60-Second Science

How to Care for COVID at Home, and Is That Sniffle Allergies or the Virus? COVID Quickly, Episode 30 May 16, 2022

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

How Astronomers Finally Captured a Photo of our Own Galaxy's Black Hole May 12, 2022

It took hundreds of researchers and many telescopes to capture an image of the black hole at the middle of our Milky Way.

Two-Headed Worms Tell Us Something Fascinating about Evolution May 10, 2022

Researchers looked back at more than 100 years of research and found that a fascination with annelids with mixed up appendages was strong—and that research still has relevance today.

The Harmful Effects of Overturning Roe v. Wade May 06, 2022

A landmark study of women who were turned away from getting the procedure found that being forced to have a child worsened their health and economic status.

Safer Indoor Air, and People Want Masks on Planes and Trains: COVID Quickly, Episode 29 May 02, 2022

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

Climate Change Is Shrinking Animals, Especially Bird-Brained Birds Apr 25, 2022

As the world warms, many animals are getting smaller. For birds, new research shows what they have upstairs may just make a different in how much smaller they get.

Cosmic Simulation Shows How Dark-Matter-Deficient Galaxies Confront Goliath and Survive Apr 20, 2022

A research team finds seven tiny dwarf galaxies stripped of their dark matter that nonetheless persisted despite the theft.

Venturing Back to the Office and the Benefits of Hybrid Immunity: COVID Quickly, Episode 28 Apr 15, 2022

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

Science Finally Has a Good Idea about Why We Stutter Apr 13, 2022

A glitch in speech initiation gives rise to the repetition that characterizes stuttering.

Love Computers? Love History? Listen to This Podcast Apr 12, 2022

In the newest season of Lost Women of Science, we enter a world of secrecy, computers and nuclear weapons—and see how Klára Dán von Neumann was a part of all of it.

Probiotics Could Help Save Overheated Corals Apr 08, 2022

Think of the process as a kind of marine fecal transplant—except the restorative bacteria do not come from stool; they come from other corals.

The History of the Milky Way Comes into Focus Apr 05, 2022

By dating nearly a quarter-million stars, astronomers were able to reconstruct the history of our galaxy—and they say it has lived an “enormously sheltered life.”

Second Boosters, Masks in the Next Wave and Smart Risk Decisions: COVID Quickly, Episode 27 Apr 01, 2022

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

New Research Decodes the Sea Cow's Hidden Language Mar 30, 2022

Florida manatees are “talking” up a storm, and a team that has been recording those sounds for seven years is starting to understand the chatter.

Does This Look like a Face to You? Mar 25, 2022

Science—and experience—show that we most definitely see faces in inanimate objects. But new research finds that, more often than not, we perceive those illusory faces as male.

Some Good News about Corals and Climate Change Mar 23, 2022

A nearly two-year-long study of Hawaiian corals suggests some species may be better equipped to handle warmer, more acidic waters than previously believed.

Florida Gets Kids and Vaccines Wrong and Ukraine's Health Crisis: COVID Quickly, Episode 26 Mar 18, 2022

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

Are You Better Than a Machine at Spotting a Deepfake? Mar 15, 2022

New research shows that detecting digital fakes generated by machine learning might be a job best done with humans still in the loop.

A Treasure Trove of Dinosaur Bones in Italy Rewrites the Local Prehistoric Record Mar 11, 2022

New fossils are changing a decades-old story about the species that roamed the Mediterranean 80 million years ago.

Chimps Apply Insects to Their Wounds Mar 08, 2022

It is not clear whether the act has medicinal benefit or is merely a cultural practice among the animals.

The Push to Move Past the Pandemic: COVID Quickly, Episode 25 Mar 04, 2022

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

Researchers Analyzed Folk Music like It Was DNA: They Found Parallels between Life and Art Mar 03, 2022

Using software designed to align DNA sequences, scientists cataloged the mutations that arose as folk songs evolved

How Hong Kong 'Sees' Invisible Tailpipe Emissions and Pulls Polluters Off the Road Feb 25, 2022

The city has deployed a system of sensors to flag highly polluting vehicles. Nearly all of them have been repaired, helping to clean Hong Kong’s air.

This Maine Farm Is Harvesting the Sun's Power while it Picks the Blueberries Feb 22, 2022

In Rockport, Me., an array of nearly 11,000 solar panels will soon begin a solar harvest as the sweet berries growing below them ripen on the bush.

Tracking Outbreaks through Sewers, and Kids' Vaccines on Hold Again: COVID Quickly, Episode 24 Feb 15, 2022

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

The Romantic Temptation of the Monogamous Prairie Vole Feb 14, 2022

The small rodents are one of the few known monogamists in the wild—and their faithfulness was put to the test in a lab.

Answering an Age-Old Mystery: How Do Birds Actually Fly? Feb 11, 2022

Equally surprising is the fact that we still do not know how birds actually stay airborne.

More Kids Get COVID, Long Haulers and a Vaccine Milestone: COVID Quickly, Episode 23 Feb 04, 2022

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

What Is the Shape of This Word? Feb 02, 2022

What shape do you see when you hear “ bouba ”? What about “ kiki ”? It turns out that nonsense words that evoke certain shapes have something to say about the origins of language.

Tiger Sharks, Tracked over Decades, Are Shifting Their Haunts with Ocean Warming Jan 25, 2022

Using a combination of fishing data and satellite tracking, scientists found that the sharks have shifted their range some 250 miles poleward over the past 40 years.

How Marine Wildlife Can Coexist with Offshore Wind [Sponsored] Jan 20, 2022

Harnessing the wind to blow back emissions is not without its own impacts, so researchers are developing technologies to coexist with whales and other ocean-dwelling species.

COVID Quickly, Episode 22: Colds Build COVID Immunity and the Omicron Vaccine Delay Jan 19, 2022

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

The Surprising Physics of Finger Snapping Jan 10, 2022

You might not think that you can generate more body acceleration than a big-league baseball pitcher, but new research shows you can.

Salvador Dali's Creative Secret Is Backed by Science Jan 03, 2022

The painter described falling into the briefest of slumbers to refresh his mind. Now scientists have shown the method is effective at inducing creativity.

A Growing Force of Fiery Zombies Threatens Cold Northern Forests Dec 27, 2021

Wildfires, appearing dead in winter, are actually smoldering and then bouncing back to life in spring to consume increasingly more land in the Far North.

Listen to This New Podcast: Lost Women of Science Dec 21, 2021

A new podcast is on a mission to retrieve unsung female scientists from oblivion.

Canary Islands Eruption Resets Volcano Forecasts Dec 20, 2021

A volcanologist says the eruption on the island of La Palma is a unique window into the “personality” of basaltic volcanoes.

COVID Quickly, Episode 21: Vaccines against Omicron and Pandemic Progress Dec 17, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

As Forests Burn, a Climate Puzzle Materializes in the Far North Dec 14, 2021

A 15-year study of where carbon lies in boreal forests has unearthed a surprising finding.

Astronomers Spot Two Dust Bunnies Hiding in the Early Universe Dec 08, 2021

The scientists found several previously hidden galaxies that date back to 13 billion years ago—and many more might be missing from our current census of the early universe.

COVID Quickly, Episode 20: The Omicron Scare, and Anti-COVID Pills Are Coming Dec 03, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

To Better Persuade a Human, a Robot Should Use This Trick Dec 01, 2021

A new study finds that, for robots, overlords are less persuasive than peers.

Redo of a Famous Experiment on the Origins of Life Reveals Critical Detail Missed for Decades Nov 26, 2021

The Miller-Urey experiment showed that the conditions of early Earth could be simulated in a glass flask. New research finds the flask itself played an underappreciated, though outsize, role.

COVID Quickly, Episode 19: Mandate Roadblocks, Boosters for All and Sickness in the Zoo Nov 19, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

Flocking Together May Have Helped Dinosaurs Dominate the Earth Nov 12, 2021

A fossil bed in Patagonia provides evidence of complex social structure in dinosaurs as early as 193 million years ago. And scientists say that herding behavior could have been key to the beasts’ success.

Engineered Bacteria Use Air Bubbles as Acoustically Detonated Tumor TNT Nov 10, 2021

Ultrasound triggered cells home in on tumors and then self destruct to deliver damage or therapeutics from inside.

COVID Quickly, Episode 18: Vaccines for Kids and the Limits of Natural Immunity Nov 05, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

These Bugs Produce Smelly Defenses That Need to Be Heard to Be Believed Oct 31, 2021

You read that right. Researchers have taken the chemical defenses of some insects and turned them into sounds , which, it turns out, repel people just as well.

For Some Parents, Hiding a Dead Body Shows How Much You Care Oct 28, 2021

Over millions of years of evolution, some beetles have learned to dampen the stench of decay to help their young thrive.

Date of the Vikings' First Atlantic Crossing Revealed by Rays from Space Oct 25, 2021

By dating the remnants of trees felled in Newfoundland, scientists have determined that the Norse people likely first set foot in the Americas in the year A.D. 1021.

COVID Quickly, Episode 17: Vaccine Lies and Protecting Immunocompromised People Oct 22, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

How Can an Elephant Squeak Like a Mouse? Oct 20, 2021

New research using a camera that can “see" sound” shows some elephants can produce high-pitched buzzing with their lips.

Beethoven's Unfinished 10th Symphony Brought to Life by Artificial Intelligence Oct 15, 2021

Nearly 200 years after his death, the German composer’s musical scratch was pieced together by machine—with a lot of human help.

The Kavli Prize Presents: Understanding the Universe [Sponsored] Oct 14, 2021

Ewine van Dishoeck received the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics in 2018 for elucidating the life cycle of interstellar clouds and the formation of stars and planets. What other mysteries of space are left to be uncovered?

A Canary in an Ice-Rich, Slumping Rock Glacier in Alaska Oct 13, 2021

Here’s what we can learn about climate change and infrastructure from Denali National Park’s only road.

COVID Quickly, Episode 16: Vaccines Protect Pregnancies and a New Antiviral Pill Oct 08, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

The Mystery of Water Drops That Skate Across Oil at Impossible Speeds Oct 05, 2021

The speed of these self-propelling droplets on a hot-oil surface seemed to defy physics until researchers broke out the super-slow-motion camera.

Night Flights Are No Sweat for Tropical Bees Oct 01, 2021

New research uses night vision to see how nocturnal bees navigate the dark.

These Bacteria Steal from Iron and Could Be Secretly Helping to Curb Climate Change Sep 28, 2021

Photoferrotrophs have been around for billions of years on Earth, and new research suggests that they have played an outsize roll in the natural capture of carbon dioxide.

COVID, Quickly, Episode 15: Booster Shot Approvals--plus Vaccines for Kids? Sep 24, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

Dinosaurs Lived--and Made Little Dinos--in the Arctic Sep 21, 2021

New research shows that the prehistoric giants were even cooler than we thought

During a Rodent Quadrathlon, Researchers Learn That Ground Squirrels Have Personalities Sep 17, 2021

The rodents’ personalities may help them to secure territory and avoid prey.

A Car Crash Snaps the Daydreaming Mind into Focus Sep 15, 2021

One researcher’s poorly timed attention lapse flipped a car—and pushed science forward.

COVID, Quickly, Episode 14: Best Masks, Explaining Mask Anger, Biden's New Plan Sep 10, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

The Kavli Prize Presents: Understanding Atoms [Sponsored] Sep 09, 2021

Gerd Binnig shared The Kavli Prize in Nanoscience in 2016 for inventing the atomic force microscope. What transformative impact has this invention had on nanoscience?

