Science Quickly

Exploring the Science of Spookiness at the Recreational Fear Lab Oct 30, 2024

Why do so many of us love a good scare? Whether it’s horror movies, haunted houses or creepy podcasts, there’s something thrilling about feeling spooked—especially around Halloween. In this episode, host Rachel Feltman dives into our fascination with fear and morbid curiosity with Coltan Scrivner, a behavioral scientist at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark. They explore the evolutionary and psychological reasons behind why we’re drawn to the dark and eerie and why a dose of fear can be so much fun.

Recommended reading:

The Evolutionary Reasons We Are Drawn to Horror Movies and Haunted Houses

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

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Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, along with Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Scurvy, Bird Flu and a Big Old Meteorite Oct 28, 2024

An enormous meteorite’s impact 3.26 billion years ago may have made conditions on Earth more hospitable for life in the long run. Washington State is the sixth state to report cases of bird flu in humans. Weight-loss procedures and treatments could lead to an uptick in scurvy cases if patients and physicians aren’t vigilant about vitamin C. And scientists are learning more from the remains of a Norse soldier whose body was dumped in a well some 800 years ago.

Recommended reading:

Whooping Cough Is Spreading Again after Years of Relative Quiet

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Anaissa Ruiz Tejada. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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What The Next President Will Do about Artificial Intelligence Oct 18, 2024

There’s a lot of excitement and apprehension over the seemingly sudden proliferation of artificial intelligence in just about everything. Technological progress often outpaces regulation, and the next U.S. president will set the tone for AI policy. Scientific American’s associate technology editor Ben Guarino walks us through AI policies and plans from Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Plus, we discuss the role AI generated images, videos and even voices could play in spreading misinformation around the election.

Recommended reading:

How the Next President Will Determine the Future of AI

Lethal AI Weapons Are on the Rise. What’s Next?

We Cannot Cede Control of Weapons to Artificial Intelligence

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with associate technology editor Ben Guarino. Our show is edited by Fonda Mwangi with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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The Doctor Will See You, and Stop Judging You, Now Oct 16, 2024

How do you stop implicit bias from getting in the way of better health? This doctor wants to make learning how to manage bias as important as learning how to suture.

SHOWNOTES:

Have you ever felt judged at the doctor’s office, even before you said a word? Unfortunately, that’s not uncommon, and it’s often not intentional. Like everyone, doctors have unconscious biases that can affect how they treat patients, which can pose real risks to health outcomes. In this episode, host Rachel Feltman is joined by Cristina Gonzalez, a physician and professor of medicine and population health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, to discuss how these biases form and what can be done to address them.

This podcast is part of “Health Equity Heros,” an editorially independent special report that was produced with financial support from Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Your Rundown of the Science Nobels, and Europa Clipper Is Delayed Oct 14, 2024

Everything you need to know about last week’s physics, chemistry, and physiology or medicine Nobels. COVID could raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes years after original infection. Hurricane Milton causes tornadoes across Florida and delays the launch of Europa Clipper.

Recommended reading:

How Does Sharing a Nobel Prize Work? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-chemistry-physics-and-medicine-nobel-prizes-can-be-shared-and-how-that/

Why Hurricane Milton Caused So Many Tornadoes https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-hurricane-milton-caused-so-many-tornadoes/

NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission Carries Special Cargo: A Poem https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasas-europa-clipper-mission-carries-special-cargo-a-poem/

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Anaissa Ruiz Tejada with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Is Singing an Evolutionary Accident or a Critical Way to Connect? Oct 11, 2024

Scientific American associate news editor and music enthusiast Allison Parshall takes Science Quickly through what we know about how singing came to be. Scientists aren’t sure why humans evolved to sing, but commonalities in traditional music offer clues to how the practice evolved. Neuroscience shows us where speech and singing live in the brain and what information the forms hold. And an upcoming experiment will look into how singing might make us more connected to one another.

Recommended reading:

New Folk Song Analysis Finds Similarities around the World

How Artificial Intelligence Helped Write This Award-Winning Song

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Allison Parshall. Our show is edited by Madison Goldberg with fact-checking by Marielle Issa, Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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The Danger of Hurricane Downpours and the End of ‘Climate Havens’ Oct 09, 2024

Hurricanes Beryl, Francine and Helene have battered the Gulf Coast this year. Hurricane Milton is expected to add to the destruction, particularly in parts of the west coast of central Florida that are already reeling from Hurricane Helene. Scientific American’s associate editor of sustainability Andrea Thompson joins Science Quickly to help us understand how we measure hurricanes and how climate change is magnifying the damage done by these massive storms. Plus, we discuss how the catastrophic flooding in western North Carolina dispels the myth that anywhere can be a true “climate haven.”

Recommended reading:

New Hurricane Forecasts Could Predict Terrifying Explosive Intensification https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-hurricane-forecasts-could-predict-terrifying-explosive-intensification/

Hurricanes Kill People for Years after the Initial Disaster https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hurricanes-kill-people-for-years-after-the-initial-disaster/

Hurricane Helene Signals the End of the ‘Climate Haven’ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hurricane-helene-signals-the-end-of-the-climate-haven/

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Andrea Thompson, Scientific American’s associate editor of sustainability. Our show is edited by Fonda Mwangi with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Stem Cell Treatments for Diabetes and a Dolphin’s Smile Oct 07, 2024

Hurricane Helene’s death toll continues to rise. Marburg virus is spreading in Rwanda, but risks for a global outbreak are low. Researchers in Beijing used stem cell treatments to reverse diabetes in a patient. Plus, we discuss a map of a fruit fly’s brain and dolphin smiles.

Recommended reading:

Hurricanes Kill People for Years after the Initial Disaster https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hurricanes-kill-people-for-years-after-the-initial-disaster/

See an Amazingly Detailed Map of the Fruit Fly Brain

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-an-amazingly-detailed-map-of-the-fruit-fly-brain/

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Anaissa Ruiz Tejada with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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The Hidden Secrets of Math: Uncharted Territory (Part 3) Oct 04, 2024

Drag queen and mathematics communicator Kyne Santos tells us the questions that modern mathematicians are grappling with, from infinite tiling to the structure of math itself.

We hope you enjoyed the final episode of this Friday miniseries about magical math. You can listen to parts one and two wherever you get your podcasts or at the links below.

Recommended reading:

– Discover Math’s Elegance and Power with Drag Queen Kyne Santos

– Is Math Part of Nature or an Invention of the Mind?

– Inside Mathematicians’ Search for the Mysterious ‘Einstein Tile’

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Kyne Santos. Our show is edited by Madison Goldberg with fact-checking by Shayna Posses, Emily Makowski and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Your Next Pain Prescription Could Come without Addiction Risk Oct 02, 2024

The Food and Drug Administration has granted priority review to suzetrigine, a novel painkiller. It’s part of a new class of medications that could provide relief to those with chronic pain. The drugs target sodium channels on nerve cells, stopping pain signaling at the periphery. Journalist Marla Broadfoot explains the biology of aches and pains and the reasons it is so challenging to develop well-tolerated medications for pain.

Recommended reading:

New Painkiller Could Bring Relief to Millions—Without Addiction Risk

Ozempic Quiets Food Noise in the Brain—But How?

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Marla Broadfoot. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Fighting Global Misinformation, Ditching Plastic Bottles, and Hunting with an Octopus Sep 30, 2024

From the United Nations General Assembly, host Rachel Feltman interviews Melissa Fleming, the U.N.’s undersecretary-general for global communications, on how misinformation and distrust in science are impacting global well-being. Plus, we note caveats to a major social media study and explain how food packaging can be harmful to the environment and human health.

Recommended reading:

Why It’s So Hard to Recycle Plastic https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-its-so-hard-to-recycle-plastic/

How Deadly Is Mpox, What Vaccines Are Effective, and Other Questions Answered https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-deadly-is-mpox-what-vaccines-are-effective-and-other-questions-answered/

61 Unexpected ‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Food Packaging https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/61-unexpected-pfas-forever-chemicals-found-in-food-packaging/

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Melissa Fleming, undersecretary-general for global communications at the United Nations. Our show is edited by Anaissa Ruiz Tejada with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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The Hidden Secrets of Math: Invented or Discovered? (Part 2) Sep 27, 2024

Where does math come from? Mathematicians are still debating whether math is an inherent part of nature or an invention of the human mind. Mathematics communicator and drag queen Kyne will guide you through the question of what math really is in this three-part Friday miniseries.

Recommended reading:

– Gift Wrapping Five Oranges Has Outwitted the Best Minds in Mathematics for Generations

– The SAT Problem That Everybody Got Wrong

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman and Kyne Santos. Our show is edited by Madison Goldberg with fact-checking by Shayna Posses, Emily Makowski and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Untangling the Link between Eating Disorders and PCOS Sep 25, 2024

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects up to five million people in the U.S., yet it remains poorly understood. Many people with PCOS go undiagnosed while experiencing symptoms such as irregular periods, changes in hair and body shape, acne and infertility. Even after a diagnosis, they’re often told to lose weight to manage symptoms—advice that some researchers now say can be harmful.

A recent study found that people with PCOS are more likely to have eating disorders, regardless of their body mass index. Laura Cooney, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, co-authored the study. She joins host Rachel Feltman to discuss why the focus on weight loss for PCOS treatment needs to be reconsidered.

This episode is part of “Health Equity Heroes,” an editorially independent special project that was produced with financial support from Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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How Pregnancy Changes the Brain, and How Lizards Make DIY Scuba Gear Sep 23, 2024

In this week’s news roundup: Earth might have previously had a giant ring of space rocks like the one around Saturn, “scuba diving” lizards are using bubbles to breathe, and a new study mapped brain changes in a person throughout pregnancy. Additionally, we describe how NASA’s stranded astronauts will vote from space.

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Anaissa Ruiz Tejada. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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The Hidden Secrets of Math: Beauty and Power (Part 1) Sep 20, 2024

Mathematics communicator and drag queen Kyne Santos will help you discover the beauty and power of math in this three-part Friday miniseries. Kyne takes us back to ancient Greece to illustrate the elegance of mathematics. We meet mathematician Tom Crawford, who combines fieldwork and modeling to predict the impacts of pollution, as well as philosopher and logician Mark Jago.

Recommended reading:

– Gift Wrapping Five Oranges Has Outwitted the Best Minds in Mathematics for Generations

– The SAT Problem That Everybody Got Wrong

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman and Kyne Santos. Our show is edited by Madison Goldberg with fact-checking by Shayna Posses, Emily Makowski and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Why Black Men Should Consider Earlier Screening for Prostate Cancer Sep 18, 2024

In recognition of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month this September, host Rachel Feltman sits down with Alfred Winkler, chief of urology at NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, to discuss proactive steps individuals can take to protect themselves against prostate cancer. Black American men, in particular, face some of the highest rates of the disease in the world, with multiple factors contributing to this elevated risk. This episode explores efforts to raise awareness and promote early screening within this high-risk group.

This episode is part of “Health Equity Heroes,” an editorially independent special project that was produced with financial support from Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

Recommended reading:

New Prostate Cancer Treatments Offer Hope for Advanced Cases

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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AI Could Help Save Us from Conspiracy Theories, and Massachusetts Could Help Save Us from Our Trash Sep 16, 2024

This week's news roundup: The European Space Agency’s Juice mission tested its instruments with a flyby of Earth in preparation for studying habitability on moons of Jupiter’. Also, a study found that Massachusetts has reduced food waste through composting and enforcement while four other states have not successfully done so despite also having bans on disposing of such waste in landfills. And researchers tested the generative artificial intelligence platform GPT-4 Turbo’s ability to counter conspiracy theories through personalized, fact-based conversations, yielding promising results.

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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This Episode Was Recorded from Space Sep 13, 2024

Science Quickly host Rachel Feltman interviewed NASA flight engineer Matthew Dominick live—from space! In this first-ever interview conducted from the International Space Station’s (ISS’s) iconic cupola, Dominick talks about his path to space, his experience on the ISS and his incredible astrophotography. You can listen to the full video and watch the changing light from the cupola at the link below.

Watch the First-Ever Interview from the ISS Cupola https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/learn-how-astronauts-take-photos-from-nasa-in-flight-engineer-matthew/

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Matthew Dominick. Our show is edited by Jeff DelViscio with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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How 9/11 Transformed Forensic Science Sep 11, 2024

Content warning: This episode contains some details about the 9/11 attacks and victims’ remains.

Twenty-three years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, forensic scientists are still working to identify victims from the World Trade Center site. Host Rachel Feltman speaks with Kathleen Corrado, forensics executive director at Syracuse University’s College of Arts & Sciences, about what unique challenges have been posed by the massive scale of the tragedy and how the lessons learned are now helping investigators solve cases from wildfires to criminal investigations—in addition to aiding efforts to identify the remaining victims of 9/11.

Recommended reading:

Health Effects of 9/11 Still Plague Responders and Survivors

What Structural Engineers Learned from 9/11

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Jellyfish Clones Swarm British Columbian Lakes, and Measles Cases Surge in Oregon Sep 09, 2024

In this week’s new roundup, a new study finds no clear connection between phone use and brain or head cancers, putting some fears to rest. Meanwhile Sweden’s new screen-time guidelines suggest keeping kids under age two away from screens entirely and limiting time for older children—and echo concerns from other countries about how much time young people spend on devices. Also, jellyfish clones are invading lakes in British Columbia, Oregon faces its worst measles outbreak in three decades, and NASA clears up the mystery behind the strange noise on the ill-fated Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

Recommended reading:

How to Check If You’re Immune to Measles

How Worried Should We Be about Starliner’s Stranded Astronauts?

When Should Kids Get a Smartphone?

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

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In Sickness and Age: Finding Balance between Caregiving and Self-Care (Part 2) Sep 06, 2024

As people live longer and family sizes shrink, fewer relatives are available to share the burden of caregiving for aging loved ones. The second episode of our two-part miniseries on caregiving explores what this means for the family members who take on this critical role. How do they provide the best care while also maintaining their own well-being? To hear firsthand how caregivers are navigating this challenge, Lauren Young and Tanya Lewis, Scientific American’s respective associate and senior editors of health and medicine, visited a support center in Queens, N.Y. Young shares some of the stories they gathered from the community there.

