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Undark Magazine @undark.org · 8h

The anti-sunscreen movement is growing, but dermatologists say the risks of UV exposure outweigh concerns about chemical absorption. New guidelines suggest tailoring sun protection to skin tone pale skin needs more caution, darker skin less.

What the Anti-Sunscreen Movement Misses

New research suggests sunlight has unexpected benefits, but this doesn't mean everyone should ditch their sunscreen.

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · 12h

After a decade of mystery, scientists say they’ve found the cause of sea star wasting disease: the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida. But not everyone agrees. Could this finally solve one of the ocean’s longest-running epidemics?

The Long Quest to Uncover a Sea Star Killing Bacteria

Scientists say they’ve found the cause of a marine epidemic more than 10 years after it started. What took so long?

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · 15h

New research shows lead service lines still expose millions of Americans to dangerous levels of lead. Experts warn replacing these pipes is urgent, but progress in cities like Chicago remains painfully slow.

Fresh Insights Into the Stubborn Problem of Lead Water Pipes

New research methods are revealing more evidence of the health dangers associated with America's lead service lines.

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · 3d

Scientists warn that comparing human migration to invasive species blurs science and risks fueling xenophobia. As @carlynzwaren.bsky.social writes, conservation metaphors can mislead and cause harm if used carelessly.

Invasion Metaphors in Conservation Biology Pose Real-World Risk

Opinion | Comparisons between invasive species and human migrants in the literature can get hijacked for political ends.

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · 3d

Climate-fueled storms, wildfires, and rising seas are pushing U.S. home insurance to the limit. As @yalee360.bsky.social reports, policies are canceled, and some markets may become uninsurable. Is the country ready for a hotter future?

How Climate Change Is Driving Home Insurance Turmoil

Climate-fueled storms and wildfires are increasing costs and pushing insurers to the limit. Is the market broken?

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · 4d

Journalist Mona Gable nearly died from malaria. Now, the U.S. has dismantled the CDC’s malaria division and USAID programs that saved millions. As climate change spreads the disease, are we dismantling our best defenses?

Weakening the World’s Ability to Fight Malaria

Opinion | The elimination of USAID and the CDC's malaria division will hinder progress against the deadly mosquito-borne disease.

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · 6d

In contrast to some European and Asian countries, sunscreens in the U.S. are regulated by the FDA as over-the-counter drugs instead of cosmetics, meaning they must fulfill a long list of requirements to obtain approval.

A New Bill’s Bid to Bring Better Sunscreens

The SAFE Sunscreen Standards Act seeks to revamp the FDA’s review process. Could it usher in more effective sunscreens?

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · 11d

Join us at 3 PM ET on Reddit for an AMA with Undark reporter Teresa Carr about her investigation into cannabis testing failures.

From the IAmA community on Reddit: I’m Teresa Carr, an investigative journalist at Undark Magazine who reported on how weak cannabis testing lets contaminated products and inflated THC numbers reach consumers. Ask Me Anything.

Explore this post and more from the IAmA community

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · 11d

The share of global electricity from nuclear has dropped from 17% in 2001 to 9% in 2024. In the U.S., only two new reactors have come online in nearly 30 years.

Is a 'Nuclear Renaissance' Possible in the United States?

President Trump’s push to revive nuclear energy relies on deregulation, but experts say that strategy is misplaced.

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · 14d

The sunscreen market in the U.S. has remained largely stagnant for the past 25 years, as many skincare and cosmetic companies have failed to get new active ingredients approved. Legislation recently introduced seeks to change that.

A New Bill’s Bid to Bring Better Sunscreens

The SAFE Sunscreen Standards Act seeks to revamp the FDA’s review process. Could it usher in more effective sunscreens?

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · 19d

The SAFE Sunscreen Standards Act seeks to revamp the FDA’s review process. Could it usher in more effective sunscreens?

A New Bill’s Bid to Bring Better Sunscreens

The SAFE Sunscreen Standards Act seeks to revamp the FDA’s review process. Could it usher in more effective sunscreens?

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · 20d

“Too expensive to build, and it takes too long to build,” says Allison Macfarlane, former NRC chair, on the barriers to nuclear expansion.

