauguration day, but then held a long direct call with his dear friend, Chinese leader Xi Jinping. From Putins perspective, this...

5 premium online research tools all Philly students can use for free
Years ago, as a high school librarian in suburban Philadelphia, I hosted a group of honors students from a high school just across the nearby city border. With the support of their alumni association, the city students...