Listen to part one of this series.

This episode is part of “Health Equity Heroes,” an editorially independent special project that was produced with financial support from Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

Recommended reading:

Shrinking Family Sizes May Change Our Experience with Aging

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was reported and hosted by Lauren Young. Tanya Lewis also contributed reporting for this miniseries. Marielle Issa, Emily Makowski, Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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How Racism Might Be Accelerating Aging and Menopause Sep 04, 2024

Discrimination may be speeding up the aging process for people of color and other minoritized groups. Research is revealing that structural and interpersonal racism could be key factors in why these communities often age faster and face age-related diseases sooner. Alexis Reeves, a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University, studies how racism affects aging, with a focus on early menopause. In a conversation with Science Quickly host Rachel Feltman, Reeves discusses how traditional research methods might be overlooking these critical disparities.

This episode is part of “Health Equity Heroes,” an editorially independent special project that was produced with financial support from Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

Recommended reading:

Discrimination May Hasten Menopause in Black and Hispanic Women

How Racism in Early Life Can Affect Long-Term Health

“Systematic Exclusion at Study Commencement Masks Earlier Menopause for Black Women in the Study of Women’s Health across the Nation (SWAN),” by Alexis Reeves et al., in International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 52, No. 5; October 2023

“Study Selection Bias and Racial or Ethnic Disparities in Estimated Age at Onset of Cardiometabolic Disease among Midlife Women in the US,” by Alexis Reeves et al, in JAMA Network Open, Vol. 5, No. 1, Article No. e2240665. Published online November 7, 2022

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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In Sickness and Age: Changing Family Structures and Caregiving (Part 1) Aug 30, 2024

In this first episode of a two-part miniseries on caregiving, Tanya Lewis, Scientific American’s senior editor of health and medicine, shares her personal experience with becoming a caregiver for her mother after her mom was diagnosed with a serious illness. Her journey inspired her to explore the broader challenges faced by caregivers. Lewis and her colleague Lauren J. Young, SciAm’s associate editor of health and medicine, reached out to listeners and investigated the stresses of caregiving, uncovering common experiences and insights. Lewis joins host Rachel Feltman to delve into the scope of the caregiving crisis.

This episode is part of “Health Equity Heroes,” an editorially independent special project that was produced with financial support from Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was reported and co-hosted by Tanya Lewis. Lauren J. Young also contributed reporting. Marielle Issa, Emily Makowski, Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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The Dark Side of Houseplant Collection Aug 28, 2024

Marc Hachadourian, senior curator of orchids and director of glasshouse horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden, joins host Rachel Feltman to explore houseplant trends from the past and the present. Plus, they discuss how ethically sourcing your plants can prevent fad-driven overcollection.

Listen to the New York Botanical Garden’s new podcast Plant People.

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with Marc Hachadourian, senior curator of orchids and director of glasshouse horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden. Our show is edited by Jeff DelViscio and Fonda Mwangi with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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NASA’s Perseverance Rover Ascends, Ozempic Is Linked to Depression, and Mpox Cases Spread Rapidly Aug 26, 2024

NASA’s Perseverance rover cautiously climbs Jezero Crater on Mars in search of new discoveries. We also explore recent revelations about the Red Planet’s hidden water reserves and puzzling sulfur findings. On the health front, a new device, described as an implant that acts like a pacemaker for the brain, shows promise for Parkinson’s treatment by reducing symptoms more effectively than conventional methods. Plus, we discuss a concerning side effect of the popular weight-loss drug semaglutide, fears of a polio outbreak in Gaza and the latest on mpox, which the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency earlier this month.

Recommended reading:

Watch one of Holliday’s viral TikToks

Bilingualism Is Reworking This Language’s Rainbow

Grammar Changes How We See, an Australian Language Shows

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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‘Dark Oxygen’ Is Coming from These Ocean Nodules, and We Don’t Know How Aug 21, 2024

Polymetallic nodules litter a stretch of ocean between Mexico and Hawaii. They contain metals, such as manganese and cobalt, that mining companies want to use for battery production. Researchers recently found that these seafloor blobs might make their own oxygen—and no one knows exactly how. Scientific American’s associate news editor Allison Parshall explains the hype behind this “dark oxygen.”

Recommended reading:

‘Dark Oxygen’ Discovered Coming from Mineral Deposits on Deep Seafloor https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dark-oxygen-discovered-coming-from-mineral-deposits-on-deep-seafloor/

Earth’s Coral Reefs Face a New, Deadly Mass Bleaching. They Can Still Be Saved

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/earths-coral-reefs-face-a-new-deadly-mass-bleaching-they-can-still-be-saved/

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest and associate news editor Allison Parshall. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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How Our Brains See Faces [Sponsored] Aug 20, 2024

Doris Tsao is the 2024 recipient of The Kavli Prize in Neuroscience for her research on facial recognition. Her work has provided insights into the complex workings of the brain and has the potential to advance our understanding of perception and cognition.

This podcast was produced for The Kavli Prize by Scientific American Custom Media, a division separate from the magazines board of editors.

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James Cameron’s OceanXplorers Embraces Real- Life Science with Cinematic Flare Aug 19, 2024

James Cameron is known for his ambitious filmmaking. His newest project is a six-part National Geographic miniseries that goes beneath the waves with the crew of the OceanXplorer. Cameron joins Science Quickly host Rachel Feltman to talk about the origins of his fascination with the ocean and the importance of seeing scientists at work.

Recommended reading:

Mysterious Galápagos Reefs Harbor Strawberry Squid and Other Fantastic Creatures https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mysterious-galapagos-reefs-harbor-strawberry-squid-and-other-fantastic-creatures1/

Healthy Coral Reefs Sound like a Symphony https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/this-is-how-a-healthy-coral-reef-sounds-and-why-it-matters/

Earth’s Coral Reefs Face a New, Deadly Mass Bleaching. They Can Still Be Saved https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/earths-coral-reefs-face-a-new-deadly-mass-bleaching-they-can-still-be-saved/

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest James Cameron.Our show is edited by Fonda Mwangi with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Uncovering the Truth about Sexual Pleasure and Prostates with Science Vs’s Wendy Zukerman Aug 16, 2024

When the hit podcast Science Vs went to find the facts about the “male G-spot,” it was faced with remarkably little research to draw from. So the team collaborated with academics on one of the largest surveys about anal sex and masturbation. We discuss what they learned, on this episode of Science Quickly with Rachel Feltman and special guest Wendy Zukerman of Science Vs.

Recommended reading:

Mind-Blowing Orgasms: Does the Male G-Spot Exist?

How to Explore Your Sexuality, according to Science

Asexuality Research Has Reached New Heights. What Are We Learning?

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Wendy Zukerman, host of Science Vs. Our show is edited by Fonda Mwangi with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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What Happens when Space Junk Falls on Your Property? Aug 14, 2024

Debris from satellites, rockets and other space infrastructure are crowding low-Earth orbit. Occasionally, that space junk crashes down to Earth. For Samantha Lawler, an associate professor of astronomy at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, such debris was mostly a theoretical nuisance. Then a nearby farmer found remnants of a SpaceX craft on his land, and Lawler was pulled into the murky legal landscape around space junk in the skies and on the ground.

Recommended reading:

SpaceX Dropped Space Junk on My Neighbor’s Farm. Here’s What Happened Next

Space Junk Is Polluting Earth’s Stratosphere with Vaporized Metal

Space Trash Threatens the Global Economy

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Samantha Lawler. Our show is edited by Fonda Mwangi with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Olympic Athletes Swim the Murky Seine, and Astronauts Are (Still) Stuck on the Space Station Aug 12, 2024

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris came to a close on Sunday—and swimmers swam the Seine as promised. The two astronauts sent to the International Space Station on a Boeing Starliner craft in June are still in limbo, with no set return flight. The EPA is acting quickly to suspend sales of products that contain the pesticide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate over safety concerns. Plus, we discuss a new theory of how the pyramids were built (and no, it doesn’t involve aliens).

Recommended reading:

Cleaning Up Paris’s Poop River for the Olympics https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/cleaning-up-the-poop-polluted-seine-for-the-paris-olympics/

Lost Branch of the Nile May Solve Long-Standing Mystery of Egypt’s Famed Pyramids https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/egypts-famed-pyramids-overlooked-a-long-lost-branch-of-the-nile/

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Fonda Mwangi with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Unusual Archaeology: Investigating Ancient Human Sacrifice (Part 3) Aug 09, 2024

Content warning: This episode focuses in part on the archaeological study of ancient human sacrifice, including incidents involving young children. While we have taken care not to include gratuitous descriptions of violence, this episode does contain frank discussion of the circumstances of these deaths and the nature of these individuals’ remains.

In the final episode of our three-part series on unusual archaeology, science journalist Kata Karáth takes you on one more adventure—to a mountaintop with an extreme climate, where archaeologists investigate the practice of human sacrifice among the Inka.

Listen to the first two episodes of this series exploring humanity’s past:

— Sustainable Fishing with Ancient Chambers and Ocean Tides

— How Ancient Humans Interpreted the Cosmos

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was reported and hosted by Kata Karáth with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Special thanks to María Luz Endere and Carlos Molina-Vital for their assistance with parts of this script.

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Why Coral Reefs Need You to Listen Aug 07, 2024

Host Rachel Feltman is joined by conservation bioacoustics researcher Isla Keesje Davidson to explore the vibrant world of coral reefs through an unexpected lens: sound. They discuss how healthy coral reefs sound different from those in distress, why listening to the ocean could be key to its preservation and how you can be part of this groundbreaking research.

Recommended reading:

— Earth’s Coral Reefs Face a New, Deadly Mass Bleaching. They Can Still Be Saved

— We Can Save Earth’s Coral Reefs

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman, featuring guest Isla Keesje Davidson. Our show is fact-checked by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Cancer Case Rates Are Rising Across Generations and a Private Spacewalk is Delayed Aug 05, 2024

The American Cancer Society published a study suggesting that for 8 or 34 cancers tracked, case rates are rising from one generation to the next. While headlines often point to sedentary lifestyles and higher weights as a possible cause, some experts say that these factors alone cannot explain the spike. In more hopeful oncology news, there’s a new blood test for colorectal cancer–though it doesn’t replace the importance of colonoscopies.

SpaceX is delaying their attempt at the first-ever private spacewalk—billionaire Jared Isaacman will have to wait. And on the ground, move over hardwood and softwood—two surviving species of the Liriodendron genus point to a new categorization of midwood.

Recommended reading:

Gen X Faces Higher Cancer Rates Than Any Previous Generation

Why We’ll Never Live in Space

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

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Unusual Archaeology: Contemplating the Cosmos (Part 2) Aug 02, 2024

Gazing up at the night sky is a universal human experience, likely as old as our species itself. But how did our ancient ancestors feel about what they saw in the heavens, and how did it shape their lives? In Episode Two of our three-part Fascination miniseries on unusual archaeology, science journalist Kata Karáth introduces us to archaeoastronomy—the study of how people in the past experienced and explained the phenomena of the cosmos.

Listen to the first episode of this series: “Sustainable Fishing with Ancient Chambers and Ocean Tides”

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Jeff DelViscio, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Rachel Feltman. This episode was reported and hosted by Kata Karáth. Special thanks to Saara Alakorva and Camilla Brattland for their assistance with parts of this script. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-checked this series. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Sex Testing’s Long History in the Olympics and Other Elite Sports Jul 31, 2024

Sex testing has a long history in sports. As participation in events like the Olympics opened to women, organizers and audiences alike began questioning the sex of the athletes. The tests devised to “prove” an athlete’s sex have been invasive and inaccurate. Rose Eveleth, host of the NPR and CBC podcast Tested, brings us the story of sex testing and where the science stands.

Listen to Tested: https://link.chtbl.com/zQEKpQCE

Read Olympic coverage from Scientific American:

Is Technology in the Olympics a Form of Doping or a Reality of Modern Sport? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-technology-in-the-olympics-a-form-of-doping-or-a-reality-of-modern-sport/

For Olympic Athletes, First Come the Games—Then Come the Post-Olympics Blues https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/for-olympic-athletes-first-come-the-games-then-come-the-post-olympics-blues/

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Rose Eveleth, host of Tested. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Cocaine Sharks and the Hottest Days on Record (So Far) Jul 29, 2024

It’s a scorching summer, with record-breaking temperatures last Monday. Rain really is harder to predict, and greenhouse gasses are probably to blame. Polio is circulating in Gaza’s wastewater and could spread as conflict leads to crowding, poor sanitation and missing routine vaccinations. Plus, we discuss a shocking price for a promising HIV vaccine, cocaine sharks and komodo dragons with iron-tipped teeth.

Recommended reading:

Sharks in Brazil Test Positive for a Surprising Contaminant: Cocaine

Komodo Dragons’ Nightmare Iron-Tipped Teeth Are a Reptilian First

Why Extreme Heat Is So Deadly

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. This show was edited by Jeff DelViscio, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Unusual Archaeology: Ancient Chambers and Ocean Tides (Part 1) Jul 26, 2024

Fish trapping is an ancient practice, reaching across the globe from at least as far back as 11,000 years ago. It takes advantage of coastal tides and human-made chambers to catch and release fish. The simple but ingenious ancient fishing structures are built on two intertwining principles: the ocean can provide for us if we properly care for it.

Archaeologists are mapping the possible locations of ancient traps. And on Penghu, a group of islands off of Taiwan, people are reviving the traditional tidal weirs, hoping to promote sustainable fishing and attract ecotourism.

Stay tuned for more from science journalist Kata Karáth in part two of our three-part Fascination series on unusual archaeology.

