February 2018
Issue 25: Waves
We like to see our world as relatively stable. But waves are everywhere, rising and falling all around us. Some we can detect with our ears and our eyes; most require a scientific lens to be truly appreciated.
As we wave hello again, we'll take you on a rollercoaster through the snapping pulses of brainwaves, sudden troughs in self-esteem, the rising damage from storm surge and so much more.
Cover illustration by Simona Seizova
Editorial
Features
They may seem innocuous now, but microwaves have been mired in controversy since their inception in the 1940s — with many people fearful of radiation, cancer, and Chernobyl-style disasters.
Drowned in unconditional praise, a generation has been left with damaged self-esteem. What should parents and educators have done instead?
Humans make a lot of noise when they are out on the seven seas. An interactive exhibition showed us just how damaging this is to our deep sea friends.
On its own, each of our neurons is a dumb oscillator. But when they fire together in their billions, something incredible begins to happen.
Waves are extending the long reach of climate change, and the effects are closer to home than you think.
Articles
Islands of plastic float around the ocean, proving lethal for wildlife. Communities and grassroots organisations are tackling this global problem together.
While most birth control methods put the onus on women, comprehensive education about contraception would open up a healthier dialogue for all genders.
Despite intimidation from male peers and powerful institutions, a group of 19th-century women lead the charge for gender equality in medicine education.
With the right kind of sensory organs, a tremor in the earth can become an entire conversation.
Dams have a lifetime just like everything else, and the dam-building mania of the early 20th century has left us with several damning problems dotted across the landscape.
How a meticulous Italian scientist discovered what makes frog legs twitch — and bridged two nascent scientific disciplines.
Columns
In the early years of the AIDS crisis, one woman fought for her patients against the odds. Linda Laubenstein's story led Gabriella Knowler to consider her own approach to science.
Using satellite tracking, Leena Riekkola has shown that humpback whales do not necessarily end their annual migration in the same place.
Wesley Webb is exploring how culture evolves by studying male and female songs in a virtuosic New Zealand songbird.
There's more than one way to preserve humanity's collective knowledge.
The theory of plate tectonics is the geosciences’ grand unifying theory, but it was discovered in bits and pieces. So does it count as a scientific revolution?
You say you want a revolution? Well, you know... We all want to change the world. But few scientific ideas fit Thomas Kuhn’s original definition of a paradigm shift.
We need your help!
To keep publishing Lateral, we need your help to pay overhead costs for the magazine. This will help us transition to our next phase as a not-for-profit charity.
So if you're a regular Lateral reader or someone who wants to ensure we keep delivering great stories about science, please donate to our crowdfunding campaign. Every bit counts. If you're light on cash, but still want to help us out, please share our campaign with your networks — it will make a world of difference.
Did you miss us? Don’t worry, we won't be leaving you again in any hurry. From here on out, we’ll be ridin’ the new wave of Lateral to bigger and better things.