In Missouri, a Human 'Bee' Works to Better Understand Climate Change's Effects Sep 08, 2021

Researcher Matthew Austin has become a wildflower pollinator, sans the wings.

These Baby Bats, like Us, Were Born to Babble Sep 03, 2021

The greater sac-winged bat develops its own language in much the way we do.

Their Lives Have Been Upended by Hurricane Ida Aug 31, 2021

Theresa and Donald Dardar lived their whole lives in coastal Louisiana. They knew the “big one” might come someday. It did, and now everything is uncertain.

COVID, Quickly, Episode 13: Vaccine Approval, Breakthrough Infections, Boosters Aug 27, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

Flexible Microprocessor Could Enable an 'Internet of Everything' Aug 24, 2021

Researchers have developed a microprocessor built on high-performance plastic rather than silicon—and they say it could enable smarter food labels and supply chain management.

Years Before COVID-19, Zombies Helped Prepare One Hospital System for the Real Pandemic Aug 20, 2021

An educational experiment used escape rooms and the undead to set the stage for a terrible situation that would become all too real

The Incredible, Reanimated 24,000-Year-Old Rotifer Aug 17, 2021

The last time this tiny wheel animalcule was moving around, woolly mammoths roamed the earth.

Astronomers Find an Unexpected Bumper Crop of Black Holes Aug 12, 2021

In trying to explain the spectacular star trails of the star cluster Palomar 5, astronomers stumbled on a very large trove of black holes.

Inside Millions of Invisible Droplets, Potential Superbug Killers Grow Aug 10, 2021

New research has created microscopic antibiotic factories in droplets that measure a trillionth of liter in volume.

The Secret behind Songbirds' Magnetic Migratory Sense Aug 04, 2021

A molecule found in the retinas of European robins seems to be able to sense weak magnetic fields, such as that of Earth, after it is exposed to light.

COVID, Quickly, Episode 12: Masking Up Again and Why People Refuse Shots Jul 30, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

The Kavli Prize Presents: Understanding Touch [Sponsored] Jul 22, 2021

Ardem Patapoutian shared The Kavli Prize in Neuroscience in 2020 for answering a basic question: How does touch actually work?

Moths Have an Acoustic Invisibility Cloak to Stay under Bats' Radar Jul 21, 2021

New research finds they fly around on noise-cancelling wings

COVID, Quickly, Episode 11: Vaccine Booster Shots, and Reopening Offices Safely Jul 16, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

Your Brain Does Something Amazing between Bouts of Intense Learning Jul 07, 2021

New research shows that lightning-quick neural rehearsal can supercharge learning and memory.

COVID, Quickly, Episode 10: Long Haulers, Delta Woes and Barbershop Shots Jul 01, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.

This Newly Discovered Species of Tree Hyrax Goes Bark in the Night Jun 23, 2021

A study makes the case for the new species based on its looks, genes and sounds

COVID, Quickly, Episode 9: Delta Variant, Global Vaccine Shortfalls, Beers for Shots Jun 18, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. You can listen to all past episodes here .

Animal Kids Listen to Their Parents Even before Birth Jun 16, 2021

Human children: please take note of the behavior of prebirth zebra finches

For African Elephants, Pee Could Be a Potent Trail Marker Jun 11, 2021

Scientists found that elephants often sniff pathways—and seem especially attuned to urine.

A 'Universal' Coronavirus Vaccine to Prevent the Next Pandemic Jun 09, 2021

A pan-coronavirus vaccine could be “one vaccine to rule them all,” and so far it has shown strong results in mice, hamsters, monkeys, horses and even sharks.

COVID, Quickly, Episode 8: The Pandemic's True Death Toll and the Big Lab-Leak Debate Jun 04, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.

Puppies Understand You Even at a Young Age, Most Adorable Study of the Year Confirms Jun 03, 2021

Researchers in the happiest lab in the world tested 375 pups and found they connected with people by eight weeks

New 3-D-Printed Material Is Tough, Flexible--and Alive Jun 02, 2021

Made from microalgae and bacteria, the new substance can survive for three days without feeding. It could one day be used to build living garments, self-powered kitchen appliances or even window coverings that sequester carbon.

Bats on Helium Reveal an Innate Sense of the Speed of Sound May 28, 2021

A new experiment shows that bats are born with a fixed reference for the speed of sound—and living in lighter air can throw it off.

The Dirty Secret behind Some of the World's Earliest Microscopes May 26, 2021

Dutch scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek made extraordinary observations of blood cells, sperm cells and bacteria with his microscopes. But it turns out the lens technology he used was quite ordinary.

COVID, Quickly, Episode 7: The Coming Pandemic Grief Wave, and Mask Whiplash May 21, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.

Math and Sleuthing Help to Explain Epidemics of the Past May 20, 2021

One mathematician has spend decades uncovering the deadly calculations of pestilence and plague, sometimes finding data that were hiding in plain sight.

Who Laps Whom on the Walking Track--Tyrannosaurus rex or You? Science Has a New Answer May 14, 2021

An analysis of the animal’s walking speed suggests that T. rex ’s walking pace was close to that of a human. It’s too bad the king of the dinosaurs didn’t just walk when hungry.

Artificial Light Keeps Mosquitoes Biting Late into the Night May 11, 2021

It is like when your cell phone keeps you awake in bed—except mosquitoes do not doom scroll when they stay up, they feast on your blood.

COVID, Quickly, Episode 6: The Real Reason for India's Surge and Mask Liftoff May 07, 2021

Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.

Male Lyrebirds Lie to Get Sex May 04, 2021

It seems like the males will do anything, even fake nearby danger, to get females to stick around to mate.

Lovebirds Adore Our Inefficient Air-Conditioning Apr 27, 2021

The rosy-faced lovebirds that live in Phoenix appear to be free riding on our urban climate control.

COVID, Quickly, Episode 5: Vaccine Safety in Pregnancy, Blood Clots and Long-Haul Realities Apr 23, 2021

Today we bring you the fifth episode in our podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.

Beehives Are Held Together by Their Mutual Gut Microbes Apr 20, 2021

New research shows that members of a bee colony all have the same gut microbiome, which controls their smell—and thus their ability to separate family from foe.

These Endangered Birds Are Forgetting Their Songs Apr 16, 2021

Australia’s critically endangered regent honeyeaters are losing what amounts to their culture—and that could jeopardize their success at landing a mate.

To Fight Climate Change: Grow a Floating Forest, Then Sink It Apr 12, 2021

A fast-growing front in the battle against climate change is focused on developing green technologies aimed at reducing humankind’s carbon footprint, but many scientists say simply reducing emissions is no longer enough. We have to find new ways to suck carbon out of the atmosphere. A Maine start-up is looking to raise a sinkable carbon-capturing forest in the open ocean.

COVID, Quickly, Episode 4: The Virtual Vaccine Line and Shots for Kids Apr 09, 2021

Today we bring you the fourth episode in a new podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.

Big Physics News: The Muon g-2 Experiment Explained Apr 07, 2021

Particles called muons are behaving weirdly, and that could mean a huge discovery.

Boston's Pigeons Coo, 'Wicked'; New York's Birds Coo, 'Fuhgeddaboudit' Apr 05, 2021

The two cities’ rock doves are genetically distinct, research shows.

Imperiled Freshwater Turtles Are Eating Plastics--Science Is Just Revealing the Threat Mar 31, 2021

We know a lot about how sea turtles are threatened by our trash, but new research has just uncovered an underreported threat hiding inside lakes and rivers.

COVID, Quickly, Episode 3: Vaccine Inequality--plus Your Body the Variant Fighter Mar 26, 2021

Today we bring you the third episode in a new podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.

Using Dragonflies as Contamination Detectors Mar 24, 2021

By collecting the larvae of the fast flyers, researchers have turned the insects into “biosentinels” that can track mercury pollution across the country. Berly McCoy reports.

Smartphones Can Hear the Shape of Your Door Keys Mar 18, 2021

Can you pick a lock with just a smartphone? New research shows that doing so is possible.

Chimpanzees Show Altruism while Gathering around the Juice Fountain Mar 16, 2021

New research tries to tease out whether our closest animal relatives can be selfless

COVID, Quickly, Episode 2: Lessons from a Pandemic Year Mar 11, 2021

Today we bring you the second episode in a new podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.

That Mouse in Your House--It's Smarter, Thanks to You Mar 09, 2021

Scientists studied three varieties of house mice and found that those who had lived alongside humans the longest were also the craftiest at solving food puzzles. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Kangaroos with Puppy Dog Eyes Mar 04, 2021

New research shows that when faced with an impossible task, the marsupials look to humans for help.

COVID, Quickly, Episode 1: Vaccines, Variants and Diabetes Feb 26, 2021

Today we begin a new podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.

Machine Learning Pwns Old-School Atari Games Feb 25, 2021

You can call it the “revenge of the computer scientist.” An algorithm that made headlines for mastering the notoriously difficult Atari 2600 game Montezuma’s Revenge can now beat more games, achieving near perfect scores, and help robots explore real-world environments. Pakinam Amer reports.

E-Eggs Track Turtle Traffickers Feb 22, 2021

Decoy sea turtle eggs containing tracking tech are new weapons against beach poachers and traffickers.

Bromances Could Lead to More Romances for Male Hyenas Feb 10, 2021

Spotted hyena males do not fight for mates, so how are certain males shut out of the mating game?

A Heroic Effort to Measure Helium Feb 05, 2021

After an intense game of cat and mouse with different particles, atomic physicists have measured the radius of the helium nucleus five times more precisely than before. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Science News Briefs from around the World Feb 01, 2021

Here are some brief reports about science and technology from around the world, including one from Costa Rica about decoy sea turtle eggs with the potential to catch poachers.

Scientists Take a Cattle Head Count in India Jan 28, 2021

The research team determined that the city of Raipur in central India has at least one street cow for every 54 human residents. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Ancient Dogs Had Complex Genetic Histories Jan 21, 2021

Some dog population genetics show similarities to ours, such as in the ability to digest grains. But other lineages differ.

Bees Use 'Bullshit' Defense to Keep Giant Hornets at Bay Jan 11, 2021

The prospect of death by giant hornet has pushed some Asian honeybees to resort to a poop-based defense system

Humans May Have Befriended Wolves with Meat Jan 07, 2021

Unlike humans, wolves can subsist on protein alone for months—so scientists say we may have lobbed leaner leftovers their way. Christopher Intagliata reports.

How to Avoid Becoming a Meal for a Cheetah Jan 06, 2021

Researchers help farmers in Namibia avoid costly cattle losses by tracking big cat hangouts

How the Coronavirus Pandemic Shaped Our Language in 2020 Jan 01, 2021

Linguist Ben Zimmer says the pandemic has turned us all into amateur epidemiologists utilizing terms such as “superspreader” and “asymptomatic.” Christopher Intagliata reports.

Science News Briefs from around the Planet Dec 28, 2020

Here are some brief reports about science and technology from around the world, including one from Panama about the toll lightning takes on tropical trees.

Ravens Measure Up to Great Apes on Intelligence Dec 22, 2020

Juvenile ravens performed just as well as chimps and orangutans in a battery of intelligence tests—except for assays of spatial skills. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Baby Bees Deprive Caregivers of Sleep Dec 21, 2020

Bee larvae and pupae appear to secrete a chemical that does the work of a late-night cup of coffee for their nurses.

How the Wolves Change the Forest Dec 17, 2020

New research tracked the canines in northern Minnesota for years to see just how they reshape their ecosystems. Audio of wolves inside Voyageurs National Park, courtesy of Jacob Job .