Recommended reading:

– Oldest Deep-Sea Shipwreck Is a ‘Time Capsule’ from the Bronze Age

– The Oldest-Wine-in-the-World Title Goes to a 2,000-Year-Old White Found in Southwestern Spain

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman and journalist Kata Karáth. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Advanced Meditation Can ‘Reset’ the Brain Jul 24, 2024

Meditation is mostly mainstream, with many people using mindfulness to manage stress. But dedicated practitioners of advanced meditation move beyond mindfulness into a state where consciousness “entirely falls away.” That’s according to today’s guest: Matthew Sacchet, an associate professor and director of the Meditation Research Program at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. Sacchet tells host Rachel Feltman about his journey from youthful meditator to neuroscience researcher. Plus, they discuss what meditation and psychedelic experiences are unlocking for consciousness researchers.

Recommended reading:

Read a feature co-authored by Sacchet in the July issue of SciAm

And see our June issue feature on the neuroscience of near-death experiences

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Matthew Sacchet. Our show is edited by Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Windows Devices Go Down, COVID Rates Go Up, and Tornadoes Touchdown on the Ground and on the Big Screen Jul 22, 2024

President Biden is far from the only positive as COVID is experiencing a summer surge. Windows malfunction grounds planes and causes outages for banks, hospitals and emergency services. The Perseid meteor shower gives you plenty of shooting stars to see. Plus, we use the Twisters premiere as an excuse to talk about wild weather.

Recommended reading:

– One Small Step Back in Time: Relive the Wonder of Apollo 11

– Why Hurricane Beryl Underwent Unprecedented Rapid Intensification

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

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On Thin Ice: Contemplating Our Climate Future in Antarctica (Part 4) Jul 12, 2024

We’re at the end of the Nathaniel B. Palmer’s Antarctic expedition. The researchers onboard are returning sea ice and thousands of gallons of seawater. These samples will allow them to examine biogeochemical processes, some of which are linked to climate change. As the research vessel makes its way back to port, the scientists reflect on the future of our planet and the question of whether the ice in Antarctica will always be around for sampling.

Listen to the first three episodes of this series:

– Glacial Melting Could Change the Chemistry of Antarctic Seawater

– Penguins and Ice Samples Make This Research Vessel Paradice

– Life for Researchers on This Icebreaker Is Cold and Fulfilling

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by journalist Sofia Moutinho. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Saving the Last Truly Wild Horse Jul 10, 2024

Przewalski’s horses are truly wild horses, even the ones held in captivity. They traditionally roamed the Central Asian steppes, so you can imagine everyone’s surprise when two separate accounts on TikTok claimed to have found a Przewalski’s horse here in the U.S. But as guest and Scientific American associate news editor Allison Parshall will tell you, the real story is the remarkable conservation efforts that led to a resurgence for this horse, which was once considered extinct in the wild.

The Last Wild Horses Are Finally Returning to Their Natural Habitat

How a Cloned Ferret Inspired a DNA Bank for Endangered Species

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest and associate news editor Allison Parshall. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

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A Blast from Our Past and Plans for a Petrochemical-Free Future Jul 08, 2024

We’re looking at our reporting—from 100 years ago. In 1924 Scientific American’s pages were bemoaning traffic, waste management and pests. They were also praising the by-products of coal tar and those substances’ use in household items. While the record is clear on the toxicity of fossil fuels to our environment and our health, demand for fossil-fuel-based “petrochemical” products such as plastic is only increasing. Host Rachel Feltman advises on how to avoid petrochemicals in our everyday products. Plus, we take a lighthearted look at a telepathy study also featured in one of our 1924 issues.

Recommended reading:

The Gas Industry Is Gaslighting the Public about Climate Change

Renewable Power Set to Surpass Coal Globally by 2025

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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The Supreme Court Plays Hot Potato with Idaho’s Abortion Restrictions, and NASA Plays It Safe with Starliner Jul 01, 2024

The Supreme Court dismissed a case about Idaho’s abortion ban, preserving a lower court ruling that allows for emergency access to abortion in the state. NASA pushed back a return flight for two Starliner astronauts so that Boeing and the agency can better understand the helium leaks and thruster failures that plagued the spacecraft’s launch.

Infectious disease experts are still tracking the transmission of bird flu in the U.S., while Finland is set to offer preemptive vaccines to farmworkers. Higher temperatures are contributing to a spike in dengue fever. A new strain of mpox is spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

We’re taking the holiday week off, so there won’t be an episode on Wednesday or Friday. Enjoy your Fourth of July, stay safe around fireworks and listen to our back catalog of episodes when you need a break from backyard barbecues.

Recommended reading:

Supreme Court Allows Emergency Abortions in Idaho—For Now

Mosquitoes Carry Nasty Diseases. Here’s How to Protect Yourself

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

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On Thin Ice: Life Onboard an Antarctic Icebreaker (Part 3) Jun 28, 2024

Life onboard the Nathaniel B. Palmer can be cramped and cold. Chaotic work schedules and changing time zones can be disorienting, and the isolation of Antarctica is hard to handle. Research, routine and a mock trial with the god of the sea help these scientists stay grounded.

Stay tuned for the fourth and final episode of this Friday Fascination: researchers reflect on the emotional toll of witnessing climate change’s impact on Antarctica.

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by journalist Sofia Moutinho. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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How to Stay Cool during Record-Breaking Heat Waves Jun 26, 2024

Summers are getting hotter, with heat waves that last longer and occur more often. That makes it even more important to communicate the risks of heat to vulnerable groups and keep communities and individuals cool. Sustainability editor Andrea Thompson explains why it feels hotter than ever and how to keep yourself and your community safe in the summer heat.

Recommended reading:

This Isn’t Your Grandparents’ Summer Heat

How Some Common Medications Can Make People More Vulnerable to Heat

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman, with special guest Andrea Thompson. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Your Penis Might Be Full of Microplastics, and The Seine is Definitely Full of Bacteria Jun 24, 2024

Microplastics are everywhere—and we mean everywhere. These pesky plastic pollutants have been found in penis tissue, testicles, breast milk and blood. They’ve turned up in Antarctic snow, in the clouds above Mount Fuji, inside deep-sea creatures and near the top of Mount Everest. In Paris Olympic ambitions for the Seine’s are being complicated by bacteria. Far above Earth, the Starliner spacecraft faced a rocky road to the International Space Station (ISS). Starliner’s return to Earth is being delayed as Boeing and NASA officials take a look at the leaks and thruster failures that occurred during its journey to the ISS.

Recommended reading:

Microplastics Linked to Heart Attack, Stroke and Death

The Physics of Breakdancing, a New Olympic Sport

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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On Thin Ice: Penguins in Paradise (Part 2) Jun 21, 2024

It’s important that researchers get samples of Antarctic sea ice before melting takes the opportunity away. But fieldwork is never straightforward, and in part two of our Friday Fascination series about Antarctica, journalist Sofia Moutinho and the scientists on the Nathaniel B. Palmer take a break to enjoy some adorable Adélie penguins, the smallest penguin species in the Antarctic.

Stay tuned for next Friday’s episode, when we’ll learn what it’s like to live and work onboard an icebreaker in Antarctica.

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by journalist Sofia Moutinho. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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What Happens if a Nuclear Weapon Goes Off in Space? Jun 19, 2024

The U.S. Department of Defense has sounded the alarm on a worrying hypothetical program from Russia aimed at putting a nuclear weapon into orbit. Associate news editor Allison Parshall explains what we know about nukes in space from a satellite accident and a series of ill-advised low-orbit tests during the cold war.

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Carin Leong, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Allison Parshall. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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‘Flying’ Joro Spiders Are No Big Deal, and Starlink Satellites Are Not So Great for The Ozone Layer Jun 17, 2024

This week’s news roundup features spiders, space and the Supreme Court. “Flying” Joro spiders are making headlines, but are they really taking over the East Coast? Extreme heat leads Greece to close the Acropolis and worry about what the rest of the summer will bring. Levels of ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons are on the decline. Plus, satellite reentry releases ozone-damaging aluminum oxide, and access to medication abortion is preserved.

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily Today in Science newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Carin Leong, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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On Thin Ice: Supercharged Phytoplankton (Part 1) Jun 14, 2024

All aboard the Nathaniel B. Palmer, a research vessel making its way through the waters of West Antarctica. Journalist Sofia Moutinho is joining a team of chemists trying to find out how glacial melting is changing ocean chemistry—and what those changes might mean for the global climate.

The researchers want to know whether a negative feedback loop could take shape in Antarctica’s seas. Carbon dioxide contributes to the rise in warming that is melting the glaciers. As glacial melting releases iron, phytoplankton feast. Phytoplankton in turn remove carbon from the air, potentially causing a cooling effect.

Stay tuned for next Friday’s episode, where Moutinho will embark on a hunt for sea ice and hear about the researchers’ special encounter with Adélie penguins.

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Carin Leong, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by journalist Sofia Moutinho. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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What’s Actually In Your Tattoo Ink? No One Really Knows Jun 12, 2024

Nearly a third of U.S. adults have tattoos, but how many people know what's really in the ink? Despite new regulations, researchers have found many commercial inks contain unlisted and potentially harmful ingredients. John Swierk, an assistant professor of chemistry at Binghamton University, and his team are trying to figure out exactly what goes into each vial of tattoo ink—and how tattoos actually work—to help make body art safer.

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

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Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman, with guest John Swierk, assistant professor of chemistry at Binghamton University. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Rock Samples Taken from Far Side of the Moon and a ‘Morning-After Pill’ for STIs Jun 10, 2024

In this week’s news roundup, we present the latest from the skies and the pillbox. The Hubble Space Telescope is limping along, operating with just one gyroscope to preserve its research capabilities. China’s Chang’e-6 lunar probe is sending back the first ever samples from the far side of the moon. Plus, there are exciting advancements in the world of pharmaceuticals, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsing a “morning-after pill” for STIs and artificial intelligence discovering potential novel antibiotics.

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily Today in Science newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Kelso Harper, Carin Leong, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Kelso Harper. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Do Plants ‘Think’? We Might Not Know Enough about Consciousness to be Certain Jun 07, 2024

Can plants “think?" Do they “talk” to one another? These are questions that scientists are asking—and the answers might surprise you. Zoë Schlanger, climate reporter at The Atlantic, sits down with Science Quickly host Rachel Feltman to discuss her new book The Light Eaters, which explores the surprising science of plant intelligence.

How Plant Intelligence Can Soothe Climate Anxiety

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Kelso Harper, Carin Leong Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Zoë Schlanger from The Atlantic. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Snacking on Cicadas Is Nutritious, Sustainable, and—Yes—Delicious Jun 05, 2024

A “double brood” of cicadas is taking over much of the eastern half of the U.S. They’re loud and abundant. Have you considered–eating them? Chef Joseph Yoon, founder of Brooklyn Bugs, explains how to harvest and feast upon this year’s “double brood” and the many benefits of adding insects to our diet.

– Can You Eat Cicadas? Can Your Dog Do So?

E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Kelso Harper, Carin Leong, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman, with guest Joseph Yoon of Brooklyn Bugs. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Auroras Are on the Horizon, and Bird Flu Is on the Menu Jun 03, 2024

In this week’s news roundup: Despite widespread concerns, a new study on adolescent smartphone use found that teens report improved moods when using their devices. Misleadingly framed but factually accurate stories shared on social media can drive vaccine hesitancy more effectively than outright false information. Updates on rising COVID-19 cases and the latest developments in the ongoing bird flu outbreak. Plus, the potential return of stunning auroral displays, thanks to upcoming solar activity.

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Kelso Harper. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Troubled Waters on Cape Cod: Liquid Gold (Part 3) May 31, 2024

Cape Cod communities are facing an expensive mandate to clean up their wastewater. Urine diversion or “pee-cycling” could be a cost-effective pollution solution. In the third and final installment of our three-part Fascination series about Cape Cod’s “yellow tide,” environmental reporter Barbara Moran meets a Falmouth couple championing this unconventional approach.

You can check out more of Barbara Moran’s reporting on Cape Cod’s water pollution, including the “pee-cycling” pilot project in Falmouth. And watch WBUR and Scientific American’s documentary short exploring how pollution and algae overgrowth threaten this Massachusetts vacation hub.

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter.

This series is a co-production of WBUR and Scientific American. It’s reported and hosted by WBUR’s Barbara Moran. Science Quickly is produced by Jeff DelViscio, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Rachel Feltman. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-checked this series, and Duy Linh Tu and Sebastian Tuinder contributed reporting and sound. WBUR’s Kathleen Masterson edited this series. Additional funding was provided by the Pulitzer Center.

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The Science Behind Curly Hair [Sponsored] May 30, 2024

Research at the intersection of science and beauty is providing us with a better understanding of hair diversity.

This podcast was produced for L’Oréal by Scientific American Custom Media, a division separate from the magazine’s board of editors.

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How to Protect Wildlife without Leaving Home May 29, 2024

Whether you have a large yard or a tiny planter, there are ways to use your outdoor space to protect wildlife. Senior news reporter Meghan Bartels takes us through what you can do, or stop doing, to make your yard and home friendlier to local critters.

– Pollinators Flock to Flower-Filled Solar Panel Fields

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Meghan Bartels. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Troubled Waters on Cape Cod: Sticker Shock (Part 2) May 24, 2024

Cape Cod’s famed ponds and bays are suffering from pollution with a curious origin: human urine. Household septic systems are flushing nitrogen into the water, resulting in toxic algal blooms. In the second installment of our three-part Fascination series about Cape Cod’s “yellow tide,” environmental reporter Barbara Moran looks at the controversial and costly pollution solutions being considered.

You can check out more of Barbara Moran’s reporting on the efforts to improve Cape Cod’s water pollution, including a “pee-cycling” project being considered by one innovative town. And watch WBUR and Scientific American’s documentary short exploring how pollution and algae overgrowth threaten this Massachusetts vacation hub.

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter.

This series is a co-production of WBUR and Scientific American. It’s reported and hosted by WBUR’s Barbara Moran. Science Quickly is produced by Jeff DelViscio, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Rachel Feltman. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-checked this series, and Duy Linh Tu and Sebastian Tuinder contributed reporting and sound. WBUR’s Kathleen Masterson edited this series. Additional funding was provided by the Pulitzer Center.

