The Best of Knowable Magazine

Innovative thinking has done away with problems that long dogged the electric devices — and both scientists and environmentalists are excited about the possibilities

The ‘tripledemic’ unfolding this winter is one of several odd trends among respiratory virus infections these last years. Viruses, it turns out, can block one another and take turns to dominate.

For thousands of years, humanity has had a love affair with cement and concrete. But now, industry groups and researchers are seeking solutions to the huge amounts of carbon dioxide that cement-making…

Can the famous parasitic plants help animals to survive climate change, or will they be killed off by extreme weather?

Researchers are investigating medicines that selectively kill decrepit cells to promote healthy aging — but more work is needed before declaring them a fountain of youth

In a citizen science project, thousands of pet dogs are helping scientists to understand what happens to memory and cognition in old age

From pesticide detox to increased longevity, the benefits of the sweet stuff go well beyond simply nourishing the hardworking insects in the hive

Several species of urban-dwelling birds have modified their songs in response to human-generated noise

The genomes of cetaceans help tell the story of mammals who returned to the life aquatic

The way we see and describe hues varies widely for many reasons: from our individual eye structure, to how our brain processes images, to what language we speak, or even if we live near a body of…

Warming, wildfires and unpredictable weather threaten to disrupt the delicate processes that underlie treasured wines. Researchers and producers are innovating to keep ahead.

More than just a distraction, mind-wandering (and its cousin, daydreaming) may help us prepare for the future

«Is mind-wandering the same thing as daydreaming, or would you say those are different?»

Chimps sleep nine hours a night. Cotton-top tamarins sleep about 13. What happened to humans?

Psychologists are finding that moral code violations can leave an enduring mark — and may require new types of therapy

OPINION: Volcanologists warn that magma-filled vents evolve over time, leading to an underestimation of the number that might erupt — especially those capable of the biggest explosions

There is no one prehistoric meal plan. A modern hunter-gatherer group known as the Hadza has taught researchers surprising things about the highly variable menu consumed by humans past.