Is a 'Nuclear Renaissance' Possible in the United States?

President Trump’s push to revive nuclear energy relies on deregulation, but experts say that strategy is misplaced.

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · 26d

🎧 This week on Entanglements, our hosts talk to two book authors about how artificial intelligence is deployed.

Podcast: Should Companies Decide Our Tech Future?

This week on Entanglements, our hosts talk to two book authors about how artificial intelligence is deployed.

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · 26d

Specific data about H5N1 outbreaks on farms has generally been deemed confidential by state and federal officials.

In Tracking Avian Flu, Data Privacy Stymies Researchers

Specific data about H5N1 outbreaks on farms has generally been deemed confidential by state and federal officials.

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · 26d

The Trump administration wants nuclear power to produce 400 gigawatts by 2050. Companies like Westinghouse and TerraPower are investing in new reactor designs, but costs and timelines remain major hurdles.

Is a 'Nuclear Renaissance' Possible in the United States?

President Trump’s push to revive nuclear energy relies on deregulation, but experts say that strategy is misplaced.

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · Sep 13

Optimists see progress: companies like Kairos Power are already building demonstration plants, and DOE projects three SMRs running by next year. Others remain skeptical about costs and timelines.

Is a 'Nuclear Renaissance' Possible in the United States?

President Trump’s push to revive nuclear energy relies on deregulation, but experts say that strategy is misplaced.

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · Sep 11

Machine learning rewards uniformity over diversity. Languages that deviate from dominant norms get filtered out—not because they lack value, but because they complicate the algorithms and slow down processing.

When AI Doesn’t Understand You: A New Form of Global Inequality

Opinion | Many of the world’s languages aren’t adequately represented in the data used to train chatbots and other AI-based tools.

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · Sep 10

Experts warn that weakening the NRC could compromise safety. “The thrust of those orders is to essentially strip the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of its independence,” said Edwin Lyman of the Union of Concerned Scientists. https://undark.org/2025/09/08/trump-nuclear-renaissance/

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · Sep 8

In May, President Trump signed four executive orders aimed at reviving nuclear energy in the U.S. by cutting red tape and reshaping the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Experts question whether deregulation can spark a "nuclear renaissance."

Is a 'Nuclear Renaissance' Possible in the United States?

President Trump’s push to revive nuclear energy relies on deregulation, but experts say that strategy is misplaced.

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · Sep 5

The American Academy of Pediatrics issues guidelines that shape child health nationwide. But critics say its conflict-of-interest policies fall short of global standards.

A Question of Conflicts at America's Top Pediatrician Association

How far should the AAP go to disclose potential conflicts of interest in guidelines and other official recommendations?

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · Sep 3

RFK Jr’s Vaccine Policies Could Undermine Coverage — and Trust

RFK Jr's Vaccine Policies Could Undermine Coverage — and Trust

A series of recent changes could have significant implications for how Americans receive and pay for their shots.

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · Sep 3

Only 8 percent of patients remain on GLP-1s after three years, according to a new review. A holistic approach may help.

How to Help People Stay on Their Weight-Loss Drugs

Only 8 percent of patients remain on GLP-1s after three years, according to a new review. A more holistic approach may help.

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · Sep 2

Global AI activity concentrates in the US, China, and Western Europe. Countries in the Global South lack infrastructure to build their own models, creating dependency on foreign technologies that shape their public services.

When AI Doesn’t Understand You: A New Form of Global Inequality

Opinion | Many of the world’s languages aren’t adequately represented in the data used to train chatbots and other AI-based tools.

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · Aug 29

The consequences are real. Official forms in Tamil Nadu reject valid surnames due to rigid formatting. Registrars in Peru refuse Indigenous names. Voice systems force users to mask their accents or switch languages entirely.

🔗: https://undark.org/2025/08/07/opinion-ai-language-inequality/

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Undark Magazine @undark.org · Aug 28

Should We Make Viruses More Dangerous – For Science?

Season 2 of Entanglements is live and for the first episode, our hosts talk to a microbiologist and a virologist about gain-of-function research.

Podcast: Should We Make Viruses More Dangerous – For Science?

Kicking off Entanglements Season 2, our hosts talk to a microbiologist and a virologist about gain-of-function research.

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