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
Frostlines takes readers into the Arctic’s warming world, blending travel, natural history, and human stories that show how climate shifts are reshaping lives and landscapes.
Book Review: A Portrait of the Arctic World in Flux
Neil Shea's "Frostlines" captures the terror and beauty of a region often dismissed as “big, cold, white, and far away."
f.mtr.cool
January 16, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Frostlines takes readers into the Arctic’s warming world, blending travel, natural history, and human stories that show how climate shifts are reshaping lives and landscapes.
Dietary guidelines warned against saturated fat for 45 years. Now they're prioritizing it. A Stanford professor says the new approach "goes against decades of evidence." What changed?
Why It Still Makes Sense to Limit Saturated Fats
The new U.S. dietary guidelines prioritize certain sources of saturated fats. The change concerns experts in nutrition.
f.mtr.cool
January 16, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Dietary guidelines warned against saturated fat for 45 years. Now they're prioritizing it. A Stanford professor says the new approach "goes against decades of evidence." What changed?
Oak Ridge National Laboratory began as a secret Manhattan Project site and is now the nation’s largest multi-program science and energy lab, where nuclear history meets supercomputing and modern research.
War, Wellness, and Watts: Inside Oak Ridge National Lab
It's the nation's largest multi-program science and technology laboratory. But nuclear science is its history — and its future.
f.mtr.cool
January 16, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Oak Ridge National Laboratory began as a secret Manhattan Project site and is now the nation’s largest multi-program science and energy lab, where nuclear history meets supercomputing and modern research.
Ancient rock art traces the Sahara’s transformation: cattle herds in wet eras, horses as climate shifted, then camels marking today’s desert. Stone paintings record 6,000 years of climate change and human survival.
In Chad's Prehistoric Wall Drawings, Lessons in Climate Upheaval
The Ennedi rock art of Chad should not be read as decoration alone, but as a visual narrative of environmental change.
f.mtr.cool
January 16, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Ancient rock art traces the Sahara’s transformation: cattle herds in wet eras, horses as climate shifted, then camels marking today’s desert. Stone paintings record 6,000 years of climate change and human survival.
As GPS jamming and spoofing increase, governments and researchers are developing backup navigation systems and new technologies to reduce dependence on a system that can be disrupted with relatively simple tools.
GPS Is Vulnerable. New Technology May Be Required.
The omnipresent system that people use for navigation and positioning is increasingly vulnerable. Can it be improved?
f.mtr.cool
January 15, 2026 at 7:02 PM
As GPS jamming and spoofing increase, governments and researchers are developing backup navigation systems and new technologies to reduce dependence on a system that can be disrupted with relatively simple tools.
As the U.S. population ages, demand for eldercare is rising while the workforce providing that care continues to shrink, leaving families to piece together support through unpaid labor and unstable caregiving arrangements.
The Ever-Shrinking Eldercare Workforce
Opinion | Without help, the supply of dementia care workers in the U.S. won’t be able to keep up with an aging population.
f.mtr.cool
January 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM
As the U.S. population ages, demand for eldercare is rising while the workforce providing that care continues to shrink, leaving families to piece together support through unpaid labor and unstable caregiving arrangements.
A couple bought 828 acres in Texas and found two whooping cranes on their property. Instead of fighting it, they protected 573 acres with The Nature Conservancy. The cranes returned every year for 26 years.
Back from the Brink: The Whooping Crane’s Recovery on the Edge
Following the species' comeback, new pressures are converging on their wintering habitat along the Texas coast.
f.mtr.cool
January 15, 2026 at 5:02 PM
A couple bought 828 acres in Texas and found two whooping cranes on their property. Instead of fighting it, they protected 573 acres with The Nature Conservancy. The cranes returned every year for 26 years.
Post-Dobbs, 400+ people were charged with pregnancy-related crimes. Over 30 involved pregnancy loss. The lung float test was used to prove some guilty. Medical examiners groups have warned to stop using it. Originally from @propublica.org
Medical Examiners Group Issues Warning on Stillbirth Test
The lung float test has been used determine if a baby was born alive or not. Experts say it has "questionable value."
f.mtr.cool
January 15, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Post-Dobbs, 400+ people were charged with pregnancy-related crimes. Over 30 involved pregnancy loss. The lung float test was used to prove some guilty. Medical examiners groups have warned to stop using it. Originally from @propublica.org
From early 2025: Our opinion piece argued that Greenland’s real importance isn’t territory or power but its ice sheet and the global impacts its loss could have on sea levels and climate.
We Need Greenland. But Not in the Way Trump Thinks.
