Science Times: Is Pluto a Planet? What’s a Planet, Anyway?

Plus: In Arkansas, Trans Teens Await an Uncertain Future —

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story January 18, 2022 Is Pluto a Planet? What's a Planet, Anyway? By Kenneth Chang Who doesn't love Pluto? It shares a name with the Roman god of the underworld and a Disney dog. But is it a planet? This debate about the icy world that used to be the ninth planet of the solar system is as much linguistics as science, and it is not a question with simple answers. But it is a fascinating story about an ancient word with shifting meanings, humanity's evolving views of its place in the cosmos and the process of scientific discovery, which like all human endeavors, can be messy and contentious. Are you open to changing your mind about Pluto? Let's ask a few questions to see where you stand on this question of planetary importance. Do you think Pluto should be considered a planet? Yes No NASA/EPA, via Shutterstock Liz Sanders for The New York Times In Arkansas, Trans Teens Await an Uncertain Future Even as the medical community grapples with how best to provide care to transgender adolescents, some states seek to ban it outright. By Sabrina Imbler Kristina Barker for The New York Times Doctors Debate Whether Trans Teens Need Therapy Before Hormones Clinicians are divided over new guidelines that say teens should undergo mental health screenings before receiving hormones or gender surgeries. By Azeen Ghorayshi Johnathon Kelso for The New York Times Halting Progress and Happy Accidents: How mRNA Vaccines Were Made The stunning Covid vaccines manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna drew upon long-buried discoveries made in the hopes of ending past epidemics. By Gina Kolata and Benjamin Mueller Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Email us Let us know how we're doing at sciencenewsletter@nytimes.com. PS118, AWI OFOBS team Trilobites 'Major Discovery' Beneath Antarctic Seas: A Giant Icefish Breeding Colony Scientists discovered a mammoth nesting ground with an estimated 60 million icefish nests in the Weddell Sea. By Sabrina Imbler Glenn Schwartz/John Hopkins University The Kunga Was a Status Symbol Long Before the Thoroughbred A new study finds the first known instance of a human-engineered hybrid, bred from a donkey and a Syrian wild ass 4,500 years ago. By James Gorman International Primate Protection League Shirley McGreal, Champion of Primates Under Threat, Dies at 87 She exposed smuggling rings and research laboratories and built a sanctuary for gibbons in South Carolina. By Richard Sandomir CLIMATE CHANGE Niko Tavernise/Netflix Don't Just Watch: Team Behind 'Don't Look Up' Urges Climate Action The satirical film about a comet hurtling toward Earth is a metaphor for climate change. It has broken a Netflix record and its director hopes it will mobilize public action. By Cara Buckley David Mcnew/Getty Images 2021 Was Another of Earth's Warmest Years NOAA announced its yearly global temperature data, which continued a warming trend. The last seven years have been the seven warmest ever. By Raymond Zhong A Vivid View of Extreme Weather: Temperature Records in the U.S. in 2021 Last year, the U.S. saw some of the hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded, with numerous records broken by double digits, a Times analysis found. By Krishna Karra and Tim Wallace Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Subscribe Today We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times with this special offer. HEALTH Lilli Carré Personal Health When Dementia Strikes at an Early Age Dementia in a person in their 30s, 40s or 50s poses special challenges, starting with getting a diagnosis. By Jane E. Brody CNRI/Science Source Common Virus May Play Role in Debilitating Neurological Illness In a study of members of the Armed Forces, people who developed multiple sclerosis first had Epstein-Barr virus. By Gina Kolata Dadu Shin Melatonin Isn't a Sleeping Pill. Here's How to Use It. The "vampire hormone" can act like a dose of sunset, tricking your body into feeling like it's time to sleep. By Amelia Nierenberg Piotr Redlinski for The New York Times Phys Ed How Exercise May Tame Our Anxiety Cross-country ski racers were less likely to develop anxiety disorders. The good news is less intense aerobic activities may provide similar benefits. By Gretchen Reynolds Tony Luong for The New York Times Can Monitoring Brain Waves Boost Mental Health? Neurofeedback has promised a mental health revolution for decades. But is it effective? By David Dodge Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ask well Why Do Women Gain Belly Fat in Midlife? And is there any way to target it through diet or exercise? By Alice Callahan More Young Kids Are Getting Sick From Cannabis Edibles As states legalize cannabis, a growing number of children are inadvertently consuming marijuana-infused foods. By Christina Caron Medicare Proposes to Sharply Limit Coverage of the Alzheimer's Drug Aduhelm If the preliminary decision is finalized this spring, it would restrict coverage to patients in randomized clinical trials. By Pam Belluck Beatrice Mintz, Groundbreaking Cancer Researcher, Dies at 100 She found that nearby tissue could help tame tumor cells more gently than radiation or chemotherapy, paving the way for new therapies. By Katharine Q. Seelye THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK Charlie Rubin for The New York Times How to Find a Quality Mask (and Avoid Counterfeits) Knowing which mask to pick and making sure it's not a fake requires the sleuthing skills of a forensic investigator. Our guide can help. By Tara Parker-Pope Jenn Ackerman for The New York Times For Coronavirus Testing, the Nose May Not Always Be Best As Omicron spreads, some experts are calling for a switch to saliva-based tests, which may detect infections days earlier than nasal swabs do. By Emily Anthes Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times News Analysis The C.D.C.'s New Challenge? Grappling With Imperfect Science The Omicron coronavirus variant is moving much faster than researchers can, worsening a longstanding problem: The agency must make tough decisions with scant data. By Apoorva Mandavilli Allison Zaucha for The New York Times Hospitals Confront the Fallout From Supreme Court Ruling on Vaccine Mandate They could face more staff shortages, and workers and facilities could feel caught between opposing state and federal policies. By Audra D. S. Burch and Reed Abelson Eduardo Munoz/Reuters Businesses are whipsawed again as the Supreme Court blocks OSHA's vaccine mandate. Companies must now decide whether to proceed with planned mandates without cover from the federal government. By Emma Goldberg and Lauren Hirsch 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. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018