Brandon A. Weber
Contributing Writer
Brandon Weber has been writing and creating viral joy on the Innerwebz for over 7 years at Upworthy, The Progressive, Big Think, and more. His book on forgotten histories of unions, working people, veterans, and other marginalized people is available on Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Powell's.
New study: Microplastics found in all beached dolphins, whales, and seals
"Our findings are not good news," says Brendan Godley, of the University of Exeter.
Millions of Americans are sleep deprived — and it’s literally killing us
It's a public health crisis, experts say.
6 great inventions from the Civil War
The massive number of casualties and injuries created during these battles necessitated some quick, creative ideas... some of which we still have today.
Cannabis may boost perceptual reasoning in teenage brains, researchers say
It increases their brains' gray matter volume.
No Planet B can ‘ever’ be made as comfortable as Earth, says British astronomer Martin Rees
The end of the world is the main focus of his new book.
Exercise produces irisin — irisin might prevent Alzheimer’s, researchers say
Some hope for those who are struggling with the disease.
In one coal state, renewable energy is set to win by 2028
Indiana ranks 3rd in coal consumption, but a primary energy utility there just declared the end of coal by 2028
Trolls undermine the credibility of authors and publications, researchers say
The impact of abusive comments is "significant."
MIT scientists propose giant laser beacon to attract alien attention
The concept was likened to a porch light in our little neighborhood of the galaxy.
NASA scientists are developing rocket fuel made from Martian soil
Scientists at NASA are currently developing methane-creating robots to overcome this challenge.
200 Google workers will walk out on Thursday over sexual misconduct handling
The "Women's Walk" (as Google has named it) will occur in response to how the company handled sexual misconduct claims against one of its executives.
NASA spots perfectly rectangular icebergs in Antarctica
Geometric or tabular icebergs are a thing, and they're kinda beautiful.
Explosives scare at CNN, suspicious packages sent to Clintons and Obamas
It's a little scary out there, folks.
Raising minimum wage to $15 an hour reduces costly turnovers, new study finds
As it turns out, the effects of the minimum wage increase are more nuanced than previously espoused.
Sandra Day O’Connor, first woman on U.S. Supreme Court, has dementia
Her husband died in 2009 of the disease.
Yes, Mega Millions just passed $1 billion. What does that look like?
It's hard to imagine such a number. But these images will help you try.
The original ‘Big Bird’ puppeteer is leaving Sesame Street
He was recruited by Jim Henson himself in 1969.
Canada has legalized marijuana. Here’s why they did it.
The tax coffers for the entire country will be growing rapidly, and citizens of Canada will be able to access what they need.
Jeff Bezos defends spending billions on rockets over, say, poverty
At what point does spending billions on rocket technology seem irresponsible to those suffering on Earth?
Retail apocalypse continues as Sears files for bankruptcy
142 more stores to close, but that might be just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
9 heartbreaking Hurricane Michael photos remind us of nature’s power
It's the first time a Category 4 hit this region. Ever.
Mount Vesuvius eruption boiled people’s blood, made skulls explode
The eruption quickly killed those caught in its intense wake.
The Pine Island Glacier is about to calve another monster iceberg
This is doubly worrisome on the heels of the recent UN climate change report, which gave humanity an urgent deadline to cut carbon emissions: just 12 years.
On global warming, we have 12 years left until the point of no return
Most of us will still be alive then. Maybe.
Meteorite used as doorstop for decades worth $100,000
It had a role in that old farmhouse...
Amazon dumps “stealth tax” on unsuspecting warehouse workers
Amazon raised its minimum wage for US workers to $15 per hour. Then, it took a bunch of other benefits away in what's being called a "stealth tax."
The 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winners all work with ‘directed’ evolution
The field they work in is quite cutting edge.
NASA unveils new goals for Moon, Mars, including space privatization
Credit: NASA NASA this week unveiled its new plan that many are calling “bold” and other lofty adjectives, with a 10-to-20-year span, each phase of which is somewhat dependent on […]