Science Information drew hundreds of thousands of tourists to our web site this yr. Right here’s a glance again on the most-read and most-watched on-line information tales of 2024.
Prime information tales
5. Psilocybin quickly dissolves mind networks
The psychedelic drug psilocybin briefly erases folks’s neural fingerprints, the baseline mind exercise distinctive to a person. A few of the greatest modifications happen in an space referred to as the default mode community, which can play a task in creating a way of self. Many of the drug’s results sometimes go away inside a day. A greater understanding of psilocybin may result in higher psychological well being therapies (SN: 8/10/24, p. 12).
4. Social media harms teenagers’ psychological well being, mounting proof reveals. What now?
Whereas proof grows for the dangerous results of social media on adolescent psychological well being, extra rigorous analysis is required to look at the mechanisms behind this potential causal hyperlink and why sure teams are extra susceptible to hurt. Solely then can coverage makers, well being professionals, mother and father and different adults assist safeguard younger folks on-line (SN: 3/9/24, p. 14).
3. Why the 2024 whole photo voltaic eclipse can be such a giant deal
The April 8 photo voltaic eclipse seen over North America was extraordinary, even by photo voltaic eclipse requirements. The moon was at some extent in its orbit that introduced it fairly near Earth. The solar was additionally near its peak exercise, referred to as photo voltaic most. This confluence of things gave spectators an particularly darkish and lengthy eclipse and scientists an thrilling alternative to check the solar (SN: 3/9/24, p. 24).
2. Geoscientists discovered essentially the most harmful a part of a well-known West Coast fault
Seismic knowledge reveal that the Cascadia megathrust, a large fault within the Pacific Northwest, isn’t a single, steady fracture, however quite composed of no less than 4 segments. Probably the most harmful phase seems to stretch from off the coast of southern Vancouver Island by the state of Washington (SN: 7/13/24 & 7/27/24, p. 6).
1. DNA from previous hair helps verify the macabre food plan of two nineteenth century lions
Genetic evaluation of previous hair caught within the maws of two famed lions reveal the beasts’ food plan. Dubbed the “man-eaters of Tsavo,” the lions roamed Kenya greater than a century in the past, snacking on giraffe, oryx, zebra, waterbuck, wildebeest and, sure, people. The strategy of study may assist scientists re-create the eating habits of different long-dead predators (SN: 10/11/24).
