Undark Magazine
@undark.org
Non-profit & editorially independent. Exploring science as a frequently wondrous, sometimes contentious, and occasionally troubling byproduct of human culture.
undark.org
undark.org
Political scientists are rethinking how we understand voting patterns. Old assumptions about identity and alignment don't hold up. Understanding why people vote requires new models and the willingness to abandon outdated narratives.
The Increasingly Complex Science of Political Identity
Opinion | Understanding why people vote the way they do has emerged as a cutting-edge scientific question requiring new tools.
f.mtr.cool
November 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Political scientists are rethinking how we understand voting patterns. Old assumptions about identity and alignment don't hold up. Understanding why people vote requires new models and the willingness to abandon outdated narratives.
In "Planning Miracles," Jon Cohen shows: Polio had FDR. Our viral threats lack political champions. Scientists studying prevention get caught in controversies. Funding dries up. Organizations disband. Innovation folds.
Book Review: The Urgent Quest to Prevent the Next Pandemic
In "Planning Miracles," Jon Cohen chronicles the efforts of scientists and others to eradicate the threat of pandemics.
f.mtr.cool
November 24, 2025 at 7:03 PM
In "Planning Miracles," Jon Cohen shows: Polio had FDR. Our viral threats lack political champions. Scientists studying prevention get caught in controversies. Funding dries up. Organizations disband. Innovation folds.
A Swedish study found hormonal birth control is safe overall but shows a small breast cancer risk increase during use. TikTok claims it causes cancer as dangerous as smoking. Originally published by @kffhealthnews.org
Misinformation About Birth Control and Breast Cancer Swirls
A massive Swedish study examined hormonal birth control risks. But the nuances of such studies get lost on social media.
f.mtr.cool
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
A Swedish study found hormonal birth control is safe overall but shows a small breast cancer risk increase during use. TikTok claims it causes cancer as dangerous as smoking. Originally published by @kffhealthnews.org
Foreign food inspections are down significantly this year as FDA staffing changes reduce oversight of critical food imports. Originally published by @propublica.org
U.S. Inspections of Foreign Food Facilities Hit New Low
An analysis of federal data shows a pronounced decline, despite alarming conditions found at some manufacturers.
f.mtr.cool
November 24, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Foreign food inspections are down significantly this year as FDA staffing changes reduce oversight of critical food imports. Originally published by @propublica.org
Hawaii's wiliwili tree nearly went extinct from invasive gall wasp. A biocontrol wasp released in 2008 saved it. Without biocontrol, it would likely be gone. Regulators must balance risks of biocontrol against risks of doing nothing.
Is It Time for a New Era in Invasive Species Control?
Regulations make it hard to introduce organisms that quash invasive species. Some experts see missed opportunities.
f.mtr.cool
November 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Hawaii's wiliwili tree nearly went extinct from invasive gall wasp. A biocontrol wasp released in 2008 saved it. Without biocontrol, it would likely be gone. Regulators must balance risks of biocontrol against risks of doing nothing.
Teens are being marketed CBD gummies that look like candy, vapes, seltzers, as calming wellness products. But animal studies show CBD exposure disrupts the very social circuits teens need to develop.
CBD’s Unseen Effects on the Teenage Brain
Opinion | Cannabidiol is sold as safe, but animal studies are showing that it can interfere with adolescent brain development.
f.mtr.cool
November 21, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Teens are being marketed CBD gummies that look like candy, vapes, seltzers, as calming wellness products. But animal studies show CBD exposure disrupts the very social circuits teens need to develop.
In his new book, Jon Cohen argues: We have the science to prevent pandemics. Hand-held viral detectors. AI sequencing. Broad vaccines. We just won't fund it. Politics gets in the way. Ignore, panic, neglect, repeat.
Book Review: The Urgent Quest to Prevent the Next Pandemic
In "Planning Miracles," Jon Cohen chronicles the efforts of scientists and others to eradicate the threat of pandemics.
f.mtr.cool
November 21, 2025 at 5:31 PM
In his new book, Jon Cohen argues: We have the science to prevent pandemics. Hand-held viral detectors. AI sequencing. Broad vaccines. We just won't fund it. Politics gets in the way. Ignore, panic, neglect, repeat.
The government is tightening rules on drug ads to make them safer and more transparent. It’s still unclear if patients will actually see fewer ads or ones that clearly explain the risks and benefits of their medications.
What Will the Trump-Era Crackdown on Drug Ads Accomplish?
The federal government announced a new approach to regulating pharmaceutical ads. Consumers may not see a difference.
undark.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The government is tightening rules on drug ads to make them safer and more transparent. It’s still unclear if patients will actually see fewer ads or ones that clearly explain the risks and benefits of their medications.
