The Best of Undark Magazine
10+ most popular Undark Magazine articles, as voted by our community.
Non-profit & editorially independent. Exploring science as a frequently wondrous, sometimes contentious, and occasionally troubling byproduct of human culture.
Trending
These are currently making the rounds on Refind.
Earth’s Orbit Is About to Get More Crowded
The military is launching a fleet of small, interconnected satellites to collect data, track missiles, and aim weapons.
In Bioethics, the Public Deserves More Than a Seat at the Table
Opinion | Discussing bioethics is critical to a future everyone has a hand in shaping. But obstacles abound.
The Complicated Quest to Decipher Human Difference
Racial categories are crude maps imposed on human biological variation. How do scientists square them with genetics?
Field at a Crossroads: Genetics and Racial Mythmaking
As their research is twisted to fuel racist claims, many geneticists are weighing the societal risks of their work.
Book Review: Behind Wall Street’s Huge Gamble on Cancer Drugs
Nathan Vardi's "For Blood and Money" shows how stock traders funded the race to develop two rival blood cancer drugs.
Undark Magazine on California
The Gold Rush Returns to California
Demand for gold has risen in recent years. Not everyone is happy about that, especially some residents of Grass Valley.
Undark Magazine on Dogs
Punishment, Puppies, and Science: Bringing Dog Training to Heel
Efforts to regulate dog training have centered on studies examining the efficacy of punishment as a training tool
Undark Magazine on Genetics
Field at a Crossroads: Genetics and Racial Mythmaking
As their research is twisted to fuel racist claims, many geneticists are weighing the societal risks of their work.
Undark Magazine on Nature
In Alaska, A Mystery Over Disappearing Whales
Belugas pass cultural knowledge across generations. Their survival may depend on how they collectively adapt.
Undark Magazine on Science
It Took 35 years to Get a Malaria Vaccine. Why?
The parasite’s complex biology played a role in the delay, but experts say there was also a lack of urgency and funding.
«The people who are affected by malaria, "they're not Europeans, they're not Australians, they are poor African children," said Ashley Birkett, director of the malaria vaccine initiative at PATH, a non-profit global health organization. "Unfortunately, I think we have to accept that that is part of the reason for the lack of urgency in the community."»
Experts Debate the Risks of Made-to-Order DNA
Technical advances may be making it easier to build dangerous biological materials from scratch, with few regulations.
Undark Magazine on Ukraine
Amid War, Bat Rescue Continues in Ukraine
Struggling to save trapped and injured bats, scientists endure Russian shelling and accusations of spreading bioweapons.
Popular
These are some all-time favorites with Refind users.
The Mysteries of the Astronaut Microbiome
The human microbiome has been linked to digestion, depression, and more. How might space travel change it?
A New, Transparent AI Tool May Help Detect Blood Poisoning
The algorithm scans electronic records and may reduce sepsis deaths, but widespread adoption could be a challenge.
Among Social Scientists, a Vigorous Debate Over Loss Aversion
A principle that explains decision-making — from investor behavior to insurance markets — isn't ironclad, experts argue.
For a More Sustainable Afterlife, Try Human Composting
Opinion | Vermont recently legalized a greener alternative to cremation and burial. More states should follow suit.
How the Yurok Tribe Is Bringing Back the California Condor
The reintroduction of the long-lived, highly social birds has offered insight into the importance of parenting in the species.
What is Refind?
Every day Refind picks 5 links from around the web that make you smarter, tailored to your interests. is one of more than 10k sources we monitor.
How does Refind curate?
It’s a mix of human and algorithmic curation, following a number of steps:
- We monitor 10k+ sources and 1k+ thought leaders on hundreds of topics—publications, blogs, news sites, newsletters, Substack, Medium, Twitter, etc.
- In addition, our users save links from around the web using our Save buttons and our extensions.
- Our algorithm processes 100k+ new links every day and uses external signals to find the most relevant ones, focusing on timeless pieces.
- Our community of active users gets 5 links every day, tailored to their interests. They provide feedback via implicit and explicit signals: open, read, listen, share, add to reading list, save to «Made me smarter», «More/less like this», etc.
- Our algorithm uses these internal signals to refine the selection.
- In addition, we have expert curators who manually curate niche topics.
The result: lists of the best and most useful articles on hundreds of topics.
How does Refind detect «timeless» pieces?
We focus on pieces with long shelf-lives—not news. We determine «timelessness» via a number of metrics, for example, the consumption pattern of links over time.
How many sources does Refind monitor?
We monitor 10k+ content sources on hundreds of topics—publications, blogs, news sites, newsletters, Substack, Medium, Twitter, etc.
Can I submit a link?
Indirectly, by using Refind and saving links from outside (e.g., via our extensions).
How can I report a problem?
When you’re logged-in, you can flag any link via the «More» (...) menu. You can also report problems via email to hello@refind.com
Who uses Refind?
100k+ smart people start their day with Refind. To learn something new. To get inspired. To move forward. Our apps have a 4.9/5 rating.
Is Refind free?
Yes, it’s free!
How can I sign up?
Head over to our homepage and sign up by email or with your Twitter or Google account.