Brain Sides Are Both Busy in New Language Learning Dec 16, 2020

A study of adults learning a new language found that speaking primarily activated regions in the left side of the brain, but reading and listening comprehension were much more variable

Eye Treatment Stretches Mouse Sight Beyond Visible Spectrum Dec 12, 2020

Nanoparticles that attach to photoreceptors allowed mice to see infrared and near-infrared light for up to two months.

This Bat Wears a Face Mask Dec 11, 2020

The wrinkle-faced bat covers its face with a flap of skin, seemingly as part of its courtship rituals.

The Denisovans Expand Their Range into China Dec 02, 2020

Evidence of the ancient humans was limited to a cave in Siberia. But now scientists have found genetic remains of the Denisovans in China. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Undersea Earthquakes Reveal Sound Warming Info Nov 30, 2020

Travel time differences for sound waves produced by undersea earthquakes in the same place at different times can provide details about ocean warming.

Duckbill Dino Odyssey Ended in Africa Nov 24, 2020

A duckbill dinosaur jawbone found in Morocco means that dinosaurs crossed a large body of water to reach Africa.

Early Mammals Had Social Lives, Too Nov 18, 2020

Chipmunklike animals that lived among the dinosaurs appear to have been social creatures, which suggests that sociality arose in mammals earlier than scientists thought. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Science News Briefs from All Over Nov 17, 2020

Here are some brief reports about science and technology from around the world, including one, from the dormant volcano Llullaillaco in Chile, about a mouse that is the highest-dwelling mammal ever documented.

Divide and Conquer Could Be Good COVID Strategy Nov 12, 2020

COVID might be fought efficiently with fewer shutdowns by restricting activities only in a particular area with a population up to 200,000 when its case rate rises above a chosen threshold.

Zebra Coloration Messes With Fly Eyes Nov 10, 2020

Horseflies misjudge landings on zebra patterns, compared with solid gray or black surfaces, which provides evidence for why evolution came up with the black-and-white pattern.

Science Sound(E)scapes: Head Banging and Howling in the Amazon Nov 06, 2020

Need a break from politics and the pandemic? You’re probably not in the Amazon rain forest right now, but we can take you there in audio. Today, in part three of our three-part audio sound escape, we ascend into the trees where howler monkeys and crimson-crested woodpeckers rule the airwaves.

Science Sound(E)scapes: Amazon Frog Choruses at Night Nov 05, 2020

Need a break from politics and the pandemic? You’re probably not in the Amazon rain forest right now, but we can take you there in audio. Today, in part two of our three-part audio sound escape, we descend into a nighttime flood of frog music.

Science Sound(E)scapes: Amazon Pink River Dolphins Nov 04, 2020

Need a break from politics and the pandemic? You’re probably not in the Amazon rain forest right now, but we can take you there in audio. Today, in part one of our three-part audio sound escape, we listen to dolphins hunting among the trees.

Frog Vocals Lead to Small Preference Nov 03, 2020

The concave-eared torrent frog's unusual ear anatomy lets it hear high-frequency calls, which gives a mating advantage to the littler males that sing soprano.

Science News Briefs from around the Globe Nov 02, 2020

Here are some brief reports about science and technology from all over, including one from the United Arab Emirates about the the first interplanetary mission by an Arab country.

Election Science Stakes: Technology Nov 01, 2020

We wrap up our preelection series with Scientific American senior editor Jen Schwartz, who talks about the possible effects of the election results on technology development and use.

Election Science Stakes: Energy Oct 30, 2020

Scientific American senior editor Mark Fischetti and associate editor Andrea Thompson talk about this election and the future of U.S. energy research and policy.

Election Science Stakes: Environment Oct 29, 2020

Scientific American senior editor Mark Fischetti talks about how this election will affect environmental science and policy.

Election Science Stakes: Climate Oct 28, 2020

Scientific American ’s associate editor for sustainability Andrea Thompson talks about how climate science and policy will be affected by this election.

Election Science Stakes: Medicine and Public Health Oct 27, 2020

Scientific American ’s senior medicine editor Josh Fischman talks about issues in medicine and public health that will be affected by this election.

Election 2020: The Stakes for Science Oct 26, 2020

Scientific American ’s editor in chief sets up this week’s series of podcasts about how this election could affect science, technology and medicine.

Why Some Easter Island Statues Are Where They Are Oct 25, 2020

Many of the statues not along the coast are in places that featured a resource vital to the communities that lived and worked there.

Acorn Woodpeckers Fight Long, Bloody Territorial Wars Oct 23, 2020

More than 40 of the birds, in coalitions of three or four, may fight for days over oak trees in which to store their acorns.

Funky Cheese Rinds Release an Influential Stench Oct 22, 2020

The volatile compounds released by microbial communities on cheese rinds shape and shift a cheese’s microbiome. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Dinosaur Asteroid Hit Worst-Case Place Oct 21, 2020

The mass-extinction asteroid happened to strike an area where the rock contained a lot of organic matter and sent soot into the stratosphere, where it could block sunlight for years.

River Ecosystem Restoration Can Mean Just Add Water Oct 20, 2020

Planners returned water to the dry bed of Arizona’s Santa Cruz River in 2019, and various species began showing up on the same day.

3,000-Year-Old Orbs Provide a Glimpse of Ancient Sport Oct 18, 2020

Researchers say three ancient leather balls, dug up from the tombs of horsemen in northwestern China, are the oldest such specimens from Europe or Asia. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Humans Make Wild Animals Less Wary Oct 16, 2020

From mammals to mollusks, animals living among humans lose their antipredator behaviors.

Play Helped Dogs Be Our Best Friends Oct 13, 2020

The ancestors of today’s dogs already exhibited some playfulness, which became a key trait during domestication.

Neandertal DNA May Be COVID Risk Oct 10, 2020

A stretch of Neandertal DNA has been associated with some cases of severe COVID-19, but it’s unclear how much of a risk it poses. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Nobelist Talks CRISPR Uses Oct 08, 2020

New Nobel laureate in chemistry Jennifer Doudna talks about various applications of the gene-editing tool CRISPR.

Blue Whale Song Timing Reveals Time to Go Oct 07, 2020

Blue whales off California’s coast sing at night—until it’s time to start migrating, and they switch to daytime song.

New Nobel Laureate Talks Today's Virology Oct 05, 2020

Charles Rice, who today shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of the hepatitis C virus, talked about how rapidly research now occurs, compared with his early work.

Greenland Is Melting Faster Than Any Time in Past 12,000 Years Oct 03, 2020

Researchers determined that Greenland is on track to lose more ice this century than during any of the previous 120 centuries. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Sloths Slowly Cavort by Day Now Oct 02, 2020

The disappearance of their predators in a disturbed ecosystem has turned Atlantic forest sloths from night creatures to day adventurers.

Dinosaurs Got Cancer, Too Sep 28, 2020

Researchers seeking evidence for cancer in dinosaurs found it in a collection of bones at a paleontology museum in Alberta.

Fluttering Feathers Could Spawn New Species Sep 24, 2020

Fork-tailed flycatchers make a fluttering sound with their wings—but separate subspecies have different “dialects” of fluttering. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Science News from around the World Sep 22, 2020

Here are some brief reports about science and technology from all over, including one from Israel about what DNA reveals about the Dead Sea Scrolls’ parchment.

These Small Mammals Snort to a Different Tune Sep 17, 2020

Hyraxes, which live in Africa and the Middle East, punctuate their songs with snorts. And the snorts appear to reflect the animals’ emotional state. Jason G. Goldman reports.

Ice Age Temperatures Help Predict Future Warming Sep 16, 2020

Scientists determined that temperatures were 11 degrees cooler during the last ice age—and that finding has implications for modern-day warming. Julia Rosen reports.

High-Elevation Hummingbirds Evolved a Temperature Trick Sep 15, 2020

Hummingbirds in the Peruvian Andes enter a state of torpor at night to conserve energy, dipping their body temperature to as low as 38 degrees Fahrenheit. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Why Pet Pigs Are More like Wolves Than Dogs Sep 14, 2020

Given an impossible task, a dog will ask a human for help, but a wolf will not seek help—and neither will a pet pig.

Bricks Can Be Turned into Batteries Sep 10, 2020

Pumping cheap iron-oxide-rich red bricks with specific vapors that form polymers enables the bricks to become electrical-charge-storage devices.

Leftovers Are a Food-Waste Problem Sep 09, 2020

Researchers found that leftovers are likely to end up in the trash, so they advise cooking smaller meals in the first place to avoid food waste. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Some Dinosaurs Probably Nested in Arctic Sep 08, 2020

The finding of a baby dinosaur fossil in the Arctic implies that some dinos nested in the region, which was milder than today but not toasty.

Star Systems Can Be Born Topsy-Turvy Sep 03, 2020

Astronomers observed an odd triple-star system that offers clues about misaligned planetary orbits. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Death by Lightning Is Common for Tropical Trees Sep 02, 2020

A study estimates that 200 million trees in the tropics are mowed down by lightning annually.

Science Briefs from around the World Aug 31, 2020

Here are some brief reports about science and technology from all over, including one from Antarctica about how there’s something funny about penguin poop.

Alaska's Salmon Are Shrinking Aug 28, 2020

Every year, Alaska’s big salmon runs feature smaller salmon. Climate change and competition with hatchery-raised salmon may be to blame. Julia Rosen reports.

End of 'Green Sahara' May Have Spurred a Megadrought in Southeast Asia Aug 27, 2020

That drought may have brought about societal shifts in the region 5,000 years ago. Christopher Intagliata reports.

White Rhinos Eavesdrop to Know Who's Who Aug 26, 2020

The finding could potentially help wildlife managers keep better tabs on their herds. Jason G. Goldman reports.

Prehistoric Marine Reptile Died after a Giant Meal Aug 21, 2020

Researchers found extra bones within a 240-million-year-old ichthyosaur fossil—which they determined to be the ichthyosaur’s last, possibly fatal meal. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Cows with Eye Images Keep Predators in Arrears Aug 19, 2020

Butterflies, fish and frogs sport rear-end eyespots that reduce predation. Painting eye markings on cows similarly seems to ward off predators.

Warbler Species Fires Up Song Diversity Aug 18, 2020

Hermit warblers in California have developed 35 different song dialects, apparently as a result of wildfires temporarily driving them out of certain areas.

Why Lava Worlds Shine Brightly (It's Not the Lava) Aug 12, 2020

Scientists determined that “lava world” exoplanets do not derive their brightness from molten rock but possibly get it from reflective metallic clouds. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Aardvarks Are Ailing amid Heat and Drought Aug 11, 2020

Climate change is expected to bring more frequent droughts and heat waves to Africa’s Kalahari Desert. And aardvarks might not be able to cope. Jason G. Goldman reports.

The World's Highest-Dwelling Mammal Lives atop a Volcano Aug 07, 2020

Scientists spotted a mouse at the summit of Llullaillaco, a 22,000-foot-tall volcano on the border of Chile and Argentina. Julia Rosen reports.

Dampening of the Senses Is Linked to Dementia Risk Aug 05, 2020

A decline in smell was the sense loss most strongly associated with such risk in a recent study. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Translucent Frog Optics Create Camo Color Aug 04, 2020

Rather than undergoing active chameleonlike color changes, glass frogs’ translucency allows light to bounce from their background and go through them—making their apparent color close to their setting.

Paired Comparisons Could Mean Better Witness Identifications Aug 03, 2020

Compared with traditional lineup techniques, a series of two-faces-at-a-time choices led to more accurate identification by study witnesses.

