Why did Betelgeuse go dark?

Plus: Goliath's actual size, ant body armor, science of COVID-19 shutdowns, Newton's Principia and more

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11/29/2020 The biblical warrior Goliath may not have been so giant after all Archaeological finds suggest the width of the walls of Goliath’s home city were used to metaphorically represent the Old Testament figure’s height. Read More Coronavirus shutdowns don’t need to be all or nothing Governments are implementing more targeted restrictions like limiting restaurant capacity to slow a fall surge. Research suggests they could work. Read More Mineral body armor helps some leaf-cutting ants win fights with bigger kin Researchers have found that at least one species of leaf-cutting ant has a tough layer of calcite on its exoskeleton. Read More Betelgeuse went dark, but didn’t go supernova. What happened? Astronomers are anxious to learn why Betelgeuse, one of the brightest stars in the sky, dimmed dramatically, but didn’t explode, in 2019. Read More Science News is a nonprofit. We depend on our readers to support our journalism. You can help by subscribing for as little as $25. SUBSCRIBE NOW Lonely brains crave people like hungry brains crave food After hours of isolation, dopamine-producing cells in the brain fire up in response to pictures of humans, showing our social side runs deep. Read More A face mask may turn up a male wrinkle-faced bat’s sex appeal The first-ever scientific observations of a wrinkle-faced bat’s courtship shows that, when flirting, the males raise their white furry face coverings. Read More Immunity to COVID-19 may persist six months or more Even after recovery, the body continues to improve its antibody response to the coronavirus — perhaps thanks to viral bits hiding in the intestine. Read More Newton’s groundbreaking 'Principia' may have been more popular than previously thought A search has uncovered over 300 copies of Isaac Newton’s famous 17th century book, the Principia, revealing a broader readership than assumed. Read More Privacy policy  |  Update Profile  | Manage Subscriptions  |   Unsubscribe This email was sent by: Society for Science & the Public 1719 N Street NW Washington, DC, 20036, US