Science Times: She Became a Spy for Planet Earth

Plus: Was That a Dropped Call from ET? —

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story January 5, 2021 via Linda Zall Profiles in Science Inside the C.I.A., She Became a Spy for Planet Earth Linda Zall is disclosing how she toiled anonymously within the intelligence agency to help scientists intensify their studies of a changing planet. By William J. Broad National Reconnaissance Office It Spied on Soviet Atomic Bombs. Now It’s Solving Ecological Mysteries. Imagery from the Cold War’s Corona satellites is helping scientists fill in how we have changed our planet in the past half century. By Marion Renault ESA/Hubble & NASA Out There Was That a Dropped Call From ET? A spooky radio signal showed up after a radio telescope was aimed at the next star over from our sun. By Dennis Overbye NASA/JPL-Caltech Missions to Mars, the Moon and Beyond Await Earth in 2021 Here’s a preview of what to expect in space and astronomy in the year to come. By Michael Roston Ferdinandh Cabrera/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Sync your calendar with the solar system Never miss an eclipse, a meteor shower, a rocket launch or any other astronomical and space event that's out of this world. By Michael Roston Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Email us Let us know how we’re doing at sciencenewsletter@nytimes.com. THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK Octavio Jones for The New York Times As Rollout Falters, Scientists Debate New Vaccination Tactics Should second doses be delayed? Should most adults receive half-doses? Scientists are pondering ways to get more shots into more arms. By Katherine J. Wu and Rebecca Robbins Jovelle Tamayo for The New York Times Some Covid Survivors Haunted by Loss of Smell and Taste As the coronavirus claims more victims, a once-rare diagnosis is receiving new attention from scientists, who fear it may affect nutrition and mental health. By Roni Caryn Rabin Mario Tama/Getty Images How Does the Coronavirus Variant Spread? Here’s What Scientists Know Contagiousness is the hallmark of the mutated virus surfacing in the U.S. and more than a dozen other countries. By Apoorva Mandavilli Pool photo by Paul Sancya Here’s Why Distribution of the Vaccine Is Taking Longer Than Expected Health officials and hospitals are struggling with a lack of resources. Holiday staffing and saving doses for nursing homes are also contributing to delays. By Rebecca Robbins, Frances Robles and Tim Arango Emily Rose Bennett for The New York Times He Was Hospitalized for Covid-19. Then Hospitalized Again. And Again. Significant numbers of coronavirus patients experience long-term symptoms that send them back to the hospital, taxing an already overburdened health system. By Pam Belluck Brendan Smialowski/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Vaccines Take a While to Kick In. Experts Say That Means the Body Is Doing Its Job. Reports of Covid-19 cases that appeared shortly after a single shot of a two-dose vaccine shouldn’t cause concern. By Katherine J. Wu Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT MORE SCIENCE NEWS Chuan-Chin Chiao Trilobites Cuttlefish Took Something Like a Marshmallow Test. Many Passed. It turns out that camouflage isn’t the only talent these cephalopods have. By Veronique Greenwood Education Images/Universal Images Group, via Getty Images The Problem With Problem Sharks A marine biologist’s ideas for singling out sharks that attack humans have prompted objections from other shark scientists. By Jason Nark R. Mickens/AMNH Critic’s Notebook Seeing Color: A Matter of Nature, or Culture? An exhibition at the Museum of Natural History is the sum of all lessons on hue. By Jason Farago Jeanette Bates/International Bird Rescue, via Associated Press Wounds on Brown Pelicans in California Raise Fears of Animal Cruelty In a little over a year, five birds have been treated by International Bird Rescue with severe slashes on their pouches that the organization believes were intentionally inflicted. By Concepción de León CLIMATE CHANGE Erin Schaff/The New York Times How Trump Tried, but Largely Failed, to Derail America’s Top Climate Report The White House repeatedly attempted to thwart the country’s premier climate science document, one meant to steer policy for years. Scientists got in the way. By Christopher Flavelle   New Year’s Resolutions for the Planet Here are some ideas you wonderful readers sent to us. HEALTH Eve Edelheit for The New York Times U.S. Diet Guidelines Sidestep Scientific Advice to Cut Sugar and Alcohol The government’s new nutritional recommendations arrive amid a pandemic that has taken a huge toll on American health. By Roni Caryn Rabin Lynsey Weatherspoon for The New York Times In Minority Communities, Doctors Are Changing Minds About Vaccination Many Black and Hispanic Americans mistrust government officials, and instead have turned to physicians they have long known. By Gina Kolata Gracia Lam Personal Health Does Coconut Oil Deserve Its Health Halo? “It’s been known for a long time that coconut oil raises blood levels of artery-damaging LDL cholesterol,” one expert said. By Jane E. Brody Andrew B Myers Well Challenge Day 1 For a Healthier 2021, Keep the Best Habits of a Very Bad Year Our 7-Day Well Challenge will show you how to build on the healthy habits you learned during pandemic life. By Tara Parker-Pope Andrew B Myers Well Challenge Day 2 For an Exercise ‘Snack,’ Try the New Standing 7-Minute Workout During pandemic lockdowns, many of us learned the importance of short home workouts. Take the 7-Day Well Challenge for a new exercise video and more ways to keep moving in 2021. By Tara Parker-Pope iStock Phys Ed Can 4 Seconds of Exercise Make a Difference? Four seconds of intense intervals, repeated until they amount to a minute of total exertion, led to rapid improvements in strength and fitness in middle-aged and older adults. By Gretchen Reynolds Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT 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. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. 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