Fonda Mwangi is a multimedia editor at Scientific American. She previously worked as an audio producer at Axios, The Recount and WTOP News. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and public affairs from American University in Washington, D.C.
Leaded Gasoline Tied to Uptick in Mental Health Disorders, and a Mysterious Outbreak Occurs in the DRC
A mysterious outbreak occurs in the Democratic of the Congo, and researchers find evidence that exposure to leaded gasoline was linked to increases in mental illness. Plus, we discuss orcas wearing salmon as hats.
Could Menstruation Be Causing Low Iron Levels?
Underdiagnosed iron deficiency and anemia could be leaving people without affordable fixes for their concerns.
Why Anthony Fauci Is Concerned about Bird Flu and Public Division
“America’s Doctor” says that our common enemy is the danger posed by viruses, not each other.
A Psychologist’s Tips for Avoiding Overconsumption This Holiday Season
Holiday deals are designed to be irresistible. A consumer psychologist explains how to avoid overconsumption and shop sustainably.
RFK, Jr., Could Run the Agency That Oversees CDC, FDA and NIH. Here’s What That Means for Public Health
RFK, Jr., could restructure the CDC, FDA and NIH in pursuit of his flawed vision of public health. Plus, we discuss chimpanzees at play and the first-ever close-up image of a star.
Could AI Ghosts of Ancient Civilizations Help Us Connect with Bygone Cultures?
Social psychologists could turn artificial-intelligence-powered tools like ChatGPT on to writings from past cultures. Will this help us study ancient civilizations?
Unscheduled C-Sections May Depend on the Color of Your Skin
A study of births in New Jersey reveals a troubling disparity between unscheduled C-sections for Black people.
An Off Day in Brooklyn—And on Uranus
A serious bird flu infection in Canada, a troubling projection of future plastic waste and dispatches from a global climate convention.
Reflecting on the Arecibo Message, Our First Attempt to Speak with the Stars
On the 50th anniversary of the “Arecibo message,” we present a reflection on humankind’s first attempt to send a transmission to intelligent life in the cosmos.
Insights into Insects with an Entomologist
Violins, the ink on the Declaration of Independence and other ways that insects shaped human history
The Impact of Weight Stigma on Health
Focusing on size in health care might be doing more harm than good.
Medieval Elites Cared about Their Zodiac Signs, Too
In medieval times, astrology was considered a serious science, a branch of astronomy. Curator Larisa Grollemond of the Getty Museum, walks us through the medieval zodiac and how someone’s sign decided their day-to-day life.
Your 2024 Election Rundown, from Immigration to Education
The outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election could set the climate agenda, reshape public education and shift the dynamics of global science collaboration.
Your 2024 Election Rundown, from Health Care to Nuclear Proliferation
The outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election could reshape policies from health care at home to nuclear proliferation abroad
Why We Love to Be Spooked
Host Rachel Feltman and behavioral scientist Coltan Scrivner explore our fascination with fear and what drives our obsession with all things spooky.
Could Weight-Loss Treatments Lead to an Uptick in Scurvy?
We cover a 3.26-billion-year-old meteorite impact, the spread of bird flu and a scurvy case study that serves as a cautionary tale in this week’s news roundup.
Spooky Lakes and the Science of ‘Haunted Hydrology’
An open body of water can be particularly eerie. It’s part of what led creator and author Geo Rutherford to make her viral videos on Spooky Lakes.
What Do Societal Beauty Standards Have to Do with Breast Cancer?
An epidemiologist explores a troubling rise in early-onset breast cancer diagnoses and discusses the potential link to chronic exposure to endocrine disruptors.
Microbes Are Evolving to Eat Cleaning Supplies, and Whooping Cough Is Making a Comeback
Kick off the week by catching up on the latest science news.
AI in the Election Is about More Than Just Misinformation
The next U.S. president will have to contend with regulations around AI—and the electorate is already facing AI-generated misinformation.
The Doctor Will See You, And Stop Judging You, Now
How do you stop implicit bias from getting in the way of better health? This doctor wants to make learning how to manage bias as important as learning how to suture.
What Is Implicit Bias, and How Might It Affect Your Next Medical Visit?
We talk to Cristina Gonzalez, a physician at New York University, who runs a lab that uses simulations to help medical professionals check their implicit bias at the exam room door.
Hurricane Milton Delays Launch of Europa Clipper, and Science Nobel Awards Highlight AI
A roundup of the science Nobels, the latest COVID updates and the Europa Clipper launch delay.
Traditional Music Shows Global Similarities in How We Sing
What can singing tell us about how we’re wired—and how our ancestors evolved?