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The Apocalypse Is Going to Be a Lot Friendlier Than You Think May 22, 2024

Psychologist and cooperation theorist Athena Aktipis shares advice from her new book, A Field Guide to the Apocalypse, on how to survive and thrive in doomsday scenarios from catastrophic natural disasters to zombie outbreaks.

– The Evolutionary Reasons We Are Drawn to Horror

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Athena Aktipis. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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AI Is Getting Creepier and Risky Cheese Is Getting Trendier May 20, 2024

In this week's science roundup: drinking raw milk was always risky, but now there are added concerns over the spread of bird flu into dairy cows. An intense geomagnetic storm led to stunning auroras across the globe last week–and similar storms could mess with satellites and electricity infrastructure. Plus, hurricane forecasts are on the horizon.

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! And discover something new everyday by subscribing to Scientific American or signing up for our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Kelso Harper, Carin Leong, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Troubled Waters on Cape Cod: Loved to Death (Part 1) May 17, 2024

In the first episode of a three-part series, environmental reporter Barbara Moran is on Cape Cod to find out why the crystal clear water there is turning “pea-soup green”—and how communities are scrambling to clean it up.

For more information, read WBUR’s coverage of the efforts to improve Cape Cod’s water pollution, including a “pee-cycling” project being considered by one innovative town. And watch WBUR and Scientific American’s documentary short exploring how pollution and algae overgrowth threaten this Massachusetts vacation hub.

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter.

This series is a co-production of WBUR and Scientific American. It’s reported and hosted by WBUR’s Barbara Moran. Science Quickly is produced by Jeff DelViscio, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Rachel Feltman. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-checked this series, and Duy Linh Tu and Sebastian Tuinder contributed reporting and sound. WBUR’s Kathleen Masterson edited this series. Additional funding was provided by the Pulitzer Center.

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A Citrus-Scented Cannabis Compound Reduces Anxiety for Weed Users May 15, 2024

Cannabis consumers may be familiar with the paranoia that can come from taking too many gummies or smoking too much weed. New research into cannabis reveals how a lemon-scented terpene d-limonene can ease anxiety without diminishing the high.

Join Scientific American, Springer Nature and Nature Portfolio in Washington, D.C. on May 17 for Science on the Hill. Register now!

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Allison Parshall. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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The Internet Is Full of Deepfakes, and the Sky Is Full of Trash May 13, 2024

AI-generated images of Katy Perry at Monday’s Met Gala looked so realistic they even duped her mom. And it just so happens that ChatGPT developer OpenAI released a new tool to detect fake images generated by DALL-E—the very next day.

Join Scientific American, Springer Nature and Nature Portfolio in Washington, D.C. on May 17 for Science on the Hill. Register now!

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Introducing Science Quickly’s New Host, Rachel Feltman May 03, 2024

Meet Rachel Feltman, the new host of Science Quickly! Bringing a fresh perspective and infectious enthusiasm, Rachel will take you on audio journeys to far-off places, inspire you to ponder deep questions, and introduce you to people changing the world with science.

Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!

Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our daily newsletter.

Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Kelso Harper, Carin Leong, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Elah Feder, Alexa Lim, Madison Goldberg and Anaissa Ruiz Tejada with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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Can Food Work as Medicine? May 01, 2024

Doctors are starting to prescribe vegetables or entire meals to ward off disease.

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Corals Are Once Again Bleaching En Masse, but Their Fate Isn’t Sealed Apr 29, 2024

Amid Earth’s fourth global coral bleaching event, a leading expert says tackling climate change is the key to fighting back.

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Episode 3: A Long-Awaited Climate Experiment Is Poised to Launch in the Amazon. What Will It Find? Apr 26, 2024

Ahead of a project to spray carbon dioxide into jungle plots, researchers contemplate what its results might signal about the forest’s future.

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Episode 2: A Singular Climate Experiment Takes Shape in the Amazon Apr 24, 2024

After years of delay, researchers are ready to inject carbon dioxide into jungle plots.

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Episode 1: Will the Amazon Help Save the Planet? Apr 22, 2024

Years in the making, a project in the Amazon rain forest is finally set to determine whether a rise in carbon dioxide could save one of the world’s largest carbon sinks.

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How Big a Threat Is Bird Flu? Apr 19, 2024

Cows and at least one person in the U.S. have been sickened by avian influenza. We asked experts about the risk to humans.

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How a New AI Model Helps Volcanic History Rise from the Ashes Apr 17, 2024

Volcano detectives use artificial intelligence to sleuth out ancient secrets in Alaska.

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Do Sperm Whales Have Culture? Apr 15, 2024

These marine mammals are very hard to observe, but in the past two decades the roughly 20 or so people in the world who study sperm whales have found some compelling evidence of culture among them.

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Measles Is Back, and That’s Scary Apr 12, 2024

Today we’re going to look at how measles—a disease that was practically eliminated in the U.S.—has resurged in recent months, because people basically forgot how bad it was and got complacent about vaccines.

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Did the Eclipse Give You the Amateur Astronomy Bug? Here’s How to Get Started Apr 10, 2024

Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is a professional astronomer—with a passion for amateur astrophotography—and she's here to offer tips and tricks for want to get into capturing the night sky.

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A Veteran Eclipse Chaser Explains the Thrill of Totality Apr 08, 2024

The feeling of a total solar eclipse is intense, and the sights, sensations and emotions can overwhelm you even if you think you know what's coming. And we sat down with Kate Russo, a psychologist, author and Eclipse Chaser, who's seen 13 total solar eclipses over the last 25 years, to talk about what to expect.

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Three Times Eclipses Eclipsed Previous Science Apr 05, 2024

From the discovery of new elements to the testing of novel theories of gravity, solar eclipses have helped spark scientific progress for centuries.

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Humans Find Total Eclipses Startling. What About a Komodo Dragon? Apr 03, 2024

Eclipses can affect animals, and biologists are preparing to see what happens during totality on April 8.

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Inside the Race to Protect Artists from Artificial Intelligence Apr 01, 2024

AI-generated art is creating new ethical issues—and competition—for digital artists. Nightshade and Glaze are two tools helping creators fight back.

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The Tale of the Snail Slime Wrangler Mar 29, 2024

Mucus is a miracle of evolution, and some researchers are trying to re-create what nature makes naturally.

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Mucus Saves Your Life Every Day Mar 27, 2024

The slimy substance is so powerful that doctors once made hog stomach mucus milkshakes to treat ulcers.

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Magical Mucus: On the Benefits of Getting Slimed by a Hagfish Mar 25, 2024

If you take a journey into the depths of the slime all around us, you find yourself starting to understand that mucus is a miracle.

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How Artificial Intelligence Helped Write this Award-Winning Song Mar 22, 2024

Machine-learning algorithms allow composers to create all-new instruments.

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Why Short Naps Are Good for You Mar 20, 2024

A quick nap can boost your memory, your mood and even your creativity.

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The Great Debate: Could We Ever Travel through Time? Mar 18, 2024

Our space and physics editors go head-to-head over a classic mind-bending question.

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The Science behind Humpback Whales’ Eerie Songs Mar 15, 2024

Scientists have long wondered how baleen whales make their songs, and a new study has finally uncovered the anatomical workings behind their melodies.

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Large Study of ME/CFS Patients Reveals Measurable Physical Changes Mar 14, 2024

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, long dismissed by doctors, causes immune system dysfunction and other problems. But treatments are lacking.

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Hunger in Gaza Could Affect Survivors' Health for Decades Mar 11, 2024

Epigenetics research reveals how famines can cause health problems later in life — and how these changes might be passed down to later generations.

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These Invasive Ants Are Changing How Lions Hunt Mar 08, 2024

On the African savanna, a single invasive ant species has upset the delicate balance between predator and prey.

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Should You Swab Your Throat Plus Your Nose for COVID? Mar 04, 2024

Nose-plus-throat could increase test accuracy—but could create problems too.

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Is This the Earliest Evidence of Human Cannibalism? Mar 01, 2024

A newly-examined munch mark on a tibia has become a real pleistocene whodunit. By Natalia Raegan.

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What Do You Mean, Bisexual People Are ‘Risk-Taking’? Why Genetic Studies about Sexuality Can Be Fraught Feb 28, 2024

A recent GWAS investigation on risk-taking and bisexuality made some assumptions that some experts don’t agree with.

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Asexuality Research Has Reached New Heights. What Are We Learning? Feb 23, 2024

A grassroots online movement has helped shift the way scientists think about asexuality. But much is still unknown. This is part four of a four-part series on the science of pleasure.

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How to Close the Orgasm Gap for Heterosexual Couples Feb 21, 2024

Researchers once faced death threats for asking women what gives them pleasure. Now they’re helping individuals and couples figure it out themselves. Part three of a four-part series on the science of pleasure.

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Dominatrices Are Showing People How to Have Rough Sex Safely Feb 16, 2024

Research shows rough sex is becoming more common. Dominatrices are helping the general public catch up. Hosted by Meghan McDonough, this is part two of a four-part series on the science of pleasure.

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How to Explore Your Sexuality, according to Science Feb 14, 2024

Part one of a four-part series on the science of pleasure, hosted by Meghan McDonough.

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You Can't Fix Burnout With Self-Care Feb 12, 2024

Individual interventions for burnout don’t work. Researchers explain why. Hosted by Shayla Love.

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How April’s Eclipse Will Solve Solar Mysteries Feb 09, 2024

On April 8, we’re in for a treat. A total solar eclipse will be visible across a broad swath of North America, giving us a view of the edges of the sun as the moon passes in front of its face.

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When Will We Finally Have Sex In Space? Feb 07, 2024

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How Is This Ancient Cattle Breed Fighting Wildfires in Portugal? Feb 05, 2024

Portugal is one of the most vulnerable countries in Europe to climate change. Straddling the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic regions, it’s part of a climate change hot spot. Some of the biggest fuels are shrubs. One study found that shrubland covers 1.6 million hectares in Portugal—about 18 percent of the nation’s land area. And those shrubs are gaining ground. That’s because, for decades, people have been moving out of rural communities such as the one Tommy Ferreira lives in. Most leave to pursue better-paying jobs in the cities or in wealthier European Union countries. Portugal has lost 30 percent of its rural population since 1960. The same trend is occurring across the Mediterranean region. Abandoning these farmlands is increasing wildfire risk, according to an Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development report released last spring. When people who work the land leave it, grazing pastures and farm fields become thick with fuels. But these ancient Maronesa cattle can help solve both of these modern-day problems. It was a solution hiding in plain sight.

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The Government's Former UFO Hunter Has a Lot to Say Feb 05, 2024

For the last decade, reports of UFO sightings have filled headlines and news broadcasts, and some of these have from a surprising place—the Pentagon. Former defense officials have made a number of claims about, and released videos of, strange sightings made by military pilots.

These days, the objects are officially called “UAPs”—unidentified anomalous phenomena.

But regardless of the new branding, Congress has demanded answers on them, especially after one former official this summer claimed that he believed that the U.S. possessed “nonhuman” spacecraft and possibly their “dead pilots.”

We talk to the former intelligence official and physicist, Sean Kirkpatrick, who until December headed the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, the Pentagon office that Congress told to find some answers to all this. He recently published an op-ed in Scientific American called "Here's What I Learned as the U.S. Government's UFO Hunter".

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Quantum Computers Might Make All of Your Private Data Less Secure Jan 31, 2024

Experts are starting to plan for the moment when a quantum computer large enough to crack the backbone of the math that keeps things secret will be turned on.

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For 60+ years, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines have evaded scientists. But now that's changed [Sponsored] Jan 30, 2024

This year, healthcare providers have tools to help prevent lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV for older adults.

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New IVF Test Could Increase Chances of Pregnancy Success Jan 29, 2024

Today’s episode covers a topic that many parents-to-be have struggled with: fertility. In vitro fertilization offers a path to pregnancy for people fortunate enough to be able to access it. But predicting the success of an implanted embryo is hard. Now researchers are developing a test that could make it easier.

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How to Save Indigenous Languages Jan 27, 2024

From Papua New Guinea to the Andaman Islands, Indigenous languages are under threat. An Indian linguist helped preserve one language family.

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Can AI Predict When You Die? Jan 23, 2024

A new study used machine learning on 6 million Danish people to "autocomplete" their life trajectories –— and when they might kick the bucket.

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The Best Way to Use Home COVID Tests Right Now Jan 19, 2024

In today’s episode, we want to talk about some of the current challenges with using home COVID tests. When you first have symptoms, a change in how your body reacts to the virus could lead to a test result showing you’re negative when you’re actually infected.

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From Drunken Stupor to Sober with One (Hormone) Shot Jan 17, 2024

We all have our tricks for sobering up after a night of drunken revelry: maybe a pot of black coffee or an ice-cold shower. But for mice in a certain lab in Texas, all it takes is a shot. No, not more alcohol—it’s an injection of a hormone called fibroblast growth factor 21, or FGF21.

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How Does the World’s Largest Seabird Know Where to Fly? Jan 12, 2024

Imagine for a moment that you’re a very hungry bird soaring over 30-foot ocean swells in high winds, with no land for thousands of miles.

How do you know where you’re going?

If you’re a wandering albatross, you listen. But listen to what, exactly?

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Without the Moon, You Wouldn't Exist (Probably) Jan 08, 2024

The moon has guided our movements and cultures, and though we may think we know it well, it still guards some of its deepest secrets from us. A new book from Rebecca Boyle take us on a deep dive into our sister celestial orb.

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The Strange and Beautiful Science Of Our Lives Jan 05, 2024

Nell Greenfieldboyce discusses her new book Transient and Strange, the intimacy of the essays and the science that inspired them.

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The Surprising Health Benefits of Dog Ownership Jan 03, 2024

Dogs are good for you, science says

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Podcasts of the Year: Cleo, the Mysterious Math Menace Dec 29, 2023

In 2013 a new user named Cleo took an online math forum by storm with unproved answers. Today she’s an urban legend. But who was she? 2023 editor's pick.