Foxes Have Dined on Our Leftovers for 30,000 Years Aug 02, 2020

An analysis of fox fossils found evidence that they scavenged from wolf and bear kills until Homo sapiens supplied plenty of horse and reindeer remains.

Mexico Caves Reveal Ancient Ocher Mining Jul 31, 2020

Now submerged caves in the Yucatán Peninsula contain remains of ocher-mining operations that date back at least 10,000 years.

In Bee Shortage, Bubbles Could Help Pollinate Jul 27, 2020

Soap bubbles are sticky enough to carry a pollen payload and delicate enough to land on flowers without harm.

Science News Briefs from around the Planet Jul 26, 2020

Here are some brief reports about science and technology from all over, including one about how a lizard population responded to hurricanes by developing larger and stickier toe pads on average.

Seismologists Find the World Quieted Down during Pandemic Lockdowns Jul 25, 2020

COVID-19-related lockdowns dampened human activity around the globe—giving seismologists a rare glimpse of the earth’s quietest rumblings. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Old Art Offers Agriculture Info Jul 24, 2020

Art museums are filled with centuries-old paintings with details of plants that today give us clues about evolution and breeding practices.

How COVID-19 Decreases Weather Forecast Accuracy Jul 23, 2020

Meteorologists take advantage of weather data collected by commercial jetliners at different altitudes and locations. Fewer flights mean less data.

Cricket Avoids Being Bat Food by Doing Nothing Jul 22, 2020

The sword-tailed cricket can discern bats’ echolocation signals by only responding to calls of a certain volume—at which point it plummets out of their approach.

Speaker System Blocks City Noise Jul 21, 2020

The system works like noise-cancelling headphones but fits over an open window. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Civil War Vaccine May Have Lessons for COVID-19 Jul 20, 2020

Vaccination used against smallpox during the Civil War reveals the identity of the distantly related virus used to keep troops disease-free.

Can People ID Infectious Disease by Cough and Sneeze Sounds? Jul 16, 2020

Individuals aren’t very good at judging whether someone coughing or sneezing has an infectious condition or is simply reacting to something benign.

Why Some Birds Are Likely To Hit Buildings Jul 13, 2020

Those that eat insects, migrate or usually live in the woods are most likely to fly into buildings that feature a lot of glass.

Sparrow Song Undergoes Key Change Jul 11, 2020

White-throated sparrows made a change to their familiar call that quickly spread across Canada.

Polynesians and Native South Americans Made 12th-Century Contact Jul 09, 2020

Scientists have found snippets of Native South American DNA in the genomes of present-day Polynesians, and they trace the contact to the year 1150. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Animals Appreciate Recent Traffic Lull Jul 08, 2020

Researchers saw a third fewer vehicle collisions with deer, elk, moose and other large mammals in the four weeks following COVID-19 shutdowns in three states they tracked.

Bat Says Hi as It Hunts Jul 07, 2020

Velvety free-tailed bats produce sounds that help them locate insect prey but simultaneously identify them to their companions.

Forests Getting Younger and Shorter Jul 06, 2020

Old, big trees are dying faster than in the past, leaving younger, less biodiverse forests that store less carbon worldwide.

Young Great White Sharks Eat off the Floor Jul 02, 2020

The stomach contents of young great white sharks show that they spend a lot of time patrolling the seafloor for meals.

Tweets Reveal Politics of COVID-19 Jul 01, 2020

Political scientists analyzed congressional tweets and observed how Republicans and Democrats responded differently to the virus. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Nature's Goods and Services Get Priced Jun 30, 2020

The gross ecosystem product, or GEP, tries to take into account the contribution of nature to the economy.

Animal Migrations Track Climate Change Jun 29, 2020

Many species are known to have changed their migration routes in response to the changing climate. They now include mule deer and Bewick’s swans.

Science Briefs from around the World Jun 24, 2020

Here are some brief reports about science and technology from around the planet, including one about a 70-million-year-old mollusk fossil that reveals years back then had a few more days than we have now.

Stiffer Roads Could Drive Down Carbon Emissions Jun 19, 2020

By hardening the nation’s streets and highways, trucks would use less fuel and spare the planet carbon emissions. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Unicorns of the Sea Reveal Sound Activities Jun 18, 2020

Narwhals, recognizable by their large single tusk, make distinct sounds that are now being analyzed in depth by researchers.

Human Speech Evolution Gets Lip-Smacking Evidence Jun 16, 2020

A study of our closest evolutionary relatives finds that the chimp behavior known as lip smacking occurs in the same timing range as human mouths during speech.

Printed Coral Could Provide Reef Relief Jun 15, 2020

Three-dimensional printed coral-like structures were able to support the algae that live in real corals, which could help restore reefs and grow algae for bioenergy production.

'Snot Palaces' Reveal Undersea Creature Secrets Jun 11, 2020

Scientists are studying the delicate mucus houses built by creatures called larvaceans to better understand how they live. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Helping Kids Cope with COVID-19 Worries Jun 09, 2020

The psychological state of children may need special attention during COVID-19 impacts and isolation.

Ancient DNA Rewrites Dead Sea Scroll History Jun 08, 2020

By sequencing DNA from the dust of dead sea scrolls, scientists were able to glean new clues about the ancient manuscripts. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Whale Protections Need Not Cause Lobstering Losses Jun 07, 2020

Right whales, other whales and turtles get caught in lobster trap lines, but fewer lines can maintain the same lobster catch levels.

How to Keep COVID-19 Conspiracies Contained Jun 06, 2020

An expert on climate denial offers tips for inoculating people against coronavirus conspiracy notions.

Bioluminescence Helps Prey Avoid Hungry Seals Jun 02, 2020

Prey animals flash biochemically produced light to confuse elephant seals hunting in the dark. But at least one seal turned the tables.

3 Words Mislead Online Regional Mood Analysis Jun 01, 2020

Analyzing keywords on Twitter can offer a loose measure of the subjective well-being of a community, as long as you don’t count three words: good, love and LOL.

COVID Has Changed Soundscapes Worldwide May 31, 2020

The Silent Cities project is collecting sound from cities around the planet during the coronavirus pandemic to give researchers a database of natural sound in areas usually filled with human-generated noise.

Science News Briefs from All Over May 28, 2020

Here are some brief reports about science and technology from around the planet, including one about an incredibly well-preserved horned lark ( Eremophila alpestris ), like the one pictured, that lived 46,000 years ago.

Colorful Corals Beat Bleaching May 27, 2020

Exposed to mildly warmer waters, some corals turn neon instead of bleaching white. The dramatic colors may help coax symbiotic algae back. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Skinny Genes Tell Fat to Burn May 22, 2020

A gene whose mutated form is associated with cancer in humans turns out to have a role in burning calories over a long evolutionary history.

Malaria Mosquitoes Are Biting before Bed-Net Time May 21, 2020

Mosquitoes that like to bite at night are being thwarted by bed nets, leading to the rise of populations that prefer to bite when the nets are not up yet.

We're Being Tested May 15, 2020

President Trump pointed out yesterday that if we didn't do any testing for the virus we would have very few cases, which forces us to confront the issues posed by testing in general.

Barn Owl Babies Can Be Helpful Hatch Mates May 14, 2020

Food sharing is mainly found in adult animals as a part of social bonding. But in a rarely observed behavior in birds, older barn owl chicks will share food with younger ones.

Donut Sugar Could Help Stored Blood Last May 12, 2020

Dehydrated blood that could be kept at room temperature for years may be possible thanks to a sugar used to preserve donuts—and made by tardigrades and brine shrimp so they can dry out and spring back with water.

Lemur Flirting Uses Common Scents May 11, 2020

To entice female ring-tailed lemurs, males rub wrist secretions, which include compounds we use in perfumes, onto their tail and then wave it near the gals.

Flamingos Can Be Picky about Company May 07, 2020

They don’t stand on one leg around just anybody but often prefer certain members of the flock.

Horses Recognize Pics of Their Keepers May 05, 2020

Horses picked out photographs of their current keepers, and even of former keepers whom they had not seen in months, at a rate much better than chance.

Tapirs Help Reforestation via Defecation May 01, 2020

The large herbivores appear to prefer disturbed areas over more intact ones and spread many more seeds in those places through their droppings.

Virus-Infected Bees Practice Social Distancing Apr 30, 2020

Bees infected with a virus cut back on interactions within their hive but find it easier to get past sentries at neighboring hives.

New Data on Killer House Cats Apr 29, 2020

Wild cats kill more animals than domestic ones do. But pet cats kill many more of them in a small area than similarly sized wild predators.

Science News Briefs from around the World Apr 28, 2020

Here are a few brief reports about science and technology from around the planet, including one about what the eruption of Mount Vesuvius might have done to one ill-fated resident of Herculaneum.

Birds on Rhinos' Back Help Them Avoid Poachers Apr 22, 2020

Oxpeckers riding on rhinoceroses feast on ticks, and their calls warn the nearsighted herbivores about approaching humans.

Jane Goodall: We Can Learn from This Pandemic Apr 21, 2020

In a teleconference promoting her participation in Earth Day events on the National Geographic Channel, Goodall talked about what gives her hope during the pandemic and what she hopes we all learn from it.

Our 3,000th Episode Apr 20, 2020

Here are some “highlights” from the past 13.5 years of this podcast.

How Herbivore Herds Might Help Permafrost Apr 17, 2020

Introducing herds of large herbivores in the Arctic would disturb surface snow, allowing cold air to reach the ground and keep the permafrost frosty.

Lung Cancer Screen Could Be Easy Pee-sy Apr 15, 2020

In mice, a test for lung cancer involves nanoprobes that recognize tumors and send reporter molecules into the urine for simple analysis.

Obama Talks Some Science Policy Apr 14, 2020

As he endorsed Joe Biden today, former president Barack Obama touched on some environmental, economic and science matters.

Red-Winged Blackbirds Understand Yellow Warbler Alarms Apr 13, 2020

Researchers studying yellow warbler responses to the parasitic cowbird realized that red-winged blackbirds were eavesdropping on the calls and reacting to them, too.

Waiter, What's This Worm Doing in My Sushi? Apr 10, 2020

Well, it’s probably there because the odds on its presence have gone way up in the past 40 years. But such parasites are still much more of a health problem for whales and dolphins than they are for us.

What's a Narwhal's Tusk For? Apr 09, 2020

Although the tusk can be a weapon, the variation in tusk length among animals of similar body size points to it being primarily a mating status signal.

Coronavirus Misinformation Is Its Own Deadly Condition Apr 07, 2020

Pulitzer-winning Laurie Garrett, author of The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance, talks about the dangers of politicians offering coronavirus misinformation.

Coronavirus Can Infect Cats Apr 06, 2020

Tigers and lions at the Bronx Zoo have tested positive for the virus, and studies show that house cats—but apparently not dogs—can become infected.

Squid's Glowing Skin Patterns May Be Code Apr 02, 2020

Humboldt squid can rapidly change the pigmentation and luminescence patterns on their skin by contracting and relaxing their muscles, possibly to communicate.

Bird Fossil Shared Earth with T. rex Apr 01, 2020

Dating back 67 million years, this representative of the group of modern birds has been dubbed the Wonderchicken (which is not an April Fools’ Day joke).

City Birds: Big-Brained with Few Offspring or Small-Brained with a Lot Mar 31, 2020

To make it in urban areas, birds tend to be either large-brained and able to produce few offspring or small-brained and extremely fertile. In natural habitats, most birds brains are of average size.

Coyotes Eat Everything from Fruits to Cats Mar 30, 2020

The diets of coyotes vary widely, depending on whether they live in rural, suburban or urban environments—but pretty much anything is fair game.

