Imagine a busload of people. Now, imagine that’s the entire population of Hawaiian false killer whales left in the vast Pacific Ocean – a mere 139 individuals. For years, scientists have watched these magnificent creatures, knowing they faced an uphill battle for survival, their numbers dwindling year after year. The big question haunting researchers wasn’t just about their dwindling population, but whether those precious few remaining whales were truly healthy enough to turn the tide. Were they finding enough food in the boundless ocean? Were their bodies robust and well-nourished, or were they barely clinging to life, teetering on the…

Imagine a news story that isn’t really a news story, but a carefully constructed illusion designed to manipulate how you think and feel. That’s exactly what happened after a Ukrainian strike in Starobilsk, a town currently held by Russia. The Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) uncovered a massive, coordinated effort by Russia to spread false information, not just within its own borders, but also across Europe. It was like a digital puppet show, with thousands of different sources – many of them not even real people or legitimate news outlets – all singing the same tune. They were trying to…