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Podcasts of the Year: Talking to Animals using Artificial Intelligence Dec 27, 2023

Advanced sensors and artificial intelligence could have us at the brink of interspecies communication

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How to Avoid Holiday Hangovers Dec 22, 2023

The holidays are a time for indulgence, but there are ways to drink alcohol without suffering the painful effects.

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Podcasts of the Year: What Better Gift for the Holidays Than a Monstrous Mystery? Dec 20, 2023

We’re looking back at 2023 for our favorite podcast shows and one about the largest bird to ever fly the skies just flew to the top of the list.

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Are Orca Whales Friends or Foes? Dec 18, 2023

The stories we tell about orcas might say more about us than about them

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Turns Out Undersea Kelp Forests Are Crucial to Salmon Dec 15, 2023

The beloved fish that feed orcas and humans depend on kelp forests’ unique habitat.

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Researchers Just Created the World's First Permafrost Atlas of the Entire Arctic Dec 13, 2023

The Arctic Permafrost Atlas, which took years to create, is both beautiful and sobering, given the pace of climate change.

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A New Type of Heart Disease is on the Rise Dec 11, 2023

Problems with the heart, kidneys and metabolic health are all connected

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AI Can Now Read Your Cat's Pain Dec 08, 2023

Thanks to researchers, new AI tech is delving into feline feelings to see when cats could need medical help.

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These Researchers Put Sperm Through a Kind of 'Hunger Games' Dec 06, 2023

The research focused on figuring out what enables certain sperm to gain some competitive advantage over millions of others fighting for the same prize.

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Is Too Little Play Hurting Our Kids? Dec 04, 2023

A long-term decline in unsupervised activity may be contributing to mental health declines in children and adolescents.

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How Misinformation Spreads through Conflict Dec 01, 2023

Three experts break down how misinformation and propaganda spread through conflict and how to debunk it yourself.

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Why Childhood Vaccination Rates Are Falling Nov 29, 2023

Fewer kids got their routine childhood vaccines since before the pandemic. Are lack of access and a loss of trust in science to blame?

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Climate Adaptation Can Backfire If We Aren't Careful Nov 27, 2023

The choices we make in how we adapt to climate change can sometimes come back to bite us

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The Members of This Reservation Learned They Live with Nuclear Weapons. Can Their Reality Ever Be the Same? Nov 24, 2023

The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara peoples are learning more about the missiles siloed on their lands, and that knowledge has put the preservation of their culture and heritage in even starker relief.

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What Would It Mean to 'Absorb' a Nuclear Attack? Nov 22, 2023

The missiles on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota make it a potential target for a nuclear attack. And that doesn’t come close to describing what the reality would be for those on the ground.

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If You Had a Nuclear Weapon in Your Neighborhood, Would You Want to Know about It? Nov 20, 2023

The Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota has had nuclear missile silos on its land for decades. Now the U.S. government wants to take the old weapons out and replace them with new ones, and it’s unclear how many living there know about that.

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Just One U.S. Reservation Hosts Nuclear Weapons. This Is The Story of How That Came to Be Nov 17, 2023

15 nuclear missiles deployed in underground concrete silos across the Fort Berthold reservation in North Dakota. It took displacement and flood to get them there.

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How Did Nuclear Weapons Get on My Reservation? Nov 14, 2023

A member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation digs into a decades-long mystery: how 15 intercontinental ballistic missiles came to be siloed on her ancestral lands.

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Quick Naps Are Good for Your Brain Nov 13, 2023

Daytime naps of about 30 minutes really improve your thinking and may spark creativity.

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Funding for Research on Psychedelics Is on the Rise, Along with Scientists' Hopes for Using Them Nov 10, 2023

As interest and support for psychedelic research grows, scientists share their hopes for the future.

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Do You Need to 'Trip' for Psychedelics to Work as Medicine? Nov 08, 2023

Psychedelic researchers are engaged in heated debate over whether the mind-altering effects of the drugs are necessary for realizing their therapeutic potential.

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The Search for New Psychedelics Nov 06, 2023

As companies join the hunt, can the field of mind-altering synthetic substances stay true to its original pioneering spirit of wonder, curiosity and connection?

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What Are Ultraprocessed Foods, and Are They Bad for You? Nov 01, 2023

More than half of our diet consists of foods that have been industrially processed in some way, and they may be harmful to our health

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These Creatures Are Probably the Closest Thing Nature Has to Real Werewolves Oct 30, 2023

Under the right conditions, the spadefoot tadpole will transform into a voracious predator of its own species.

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The World's Most Frightening Animal Sounds like This Oct 27, 2023

Lions, tigers, bears: this creature sends all of those beasts running for the hills.

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The Tale of the Rotifer That Came Back to Life after 25,000 Years in an Icy Tomb Oct 25, 2023

Can something spring back to life if it last moved around when woolly mammoths roamed the earth? The answer appears to be yes.

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Generative AI Models Are Sucking Up Data from All Over the Internet, Yours Included Oct 23, 2023

In the rush to build and train ever larger AI models, developers have swept up much of the searchable Internet, quite possibly including some of your own public data—and potentially some of your private data as well.

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Some Parents Show Their Kids They Care with a Corpse Oct 20, 2023

If you’re a silphid beetle, a dead body is all your children really want, and it’s your job—no matter how difficult—to get one for them.

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How to Handle This New COVID Season Oct 18, 2023

The dangerous virus is still here. Here’s how you can stay safe.

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As Arctic Sea Ice Breaks Up, AI Is Starting to Predict Where the Ice Will Go Oct 16, 2023

Sea ice is changing fast. Are forecasts created by artificial intelligence the best way to keep up with the pace of a warming climate in the far north?

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Scientists Argue Conservation Is under Threat in Indonesia Oct 13, 2023

Researchers have been banned from working in Indonesia’s tropical rain forests after the government disagreed with their scientific conclusions.

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A Soggy Mission to Sniff Out a Greenhouse Gas 'Bomb' in the High Arctic Oct 11, 2023

A needlelike tower, hung with sensors, “sniffs” the air above the Arctic Circle for signs of catastrophic thaw in the sodden ground below.

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This Indigenous Community Records the Climate Change That Is Causing Its Town to Erode Away Oct 09, 2023

In a tiny village north of the Arctic Circle in the Northwest Territories, the Inuvialuit of Tuktoyaktuk have taken climate science into their own hands.

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Journey to the Thawing Edge of Climate Change Oct 06, 2023

What is a permafrost thaw slump? Just imagine a massive hole with an area the size of more than nine football fields—and growing—where ice-cold ground once stood.

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A Popular Decongestant Doesn't Work. What Does? Oct 04, 2023

The popular decongestant phenylephrine is not effective, an FDA panel found. Here’s what to use instead.

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The State of Large Language Models Oct 02, 2023

We present the latest updates on ChatGPT, Bard and other competitors in the artificial intelligence arms race.

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Song of the Stars, Part 3: The Universe in all Senses Sep 29, 2023

An astronomy festival in Italy opted to make all of its events and workshops multisensory. The organizers wanted to see whether sound, touch and smell can, like sight, transmit the wonders of the cosmos.

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Song of the Stars, Part 2: Seeing in the Dark Sep 27, 2023

A blind astronomer “sonified” the universe’s most explosive events: gamma-ray bursts. By listening to, rather than looking at, the data, she made a critical discovery and changed the field of astronomy.

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Song of the Stars, Part 1: Transforming Space into Symphonies Sep 25, 2023

Space is famously silent, but astronomers and musicians are increasingly turning astronomical data into sound as a way to make discoveries and inspire people who are blind or visually impaired.

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This Researcher Captured Air from the Amazon in Dive-Bombs--And Found Grim Clues That the Forest Is Dying Sep 22, 2023

One researcher has been hiring planes to strafe the sky over the Amazon rain forest to collect the air coming off the trees, and what she is finding is cause for alarm.

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Should You Get a Blood Test For Alzheimer's? Sep 20, 2023

Consumers can now get easy tests for Alzheimer’s. But these tests may not really help patients that much—yet.

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Ada Limón's Poem for Europa, Jupiter's Smallest Galilean Moon Sep 18, 2023

U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón discusses her involvement in NASA’s Europa Clipper mission and the inspiration behind her poem, which will travel onboard the spacecraft.

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How the Woolly Bear Caterpillar Does Something Pretty Amazing to Survive the Winter Sep 15, 2023

Caterpillars can’t regulate their body temperatures, so they have to come up with a totally different strategy to make it through the coldest months of the year.

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Bees 'Buzz' in More Ways Than You Might Think Sep 13, 2023

A honeybee swarm has as much electric charge as a thundercloud, and the insects’ mass movements in the atmosphere might even have some influence on the weather.

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Scientists Are Beginning to Learn the Language of Bats and Bees Using AI Sep 11, 2023

The new field of digital bioacoustics is using machine learning to try decipher animal speak, including honeybee toots and quacks and whoops.

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Trying to Train Your Brain Faster? Knowing This Might Help with That Sep 08, 2023

Are you working really hard to learn something? Remember this counterintuitive fact, and you might improve your learning curve.

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This Tick Bite Makes You Allergic to Red Meat Sep 06, 2023

The bite of the lone star tick makes people allergic to a sugar found in mammalian products, and many doctors don’t know about it.

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This Lesbian Monkey Love Triangle Tells Us Something Really Interesting about Darwin's 'Paradox' Sep 04, 2023

A “Darwinian paradox” is that homosexual activity occurs even though it does not lead to or aid in reproduction. But if you visit three capuchin monkeys in Los Angeles, they’ll show you how beneficial their liaisons are.

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What the Luddites Can Teach Us about AI Sep 01, 2023

The Luddites did not hate technology—but they did fight the way it was used to exploit humans.

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A Pig Kidney Was Just Transplanted Into a Human Body, and It Is Still Working Aug 30, 2023

Xenotransplants could help to solve the organ transplant crisis—if researchers can get the science right.

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Migratory Birds Are in Peril, but Knowing Where They Are at Night Could Help Save Them Aug 28, 2023

Light is a very dangerous, if not so obvious, threat to birds who migrate at night. But researchers are using weather radar to track birds and provide “lights out” forecasts to help keep their paths clear of visual distraction.

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Artificial Intelligence Is Helping Us 'See' Some of the Billions of Birds Migrating at Night Aug 25, 2023

Science is turning to machines to unlock the secrets of the vast, mysterious pulse-of-the-planet phenomenon that is nocturnal migration.

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Here's How You Go Birding in the Middle of the Night Aug 23, 2023

If you really want to challenging your bird identification skills, try using them at night, when bird calls are less than 100 milliseconds long.

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Using Human-Sized Microphones and Hay Bales, They Unlocked the Mysteries of Bird Migration Aug 21, 2023

For thousands of years, no one truly knew how birds migrated—that is, until a few unlikely pioneers sat in an empty field with hundreds of pounds of kludged together recording gear and waited to hear sounds that no one had ever captured.

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They Tap Into the Magical, Hidden Pulse of the Planet, but What is the Nighttime Bird Surveillance Network? Aug 18, 2023

On any given night, dense clouds of dark, ghostly figures pass over your head as you sleep. Maybe you never knew they were there, but there are people out there who are deciphering all the unseen movement that happens amid the darkness.

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Hearing Aids Stave Off Cognitive Decline Aug 16, 2023

Hearing aids may help maintain better brain functions in older people and better health overall.

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In This Ancient Garden, Plants Can Cure or Kill You Aug 14, 2023

Apothecaries founded this famous garden—one of the most ancient botanical gardens in Europe—to teach their students which plants poison and which plants cure.

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The Fungi Economy, Part 3: Can Climate Modeling from Space Save Our Forests? Aug 09, 2023

Here’s how scientists are planning on getting underground fungi data from space using satellites.

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The Fungi Economy, Part 2: Here's How Plants and Fungi Trade beneath Our Feet Aug 07, 2023

Atmospheric carbon is a currency that plants use to “buy” nutrients from fungi in the soil. To find out where this economy will go next, the devil is in the details. And the details are in the dirt.

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The Fungi Economy, Part 1: Just like Us, Trees Are Experiencing Inflation Aug 04, 2023

Like us, plants and fungi have complex economies. By burning fossil fuels, we’ve been devaluing their currency.

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Could Weight-Loss Drugs Curb Addiction? Your Health, Quickly, Episode 12 Aug 02, 2023

Drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic might help people tackle substance abuse as well as shed pounds.

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How to Roll a Joint Perfectly, according to Science Jul 31, 2023

Scientists used a smoking machine—complete with a 3-D-printed mouthpiece—to figure out how to get the most cannabinoid per puff.

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Here's How AI Can Predict Hit Songs With Frightening Accuracy Jul 28, 2023

New AI technology predicts hit songs—by listening to someone’s body.

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Here's Why Actors Are So Worried about AI Jul 26, 2023

Here’s what’s behind the A.I technology that has worried so many actors—including something called “the orb.”

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Are You a Lucid Dreamer? Jul 24, 2023

A sleep researcher who studies what dreams can tell us about the possible onset of some mental disorders believes lucid dreamers might hold a lot of answers in their head.

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Here's What 'Oppenheimer' Gets Right--And Wrong--About Nuclear History Jul 21, 2023

Here’s what a historian who has studied J. Robert Oppenheimer for two decades has to say about the new Christopher Nolan film on the father of the atomic bomb.

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How Stress Messes With Your Gut Jul 19, 2023

Inflammatory bowel disease flare-ups can be traced to mental stress

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Should We Care About AI's Emergent Abilities? Jul 17, 2023

Here’s how large language models, or LLMs, actually work.

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What That Jazz Beat Tells Us about Hearing and The Brain Jul 14, 2023

Very small delays in swing jazz point to our evolution as a supremely auditory species.

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Just like People, Orangutans Get Smoker's Voice Jul 10, 2023

New research has discovered that wildfire smoke hurts these primates’ voice—and health.

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Doctor AI Will See You Now Jul 07, 2023

ChatGPT and other AI programs can offer medical advice. But how good are they?

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El Niño is Back. What Does That Mean For You? Jul 05, 2023

The famous climate pattern El Niño could usher in a new hottest year on record and will have domino effects on the world’s weather.