Tiny Wormlike Creature May Be Our Oldest Known Ancestor Mar 29, 2020

The bilateral organism crawled on the seafloor, taking in organic matter at one end and dumping the remains out the other some 555 million years ago.

Science News Briefs from around the Planet Mar 28, 2020

Here are a few brief reports about science and technology from around the planet, including one about the discovery of an intact chicken egg dating to Roman Britain.

Help Researchers Track COVID-19 Mar 26, 2020

By entering your health status, even if you’re feeling fine, at the Web site COVID Near You, you can help researchers develop a nationwide look at where hotspots of coronavirus are occurring.

Sick Vampire Bats Restrict Grooming to Close Family Mar 25, 2020

When vampire bats feel sick, they still engage in prosocial acts such as sharing food with nonrelatives. But they cut back on grooming anyone other than their closest kin.

Exponential Infection Increases Are Deadly Serious Mar 24, 2020

Listen in as I use two calculators to track the difference in numbers of infections over a short period of time, depending on how many people each infected individual infects on average.

Swamp Wallaby Reproduction Give Tribbles a Run Mar 21, 2020

They’re not born pregnant like tribbles, but swamp wallabies routinely get pregnant while pregnant.

Ocean Plastic Smells Great to Sea Turtles Mar 19, 2020

Ocean plastic gets covered with algae and other marine organisms, making it smell delicious to sea turtles—with potentially deadly results.

Ancient Clam Shell Reveals Shorter Day Length Mar 17, 2020

The growth layers in a 70-million-year-old clam shell indicate that a year back then had more than 370 days, with each day being only about 23.5 hours.

Snapping Shrimp Make More Noise in Warmer Oceans Mar 11, 2020

As oceans heat up, the ubiquitous noise of snapping shrimp should increase, posing issues for other species and human seagoing ventures.

Stress from Undersea Noise Interferes with Crab Camouflage Mar 10, 2020

In an example of how sea noise can harm species, exposed shore crabs changed camouflaging color sluggishly and were slower to flee from simulated predators.

Indigenous Amazonians Managed Valuable Plant Life Mar 04, 2020

Studies on very old vegetation in the Amazon basin show active management hundreds of years ago on species such as Brazil nut and cocoa trees.

Computers Confirm Beethoven's Influence Mar 03, 2020

By breaking 900 classical piano compositions into musical chunks, researchers could track Ludwig van Beethoven’s influence on the composers who followed him. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Science News Briefs from around the World Mar 02, 2020

Here are a few brief reports about science and technology from around the world, including one from off the California coast about the first heart rate measurement done on a blue whale.

Jet Altitude Changes Cut Climate-Changing Contrails Feb 25, 2020

Increasing or decreasing the altitude of aircraft by a few thousand feet to avoid thin layers of humidity could make a major reduction to contrails’ contribution to climate change.

Thoroughbred Horses Are Increasingly Inbred Feb 24, 2020

Inbreeding in Thoroughbreds has increased significantly in the past 45 years, with the greatest rise occurring in the past 15 or so of them.

Pablo Escobar's Hippos Could Endanger Colombian Ecology Feb 20, 2020

Hippos that escaped from drug kingpin Pablo Escobar’s private zoo are reproducing in the wild. And with increasing numbers, they could threaten ecosystems.

Wasp Nests Help Date Aboriginal Art Feb 19, 2020

Art created by Australian Aboriginal people used organic carbon-free pigments, but wasp nests above or below the art can be used for radiocarbon dating that supplies boundaries for the age of artworks.

Industrial Revolution Pollution Found in Himalayan Glacier Feb 18, 2020

Ice cores from a Tibetan glacier reveal the first deposits of industrial revolution pollution, starting in layers dated to about 1780.

Fight-or-Flight Nerves Make Mice Go Gray Feb 15, 2020

A new study in mice concludes stress can cause gray hair—and credits overactive nerves with the change in hue. Karen Hopkin reports.

Espresso May Be Better when Ground Coarser Feb 13, 2020

A very fine grind can actually hamper espresso brewing, because particles may clump more than larger particles will.

Feral Dogs Respond to Human Hand Cues Feb 11, 2020

Most feral dogs that did not run away from humans were able to respond to hand cues about the location of food—even without training.

Neandertals Tooled Around with Clams Feb 07, 2020

Neandertals ate clams and then modified the hard shells into tools for cutting and scraping.

Fingering Fake Whiskeys with Isotopes Feb 06, 2020

Whiskeys claimed to be from the 19th century are revealed to be made with much more recently grown barley, thanks to the unique isotopic fingerprint of the nuclear-testing era.

Having an Albatross around Your Boat Feb 05, 2020

By outfitting 169 albatrosses with GPS data loggers, scientists were able to track fishing boats apparently trying to hide their location. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Science News Briefs from All Over Feb 03, 2020

Here are a few brief reports about international science and technology from around the world, including one from the Democratic Republic of the Congo about a toad that has evolved coloring that makes it look like a deadly snake’s head.

Facts about Groundhogs Other Than Their Poor Meteorology Feb 02, 2020

Groundhogs are less accurate at weather forecasting than are coin flips, but they are nonetheless pretty interesting critters.

Did Animal Calls Start in the Dark? Feb 01, 2020

One hypothesis says the ability to vocalize arose in nocturnal animals—and a new evolutionary analysis suggests there may be some truth to it. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Sign Languages Display Distinct Ancestries Jan 30, 2020

Well more than 100 distinct sign languages exist worldwide, with each having features that made it possible for researchers to create an evolutionary tree of their lineages.

Docs Given Updated Opioid Prescribing Habit Jan 26, 2020

Researchers dialed down the default number of opioids in two hospitals’ prescription systems—and doctors ended up prescribing fewer pills. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Some Wolf Pups Show Innate Fetching Talent Jan 25, 2020

Some wolf pups will play fetch with a stranger, suggesting that an ability to playfully interact with people could have come before, and played a role in, dog domestication.

Barred Owls Invade the Sierra Nevada Jan 24, 2020

By listening to the sounds of the forest, biologists were able to identify an invasion of barred owls in spotted owl habitat. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Curiosity Killed the ... Mouse? Jan 23, 2020

The cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii boosts curiosity in mice—which makes them more likely to be caught by cats, thus continuing the parasite’s life cycle. Karen Hopkin reports.

This Fish Knows How to Stick Around Jan 17, 2020

The remora clings to other fish—and appears to use an unusual sense of touch to do so. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Antarctic Is Ripe for Invasive Species Jan 15, 2020

Mussels and crabs are two of the creatures most likely to invade Antarctica in the next 10 years, a panel of scientists say. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Bacteria Helped Plants Evolve to Live on Land Jan 14, 2020

Soil bacteria may have taken residence in early algal species, gifting the algae with the ability to withstand drier conditions on land. Annie Sneed reports.

Meteorite Contains Material Older Than Earth Jan 13, 2020

The Murchison meteorite, which screamed to Earth 50 years ago, carried with it stardust that's seven billion years old. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Loss of Large Mammals Stamps Out Invertebrates, Too Jan 12, 2020

Hunted areas of Gabon have fewer large mammals and a thicker forest understory—but they also have fewer termites. Jason G. Goldman reports.

Brittle Stars Can "See" without Eyes Jan 09, 2020

The starfish relatives can recognize patterns using photoreceptors on their arms—and their color-changing abilities could have something to do with it. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Atlantic Puffins Spotted Using Tools Jan 07, 2020

Scientists observed two Atlantic puffins using sticks to scratch themselves—the first known instance of seabirds using tools. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Traffic Cameras Show Why the Yankees Should Suffer Fewer Injuries in 2020 Jan 06, 2020

The 2019 New York Yankees’ record number of injuries led to a change in training staff that will almost certainly correlate with, but not necessarily cause, a lower injury rate this coming season.

Science News Briefs from around the Globe Jan 05, 2020

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Indonesia to Spain, including one from Brazil about the highest-voltage electric eel ever discovered.

Part of Real Paleo Diet: It's a Tuber Jan 03, 2020

In South Africa archaeologists found the charred remains of a roasted root vegetable. Christopher Intagliata reports.

You Traveled Far in 2019 Jan 02, 2020

Getting around the sun last year was some trip.

Fido's Human Age Gets New Estimates Dec 27, 2019

By comparing how DNA gets altered over the lifetimes of people and dogs, researchers came up with a new way to compare canine years with human years.

Gift Wrapping Is Effective Future Trash Dec 26, 2019

Research suggests people value gifts more when they have to unwrap them. But how do we avoid all the wasted paper? Christopher Intagliata reports.

Superstrong Fibers Could Be Hairy Situation Dec 24, 2019

Human hair tested stronger than thicker fibers from elephants, boars and giraffes, providing clues to materials scientists hoping to make superstrong synthetic fibers.

Flaky Scalps Have a Unique Fungal Microbiome Dec 20, 2019

Certain species of bacteria and fungi seem to proliferate on dandruff-ridden scalps. The reason is a little more mysterious. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Moths Flee or Face Bats, Depending on Toxicity Dec 19, 2019

Tiger moth species that contain bad-tasting and toxic compounds are nonchalant in the presence of bats, while edible moth species evade their predators.

Ancient Seawall Found Submerged Dec 18, 2019

In shallow waters off the coast of Israel, archaeologists have found entire villages—including one with a sunken seawall. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Citizen Scientists Deserve Journal Status Upgrade Dec 14, 2019

Here’s an argument that citizen scientists deserve co-authorship on scientific journal papers to which they contributed research.

Not All Hydropower Is Climate-Considerate Dec 13, 2019

While some hydropower facilities release almost no greenhouse gases, others can actually be worse than burning fossil fuels.

Certain Zip Codes Pick Losers Dec 12, 2019

People in certain zip codes are more likely to purchase products that flop, buy homes that are poor investments and pick political candidates who lose. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Linguists Hear an Accent Begin Dec 11, 2019

Residents of an overwintering station in Antarctica provided linguists with evidence of the first small changes in speech that may signal the development of a new accent.

Romans Would Roam for Wood Dec 10, 2019

Archaeologists unearthed wood from a Roman villa when digging Rome’s subway—and scientists determined the planks came all the way from France. Christopher Intagliata reports.

When the Bellbird Calls, You Know It Dec 09, 2019

The white bellbird of the Amazon may be the loudest bird in the world.

Fishy Trick Lures Life Back to Coral Reefs Dec 05, 2019

Playing the sounds of a healthy reef near damaged corals may help bring the fish community back. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Rain Forest Dwellers and Urbanites Have Consistently Different Microbiomes Dec 04, 2019

A study done in South America found that with increasing population density, humans had more diversity of fungi on the skin but less microbial diversity in the gut.

Internet Cables Could Also Measure Quakes Dec 03, 2019

The fiber-optic cables that connect the global Internet could potentially be used as seismic sensors. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Science News Briefs from All Over Dec 02, 2019

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Mexico to Tanzania, including one about the need to quarantine bananas in Colombia that are potentially infected by a fungus.

Subtle Ancient Footprints Come to Light Nov 29, 2019

Ground-penetrating radar can detect tiny density differences that lead to images of ancient footprints impossible to discern by eye.

Ancient Rock Art Got a Boost From Bacteria Nov 25, 2019

Indigenous artists in what’s now British Columbia created pigments by cooking aquatic bacteria. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Ick Factor Is High Hurdle for Recycled Drinking Water Nov 24, 2019

Recycled wastewater can be cleaner than bottled water, but people still avoid drinking it because of their disgust over its past condition.

