Science Times: Doctors are using chatbots in unexpected ways

Plus: Modern medicine in ancient Rome —

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story June 13, 2023 Daniel Zender Doctors Are Using Chatbots in an Unexpected Way Despite the drawbacks of turning to artificial intelligence in medicine, some physicians find that ChatGPT improves their ability to communicate empathetically with patients. By Gina Kolata NYPL, via Science Source Scalpel, Forceps, Bone Drill: Modern Medicine in Ancient Rome A 2,000-year-old collection of medical tools, recently unearthed in Hungary, offer insight into the practices of undaunted, much-maligned Roman doctors. By Franz Lidz NASA Cosmic Luck: NASA's Apollo 11 Moon Quarantine Broke Down A review of archives suggests that efforts to protect Earth from contamination by any organism brought back from the lunar surface were mostly for show. By Sarah Scoles Saratta Chuengsatiansup How Could A.I. Destroy Humanity? Researchers and industry leaders have warned that A.I. could pose an existential risk to humanity. But they've been light on the details. By Cade Metz Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Email us Let us know how we're doing at sciencenewsletter@nytimes.com. Alexander Coggin for The New York Times The Man Who Turned the World on to the Genius of Fungi A vast fungal web braids together life on Earth. Merlin Sheldrake wants to help us see it. By Jennifer Kahn Farhad Yusef-Zadeh/Northwestern University OUT THERE Our Local Black Hole Serves Up an 'Awe Moment' Filaments of radio energy from Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, are turning astronomers' heads. By Dennis Overbye NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Naval Research Laboratory How Solar Wind Flows From the Sun Like Water From a Shower Head The Parker Solar Probe is providing NASA researchers with insights into how the sun accelerates particles to a million miles per hour. 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By Kenneth Chang Owen Gingerich, Astronomer Who Saw God in the Cosmos, Dies at 93 He wrote and lectured widely, often on the theme that religion and science were not incompatible. He also chased down 600 copies of Copernicus's landmark book. By Neil Genzlinger Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CLIMATE CHANGE The New York Times Why the U.S. Electric Grid Isn't Ready for the Energy Transition The current system makes it hard to build the long-distance power lines needed to transport wind and solar nationwide. By Nadja Popovich and Brad Plumer Janie Osborne for The New York Times A Landmark Youth Climate Trial Begins in Montana Sixteen young people argue that the state is robbing their future by embracing policies that contribute to climate change. By Mike Baker Arizona, Low on Water, Weighs Taking It From the Sea. In Mexico. A $5 billion plan to desalinate seawater in Mexico and pipe it to Phoenix is testing the notion that desert cities can keep growing as the Earth warms. By Christopher Flavelle and Adriana Zehbrauskas Enjoy all of The New York Times in one subscription — the original reporting and analysis, plus puzzles from Games, recipes from Cooking, product reviews from Wirecutter and sports journalism from The Athletic. Experience it all with a New York Times All Access subscription. HEALTH Celeste Sloman for The New York Times Obamacare Mandate for Preventive Care Is Restored, for Now Health plans must pay for all types of preventive care, including a pill to prevent H.I.V., while an appeals court deliberates whether to strike down part of the Affordable Care Act. By Sarah Kliff Doug Chayka THE NEW OLD AGE Hospice Is a Profitable Business, but Nonprofits Mostly Do a Better Job Nearly three-quarters of hospice organizations are now for-profit. Complaints of fraud and profiteering are growing. By Paula Span Columbia University Irving Medical Center From Energy Drinks to Extending Life? Supplement Slows Aging in Mice and Monkeys Taurine helped stave off death in laboratory animals, but researchers cautioned that the supplement is not a magic elixir. By Elie Dolgin Getty Images How Do You Practice Gratitude? We want to learn more about how Times readers give thanks. By Christina Caron Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Nonprofit Health System Pauses Policy of Cutting Off Care for Patients in Debt Allina Health, a large health system in the Midwest, had withheld care for patients who had $4,500 in medical bills. By Sarah Kliff and Jessica Silver-Greenberg F.D.A. Panel Recommends R.S.V. Shot to Protect Infants Advisers to the agency overwhelmingly agreed that a new treatment would help to prevent a potentially lethal respiratory illness in very young children. By Christina Jewett WHY NOT TRY A 20-Minute Boxing Workout to Build Strength and Endurance One short workout can help you build fitness, achieve better balance and even ward off injuries. No punching bag needed. By Rachel Fairbank Harald zur Hausen, 87, Nobelist Who Found Cause of Cervical Cancer, Dies When he proposed that the human papillomavirus caused cervical cancer, he was ridiculed. He persevered, and today a vaccine exists. By Emily Anthes 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 Science Times, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. 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