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The Kavli Prize Presents: How Your Brain Maps the World [Sponsored] Jun 29, 2023

John O’Keefe shared the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience in 2014 for discovering that neurons in the hippocampus encode an animal’s location and create a cognitive map for navigation.
This podcast was produced for the Kavli Prize by Scientific American Custom Media, a division separate from the magazine’s board of editors.

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The Universe Is Abuzz with Giant Gravitational Waves, and Scientists Just Heard Them (Maybe) Jun 28, 2023

Researchers, using the galaxy as a detector, believe they have detected gravitational waves from monster black holes for the first time.

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Poisons and Perils on the Salton Sea Jun 26, 2023

Toxic dust plagues marginalized communities on the shores of this disappearing salt lake.

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These Ants Are Probably Better at Navigating Than You Are Jun 23, 2023

Desert ants living in the featureless salt plains of Tunisia count their steps and erect tall entrances at their nests to find their way back home.

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How to Cool Down Fast in Summer Heat Jun 21, 2023

Your body has a secret cooling method, and scientists explain how to use it.

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Follow a Hurricane Expert into the Heart Of the Beast Jun 19, 2023

Along with an expert, we take you into some of nature's most monstrous storms.

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Have Astronomers Seen the Universe's First Stars? Jun 16, 2023

The James Webb Space Telescope is giving us our first glimpse of stars in the early universe.

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Cleo, the Mysterious Math Menace Jun 14, 2023

In 2013 a new user named Cleo took an online math forum by storm with unproved answers. Today she’s an urban legend. But who was she?

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MDMA Moves from Party Drug Back to Therapy Tool Jun 12, 2023

The party drug MDMA could soon be approved for treating people with severe PTSD.

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Five Things You Need to Know about Wildfire Smoke Right Now Jun 09, 2023

Where is it coming from? How long will it last? What's in the smoke? Whose health is at risk? How do you clean your own air?

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These Predators Had a Face like an Axe and Will Haunt Your Nightmares Jun 07, 2023

Terror birds were the grizzly bears of birds, the great white sharks of the land, Jack the Ripper but with feathers. They were also truly fascinating.

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This Thunderous Goose Relative Was Built like a Tank with the Wings of a Songbird Jun 05, 2023

Officially, these prehistoric birds are the dromornithids, but everyone who studies them calls them thunderbirds—and for good reason.

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This Gargantuan Bird Weighed as Much as a Sports Car Jun 02, 2023

The elephant bird was the heaviest bird to ever walk the earth. Also, its eggs were 150 times the size of a chicken egg and thick as a dinner plate.

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This Massive Scientific Discovery Sat Hidden in a Museum Drawer for Decades May 31, 2023

The fossil was a prehistoric bird called Pelagornis sandersi, and its wings stretched out twice as wide as those of the great albatross.

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The Kavli Prize Presents: Understanding the Machinery of the Cell [Sponsored] May 30, 2023

James Rothman shared The Kavli Prize in Neuroscience in 2010 for discovering the molecular basis of neurotransmitter release. How did a biochemist come to win such a prestigious prize in neuroscience?

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What the End of the COVID Emergency Means for You May 24, 2023

What you pay for tests, vaccines, and medicine will change

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Heat Waves Are Breaking Records. Here's What You Need to Know May 22, 2023

From North America to South Asia, summer heat waves are becoming longer, stronger and more frequent with climate change.

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Why We're Worried about Generative AI May 19, 2023

From the technology upsetting jobs and causing intellectual property issues to models making up fake answers to questions, here’s why we’re concerned about generative AI.

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Dismantling the PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' Legacy [Sponsored] May 18, 2023

More sustainable ways of removing persistent chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the environment are on the horizon.

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Understanding Dissociative Identity Disorder through the 'Community' of Ella May 17, 2023

We learn the story of “Ella,” a patient with 12 different personalities, or “parts,” and of her therapist, who helped her form a peaceful community—many selves in one body and mind.

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Is Time Travel Even Possible? May 15, 2023

Two SciAm editors duke it out to see if wormholes and multiverses could in fact exist.

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Parrot Babies Babble Just like Us May 12, 2023

Parrot nestlings spend time stringing together jumbled mixtures of sound—a rehearsal for more adult conversations

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A 19th-Century Obscenity Law Is Being Used Again to Limit Abortion May 10, 2023

Recent rulings on the abortion pill cite the Comstock Act, a 150-year-old law that’s still on the books

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These Mini Ecosystems Existed Underfoot of Dinosaurs, but Our Parking Lots Might Pave Them to Extinction May 08, 2023

Vernal pools are safe havens for creatures such as fairy shrimp, and they have lived through the end of the dinosaurs, the breakup of Pangaea and multiple ice ages. But humans are paving them over.

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This $600-Million Room Contains the World's Largest Collection of These Tiny Endangered Animals May 05, 2023

Inside a vault at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles lies a microscopic population of immense value—the repository for vernal pool fairy shrimp.

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Surviving in the Ephemeral Pools of Life May 03, 2023

Carpets of gold, burrowing toads and fairy shrimp all depend on vernal pools—habitats that, most of the time, do not exist.

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This Fleeting Ecosystem Is Magical, and You Have Probably Never Heard of It or Even Noticed It May 01, 2023

Vernal pools are home to spectacular residents such as fairy shrimp, but these unusual natural wonders are under threat.

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Do We Need To Save the Whales Again? Apr 28, 2023

A scientist who does whale necropsies — or in layman's terms, whale autopsies — tells us why so many dead whales are washing up on beaches.

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The Bad Side of 'Good' Cholesterol Apr 26, 2023

Very high HDL cholesterol levels almost double your risk of heart problems.

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AI Chatbots and the Humans Who Love Them Apr 24, 2023

Humans are building meaningful relationships with AI chatbots. What will the consequences be?

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A Mission to Jupiter's Strange Moons Is Finally on Its Way Apr 19, 2023

The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) and Europa Clipper missions will search for signs of habitability on three of Jupiter’s potentially ocean-bearing moons.

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The Surprising Backstory behind Witch Hunts and Reproductive Labor Apr 18, 2023

Two of the foremost experts on witch hunts talk about the link between the formation of domestic labor and the rise of witch hunting.

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What You Need to Know about GPT-4 Apr 14, 2023

The AI GPT-4 has emergent abilities—but that’s not why it’s scary.

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Good News for Coffee Lovers Apr 12, 2023

A careful new study reveals coffee is generally safe for your heart and may boost your daily step count.

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Meet the Magnificent Microbes of the Deep Unknown Apr 10, 2023

These two researchers journey toward the center of Earth—via windows to the crust—to find bacteria that can breathe iron, arsenic and other metals that would kill us pretty quickly.

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How Zombifying Fungi Became Master Manipulators Apr 07, 2023

The real-life fungi that inspired The Last of Us hijack the bodies of ants, wasps, cicadas, and more.

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Science Has New Ideas about 'Oumuamua's Weirdness Apr 05, 2023

Our first known interstellar visitor is now long gone, but new research has some ideas about why it moved the way it did while it was in our cosmic neighborhood.

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Open Offices Aren't Working, so How Do We Design an Office That Does? Apr 03, 2023

Insights from Deaf and autistic communities could finally make office spaces better for everyone.

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Cosmos, Quickly: Remembering the Genius of Vera Rubin Mar 31, 2023

Vera Rubin went from a teenager with a cardboard telescope to the “mother of dark matter.” Some of her colleagues and mentees weigh in on her fascinating life and how she was a champion for women in astronomy.

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Long COVID's Roots in the Brain: Your Health, Quickly, Episode 3 Mar 29, 2023

Post-COVID symptoms can linger for months or years, and more and more evidence points to problems with the nervous system.

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If AI Starts Making Music on Its Own, What Happens to Musicians? Mar 27, 2023

Music made with artificial intelligence could upend the music industry. Here’s what that might look like.

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Music-Making Artificial Intelligence Is Getting Scary Good Mar 24, 2023

Google’s new AI model can generate entirely new music from text prompts. Here’s what they sound like.

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Artificial Intelligence Helped Make the Coolest Song You've Heard This Week Mar 22, 2023

Machine-learning algorithms are getting so good that they can translate Western instruments into Thai ones with ease.

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Space Force Humor, Laser Dazzlers, and the Havoc a War in Space Would Actually Wreak Mar 20, 2023

In the inaugural episode of Cosmos, Quickly, we blast off with Lt. Gen. Nina Armagno of the Space Force, who is charged with protecting our space in space, particularly from Russia and China.

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Squeak Squeak, Buzz Buzz: How Researchers Are Using AI to Talk to Animals Mar 17, 2023

The burgeoning field of “digital bioacoustics” is helping us understand animals like never before.

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RSV Vaccines Are Coming At Last: Your Health, Quickly, Episode 2 Mar 15, 2023

A vaccine pioneer tells us that shots to protect against RSV—a dangerous virus for babies and older people—are finally nearing approval.

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If the Mathematical Constant Pi Was a Song, What Would It Sound Like? Mar 14, 2023

Every year on Pi Day, we have a reason to celebrate one of math’s most famous symbols. But this year we speak to someone who has captured it in song.

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How To Stop a (Potentially Killer) Asteroid Mar 10, 2023

We slammed a $330-million spaceship the size of a dairy cow into an asteroid the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Here’s what we’re learning about how our first step in planetary defense could save us in the future.

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The Scientific Secret to Soothing Fussy Babies Mar 08, 2023

Some animals’ babies physically relax when their parents whisk them away from danger. The same thing works for tiny, wailing humans.

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How Helper Sharks Discovered the World's Largest Seagrass Ecosystem Mar 06, 2023

Scientists partnered with tiger sharks to map seagrass—the unsung hero of ocean conservation.

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How the Woolly Bear Caterpillar Turns into a Popsicle to Survive the Winter Mar 03, 2023

Some caterpillars have evolved with antifreeze in their body cavity, allowing them to become cater-Popsicles to survive cold winters. But climate change could threaten that.

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The Pandemic's Mental Toll, and Does Telehealth Work? Your Health, Quickly, Episode 1 Mar 01, 2023

Hosts Josh Fischman and Tanya Lewis explore the pandemic’s mental health toll on teens and young adults. They also delve into the effectiveness of telehealth, which has been booming since the start of the pandemic.

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Does Not Being Able to Picture Something in Your Mind Affect Your Creativity? Feb 27, 2023

Researchers who study aphantasia, or the inability to visualize something in your “mind’s eye,” are starting to get a sense of how to accurately measure the condition and what it may mean for those who have it.

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Sorry, UFO Hunters--You Might Just Be Looking at a Spy Balloon Feb 24, 2023

From space aliens to foreign surveillance, we spoke to experts to find out what’s really going on with the balloon brouhaha.

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Building Resilience in the Face of Climate Change [Sponsored] Feb 23, 2023

Successfully mitigating the impacts of climate change will rely heavily on innovation in science and technology.

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How Do We Find Aliens? Maybe Unlearn What We Know About 'Life' First Feb 22, 2023

Science might be redefining what “life out there” really means.

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Love and the Brain: Do Partnerships Really Make Us Happy? Here's What the Science Says Feb 20, 2023

How romance affects our well-being is a lot more complicated than “they lived happily ever after.”

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Love and the Brain: The Animal Matchmaker and the Panda Romeo and Juliet Feb 17, 2023

In fair zoo-ona, a pair of star-cross’d pandas take their life. And we learn about whether or not animals can fall in love.

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Love and the Brain: How Attached Are We to Attachment Styles? Feb 15, 2023

Are you “anxious,” “avoidant” or “disorganized?” So-called attachment styles have taken the Internet by storm. But it turns out there’s a lot more to unpack than people think.

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Love and the Brain, Part 1: The 36 Questions, Revisited Feb 13, 2023

Host Shayla Love dives into the true story behind the now infamous 36 questions that lead to love.

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Coming Soon to Your Podcast Feed: Science, Quickly Feb 06, 2023

A new era in Scientific American audio history is about to drop starting next week. Get ready for a science variety show guaranteed to quench your curiosity in under 10 minutes.

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The 60-Second Podcast Takes a Short Break--But Wait, There's More Dec 21, 2022

Scientific American’s short-form podcast has been going for 16 years, three months and seven days, counting today. But it’s time for us to evolve.

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Is Your Phone Actually Draining Your Brain? Dec 20, 2022

A new study puts the “brain drain hypothesis”—the idea that just having a phone next to you impacts your cognition—to the test to see if the science passes muster.

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Why Your Dog Might Think You're a Bonehead Dec 16, 2022

The verdict is in: female dogs actively evaluate human competence.

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Alaska's Protective Sea Ice Wall Is Crumbling because of the Climate Crisis Dec 14, 2022

A massive storm slammed into Alaska’s western coast, and there was no ice to stop it.

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It's the Bass That Makes Us Boogie Dec 09, 2022

Concertgoers danced more when music was supplemented with low-frequency bass tones.

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How Vaccines Saved Money and Lives and China's Zero-COVID Protests: COVID, Quickly Podcast, Episode 44 Dec 06, 2022

Vaccines saved New York City billions of dollars, and China faces public fury over its strict virus-control policies.

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'Chatty Turtles' Flip the Script on the Evolutionary Origins of Vocalization in Animals Dec 02, 2022

Recordings of more than 50 species of turtles and other animals help scientists reassess the origins of acoustic communication in vertebrates.

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Tardigrades, an Unlikely Sleeping Beauty Nov 30, 2022

Researchers put this ancient critter through a subzero gauntlet to learn more about what happens to their internal clock while surviving the extreme.

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A Burned Redwood Forest Tells a Story of Climate Change, Past, Present and Future Nov 23, 2022

From the ashes of the giants of Big Basin Redwoods State Park arise a history of fire suppression and real questions about what happens to the forests in a drought-stricken West Coast going forward.

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Antivirals Could Reduce Long COVID Risk and How Well the New Boosters Work: COVID, Quickly Podcast, Episode 43 Nov 22, 2022

In this new episode of our coronavirus podcast, we discuss a study that looked at the effects of Paxlovid on long COVID symptoms, and we also talk new bivalent boosters and immunity.