Bots Outperform Humans if They Impersonate Us Nov 21, 2019

Bots masquerading as humans in a game outperformed their human opponents—but the their superiority vanished when their machine identity was revealed. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Implanting Memories in Birds Reveals How Learning Happens Nov 20, 2019

Researchers activated specific brain cells in zebra finches to teach them songs they’d ordinarily have to hear to learn.

Dogs Like Motion That Matches Sound Nov 19, 2019

Pet dogs appeared more interested in videos of a bouncing ball when the motion of the ball matched a rising and falling tone. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Egyptian Vats 5,600 Years Old Were For Beer Brewing Nov 16, 2019

Archaeologists working in the ancient city of Hierakonpolis discovered five ceramic vats containing residues consistent with brewing beer.

Famously Fickle Felines Are, in Fact, Clingy Nov 13, 2019

Cats are clingier to their human owners than their reputation would suggest. Karen Hopkin reports.

Aversion to Broccoli May Have Genetic Roots Nov 12, 2019

Study subjects with a gene variant that heightened their sensitivity to bitterness tended to eat fewer vegetables than people who didn’t mind bitter flavors. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Marine Mammal Epidemic Linked to Climate Change Nov 09, 2019

A measleslike virus is ricocheting through marine mammal populations in the Arctic—and melting sea ice might be to blame. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Ant Colonies Avoid Traffic Jams Nov 07, 2019

Researchers tracked thousands of individual ants to determine how they move in vast numbers without stumbling into gridlock.

Ranking Rise May Intimidate Opponents Nov 06, 2019

In an analysis of chess and tennis matches, players rising in the rankings did better than expected against higher-ranked opponents and better than similarly ranked players who were not rising.

Familiar Tunes Rapidly Jog the Brain Nov 05, 2019

Within just a third of a second of hearing a snippet of a familiar refrain, our pupils dilate, and the brain shows signs of recognition. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Science News Briefs from around the Globe Nov 01, 2019

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Brazil to Hong Kong, including one about male elephants in India exhibiting unusual social behaviors.

We Owe Our Pumpkins to Pooping Megafauna Oct 31, 2019

The pumpkin’s ancestor was an incredibly bitter, tennis-ball-sized squash—but it was apparently a common snack for mastodons. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Bird Egg Colors Are Influenced by Local Climate Oct 29, 2019

In cold, northern climates, eggs tend to be darker and browner—heat-trapping colors that allow parents to spend a bit more time away from the nest. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Crabs Do a Maze Oct 28, 2019

Green crabs learned to navigate a maze without making a single wrong turn—and remembered the skill weeks later. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Odd Bird Migrates Twice to Breed Oct 24, 2019

The phainopepla migrates from southern California to the desert Southwest to breed in the spring before flying to California coastal woodlands to do so again in summer.

Piranha-Proof Fish Gives Inspiration for Body Armor Oct 23, 2019

A gigantic fish from the Amazon has incredibly tough scales—and materials scientists are looking to them for bulletproof inspiration. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Galloping Ant Beats Saharan Heat Oct 22, 2019

The Saharan silver ant feeds on other insects that have died on the hot sands, which it traverses at breakneck (for an ant) speeds.

Some Mosquito Repellents Act like Invisibility Cloaks Oct 21, 2019

Synthetic repellents such as DEET seem to mask the scent of our “human perfume”—making us less obvious targets for mosquitoes. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Your Skull Shapes Your Hearing Oct 17, 2019

The resonant properties of your skull can amplify some frequencies and dampen others—and, in some cases, affect your hearing. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Tardigrade Protein Protects DNA from Chemical Attack Oct 16, 2019

The Dsup protein protects DNA under conditions that create caustic free radical chemicals.

"Mars-quakes" Could Reveal How Mars Was Built Oct 15, 2019

Rumblings on the Red Planet act like x-rays, allowing scientists to probe the hidden interior of Mars. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Artificial Intelligence Learns to Talk Back to Bigots Oct 10, 2019

Algorithms are already used to remove online hate speech. Now scientists have taught an AI to respond—which they hope might spark more discourse. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Nobel in Chemistry for Lightweight Rechargeable Batteries Oct 09, 2019

The 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to John Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino “for the development of lithium-ion batteries.”

Nobel in Physics for Exoplanets and Cosmology Oct 08, 2019

The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics goes to James Peebles “for theoretical discoveries in physical cosmology” and to Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz “for the discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star.”

Nobel in Physiology or Medicine for How Cells Sense Oxygen Levels Oct 07, 2019

The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine goes to William G. Kaelin, Jr., Peter J. Ratcliffe and Gregg L. Semenza “for their discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability.” They identified molecular machinery that regulates gene activity in response to changing levels of oxygen.

Teeth Tell Black Death Genetic Tale Oct 06, 2019

DNA from the teeth of medieval plague victims indicates the pathogen likely first arrived in eastern Europe before spreading across the continent.

Tiny Worms Are Equipped to Battle Extreme Environments Oct 05, 2019

Scientists found eight species of nematodes living in California’s harsh Mono Lake—quintupling the number of animals known to live there. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Heat Changes Insect Call, but It Still Works Oct 02, 2019

Tiny insects called treehoppers produce very different mating songs at higher versus lower temperatures, but the intended recipient still finds the changed songs attractive.

Corals Can Inherit Symbiotic Adaptations to Warming Oct 01, 2019

Adult corals can reshuffle their symbiotic algae species to adapt to warming waters—and, it appears they can pass those adaptations on. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Brains of Blind People Adapt in Similar Fashion Sep 30, 2019

The brains of those who are blind repurpose the vision regions for adaptive hearing, and they appear to do so in a consistent way.

Science News Briefs from around the World Sep 29, 2019

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Hungary to Japan, including one about a wine grape in France that DNA testing shows has been cultivated for almost a millennium.

Musical Note Perception Can Depend on Culture Sep 25, 2019

Western ears consider a pitch at double the frequency of a lower pitch to be the same note, an octave higher. The Tsimane’, an indigenous people in the Bolivian Amazon basin, do not.

Nature Docs Avoid Habitat Destruction Sep 24, 2019

BBC and Netflix nature documentaries consistently shy away from showing viewers the true extent to which we’ve damaged the planet. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Heat Loss to Night Sky Powers Off-Grid Lights Sep 19, 2019

A slight temperature difference at night between a surface losing heat and the surrounding air can be harnessed to generate electricity to power lights.

Early Butchers Used Small Stone Scalpels Sep 18, 2019

Homo erectus used hand axes to butcher elephants and other game. But a new study suggests they also used finer, more sophisticated blades. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Microplastics in Fresh Water Are Mostly Laundry Lint Sep 17, 2019

Microplastic particles are everywhere, but in freshwater systems, 60 percent of particles are clothing lint from laundry.

Kids Are Not Hurt by Screen Time Sep 16, 2019

A study finds no deleterious effects on mental health when kids spend their leisure time texting and engaging in other online activities.

Lab-Grown Human Mini Brains Show Brainy Activity Sep 13, 2019

As the little structures grow, their constituents specialize into different types of brain cells, begin to form connections and emit brain waves. They could be useful models for development and neurological conditions.

Eavesdropping Puts Anxious Squirrels at Ease Sep 12, 2019

Squirrels constantly scan their surroundings for hawks, owls and other predators. But they also surveil for threats by eavesdropping on bird chatter. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Earth's Magnetic Field Initiated a Pole Flip Many Millennia before the Switch Sep 11, 2019

Lava flow records and sedimentary and Antarctic ice core data show evidence of planetary magnetic field activity 20,000 years before the beginning of the last pole reversal.

Humpback Whales Swap Songs at Island Hub Sep 10, 2019

At the Kermadec Islands, humpbacks from all over the South Pacific converge and swap songs. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Food Expiration Dates May Mislead Consumers Sep 09, 2019

Better food labeling could prevent people from throwing away a lot of “expired” food that’s still perfectly edible.

Farmland Is Also Optimal for Solar Power Sep 05, 2019

The conditions of sunlight, temperature, humidity and wind that make cropland good for agriculture also maximize solar panel efficiency.

Chemical Tweak Recycles Polyurethane into Glue Sep 04, 2019

It’s not easy to recycle polyurethane, so it’s usually tossed out or burned. But a chemical tweak can turn polyurethane into glue. Christine Herman reports.

Cholesterol Climbs after Crows Chomp Cheeseburgers Sep 03, 2019

Wild animals that live near humans have higher cholesterol than their rural counterparts—and our food could be to blame. Christopher Intagliata reports.

How Hurricanes Influence Spider Aggressiveness Aug 30, 2019

As Hurricane Dorian approaches Florida, consider that feeding style means that aggressive tangle-web spider colonies produce more offspring after severe weather, while docile colonies do better in calm conditions.

Graphene Garment Blocks Blood-Sucking Skeeters Aug 28, 2019

A small patch of graphene on human skin seemed to block the mosquitoes’ ability to sense certain molecules that trigger a bite. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Martian Winds Could Spread Microbe Hitchhikers Aug 26, 2019

Microbes fly tens of miles over Chile’s dry, UV-blasted Atacama Desert—and scientists say the same could happen on Mars. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Including Indigenous Voices in Genomics Aug 21, 2019

A program at the University of Illinois trains indigenous scientists in genomics—in hopes that future work will be aimed at benefiting those communities. Christine Herman reports.

West Point Uniforms Signify Explosive Chemistry Aug 19, 2019

U.S. Military Academy cadets wear the colors black, gray and gold for reasons found in gunpowder’s chemistry.

Secrets of the Universe Trapped in Antarctic Snow Aug 14, 2019

Scientists found an interstellar iron isotope in Antarctic snow samples—which hints that our region of the universe may be the remnant of an ancient exploding star. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Certain Personality Types Are Likely to Make a "Foodie Call" Aug 13, 2019

Some people go on dates just to score a free meal—a phenomenon known as a “foodie call.” But it takes a certain personality type. Karen Hopkin reports.

Artificial Intelligence Sniffs Out Unsafe Foods Aug 12, 2019

Researchers trained machine-learning algorithms to read Amazon reviews for hints that a food product would be recalled by the FDA. Christopher Intagliata reports.

A Computer Tells Real Smiles from Phonies Aug 09, 2019

Slight changes around the eyes are indeed a giveaway as to whether a smile is sincere or faked.

Stare Down Gulls to Avoid Lunch Loss Aug 08, 2019

Researchers slowed the approach of greedy gulls by an average of 21 seconds by staring at the birds versus looking elsewhere. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Real Laughs Motivate More Guffaws Aug 07, 2019

Honest, involuntary laughter cued people to laugh more at some really bad jokes than they did when hearing forced laughter.

Extinction Wipes Out Evolution's Hard Work Aug 05, 2019

By killing off many of New Zealand’s endemic birds, humans destroyed 50 million years’ worth of evolutionary history. Christopher Intagliata reports.

London Is Crawling with Drug-Resistant Microbes Aug 03, 2019

Nearly half of bacteria gathered in public settings around the city were resistant to two or more commonly used antibiotics, such as penicillin and erythromycin. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Male Black Widows Poach Rivals' Approaches Aug 01, 2019

Mating is risky business for black widow males—so they hitchhike on the silk threads left by competitors to more quickly find a mate. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Babies Want Fair Leaders Jul 31, 2019

Babies as young as a year and a half want leaders to fix situations in which they see someone else being treated unfairly.

Parrots Are Making the U.S. Home Jul 30, 2019

Released or escaped parrots are now living in most states and are breeding in at least 21. For some, it’s a second chance at survival.