Opinion | The newly inaugurated U.S. president is missing the real strategic and economic value of the island: its ice.
f.mtr.cool
January 14, 2026 at 9:02 PM
From early 2025: Our opinion piece argued that Greenland’s real importance isn’t territory or power but its ice sheet and the global impacts its loss could have on sea levels and climate.
Refusing AI creates people unprepared to use it responsibly. That's how misinformation and manipulation win. We need critical literacy, not abstinence.
Abstinence From AI Is Not the Answer
Opinion | Refusing to use AI won’t protect society. Responsible resistance must include gaining knowledge about it.
f.mtr.cool
January 14, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Refusing AI creates people unprepared to use it responsibly. That's how misinformation and manipulation win. We need critical literacy, not abstinence.
Plastic pollution costs the U.S. $250 billion in health care annually. Microplastics in lungs, livers, breast milk. Fossil fuel companies sold us the recycling myth. "The Problem With Plastic" reveals what needs to change.
Book Review: Confronting the Bane of Plastic Pollution
"The Problem With Plastic" is both a call to arms and a thorough look at the far-reaching effects of plastic production.
f.mtr.cool
January 14, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Plastic pollution costs the U.S. $250 billion in health care annually. Microplastics in lungs, livers, breast milk. Fossil fuel companies sold us the recycling myth. "The Problem With Plastic" reveals what needs to change.
Luna 3 processed photographs on-board with film and a primitive digital camera in 1959. We now have images of moons 1.4 billion kilometers away. Scharf's book asks: if we've come this far, how much farther can we go?
Book Review: How Evolution Is Driving Us Further Into Space
"The Giant Leap," by astrobiologist Caleb Scharf, is an optimistic account of our widening journey into the cosmos.
f.mtr.cool
January 14, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Luna 3 processed photographs on-board with film and a primitive digital camera in 1959. We now have images of moons 1.4 billion kilometers away. Scharf's book asks: if we've come this far, how much farther can we go?
When Denmark required Bovaer, a farmer used it. His cows got sick. Some died. He questioned himself until they recovered when he stopped. Now he doesn't believe in climate policy. How do you fix that kind of trust damage?
In Denmark, Sick Cows and a Lot of Questions
Farmers blame a food additive required by the Danish government to cut methane emissions, but the source is unclear.
f.mtr.cool
January 14, 2026 at 2:02 PM
When Denmark required Bovaer, a farmer used it. His cows got sick. Some died. He questioned himself until they recovered when he stopped. Now he doesn't believe in climate policy. How do you fix that kind of trust damage?
Boulder faced extreme wildfire threat when NCAR's potential closure was announced. The utility used NCAR forecasts to prevent fires. Research protecting the city may now be dismantled for political reasons. Published by @insideclimatenews.org
A Major Climate Research Center in Colorado Is Slated for Closure
A political feud and a drive to end climate research has put the National Center for Atmospheric Research at risk.
f.mtr.cool
January 13, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Boulder faced extreme wildfire threat when NCAR's potential closure was announced. The utility used NCAR forecasts to prevent fires. Research protecting the city may now be dismantled for political reasons. Published by @insideclimatenews.org
Trump wants Greenland's rare earth minerals and oil. But extraction is hard. The real issue? The ice sheet melting, holding 20+ feet of sea level. Originally published by @insideclimatenews.org
What Would a Trump Takeover Mean for Greenland's Resources?
The Danish territory holds significant stores of oil, gas, and minerals. The vast majority is still in the ground.
f.mtr.cool
January 13, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Trump wants Greenland's rare earth minerals and oil. But extraction is hard. The real issue? The ice sheet melting, holding 20+ feet of sea level. Originally published by @insideclimatenews.org
When journals make money per article published, they have no incentive to reject junk science. A librarian: "The journal's interest in rejecting bad science is in direct conflict with its interest in maintaining revenue." This is the APC model.
In Scientific Publishing, Who Should Foot the Bill?
Publishers often charge authors to publish their publicly-funded research. Will a federal crackdown make a difference?
f.mtr.cool
January 13, 2026 at 5:05 PM
When journals make money per article published, they have no incentive to reject junk science. A librarian: "The journal's interest in rejecting bad science is in direct conflict with its interest in maintaining revenue." This is the APC model.
New CDC funding supports a hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau. Not all newborns get the standard birth dose. Researchers warn this crosses ethical lines. Why run it this way? Originally published by @notus.com
CDC to Fund Controversial Study on Infant Hepatitis B Vaccines
The study, to take place in West Africa, prompted outcry from scientists who say it’s design is unethical.
f.mtr.cool
January 13, 2026 at 2:02 PM
New CDC funding supports a hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau. Not all newborns get the standard birth dose. Researchers warn this crosses ethical lines. Why run it this way? Originally published by @notus.com
Anti-seed oil movement traces to: Paleo diet hype, old 1960s-70s studies cited repeatedly, misinformation on social media. Science since then? Seed oils can be beneficial. Context matters more than the oil itself.