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A Honeybee Swarm Has as Much Electric Charge as a Thundercloud Nov 15, 2022

New research shows that bees “buzz” in more than the way you might think.

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These Punk Rock Penguins Have a Bizarre Breeding Strategy Nov 11, 2022

New Zealand’s erect-crested penguin lays two eggs but rejects the first one—the opposite of how most birds prioritize their offspring.

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The Viral Triple Threat and Why You Need a Booster: COVID, Quickly, Episode 42 Nov 08, 2022

COVID, flu and RSV are surging. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself.

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What You Need to Know about Iran's Surveillance Tech Nov 04, 2022

Scientific American technology editor Sophie Bushwick explains how Iran is using surveillance tech against vulnerable citizens.

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Delivering Equitable Lung Cancer Care [Sponsored] Oct 28, 2022

As recent advances improve the prospects of detecting and catching lung cancer early, a new challenge arises: how to ensure people worldwide, regardless of their socioeconomic circumstances, benefit from new clinical tools.

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New Halloween 'Scariant' Variants and Boosting Your Immunity: COVID, Quickly, Episode 41 Oct 25, 2022

In a new episode of the COVID, Quickly podcast, we talk about the variants that are likely to be around this winter and how boosters help even if you’ve already had the disease.

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These Hawks Have Figured Out How to See the Bat in the Swarm Oct 21, 2022

New research shows that birds of prey attempting to grab a bat from a roiling mass of the flying mammals have developed a way to cope with the confusion.

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Naps Not Needed to Make New Memories Oct 14, 2022

Rats kept awake after exploring novel objects remembered the original items but not where they’d seen those objects, raising interesting questions about human sleep.

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How the Pandemic Shortened Life Expectancy and New Drugs on the Horizon: COVID, Quickly, Episode 40 Oct 11, 2022

In this episode of the COVID, Quickly podcast, we talk about why we’ve had years shaved off our average collective life since 2020. Also, we talk about “mabs” and why you might want to know what they are.

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Engineering the Treatment of Early-Stage Lung Cancer [SPONSORED] Oct 07, 2022

Early-stage lung cancers are not only difficult to diagnose—they’ve also proved difficult to curatively treat.

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Rediscovered Red Wolf Genes May Help Conserve the Species Oct 05, 2022

A surprising new gene discovery in coyotes may help conserve the critically endangered wolf.

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What the Disease Feels Like, and Presidents Can't End Pandemics: COVID, Quickly, Episode 39 Sep 27, 2022

On this episode of the COVID, Quickly podcast, Josh Fischman gets COVID, and President Joe Biden says the pandemic is over.

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These Spiders Use Their Webs like Huge, Silky Ears Sep 23, 2022

A study of orb-weaving spiders shows that the arachnids’ webs pick up a range of sounds—and that they are always “listening” for vibrations coming in over them.

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Chewing Consumes a Surprising Amount of Energy Sep 21, 2022

Chomping on food takes so much energy that it shaped human evolution. Our ancestors spent many hours a day chewing, which may have shaped our teeth and jaws.

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These Bats Buzz like Bees to Save Their Own Lives Sep 16, 2022

New research has discovered the first case of acoustic mimicry between a mammal and an insect—an acquired skill that could just save certain bats’ skin.

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Unvaxxed Kids and 8 Days a Week (of Isolation): COVID, Quickly, Episode 38 Sep 13, 2022

This is our second back-to-school special episode of COVID. Quickly. Today we talk about two big issues: the low vaccination rates among the littlest kids and how long you should quarantine after being sick (actually).

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Listen to Images from the James Webb Space Telescope Sep 09, 2022

It turns out that making new views of the universe accessible to those with vision impairment has required some deep thought—and carefully chosen words.

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These Tiny Pollinators Can Travel Surprisingly Huge Distances Sep 07, 2022

It turns out that hoverflies may fly hundreds or even thousands of miles—all to help pollinate our flowers and vegetables.

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During a Heat Wave, You Can Blast the AC, but What Does a Squirrel Do? Aug 31, 2022

Although recent spikes in temperature affect all of us, our urban critters have had to find their own ways to beat the heat. Sometimes they “sploot.”

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Back-to-School Special: Kids, Tests and Long COVID Reassurance: COVID, Quickly, Episode 37 Aug 30, 2022

This is our back-to-school special episode of COVID, Quickly. We’ll talk about why COVID testing is about to become a school problem—and about whether or not kids are at risk for long COVID.

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This Artificial Intelligence Learns like a Baby Aug 26, 2022

Engineers at the company DeepMind built a machine-learning system based on research on how babies’ brain works, and it did better on certain tasks than its conventional counterparts.

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Understanding the Inner Workings of Stars [Sponsored] Aug 25, 2022

Conny Aerts is an astrophysicist and a pioneer of asteroseismology. This year she shared the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics for her research and leadership that has laid the foundations of solar and stellar structure theory, and revolutionized our understanding of the interiors of stars.

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Dogs Actually Tear Up When Their Owners Come Home Aug 24, 2022

Our puppies’ eyes well up, a reaction caused by oxytocin, which makes us want to take care of them even more.

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A Lifelong Quest to Improve Mental Health among Cancer Patients [Sponsored] Aug 23, 2022

Recognizing those who are making a meaningful impact in the lives of cancer patients, the Cancer Community Awards, sponsored by AstraZeneca, presents an individual or organization with the President’s Award. We reconnected with Margaret Stauffer, the 2021 winner, to hear more about what’s happened since she received the award.

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How Next-Generation Sequencing Can Enable Precision Oncology [Sponsored] Aug 19, 2022

Celebrating those who enhance the ability to provide the right treatment for the right patient at the right time, the Cancer Community Awards, sponsored by AstraZeneca, presents an individual or organization with the Catalyst for Precision Medicine Award. We prepared for this year’s awards by reconnecting with the 2021 winner, Dr. Colin Pritchard, to hear more about what’s happened since he received the award.

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Hawking, a Paradox and a Black Hole Mystery, Solved? Aug 19, 2022

We do not have a theory to tell us everything about how a black hole works, but new research is shedding a least some light on one of their many mysteries.

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Monkeypox Update and Homing in on Long COVID: COVID, Quickly, Episode 36 Aug 16, 2022

On this episode of the COVID, Quickly podcast, we take a few minutes to talk about the other virus making headlines—and then return to long COVID.

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Fueling Patients' Drive to Treatment [Sponsored] Aug 15, 2022

Celebrating those who significantly improve access to cancer care for underserved populations, the Cancer Community Awards, sponsored by AstraZeneca, presents an individual or organization with a Catalyst for Change Award. We spoke with the 2021 award winner, Tomma Hargraves, to learn more about what’s happened since she received the award.

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Researchers Created a Potion That Turns Loud Lions into Placid Pussycats Aug 12, 2022

A single whiff of oxytocin, a chemical that some call the “love hormone,” promotes tolerance among lions at a wildlife sanctuary.

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Reaching the Root of Disparities in Cancer Care [Sponsored] Aug 10, 2022

Celebrating those who strive to overcome disparities in cancer care to bring quality services to their patients, the Cancer Community Awards, sponsored by AstraZeneca, created the Catalyst for Equity Award. We spoke with Dr. Anne Marie Murphy, executive director of Equal Hope and winner of the award in 2021, to learn more about what’s happened since her organization received the award.

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For Some Dolphins, the Key to Mating is Rolling with a Tight, Noisy Crew Aug 10, 2022

A pair of studies show that male bottlenose dolphins rely on wingmen when wooing mates—and that they cultivate these friendships by being vocal.

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A Source of Integrative Support for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Patients [Sponsored] Aug 03, 2022

Celebrating those who are making a patient’s experience as easy as possible during an extraordinarily difficult time, the Cancer Community Awards, sponsored by AstraZeneca, presents an individual or organization with a Catalyst for Care Award. We spoke with the 2021 winner, Unite for HER’s founder and CEO Sue Weldon, to hear more about what’s happened since her organization received the award.

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How Common Are Reinfections? And How Trust Can Beat the Virus: COVID, Quickly, Episode 35 Aug 02, 2022

On this episode of the COVID, Quickly podcast, we talk about getting reinfected with the coronavirus just a month or two after an earlier bout—and the difference that trusting others can make in a pandemic.

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The Kavli Prize Presents: Understanding Molecules [Sponsored] Jul 29, 2022

Jacob Sagiv is a chemist who studies properties of self-assembled monolayers. This year, he shared The Kavli Prize in Nanoscience for his research.

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Transforming the Trajectory of Lung Cancer [Sponsored] Jul 27, 2022

Lung cancer is the number-one cause of cancer deaths in the world. But how many lives would be saved if doctors could diagnose and treat it before it progresses?

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Polar Bears That Persist Jul 22, 2022

A new subpopulation of Greenland polar bears offers insights into how this species might hang on as Arctic ice disappears.

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Omicron's Nasty New Variants and Better Boosters to Battle Them: COVID, Quickly, Episode 34 Jul 12, 2022

On this episode of the COVID, Quickly podcast, we talk about the increase in new Omicron subvariants. Should fall vaccine boosters contain standard Omicron or some of those new subvariants instead?

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A Remote-Controlled Carnivorous Plant? Jun 30, 2022

Researchers design an artificial neuron that can trigger closure of a Venus flytrap.

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Kids' Vaccines at Last and Challenges in Making New Drugs: COVID, Quickly, Episode 33 Jun 27, 2022

On this episode of the COVID, Quickly podcast, we discuss some parents breathing a collective sigh of relief and the paradox of how effective vaccines can make it harder to create new drugs to treat patients who get the coronavirus.

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How AI Facial Recognition Is Helping Conserve Pumas Jun 24, 2022

Researchers tricked out conventional camera traps to snap headshots of Puma concolor, revealing a better way to track the elusive species.

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The Kavli Prize Presents: Understanding Neurodevelopment and Neurodegeneration [Sponsored] Jun 17, 2022

Huda Zoghbi is a clinician-scientist who studies the molecular mechanisms of neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. This year she shared the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience for discovering the genetic pathways behind serious brain disorders.

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Female CEOs Change How Firms Talk about Women Jun 16, 2022

Appointing women to leadership positions renders organizations more likely to describe all women as being powerful, persistent and bold.

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COVID Death Rates Explained, Dismal Booster Stats and New Vaccines Jun 13, 2022

On this episode of the COVID, Quickly podcast, we clear up some data misconceptions, get to the bottom of the booster uptake issue and talk Novavax.

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Hedgehogs Host the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance Jun 08, 2022

Bacteria resistant to methicillin emerged in hedgehogs long before the drug was prescribed to treat infections.

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Meerkats Are Getting Climate Sick Jun 03, 2022

For meerkats in the Kalahari Desert, rising temperatures spark deadly outbreaks of tuberculosis.

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'Where Are Vaccines for Little Kids?' and the Latest on Long COVID May 31, 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.

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Your Phone Could Be Used to Prosecute for Getting an Abortion: Here's How May 20, 2022

Technology editor Sophie Bushwick breaks down the precedent for using your phone to monitor personal health data.

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If Sea Ice Melts in the Arctic, Do Trees Burn in California? May 19, 2022

A new study links sea ice decline with increasing wildfire weather in the Western U.S.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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

New research finds they fly around on noise-cancelling wings

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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E-Eggs Track Turtle Traffickers Feb 22, 2021

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

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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A Nurse's Message about the COVID-19 Vaccine Dec 15, 2020

Nurse Kristen Choi says health care providers need to better educate patients about possible side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Election Science Stakes: Environment Oct 29, 2020

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Humans Make Wild Animals Less Wary Oct 16, 2020

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

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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.

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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.

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Nobelist Talks CRISPR Uses Oct 08, 2020

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Speaker System Blocks City Noise Jul 21, 2020

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Sparrow Song Undergoes Key Change Jul 11, 2020

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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'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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Our 3,000th Episode Apr 20, 2020

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Neandertals Tooled Around with Clams Feb 07, 2020

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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You Traveled Far in 2019 Jan 02, 2020

Getting around the sun last year was some trip.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Tardigrade Protein Protects DNA from Chemical Attack Oct 16, 2019

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

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"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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Remembering Murray Gell-Mann Jun 03, 2019

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Ancient Whiz Opens Archaeology Window May 13, 2019

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

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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.

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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There's a Word for Today Apr 01, 2019

English lacks some words that other languages pack with meaning.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Finally Over for Mars Rover Feb 13, 2019

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Rocking Helps Adults Sleep Too Feb 05, 2019

Adult humans, as well as mice, slept better when gently rocked.

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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.

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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.

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"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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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"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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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"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.

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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.

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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.

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"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.

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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.

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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.

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You Gotta Scratch That Itch Dec 19, 2018

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Data Reveals Most Influential Movies Dec 05, 2018

By analyzing the network connections between 47,000 films on IMDb, researchers found the most influential films ever made. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Blue Whales Have Changed Their Tune Nov 30, 2018

In the last few decades blue whale calls have been getting lower in pitch—and a rebound in their numbers may be the reason. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Smart Meters Speed Showers Nov 27, 2018

Smart meters on showerheads encouraged hotel guests to conserve—even though they personally saved no money. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Mars Mission Makes Clean Landing Nov 26, 2018

The sounds of the Mars InSight Mission control room during the tense minutes leading to the landing on the surface.

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Do Wine over Those Brussels Sprouts Nov 21, 2018

Taking a swig of red wine before eating Brussels sprouts appears to moderate Brussels sprouts' polarizing flavor. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Rains Bring a Microbial Massacre to Chilean Desert Nov 19, 2018

Freak heavy rainstorms in 2015 and 2017 wiped out many dry-adapted microbes in the Atacama Desert, useful info in the search for life off Earth. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Consensual Hugs Seem to Reduce Stress Nov 18, 2018

People who had a conflict in a given day but also got hugged were not as affected by the negative interaction as were their unhugged counterparts.

