Science | The Walrus

A photograph of a woman in a workout top sweating

Science

Smell You Later: The Weird Science of How Sweat Attracts

July 14, 2021July 14, 2021 - by Sarah Everts

Smell is often dismissed as the least important sense. But it’s the funk that draws us together

Illustration of a child looking out of a window

Science

Affected Development: Will Kids Ever Recover from Isolation?

June 8, 2021July 25, 2021 - by Skyler Ash

For many children, our panicked pandemic lives are the only lives they’ve ever known

A person lies asleep with swirls around their face

Science

Having More Nightmares Lately? You’re Not Alone

May 14, 2021May 19, 2021 - by Carla Ciccone

Swarms of bugs, inescapable crowds, and moments of maskless horror are the new normal. Will we ever sleep soundly again?

An illustration of silhouetted people walking along a bridge over flowing water.

June 2021 / Science

Blue Space Is the New Green Space

May 10, 2021May 10, 2021 - by Dan Rubinstein

Why being near water can be a boon for our health and wellness

A woman sitting alone on a desert island, looking at the clouds

Science

Blah Blah Blah: The Lack of Small Talk Is Breaking Our Brains

April 22, 2021April 22, 2021 - by Hannah Seo

Chit-chat is often dismissed as mindless and boring. But its absence over the past year is affecting you more than you think

A close-up photo of a tick perched on a large green leaf

Science / September/October 2020

Invasion of the Ticks

July 21, 2020September 9, 2020 - by Stephanie Nolen

Inside the quest to track one of humanity’s tiniest deadly predators

Illustration of an astronaut in full space gear, surrounding by bright streaks of light that resemble small comets.

In Other Worlds: A Space Exploration / June 2020 / Science

What Astronauts Can Teach Us about Mental Health and Isolation

May 19, 2020September 10, 2020 - by Elizabeth Howell

We’re learning what members of space missions have known for decades: it’s hard to live in a confined space for long periods of time

Illustration of two people wearing leopard-print jackets and running down the aisles of a supermarket. The woman is pushing a cart.

COVID-19 / June 2020 / Science

Your Brain on COVID-19

May 6, 2020June 18, 2020 - by Carolyn Abraham

Fear, denial, panic buying: why our minds are not designed to process threats like the coronavirus pandemic

A quadrant of four black and white photos of people experiencing fear or stress. Surrounding the photos are red lines that resemble the beeps on a heart monitor, suggesting a fast heart rate.

Science

How Fear Takes Hold of Our Bodies

April 13, 2020May 1, 2020 - by Eva Holland

Shallow breathing, dizziness, pounding heart: the science behind why we’re so afraid right now

A hand holding a yellow watering can is watering indoor plants on a windowsill.

Science

Are Plants Listening to Us? It Depends Who You Ask

April 9, 2020February 24, 2021 - by Michael Rancic

A controversial 1970s book claimed that plants can hear. It turns out its authors might not have been entirely wrong