Americans pay three times for federally funded research: grants fund it, unpaid peer reviewers subsidize it, and publishers profit from it. Taxpayers finance the entire pipeline while for-profit publishers get rich.
The Triple Tax on U.S. Scientific Research
Opinion | The hidden economics behind federal research funding causes Americans to pay three times for the same body of research.
f.mtr.cool
November 20, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Americans pay three times for federally funded research: grants fund it, unpaid peer reviewers subsidize it, and publishers profit from it. Taxpayers finance the entire pipeline while for-profit publishers get rich.
Aedes aegypti is expanding northward into Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and New Mexico as winters warm. Dengue cases have increased more than 20-fold since 2000 globally. Originally published by @insideclimatenews.org
A Mosquito That Can Carry Dengue Has Landed in the Rockies
It was thought that Aedes aegypti could not survive in the Mountain West. But now, a population is thriving in Colorado.
f.mtr.cool
November 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Aedes aegypti is expanding northward into Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and New Mexico as winters warm. Dengue cases have increased more than 20-fold since 2000 globally. Originally published by @insideclimatenews.org
Pre-release biocontrol testing now drops non-target attacks from 20% (pre-1960) to 5% (2009-2016). Regulations work. But some researchers worry: overly cautious rules prevent releases that could prevent ecosystem collapse from invasive species.
Is It Time for a New Era in Invasive Species Control?
Regulations make it hard to introduce organisms that quash invasive species. Some experts see missed opportunities.
f.mtr.cool
November 19, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Pre-release biocontrol testing now drops non-target attacks from 20% (pre-1960) to 5% (2009-2016). Regulations work. But some researchers worry: overly cautious rules prevent releases that could prevent ecosystem collapse from invasive species.
A physics student couldn't find research work in traditional physics. Now he studies directed energy at UNM. As other research areas lose funding, talent flows toward military money. That's shaping where science goes in America.
Boomtown: How Futuristic Weapons Could Power Albuquerque
As traditional scientific funds shrink, this southwest town leans into research that could someday fuel the battlefield.
f.mtr.cool
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
A physics student couldn't find research work in traditional physics. Now he studies directed energy at UNM. As other research areas lose funding, talent flows toward military money. That's shaping where science goes in America.
Research shows demographic voting blocs aren't as predictable as we thought. Political coalitions are shifting in unexpected ways. Our election models need rebuilding with new vocabulary and integrated approaches.
The Increasingly Complex Science of Political Identity
Opinion | Understanding why people vote the way they do has emerged as a cutting-edge scientific question requiring new tools.
f.mtr.cool
November 19, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Research shows demographic voting blocs aren't as predictable as we thought. Political coalitions are shifting in unexpected ways. Our election models need rebuilding with new vocabulary and integrated approaches.
NASA carefully controlled the narrative. But Kluger reveals what the agency didn't want shown: astronauts smuggling food, spacewalks nearly ending in disaster, crews cracking jokes at the edge of space. Gemini was human, messy, and crucial.
Book Review: Giving the Gemini Space Program Its Full Due
Jeffrey Kluger's "Gemini" argues that the program was more milestone than stepping stone in the 1960s space race.
f.mtr.cool
November 18, 2025 at 6:38 PM
NASA carefully controlled the narrative. But Kluger reveals what the agency didn't want shown: astronauts smuggling food, spacewalks nearly ending in disaster, crews cracking jokes at the edge of space. Gemini was human, messy, and crucial.
U.S. inspections of foreign food facilities hit historic lows this year. Recent inspections found falsified records, insect infestations, contaminated water. Originally published by @propublica.org
U.S. Inspections of Foreign Food Facilities Hit New Low
An analysis of federal data shows a pronounced decline, despite alarming conditions found at some manufacturers.
f.mtr.cool
November 18, 2025 at 5:05 PM
U.S. inspections of foreign food facilities hit historic lows this year. Recent inspections found falsified records, insect infestations, contaminated water. Originally published by @propublica.org
A construction worker in Texas now dialyzes 12 hours weekly after decades of heat exposure. The fix is simple, shade, water, rest, but no federal standard exists to protect workers. Originally published by @pubhealthwatch.bsky.social
f.mtr.cool
November 18, 2025 at 2:02 PM
A construction worker in Texas now dialyzes 12 hours weekly after decades of heat exposure. The fix is simple, shade, water, rest, but no federal standard exists to protect workers. Originally published by @pubhealthwatch.bsky.social
Federal cuts to cancer research threaten to widen racial disparities in multiple myeloma care. How funding gaps and trial representation leave Black patients behind as breakthroughs emerge. Originally published by @kffhealthnews.org
Despite Racial Disparities, Multiple Myeloma Patients See Hope
Progress has been made in identifying and treating the disease, but the impact of federal cuts is yet to be borne out.
