Science Times: The Height Modernization of the United States

Plus: Why Is This Chocolate Shimmering Like a Rainbow?

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story May 26, 2020 Coast & Geodetic Survey/NOAA Photo Library   The U.S. Is Getting Shorter, as Mapmakers Race to Keep Up Scientists are hard at work recalibrating where and how the nation physically sits on the planet. It’s not shrinkage — it’s “height modernization.” By Alanna Mitchell George Etheredge for The New York Times   Trilobites Long Limbs Helped Propel T. Rex Up the Dinosaur Food Chain The apex predator wasn’t a quick runner because of its heft, but its lanky limbs ensured it could amble efficiently for hours. By Katherine Kornei The Ocean Agency/XL Catlin Seaview Survey   Trilobites When Coral’s Colorful Show Is a Sign That It’s Sick Under stress, certain coral species put on displays to try to re-attract symbiotic algae they need to survive. By David Waldstein Giulia Marthaler/ETH Zurich   Trilobites Why Is This Chocolate Shimmering Like a Rainbow? This tasty treat is additive free, and it turns iridescent with a little help from physics. By Devi Lockwood Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Email us Let us know how we’re doing at sciencenewsletter@nytimes.com. THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK Andrew Testa for The New York Times   A Virus-Hunter Falls Prey to a Virus He Underestimated Peter Piot, 71, one of the giants of Ebola and AIDS research, is still battling a coronavirus infection that hit him “like a bus” in March. By Donald G. McNeil Jr. Pool photo by Ulrich Perrey   Federal Scientists Finally Publish Remdesivir Data A clinical trial led to the authorization of the only drug shown to work in Covid-19 patients. But until now, few experts had seen the numbers. By Gina Kolata Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times   Black Coronavirus Patients Land in Hospitals More Often, Study Finds Compared to white or Hispanic patients, black patients seeking care have more advanced cases of Covid-19, researchers reported. By Roni Caryn Rabin     Different Approaches to a Coronavirus Vaccine Scientists are using many techniques to develop coronavirus vaccines. By Jonathan Corum, Knvul Sheikh and Carl Zimmer Seth Wenig/Associated Press   The New Old Age How to Improve and Protect Nursing Homes From Outbreaks More than a third of America’s Covid-19 deaths can be traced back to these facilities. Experts suggest several ways to make them safer. By Paula Span Marian Carrasquero for The New York Times   You’re Getting Used to Masks. Will You Wear a Face Shield? The clear plastic guards may be easier to wear, disinfect and reuse than cloth or surgical face coverings, although they don’t entirely replace the need for masks. By Knvul Sheikh Uli Seit for The New York Times   Putting the Risk of Covid-19 in Perspective Is the risk of dying from Covid-19 comparable to driving to work every day, skydiving or being a soldier in a war? By David C. Roberts Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters   Uncertain Results in Study of Convalescent Serum for Covid-19 Do antibodies from patients who have recovered actually help those struggling with the disease? By Gina Kolata Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT MORE SCIENCE NEWS NASA   Out There NASA Names Dark Energy Telescope for Nancy Grace Roman Dr. Roman was a pioneer at NASA, joining the agency in its early days and becoming its first chief astronomer. By Dennis Overbye NRAO/AUI/NSF, S. Dagnello   Out There The Galaxy That Grew Up Too Fast A vast wheel of gas in the primordial cosmos is forcing astronomers to rethink how some of the universe’s largest structures may have formed. By Dennis Overbye Oleksandr Rupeta/Alamy   Trilobites Elephants Really Can’t Hold Their Liquor Humans and other species have a gene mutation that lets them digest alcohol. In other species, it’s missing. By Rachel Nuwer Jack Rawlinson   Trilobites Mother Sea Turtles Might Be Sneakier Than They Look The large reptiles make decoy nests to distract predators during an oft-ignored behavior following their egg laying, researchers say. By David Waldstein Mark Wilson/Getty Images   Scientists Predict ‘Busy’ Atlantic Hurricane Season Amid Virus Crisis This year’s season is complicated by the coronavirus pandemic, which makes relief strategies like group shelters risky. By John Schwartz and Christopher Flavelle Berenika Mioduszewska   Trilobites Wild Cockatoos Are Just as Smart as Lab-Raised Ones Previous research suggested that spending a lot of time with humans might make animals more innovative. These birds had another idea. By James Gorman CLIMATE CHANGE Ben Curtis/Associated Press   What a Week’s Disasters Tell Us About Climate and the Pandemic Extreme weather presents an even bigger threat when economies are crashing and ordinary people are stretched to their limits. By Somini Sengupta Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT HEALTH Arshad Arbab/EPA, via Shutterstock   Polio and Measles Could Surge After Disruption of Vaccine Programs A new study of 129 countries found that the interruption of inoculation efforts could put 80 million babies at risk of getting deadly, preventable diseases. By Jan Hoffman Gracia Lam   Personal Health To Fight Covid-19, Don’t Neglect Immunity and Inflammation After seeing who is most likely to become infected and die, immunity and inflammation warrant further discussion and public attention. By Jane E. Brody Brittainy Newman/The New York Times   Phys Ed Returning to Exercise After Recovery From Coronavirus Two new expert consensus statements urge caution for athletes with coronavirus who are returning to serious training. By Gretchen Reynolds Getty Images   Ask Well When Can I See My Grandkids? The pandemic has separated many grandparents from their grandchildren. Here’s advice for safely reuniting your family’s oldest and youngest generations. By Tara Parker-Pope Daniel Shaffer   How to Protect Kids’ Ears From Constant Headphone Use Volume is not the only measure to consider. Duration also contributes to damage to our kids’ ears. By Joyce Cohen Getty Images   When Teen Boys Use Supplements Some supplements are more effective than others — and some may be harmful, experts warn. By Lisa L. Lewis Make a friend’s day: Forward this email. Got this from a friend? Subscribe to the Science Times newsletter. Check out other New York Times newsletters (all free!) including: Climate Fwd: for climate coverage and expert analysis. The Upshot for a data-driven look at the news. Well for the latest on health, fitness and nutrition. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Science Times from The New York Times. 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