Science News Briefs from All Over Jul 29, 2019

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Guatemala to Australia, including one about the first recorded tornado in Nepal.

Tourist Photographs Help African Wildlife Census Jul 25, 2019

Photographs snapped by safari tourists are a surprisingly accurate way to assess populations of African carnivores. Christopher Intagliata reports.

For Ants, the Sky's the Compass Jul 23, 2019

Computer modeling revealed that insects with a celestial compass can likely determine direction down to just a couple degrees of error. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Why Two Moonships Were Better Than One Jul 20, 2019

Engineer John Houbolt pushed for a smaller ship to land on the lunar surface while the command module stayed in orbit around the moon.

One Small Scoop, One Giant Impact for Mankind Jul 19, 2019

Just before Neil Armstrong climbed back into the lunar module, he scooped up a few last-minute soil samples--which upturned our understanding of planetary formation. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Investigating the Zombie Ant's "Death Grip" Jul 18, 2019

Researchers dissected the jaws of ants infected with the Ophiocordyceps fungus to determine how the fungus hijacks the ants' behavior. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Attractive Young Females May Have Justice Edge Jul 16, 2019

Youths rated as attractive were less likely to have negative encounters with the criminal justice system—but only if they were women. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Tobacco Plants Made to Produce Useful Compounds Jul 15, 2019

A proof-of-concept study got transgenic tobacco plants to make a useful enzyme in their chloroplasts, not nuclei, minimizing chances for transfer to other organisms.

Rhinos and Their Gamekeepers Benefit from AI Jul 11, 2019

Starting in 2017, an artificial intelligence monitoring system at the Welgevonden Game Reserve in South Africa has been helping to protect rhinos and their caretakers.

Backpack Harvests Energy as You Walk Jul 10, 2019

The pack produces a steady trickle of electricity from the swinging motion of your stuff. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Why Baseballs Are Flying in 2019 Jul 09, 2019

An analysis of the 2019 edition of the Major League baseball points to reasons why it's leaving ballparks at a record rate.

Some Hot Dog Histology Jul 03, 2019

A lab analysis found that even an all-beef frankfurter had very little skeletal muscle, or "meat." So what’s in there? Christopher Intagliata reports.

Mind and Body Benefit from Two Hours in Nature Each Week Jul 01, 2019

People who spent at least two hours outside—either all at once or totaled over several shorter visits—were more likely to report good health and psychological well-being. Jason G. Goldman reports.

Scientist Encourages Other Women Scientists to Make Themselves Heard Jun 30, 2019

Geneticist Natalie Telis noticed few women asking questions at scientific conferences. So she publicized the problem and set about to make a change. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Male Bats Up Mating Odds with Mouth Morsels Jun 27, 2019

Males that allow females to take food right out of their mouths are more likely to sire offspring with their dining companions.

Scientists Fool Flies with "Virtual Tastes" Jun 26, 2019

By switching fruit flies' sensory neurons on and off with light, scientists were able to create the sensation of sweet or bitter tastes. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Wheat Plants "Sneeze" and Spread Disease Jun 25, 2019

Wheat plants' leaves repel water, which creates the perfect conditions for dew droplets to catapult off the leaves—taking pathogenic spores for the ride. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Elite Runners' Microbes Make Mice Mightier Jun 24, 2019

Mice that were fed bacteria isolated from elite athletes logged more treadmill time than other mice that got bacteria found in yogurt.

Science News Briefs from around the World Jun 23, 2019

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Canada to Kenya, including one about how humans thousands of years ago in what is now Argentina butchered and presumably ate giant ground sloths.

Antiperspirant Boosts Armpit and Toe-Web Microbial Diversity Jun 21, 2019

Rather than wiping microbes out, antiperspirants and foot powders increased the diversity of microbial flora in armpits and between toes. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Monkey Cousins Use Similar Calls Jun 17, 2019

Two monkey species who last shared a common ancestor 3 million years ago have "eerily similar" alarm calls.

How Millipedes Avoid Interspecies Sexual Slips Jun 16, 2019

Millipedes, often blind, have come up with clever physical signals to ward off sexual advances from members of wrong species.

You Contain Multitudes of Microplastics Jun 13, 2019

People appear to consume between 74,000 and 121,000 microplastic particles annually, and that's probably a gross underestimate.

A Biodegradable Label Doesn't Make It So Jun 12, 2019

At the third Scientific American “Science on the Hill” event, “Solving the Plastic Waste Problem”, one of the issues discussed by experts on Capitol Hill was biodegradability.

High School Cheaters Nabbed by Neural Network Jun 06, 2019

Researchers trained a neural network to scrutinize high school essays and sniff out ghostwritten papers. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Preserved Poop Is an Archaeological Treasure Jun 04, 2019

Anthropologists found parasite eggs in ancient poop samples, providing a glimpse of human health as hunter-gatherers transitioned to settlements. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Remembering Murray Gell-Mann Jun 03, 2019

Murray Gell-Mann, 1969 Nobel Laureate in Physics who identified the quark, died May 24th.

Bonobo Mothers Supervise Their Sons' Monkey Business May 29, 2019

Some wild female bonobos introduce their sons to desirable females—then make sure their relations won’t be interrupted by competing males. Karen Hopkin reports.

Music May Orchestrate Better Brain Connectivity in Preterm Infants May 28, 2019

Preterm babies who listened to music in the neonatal intensive care unit had brain activity that more closely resembled that of full-term babies. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Icy Room Temperatures May Chill Productivity  May 23, 2019

A new study suggests women's performance on math and verbal tasks increases as room temperature rises, up to about the mid 70s F. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Bird Beak Shapes Depend on More Than Diet May 22, 2019

A study found that only a small percentage of bird beak shape variation is dependent on diet, with other factors like display and nest construction probably playing parts too.

Ancient Gum Gives Archaeologists Something to Chew On May 20, 2019

Chewing gums discovered in western Sweden contain the oldest human DNA found in Scandinavia. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Nobelist: Harness Evolution as a Problem-Solving Algorithm May 17, 2019

Frances Arnold, the Caltech scientist who shared the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, says evolution can show us how to solve problems of sustainability.

Unread Books at Home Still Spark Literacy Habits May 16, 2019

Growing up in a home filled with books enhances enhances intellectual capacity in later life, even if you don't read them all.

Kid Climate Educators Open Adult Eyes May 15, 2019

A study finds that kids, especially daughters, are effective at teaching their parents about climate issues.

Penguin Poop Helps Biodiversity Bloom in Antarctica May 14, 2019

Ammonia from penguin poop gets carried on Antarctic winds, fertilizing mosses and lichens as far as a mile away. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Ancient Whiz Opens Archaeology Window May 13, 2019

The residue of ancient urine can reveal the presence of early stationary herder-farmer communities.

U.S. Coral Reefs Do $1.8 Billion of Work Per Year May 08, 2019

By dampening the energy of waves, coral reefs protect coastal cities from flooding damage and other economic losses. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Could Air-Conditioners Help Cool the Planet? May 06, 2019

Researchers want to outfit air conditioners with carbon-capture technology. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Chemists Investigate Casanova's Clap May 02, 2019

In his memoirs, the womanizing writer Giacomo Casanova described suffering several bouts of gonorrhea—but researchers found no trace of the microbe on his handwritten journals. Karen Hopkin reports.

Software Sniffs Out Rat Squeaks May 01, 2019

Algorithms learned to sift ultrasonic rat squeaks from other noise, which could help researchers who study rodents’ emotional states. Lucy Huang reports.

New Model Aims to Solve Mystery of the Moon's Formation Apr 30, 2019

Scientists propose that the moon could have formed when a Mars-sized object slammed into an Earth covered in magma seas. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Cats Recognize Their Names—but May Not Respond Apr 29, 2019

Felines move their ears, heads and tails more when they hear their names compared to when they hear similar words. Jim Daley reports.

Science News Briefs from All Over Apr 27, 2019

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Liberia to Hawaii, including one on the discovery in Northern Ireland of soil bacteria that stop the growth of MRSA and other superbugs.

Hurricane Maria Rain Amount Chances Are Boosted by Climate Change Apr 26, 2019

The likelihood of an event like Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and of its massive precipitation, is fivefold higher in the climate of today than it would have been some 60 years ago

Harder-Working Snakes Pack Stronger Venom Apr 25, 2019

Snake venom toxicity depends on snake size, energy requirements and environmental dimensionality more than on prey size.

River Dolphins Have a Wide Vocal Repertoire Apr 24, 2019

Freshwater dolphins are evolutionary relics, and their calls give clues to the origins of cetacean communication in general. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Honeybees Can Put Two and Two Together Apr 23, 2019

The tiny brain of a honeybee is apparently able to calculate small numbers' addition and subtraction. Annie Sneed reports.

4/20 Traffic Accidents Claim Curbed Apr 20, 2019

A deeper data dive calls into question a 2018 study that found a spike in fatal traffic accidents apparently related to marijuana consumption on this date.

Hyena Society Stability Has Last Laugh Apr 19, 2019

Female hyenas keep their clans in line by virtue of their complex social networks. Jason G. Goldman reports.

Gluten-Free Restaurant Foods Are Often Mislabeled Apr 18, 2019

One in three gluten-free dishes tested at restaurants contained gluten—especially GF pizzas and pastas. Christopher Intagliata reports.

What Chickens Can Teach Hearing Researchers Apr 17, 2019

At an April 9th event sponsored by the Kavli Foundation and produced by Scientific American that honored Nobel and Kavli Prize winners, neuroscientists James Hudspeth and Robert Fettiplace talked about the physiology of hearing and the possibility of restoring hearing loss.

Nobelist Says System of Science Offers Life Lessons Apr 16, 2019

At an April 9th event sponsored by the Kavli Foundation and produced by Scientific American that honored Nobel and Kavli Prize winners, economist Paul Romer talked about how the social system of science offers hope for humanity and for how we can live with each other.

Squeezed Potassium Atoms Straddle Liquid and Solid Apr 12, 2019

At extreme pressures, potassium atoms can be both liquid and solid at the same time, a phase of matter known as "chain melt." Christopher Intagliata reports.

Urban Coyote Evolution Favors the Bold Apr 11, 2019

Coyotes become fearless around people in just a few generations—which isn’t good for their longterm co-existence with humans in cities. Jason G. Goldman reports.

Computers Turn an Ear on New York City Apr 10, 2019

NYU’s “Sounds of New York City” project listens to the city—and then, with the help of citizen scientists, teaches machines to decode the soundscape. Jim Daley reports.

Whitening Strips Alter Proteins in Teeth Apr 09, 2019

Hydrogen peroxide in whitening treatments penetrates enamel and dentin, and alters tooth proteins. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Infrared Light Offers a Cooler Way to Defrost Apr 08, 2019

Light tuned to a specific frequency warms ice more than water—which could come in handy for defrosting delicate biological samples. Adam Levy reports.

Spider Monkeys Optimize Jungle Acoustics Apr 04, 2019

The monkeys lower the pitch of their "whinnies" when they're far from the rest of their group, which might help the calls travel further through jungle foliage. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Tennessee Whiskey Relies on Missing Ingredients Apr 02, 2019

Food chemists precisely measured how charcoal filtration contributes to Tennessee whiskey's smoother flavor. Christopher Intagliata reports.

There's a Word for Today Apr 01, 2019

English lacks some words that other languages pack with meaning.