f.mtr.cool
November 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Federal cuts to cancer research threaten to widen racial disparities in multiple myeloma care. How funding gaps and trial representation leave Black patients behind as breakthroughs emerge. Originally published by @kffhealthnews.org
Utah has seeded clouds for decades to boost snow. Now it’s caught in national debates over “geoengineering.” Critics call it weather manipulation; officials say it’s vital water policy. Originally published by @notus.com
National Political Scrutiny of Cloud Seeding Looms Over Utah
Weather modification practices have become a political target. But a different story has been playing out in the West.
f.mtr.cool
November 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Utah has seeded clouds for decades to boost snow. Now it’s caught in national debates over “geoengineering.” Critics call it weather manipulation; officials say it’s vital water policy. Originally published by @notus.com
MAHA movement brings toxins research into mainstream politics. But the alliance is strained: serious scientists paired with vaccine skeptics. Real policy changes still scarce. Budget cuts at NIEHS and EPA threaten the research infrastructure itself.
The Cultural and Political Moment for Toxins Research
A longstanding push for urgent action on environmental toxins is landing in an unprecedented time in American politics.
f.mtr.cool
November 17, 2025 at 2:03 PM
MAHA movement brings toxins research into mainstream politics. But the alliance is strained: serious scientists paired with vaccine skeptics. Real policy changes still scarce. Budget cuts at NIEHS and EPA threaten the research infrastructure itself.
Jeffrey Kluger's book argues history got the space race wrong. Mercury was first. Apollo landed on the moon. But Gemini (1964-1966)? That's where astronauts learned to actually work in space. The forgotten middle sibling deserves credit.
Book Review: Giving the Gemini Space Program Its Full Due
Jeffrey Kluger's "Gemini" argues that the program was more milestone than stepping stone in the 1960s space race.
f.mtr.cool
November 14, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Jeffrey Kluger's book argues history got the space race wrong. Mercury was first. Apollo landed on the moon. But Gemini (1964-1966)? That's where astronauts learned to actually work in space. The forgotten middle sibling deserves credit.
For some women, PMDD symptoms are so severe that surgery is the only option. "You can feel crazy when you have it, especially when doctors tell you there's nothing wrong," one patient said.
A Struggle to Find Adequate Care for a Common Menstrual Disorder
Millions of women have pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD. But diagnoses and treatments vary considerably.
undark.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:31 PM
For some women, PMDD symptoms are so severe that surgery is the only option. "You can feel crazy when you have it, especially when doctors tell you there's nothing wrong," one patient said.
An estimated 26.2 million people have work-related chronic kidney disease caused by heat exposure. In Florida, one in three agricultural workers suffer acute kidney injury weekly. Originally published by @pubhealthwatch.bsky.social
In the U.S., Heat-Exposed Workers Risk Chronic Kidney Disease
Some experts believe CKD is the first chronic illness directly linked to climate change. Prevention may be possible.
f.mtr.cool
November 14, 2025 at 2:28 PM
An estimated 26.2 million people have work-related chronic kidney disease caused by heat exposure. In Florida, one in three agricultural workers suffer acute kidney injury weekly. Originally published by @pubhealthwatch.bsky.social
Proposed laws would force miscarriage patients to collect fetal tissue, then return it in a medical waste bag. Anti-abortion groups claiming abortion pills threaten environment—with no evidence.
Weaponizing Wastewater Laws to Block Abortion
Opinion | An anti-abortion group has been co-opting environmental laws in an effort to restrict access to medication abortion.
f.mtr.cool
November 13, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Proposed laws would force miscarriage patients to collect fetal tissue, then return it in a medical waste bag. Anti-abortion groups claiming abortion pills threaten environment—with no evidence.
Should we destroy a major carbon sink to mine minerals for green technology? The carbon stored in Hudson Bay's peatlands took thousands of years to build—and we don't have that time to replace it. Originally published by @vox.com .
The Land That Stores Nearly a Third of the World's Carbon
Peatlands act as a crucial climate regulator, and are increasingly at the center of conflicts over resource extraction.
undark.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Should we destroy a major carbon sink to mine minerals for green technology? The carbon stored in Hudson Bay's peatlands took thousands of years to build—and we don't have that time to replace it. Originally published by @vox.com .
A tropical mosquito carrying dengue has thrived in Colorado's Rockies and survived winter when it absolutely shouldn't have. Climate change is rewriting the rules. Originally published by @insideclimatenews.org
A Mosquito That Can Carry Dengue Has Landed in the Rockies
It was thought that Aedes aegypti could not survive in the Mountain West. But now, a population is thriving in Colorado.
f.mtr.cool
November 12, 2025 at 8:03 PM
A tropical mosquito carrying dengue has thrived in Colorado's Rockies and survived winter when it absolutely shouldn't have. Climate change is rewriting the rules. Originally published by @insideclimatenews.org