Bioplastics have been touted as a potential remedy to the problem of disposable packaging, as they offer a transition away from petroleum-based plastics, faster decomposition, and potential fertilizing material. But are there any downsides to putting them in the environment? In a study published today in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, earthworms are seen to have a strong capability for consuming bioplastic derived from polylactic acid (PLA), which is typically made from plant-based sugars....

1. eBird Many of these apps let users take part in publishable research and conservation efforts. For example, amateur bird-watchers should download eBird. The app, managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, not only lets you identify and log bird sightings, but also makes it easy to share those findings with others—including scientists who plot bird populations around the globe. First, install the free app. Then use its friendly, intuitive interface to plot your location and mark the birds you spot in the area....

At the time, unions and workers’ advocates had been jostling for reduced working hours for decades, as part of efforts to improve working conditions. However, Ford probably wasn’t thinking about his employee’s well-being when he made the switch, says John Pencavel, senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. “He was more concerned, my guess, with preventing a possible unionization,” and losing any inch of control to organized labor....

Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the drinks cause the behaviors. But the researcher suggests that seeing their kids binging on the drinks should be a red flag for parents. The study also found that those who mix energy drinks with liquor were more likely to engage in or be subject to aggressive sexual behavior. So, stay away from the Red Bull and vodkas, kids. NY Times

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on the Apple Store and 4.3 out of 5 stars on Google Play, CuriosityStream brings some of the world’s leading non-fiction titles straight to your screen. Whether you’re watching it on your smart TV, desktop, mobile, or tablet, you’ll be able to choose from and stream thousands of documentaries from a plethora of topics—think history, nature, science, exclusive originals, and more. The deal on this platform boasts the best pricing on the web and offers immersive experiences from award-winning content....

At first, no racing teams near her Bay Area home would admit her. Several were openly skeptical that a woman had the skills to compete. She finally got her break when a work friend joined a team for the 24 Hours of LeMons, a national series of endurance races that involves cars hacked together on a budget. (Teams may only spend $500 on their cars—safety tech excluded). She hung around, proving her dedication and mechanical know-how with tasks like welding in a space so cramped, only she could fit into it....

A version of this article was originally published on January 27. It has been updated. A new coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China, has global health agencies on high alert—and is causing no small amount of anxiety around the world. As of March 11, the World Health Organization is now describing the situation as a pandemic, though the change in designation isn’t cause for panic. It’s a recognition of the global spread of the virus, but because there’s no technical definition of “pandemic,” this doesn’t change the way the WHO is tackling the problem....

Scholl, who founded Boom Supersonic in 2014, watches as his chief test pilot, former U.S. Navy fighter hotshot Bill “Doc” Shoemaker, and Boom propulsion engineer Ben Murphy coax the engine through its runup to full afterburner: Fuel squirts into the exhaust, boosting the jet’s thrust—and noise—by about 50 percent. All that energy barrels down an exhaust port and out of the building, which is nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado Springs, Colorado....

Scientists have long suspected that free radicals from tobacco smoke can damage human cells and accelerate the progression of cancer or cardiovascular disease among other health-related problems. These free radicals, which are highly reactive compounds that form during the burning of fuels and photochemical processes, usually last for about a second and then disappear. However, the new class of pollutants is unlike atmospheric free radicals and can linger in the air for days or longer as well as travel far distances....

As far as new features go, you’ll mostly see a bevy of small changes across the line, many of which stem from software upgrades as much as hardware. While they may not be the most revolutionary phones we’ve ever seen, there are always a few cool features worth examining. The Galaxy S22 Ultra straightens up To distinguish it from the other, more conventional S22 phones, the S22 Ultra features a square design with rounded sides....

Thanks to a rare fossil discovery, scientists are now exploring the first evidence that the predators once swarmed where they are not eating and scrurrying around today—Europe. In a new paper published yesterday in the journal Biology Letters, researchers from New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and Colorado State University detail the discovery of the oldest army ant on record. The specimen was preserved in Baltic amber dates back to the Eocene Epoch, about 35 million years ago....

A new report from the Alzheimer’s Association says that more than 4 in 5 Americans are unaware of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to Alzheimer’s that causes subtle changes in a person’s memory and thinking. Between 12 and 18 percent of people aged 60 and older are living with MCI, and 10 to 15 percent of those with MCI develop a form of dementia each year. Yet, when the Alzheimer’s Association described MCI to 2,434 survey participants, more than half responded that it sounded like “normal aging....

We’ve handpicked gifts that are budget-friendly and that almost any photographer would find useful. Every photographer needs a good tripod in their kit, and the Joby GorillaPod is a top-notch, compact option for anyone (though it’s particularly great for those dabbling in video). This compact ball-head tripod has legs that wrap around anything—tree branches! wire fences! ceiling beams!—and can be rotated 360 degrees. It’s made of anodized aluminum and can hold a camera that weighs up to 11 pounds....

Castro, 15, was the building manager for his school’s rookie FIRST Robotics Competition team, which won a regional award and catapulted an unlikely mix of Latino kids to the Midwest for a week. Castro is one of more than 12,000 school kids from kindergarten through high school participating in the FIRST Championship, a series of three events showcasing student-built robots and the new-cool culture of science and tech nerdiness. Go-cart-esque robots zoomed around walled-off pits in St....

It turns out that humans are not necessarily alone in having complex social structures and reactions when they witness something aggressive. A small study published yesterday in the journal Animal Cognition suggests that when two pigs are fighting, a bystander pig’s intervention can either reduce the number of attacks by the aggressor or can help reduce the anxiety in the victim. This is a step in untangling one part of complex social groups that pigs form—how they may resolve conflict....

To combat this problem, Ford and DJI are partnering to hold the DJI Developer Challenge, a $100,000 prize for the best drone that launches from the back of a Ford F-150, and captures information about the situation below.. The first real-world use for the winning drone would be to gather information after natural disasters, but Ford says that in the future this idea could span agriculture, construction, forestry, and bridge inspection....

The tree is greener than just the pine branches that stick out from between the panels. The company is using the display to publicize the Hope Program, a nonprofit that provides job training and career counseling to help New Yorkers get out of poverty. “Their whole mission is not just to become part of he working poor,” said Judah Zeigler from Sharp’s marketing department. Passersby can sign up at – of course – an LCD kiosk for a chance to win one of the TVs on the tree....

Fact: Frogs wore tiny taffeta pants to help scientists figure out where babies came from By Eleanor Cummins Each year, 1 to 2 percent of all births in the United States began with in vitro fertilization. IVF is a simplified term for a whole host of reproductive technologies that allow scientists to inseminate an egg in the lab, and then implant those fertilized eggs into a womb. On this episode of Weirdest Thing, I wound back the tape a few years to the time of Lazzaro Spallanzani, an 18th-century Italian priest-scientist....

Some of the closest stars are annotated, and you can click to learn more about them. The “tour” option also offers some facts as you move along. Maybe the most interesting tidbit: Voyager 1, the farthest man-made object, is 17 light hours away. That sounds like a lot until you see it in this context. A little cheekily, Google also left this message regarding scientific accuracy: Warning: Scientific accuracy is not guaranteed....

Budget-friendly: Syntus Cotton Adjustable Bib Apron Grab a two-pack of these adjustable, water-resistant aprons with pockets for the price of one apron. These are made out of machine-washable, wrinkle-resistant polyester and come with two pockets for holding your phone or other essentials during cooking, and spans from chest to knee. These aprons come in black, red, purple, stripes, and other colors—and if the material isn’t to your liking, you can grab a set in cotton or thicker polyester for a couple bucks more....