Stories by Allison Parshall

Ants’ tactics to avoid traffic jams could be applied to future self-driving cars

The overly sterile environment of the International Space Station is missing important microbes, a new detailed map shows. If we want to live off Earth, we may need to take more of our bacterial friends with us

Highway widening projects usually don’t solve congestion, but less expensive toll programs known as congestion pricing can. Here’s why

In this week’s news roundup, we cover activity from the black hole at our galaxy’s center and a troubling measles outbreak in Texas.

Writers, artists, photographers and researchers share the stories behind the stories

The nonaddictive painkiller suzetrigine (Journavx) is as effective for acute pain as a common opioid treatment

In honor of the Year of the Snake, let’s appreciate the strange anatomy and evolution of these slithery reptiles

Mobile sports betting apps’ frictionless designs, personalized notifications and 24/7 availability have many gambling addiction experts worried

Writers, artists, photographers and researchers share the stories behind the stories

Linguists think that the words that we use to express pain might tell us something about our shared biology and the commonality of language.

Wildfires burning in cities unleash a toxic, unpredictable combination of compounds into the air

Researchers are learning what causes Alice in Wonderland syndrome, a rare neurological condition that can appear to warp bodies, time and reality itself

This year scientists found universal language for pain, tracked why some words go extinct, developed mind-reading brain-to-speech technology, and more

Writers, artists, photographers and researchers share the stories behind the stories

Translating complex information into captivating podcasts is no simple task. Is AI up to the challenge?

In United States v. Skrmetti, the Supreme Court is considering whether a law banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth is discriminatory under the Constitution

From “ouch” to “aïe” to “yakayi,” languages across the world exclaim pain using similar-sounding words, hinting at a common origin

Writers, artists, photographers and researchers share the stories behind the stories

Food anxiety can peak during the holidays. Here’s how to manage it and enjoy yourself

The outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election could set the climate agenda, reshape public education and shift the dynamics of global science collaboration.

Election polls are increasingly vulnerable to huge mistakes

On the Silk Road, these lost twin cities may have sustained themselves in a foreboding landscape with metallurgy and commerce

Inspired by a classic movie, conservationists are teaching endangered Northern Bald Ibises to fly south for the winter

Songs and speech across cultures suggest music developed similar features around the world