Bumblebee Queens Prefer Layovers to Nonstop Flights Mar 28, 2019

Scientists tracked bumblebee queens with radar when they emerged from hibernation and found the bees take only brief flights en route to a new nest. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Scenic City Sights Linked to Higher Happiness Mar 26, 2019

Tracking the location and mood of 15,000 people, researchers found that scenic beauty was linked to happiness—including near urban sights like bridges and buildings. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Tech's Brain Effect: It's Complicated Mar 25, 2019

We don't yet know what the immersion in technology does to our brains, but one neuroscientist says the answer is likely to be that there's good, there's bad, and it's complex.

Daylight Brings Toxic Beetles Together for Safety Mar 22, 2019

During daylight hours, hundreds of bombardier beetles of multiple species will congregate together to more effectively ward off any predators not afraid of a lone beetle's toxic spray.

Solar Jets Cause Standing Waves in Earth's Magnetic Field Mar 19, 2019

When jets of charged particles from the sun hit our magnetosphere, some of the ensuing ripples travel toward the northern and southern poles and get reflected back. The resulting interference allows standing waves to form, like on a drumhead.

Sing Solo for Higher Fidelity Mar 18, 2019

By tracking duetting choir singers, researchers found that when an individual singer's pitch drifts off tune their partner’s tend to too. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Edible Insect Breeding Led to Larger but Not Necessarily Better Larvae Mar 14, 2019

Researchers aiming to lower the cost of mealworms were able to double the worms' size, but the larger larvae had fewer eggs and weaker offspring. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Busting Earth-Bound Asteroids a Bigger Job Than We Thought Mar 12, 2019

A new model suggests smashing killer space rocks with insufficient force could let gravity pull the pieces back together. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Weekday–Weekend Sleep Imbalance Bad for Blood Sugar Regulation Mar 11, 2019

Weekday sleep deprivation with weekend make-up sleeping seems to be worse for blood sugar control than even chronic sleep deprivation alone.

Warm-Blooded Animals Lost Ability to Heal the Heart Mar 07, 2019

Thyroid hormone, which helps warm-blooded animals regulate body temperature, also appears to put a halt on heart regeneration. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Animal Migrations Track with Wikipedia Searches Mar 06, 2019

By analyzing nearly 2.5 billion Wikipedia page views, researchers found species searches reflect seasonal animal migrations and plant blooming. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Baseball Commish Talks Big Data Mar 05, 2019

At a sports technology conference, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred addressed issues including an automated strike zone and advanced analytics.

Background Music Might Stifle Creativity Mar 04, 2019

Volunteers who listened to music solved fewer word puzzles than others who worked in silence. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Science News Briefs from around the Globe Mar 03, 2019

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Greenland to Palau, including one on the discovery of a trove of mummified cats in Egypt.

Budding Yeast Produce Cannabis Compounds Feb 28, 2019

Biologists have taken the genes that produce cannabinoids in weed and plugged them into yeast, making rare and novel compounds more accessible. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Who Has "the Right Stuff" for Mars? Feb 26, 2019

Humans traveling to Mars will be required to operate with a degree of autonomy human astronauts have never had, due to communication delays. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Grandma's Influence Is Good for Grandkids Feb 25, 2019

Grandmothers can enhance the survival of grandchildren. That is, unless grandma’s too old or lives too far away. Karen Hopkin reports.

Should Robots Have a License to Kill? Feb 23, 2019

Artificial intelligence experts, ethicists and diplomats debate autonomous weapons. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Warming Climate Implies More Flies—and Disease Feb 20, 2019

The incidence of foodborne illness could jump in a warming world, due to an increase in housefly activity. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Light-Skin Variant Arose in Asia Independent of Europe Feb 19, 2019

A new genetic study of Latin Americans provides evidence that gene variants for lighter skin color came about in Asia as well as in Europe. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Teach Science Process over Findings Feb 18, 2019

Seismologist and policy advisor Lucy Jones says science education needs to teach how science works more than just what it finds out.

Human Diet Drugs Kill Mosquitoes' Appetite, Too Feb 16, 2019

When researchers fed mosquitoes a drug used to treat people for obesity, the insects were less interested in hunting for their next human meal ticket. Karen Hopkin reports.

Grazing Deer Alter Forest Acoustics Feb 15, 2019

Deer populations have exploded in North American woodlands, changing forest ecology—and how sounds, like birdsong, travel through the trees. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Elephant Weight Cycles with New Teeth Feb 14, 2019

Elephants have six sets of teeth over their lives, sometimes two sets at once. At those times, they can extract more nutrition from food and put on weight.

Finally Over for Mars Rover Feb 13, 2019

The rover Opportunity has called it quits after working for more than 14 years on Mars.

Our Brains Really Remember Some Pop Music Feb 11, 2019

Although millennials' memory of recent pop tunes drops quickly, their ability to identify top hits from the 1960s through 1990s remains moderately high. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Biologists Track Tweets to Monitor Birds Feb 08, 2019

Conservation biologists can track the whereabouts of endangered species by the sounds they make, avoiding cumbersome trackers and tags. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Desalination Could Cause Ecological Sea Change Feb 07, 2019

An environmental assessment of the nation's largest desalination plant finds mixed results. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Different Humpback Whale Groups Meet to Jam Feb 06, 2019

Humpback populations from the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet up south of Africa and trade song stylings.

Targeting Certain Brain Cells Can Switch Off Pain Feb 04, 2019

By turning off certain brain cells, researchers were able to make mice sense painful stimuli—but not the associated discomfort. Karen Hopkin reports.

Neandertal Spears Were Surprisingly Deadly Jan 31, 2019

Javelin throwers chucking replicas of Neandertal spears were able to hit targets farther away, and with greater force than previously thought to be possible. Christopher Intagliata reports.

"Rectenna" Converts Wi-Fi to Electricity Jan 30, 2019

Researchers built a small, flexible device that harvests wi-fi, bluetooth and cellular signals, and turns them into DC electricity. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Science News Briefs from the World Over Jan 29, 2019

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Papua New Guinea to Kazakhstan, including one on the slow slide of Mount Etna in Italy.

Cod Could Cope with Constrained Climate Change Jan 28, 2019

Cod egg survival stays high with limited warming, but plummets when the temperature rises a few degrees Celsius in their current spawning grounds.

Intimate Hermit Crab Keeps Shell On Jan 25, 2019

A species of hermit crab appears to have evolved a large penis to enable intercourse without leaving, and thus possibly losing, its adopted shell.

Ecologists Eavesdrop with Bioacoustics Jan 24, 2019

By coupling audio recordings with satellite data and camera traps, ecologists can keep their eyes—and ears—on protected tropical forests. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Saturn's Blingy Rings Are a Recent Upgrade Jan 23, 2019

Though Saturn formed about 4.5 billion years ago, its rings were added relatively recently—only 100 million to 10 million years ago. Karen Hopkin reports.

Do-Gooders Should Survey Communities First Jan 22, 2019

Detroit residents declined an offer of free street trees—but were more willing to accept them if they had a say in the type of tree. Jason G. Goldman reports.

Viewing This Weekend's Lunar Eclipse Jan 18, 2019

A total lunar eclipse will grace the skies this Sunday, January 20—and it may or may not be red. Christopher Intagliata reports.

"Mona Lisa Effect" Not True for Mona Lisa Jan 17, 2019

The Mona Lisa effect is the illusion that the subject of a painting follows you with her gaze, despite where you stand. But da Vinci's famous painting doesn't have that quality. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Ants Stick to Cliques to Dodge Disease Jan 16, 2019

Ants infected with fungal pathogens steer clear of other cliques within the colony—avoiding wider infection, and allowing for a sort of immunity. Lucy Huang reports.

Mistimed Migration Means Bird Death Battles Jan 13, 2019

Climate change is shifting population numbers and nest building by resident and migratory birds in Europe—sometimes leading to deadly conflict. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Monogamy May Be Written in Our Genes Jan 11, 2019

In animal studies, a set of 24 genes involved in neural development, learning and memory, and cognition, seem to be associated with monogamy. Karen Hopkin reports.

Seeing Superman Increases Altruism Jan 10, 2019

Subject who saw a Superman poster were more likely to offer help than were people who saw another image.

Inhaled RNA Might Help Heal Cystic Fibrosis Jan 08, 2019

Scientists are working to correct a genetic defect in cystic fibrosis patients by having them inhale RNA. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Invisible Killers Hitchhike on Native Plant Seedlings Jan 04, 2019

More than a quarter of the seedlings sampled at native plant nurseries were infected with pathogens—which could hamper restoration work. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Facebook Users Value the Service More Than Investors Do Jan 02, 2019

Users of the social network said they'd require payment of more than $1,000 to quit the platform for one year. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Science News from around the Planet Dec 31, 2018

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Germany to Rwanda, including one on the discovery of the world's oldest known brewery, discovered in Israel.

Turn Xmas Tree into Food and Medicine Dec 29, 2018

Pine needles can easily be broken down into sugars as well as the building blocks of paint, adhesives and medicines. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Simple Sugars Wipe Out Beneficial Gut Bugs Dec 27, 2018

Fructose and sucrose can make it all the way to the colon, where they spell a sugary death sentence for beneficial bacteria. Karen Hopkin reports.

Smarter Pricing Could Ease Parking Frustration Dec 26, 2018

A new algorithm raises parking rates in busy neighborhoods and lowers them elsewhere, guaranteeing free parking spots regardless of location. Christopher Intagliata reports.

"Hunger Hormone" Ghrelin Aids Overindulgence Dec 25, 2018

Ghrelin, the hormone that makes you hungry, also makes food, and food smells, irresistibly appealing. Karen Hopkin reports.

Colorful Peacocks Impress Females with Good Vibes Dec 24, 2018

Peafowls' head crests are specifically tuned to the vibrations produced by feather-rattling male peacocks, thus acting as a sort of antenna. Jason G. Goldman reports.

Measuring the Strength of a Person's Gaze Dec 23, 2018

A new study suggests that, unconsciously, we actually do believe that looking exerts a slight force on the things being looked at. Karen Hopkin reports.

"Relaxation Music" Works—but So Does Chopin Dec 22, 2018

So-called "relaxation music" is only about as effective as a soothing Chopin piece at lulling listeners into a relaxed state. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Bone Building Needs Bit of Breakdown First Dec 21, 2018

The hormone irisin encourages bone remodeling, in part by first triggering another substance that encourages some bone breakdown.

Frog Picks Maternity Ward Like Goldilocks Dec 20, 2018

The Bahia's broad-snout casque-headed tree frog needs a pool to raise its young that's just right.

You Gotta Scratch That Itch Dec 19, 2018

A particular set of brain neurons may be behind registering itch and inducing us to scratch.

Join Blue Planet II Live-Tweet Dec 14, 2018

Starting December 16, ocean scientists will live-tweet the BBC documentary series Blue Planet II, available via Netflix.

Big-Boned Chickens May Be Humans' Geologic Legacy Dec 13, 2018

Millions of years from now, the geologic record of the "Anthropocene" will be littered with plastics, yes, but also chicken bones. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Ancient Marine Reptiles Had Familiar Gear Dec 12, 2018

Ichthyosaurs had traits in common with turtles and modern marine mammals, like blubber and countershading camouflage. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Little Aphids Ride Big Ones to Safety Dec 11, 2018

When trouble lurks, juvenile aphids drop off of the plants they're eating and hitch a ride on bigger aphid escapees.

Utah's Deserts Are Bee Hotspots Dec 08, 2018

The Trump administration is shrinking Utah's desert monuments, stripping some federal protections for wild pollinators. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Who's a Smart Dog?! Dec 06, 2018

An estimate of dog intelligence requires looking at non-dogs as well to understand what's special to canines and what is just typical of the taxonomic groups they're in.

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