Articles by Ben Plackett

The centurieslong pursuit may finally be progressing, but designing ethical ways to test these products is a sizable challenge.
Benjamin Plackett, Contributor
If the world can limit future greenhouse gas emissions, scientists are hopeful that adaptations can help a battered industry survive.
Benjamin Plackett, Contributor
The material, which mimics the structure of an araucaria leaf, might one day be used to help clean oil spills.
Benjamin Plackett, Contributor
Milk proteins grown in the laboratory could be a more sustainable alternative to the cow’s udder, but the science behind it is still maturing.
Benjamin Plackett, Contributor
Psychologists say 2020's stream of bad news has probably hurt the mental health of people who follow it closely.
Benjamin Plackett, Contributor
Pollution estimates in India highlight the need for some countries to more closely monitor the problem in nonurban areas.
Benjamin Plackett, Contributor
What does the science say about the safety of America’s chicken farming practice?
Benjamin Plackett, Contributor
Once the tricky political agreements have been reached, how do nations take apart their nuclear weapons?
Benjamin Plackett, Contributor
Scientists are trying to perfect a technique for growing crops in space so that astronauts have enough food to get to Mars and back.
Benjamin Plackett, Contributor
The 2018 Nobel Prize in chemistry will go to Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P. Winter for research on enzymes, peptides and antibodies.
Benjamin Plackett, Contributor
Scientists want to identify the hundreds of thousands of viruses that could potentially spill over from wildlife into humans.
Benjamin Plackett, Contributor
The health benefits of a month without alcohol are unclear, and the British and Canadian medical authorities recommend several drink-free days per week.
Benjamin Plackett, Contributor