As Guidelines Shift, a Curious Debate Over Seed Oils Persists
Despite contradicting studies, seed oils have been blamed for America's ills. Where did the backlash come from?
f.mtr.cool
January 12, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Anti-seed oil movement traces to: Paleo diet hype, old 1960s-70s studies cited repeatedly, misinformation on social media. Science since then? Seed oils can be beneficial. Context matters more than the oil itself.
The Trump administration restricts student loans for allied health professionals. Physical therapists and social workers get lower caps than doctors. These jobs require advanced degrees. The rules could worsen existing shortages.
Restricting Loans for Health Care Workers Should Outrage Us All
Opinion | A federal proposal would unfairly restrict the borrowing of students pursuing in-demand allied health professions.
f.mtr.cool
January 12, 2026 at 5:02 PM
The Trump administration restricts student loans for allied health professionals. Physical therapists and social workers get lower caps than doctors. These jobs require advanced degrees. The rules could worsen existing shortages.
The U.S. spends $200–$300 billion on biomedical research using animals. In "Lab Dog," Melanie Kaplan reveals few appreciable benefits justify the suffering involved.
Excerpt: When the Ethics of Animal Research Hit Home
The owner of a rescued lab dog considers if insights gleaned through animal research are enough to justify the practice.
f.mtr.cool
January 12, 2026 at 2:02 PM
The U.S. spends $200–$300 billion on biomedical research using animals. In "Lab Dog," Melanie Kaplan reveals few appreciable benefits justify the suffering involved.
The low-fat diet made Americans fatter. Now guidelines push saturated fat? Experts worry this shifts people toward red meat instead of fiber-rich, healthier options.
Why It Still Makes Sense to Limit Saturated Fats
The new U.S. dietary guidelines prioritize certain sources of saturated fats. The change concerns experts in nutrition.
f.mtr.cool
January 9, 2026 at 10:02 PM
The low-fat diet made Americans fatter. Now guidelines push saturated fat? Experts worry this shifts people toward red meat instead of fiber-rich, healthier options.
Abstinence-only sex ed didn't work. Zero-COVID harmed millions. Zero-AI ignores reality: billions use it. Instead demand: public expertise, accountability, regulation, democratic control. Not ideological purity.
Abstinence From AI Is Not the Answer
Opinion | Refusing to use AI won’t protect society. Responsible resistance must include gaining knowledge about it.
f.mtr.cool
January 9, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Abstinence-only sex ed didn't work. Zero-COVID harmed millions. Zero-AI ignores reality: billions use it. Instead demand: public expertise, accountability, regulation, democratic control. Not ideological purity.
Health care is a team. Doctors depend on physical therapists and social workers. These jobs need advanced degrees but get lower loan access. Restricting funding for essential workers hurts the entire system and patients.
Restricting Loans for Health Care Workers Should Outrage Us All
Opinion | A federal proposal would unfairly restrict the borrowing of students pursuing in-demand allied health professions.
f.mtr.cool
January 9, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Health care is a team. Doctors depend on physical therapists and social workers. These jobs need advanced degrees but get lower loan access. Restricting funding for essential workers hurts the entire system and patients.
Only 16 whooping cranes were left 80 years ago. Now there are 550+ in the wild. One of North America's greatest conservation wins. But development, bird flu, power lines, and drought are converging on their Texas wintering grounds.
Back from the Brink: The Whooping Crane’s Recovery on the Edge
Following the species' comeback, new pressures are converging on their wintering habitat along the Texas coast.
f.mtr.cool
January 9, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Only 16 whooping cranes were left 80 years ago. Now there are 550+ in the wild. One of North America's greatest conservation wins. But development, bird flu, power lines, and drought are converging on their Texas wintering grounds.
RFK Jr. says seed oils poison America. Trump's guidelines now recommend butter instead. But scientists say seed oils are safe, especially in salads. The backlash? Social media hype and cherry-picked 50-year-old studies.
As Guidelines Shift, a Curious Debate Over Seed Oils Persists
Despite contradicting studies, seed oils have been blamed for America's ills. Where did the backlash come from?
f.mtr.cool
January 8, 2026 at 8:03 PM
RFK Jr. says seed oils poison America. Trump's guidelines now recommend butter instead. But scientists say seed oils are safe, especially in salads. The backlash? Social media hype and cherry-picked 50-year-old studies.