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World's Largest Organism Faces Bleak Future Nov 17, 2018

The single organism that is the Utah aspen grove known as Pando is on the decline due to herbivores wiping out its youngest tree outgrowths

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U.S. Immigrants Leave Country—and Microbes—Behind Nov 14, 2018

Immigrants to the U.S. lose their native mix of gut microbes almost immediately after arriving in the U.S.—which researchers can't quite explain. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Science News Briefs from All over Nov 13, 2018

A few very brief reports about international science and technology from Alaska to Indonesia, including one on offshore dairy farming from the Netherlands.

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Babies and Chimps Share a Laugh Nov 10, 2018

Adult humans laugh primarily on the exhale, but human babies laugh on the inhale and the exhale—as do chimps. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Singing Fish Reveal Underwater Battles in the Amazon Nov 08, 2018

Researchers recorded piranha "honks" and catfish "screeches" in the Peruvian Amazon, which might illuminate fish activity in murky jungle waters. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Social Construct of Race Imposes Biology Nov 07, 2018

Anthropologist Jennifer Raff argues that race is culturally created, but has biological consequences.

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Pandas Swoon to Particular Croons Nov 06, 2018

Listening to the sounds panda pairs make when they're introduced could lead to better breeding success. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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First Benefit of Knowing Your Genome Nov 02, 2018

The "low hanging fruit" of genome-related health care will be knowing which drugs are likely to treat you best, says science journalist Carl Zimmer.

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For Halloween, Consider the Chocolate Midge Oct 31, 2018

A tiny fly, related to biting no-see-ums, pollinates cacao trees and enables our chocolate cravings. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Dolphins Dumb Down Calls to Compete with Ship Noise Oct 29, 2018

Bottlenose dolphins simplify and raise the pitch of their whistles to be heard above underwater shipping noise. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Asocial Octopuses Become Cuddly on MDMA Oct 22, 2018

Octopuses react to MDMA much like humans do. And not surprisingly, given their anatomy, the animals are excellent huggers. Annie Sneed reports.

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Wild Songbirds Can Pick Up New Tunes Oct 18, 2018

Researchers taught two dozen wild sparrows new songs, by playing them the recordings of sparrows that live thousands of miles away. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Health Care Let Neandertals "Punch above Their Weight" Oct 17, 2018

By caring for their sick and injured, Neandertals were able to expand into more dangerous environments and pursue more deadly prey. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Nice People Have Emptier Wallets Oct 15, 2018

A study correlating personality traits with financial data found that agreeable people had lower savings, higher debt and higher bankruptcy rates. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Solar Eclipse Was a Buzzkill for Bees Oct 12, 2018

Bees suddenly fell silent when the sun disappeared during last year's solar eclipse—perhaps because they were tricked into night mode. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Confident Tone Overcomes Accent Distrust Oct 11, 2018

English as-a-first-language Canadian study subjects were less trusting of statements in English spoken with a foreign accent, unless the speaker sounded confident about their assertion.

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Mom's Genes Make Some Giraffes Hard to Spot Oct 10, 2018

Baby giraffes inherit aspects of their mothers' patterning—which could give them a survival advantage if good camouflage runs in the family. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Economics Nobel Highlights Climate Action Necessity Oct 09, 2018

William Nordhaus shared the 2018 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, "for integrating climate change into long-run macroeconomic analysis,” with Paul Romer, "for integrating technological innovations into long-run macroeconomic analysis."

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Highway Crossings Protect Migrating Pronghorns—and Motorists Oct 06, 2018

Twice a year, thousands of pronghorn antelope and mule deer migrate through Wyoming, and newly built highway crossings are sparing the lives of animals—and motorists. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Beer Fermentation Hops Along Oct 04, 2018

The bittering agents called hops have enzymes that chew up starch and unleash more fermentable sugar—which can boost alcohol and CO2 in the finished brew. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Nobel in Chemistry for New and Useful Chemical Entities via Evolutionary Principles Oct 03, 2018

Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith and Gregory P. Winter share the 2018 chemistry Nobel for developing evolutionary-based techniques that lead to the creation of new chemical entities with useful properties.

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Nobel in Physics for Controlling Laser Light Oct 02, 2018

Arthur Ashkin, Gérard Mourou and Donna Strickland share the 2018 physics Nobel for their work with lasers that have led to numerous practical applications, such as eye surgery.

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Nobel for Helping the Immune System Fight Cancer Oct 01, 2018

James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo share the Nobel Prize for their work on harnessing the cancer patient's own immune system to destroy tumors.

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Blasey Ford Spells Out Trauma Memory Formation Sep 30, 2018

Christine Blasey Ford's professional expertise came into play during her testimony regarding the Supreme Court nomination.

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Scanning Ancient Civilizations from the Skies Sep 27, 2018

An aerial laser scan of more than 800 square miles of Guatemalan jungle revealed Maya buildings, canals, roads and bridges. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Antifreeze Surface Fights Ice with Ice Sep 25, 2018

Patterning a surface with tiny stripes of ice prevents frost formation on the rest of the surface—a technique that could keep planes or roads frost-free. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Scale Can Measure Medicine—and Play a Scale, Too Sep 24, 2018

Researchers have designed a musical instrument that can detect counterfeit drugs by the pitch of its notes. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Diverse Tree Portfolio Weathers Droughts Better Sep 21, 2018

Forests with numerous tree species, and therefore a mix of water-management strategies, appear more tolerant of drought. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Pirates Needed Science, Too Sep 19, 2018

On International Talk Like a Pirate Day, here's an eye-patch-witness account of how science helps in all peg-leg walks of life, even piracy

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Sea Otters' Powerful Paw Prey Perception Sep 18, 2018

The marine mammals have extraordinarily sensitive touch—which helps them nab prey in the absence of other sensory cues. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Science News Briefs from Around the World Sep 17, 2018

A few very brief reports about science and technology from around the globe.

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Genetic Tweak Gave Early Humans a Leg Up Sep 13, 2018

A mutation in a key gene may have endowed humans with superior endurance—allowing them to compete better with other animals on the savanna. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Earlier Springs May Mean Mistimed Bird Migrations Sep 12, 2018

Springtime's arriving earlier across North America. But the degree of change isn't the same everywhere, which could spell trouble for migratory birds. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Survey the Wildlife of the "Great Indoors" Sep 10, 2018

Biologists are enlisting citizen scientists to poke around under the sink and behind the curtains, for wildlife living in the "great indoors." Karen Hopkin reports.

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When Neutron Stars Collide Sep 07, 2018

Astrophysicists have gotten a better glimpse at what happens to crashing neutron stars by listening in on the electromagnetic echoes of the collision. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Bonnethead Sharks Are Underwater Lawn Mowers Sep 06, 2018

The hammerhead relatives consume copious amounts of sea grass, and have the digestive machinery to process it—making them true omnivores. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Hurricane Is a Natural Selection Experiment Sep 05, 2018

When Hurricane Irma blew through the Turks and Caicos, lizards with shorter hindlimbs lucked out. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Pasta Problem Cracked! Sep 04, 2018

An intrepid undergrad led the way to understanding the physics of snapping strands of spaghetti.

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Science News You Might Have Missed Aug 31, 2018

A few very brief reports about science and technology from around the globe.

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Pineapple Waste Won't Be Wasted Aug 27, 2018

Costa Rican scientists are extracting valuable materials from the peel and stubble of pineapples.

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Sometimes Mosquitoes Are Just Thirsty Aug 24, 2018

Mosquitoes want your blood for its proteins...or simply to hydrate on a hot, dry day.

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Robot Bartender Will Take Your Order Aug 23, 2018

Digital assistants have to respond quickly, but correctly—so researchers are studying how real humans navigate that trade-off, to design better machines. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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As Spring Arrives Earlier, Arctic Geese Speed Up Their Migration Aug 22, 2018

The birds are arriving in the Arctic up to 13 days earlier than they used to. But at a cost: hunger. Annie Sneed reports.

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Freeloading Ants Help the Workflow Aug 21, 2018

Fire ants tunnels got excavated efficiently by only a small percentage of the group doing most of the work, thus avoiding pileups in tight spaces.

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Ancient Americans Bred Symbolically Important Scarlet Macaws Aug 20, 2018

Genetic information from the bones of macaws found in abandoned pueblos suggests they were bred and distributed as a commodity. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Rising CO2 Means Monarch Butterfly Bellyaches Aug 17, 2018

Milkweed grown with more carbon dioxide in the air supplies fewer toxins to monarch butterflies that need the toxins to fight off gut parasites.

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For Some Crows, Migration Is Optional Aug 16, 2018

Crows are what's known as "partial migrants"—as cold weather approaches, some crows fly south whereas others stay put. And that behavior appears to be ingrained. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Plants Dominate the Planet's Biomass Aug 15, 2018

About 80 percent of Earth's biomass is plant life, with humans about equal to krill way down the heft chart.

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Solar Eclipse of 2017 Boosted Science Interest Aug 14, 2018

The Michigan Scientific Literacy Survey of 2017 found that last year's total solar eclipse got Americans more interested in celestial science.

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Crickets Carve Tools to Amplify Their Chirps Aug 13, 2018

The insects fashion and use "baffles"—sound controllers—made of leaves to produce sound more efficiently. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Computerized Chemical Toxicity Prediction Beats Animal Testing Aug 10, 2018

Researchers programmed a computer to compare structures and toxic effects of different chemicals, making it possible to then predict the toxicity of new chemicals based on their structural similarity to known ones.

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Better Data Could Mean Better Dating Aug 09, 2018

Both men and women tended to pursue mates just 25 percent more desirable than themselves—suggesting they are "optimistic realists." Christopher Intagliata reports.

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To Evolve Baleen, Lose Your Teeth First Aug 08, 2018

Whale ancestors probably never had teeth and baleen at the same time, and only developed baleen after trying toothlessness and sucking in prey.

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Corn Variety Grabs Fertilizer from the Air Aug 07, 2018

A variety of corn from Oaxaca, Mexico, has aerial roots that harbor nitrogen-fixing bacteria, allowing the corn to suck nitrogen straight from the air. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Birds Learn Safety from Other Kinds of Birds Aug 02, 2018

Birds become good at avoiding danger by eavesdropping on the alarm calls of other birds—and the learning occurs without even seeing their peers or predators. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Microbes Share Your Morning Metro Commute  Aug 01, 2018

An analysis of the Hong Kong metro found microbes, including some with antibiotic resistance genes, freshly disperse throughout the system each day. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Oh Say Can You See Subtle Details? Jul 31, 2018

Different people have differing aptitudes for observing small changes and particular features.

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Some Crows Hit On Dead Companions Jul 30, 2018

About 5 percent of crows will attempt to copulate with other crows that have joined the choir invisible.

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Mouth Sets Healing Standard Jul 29, 2018

Certain proteins that coordinate the healing response are present at higher levels in oral tissue—meaning wounds in the mouth fix faster. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Border Wall Could Disrupt Hundreds of Species Jul 26, 2018

More than 2,500 scientists signed a letter saying that an expanded U.S.–Mexico border wall would threaten both biodiversity and scientific research. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Turn a Wall into a Touch Screen Cheap Jul 25, 2018

Researchers used a couple of hundred dollars worth of materials to turn a wall into a giant touch screen

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Ancient Tooth Tartar Traps Clues to Iron Age Diet Jul 24, 2018

By analyzing the proteins in ancient dental plaque, archaeologists determined that British menus almost three millennia ago featured milk, oats and peas. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Honey Bee Alarm Signal Could Protect Elephants Jul 23, 2018

Chemicals designed to simulate honeybee alarm pheromones could deter elephants from farmers’ crops, easing conflicts with humans. Annie Sneed reports.

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Sea Level Rise Could Inundate the Internet Jul 20, 2018

Extreme sea level rise could swamp internet cabling and hubs by 2033—and coastal cities like New York, Seattle and Miami are at greatest risk. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Astronomy Tool Helps ID Sharks Jul 19, 2018

Shark researchers used a system for recognizing patterns in star field photographs to identify whale sharks, which have individual spot patterns.

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Mammals Moonlight around Human Settlements Jul 18, 2018

A study of human–mammal interaction across the globe found animals are more prone to take to the night around humans. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Jupiter's Moon Total Hits 79 Jul 17, 2018

The International Astronomical Union reports that there are now 79 known Jovian moons, with a dozen found last year.

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Moths Evade Bats with Slight of Wing Jul 16, 2018

Some moth species have evolved long wing tails that flutter and twist as the moth flies, which distract hungry bats. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Science News You Might Have Missed Jul 13, 2018

Very brief reports about science and technology from around the globe.

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Smart Mouth Guard Senses Muscle Fatigue Jul 12, 2018

A prototype flexible electronic mouth guard can measure lactate levels in an athlete’s saliva, tracking muscle fatigue during training and performance.

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Favorite Wine Grapes May Need Genetic Help Jul 10, 2018

Wine book author Kevin Begos explains that just a few varieties of wine grapes dominate the industry, which leaves them vulnerable to potentially catastrophic disease outbreaks.

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Iridescence Could Help Critters Hide in Plain Sight Jul 06, 2018

Iridescence appears to break up the recognizable shape of objects—making them harder to spot. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Primate Conflicts Play Out in the Operating Room Jul 05, 2018

By analyzing 200 surgeries, anthropologists found mixed-gender operating room teams exhibited the highest levels of cooperation. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Sharks Make a Splash in Brooklyn Jul 04, 2018

Visitors can see and learn about sharks and their environment in the new "Ocean Wonders: Sharks!" facility at the Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium.

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City Life Favors Downsized Invertebrates Jul 03, 2018

Most invertebrates get smaller on average in cities, although a few very mobile species respond to urbanization by growing.

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People Ration Where They Roam Jul 02, 2018

An analysis of the movement of some 40,000 people suggests most of us frequent only 25 places—and as we sub in new favorites, we drop old ones. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Humans Can Size One Another Up with a Roar Jun 28, 2018

Listeners to a person letting loose with a roar can accurately estimate the size and formidability or the human noise maker. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Piano Lessons Tune Up Language Skills Jun 26, 2018

Six months of piano lessons can heighten kindergartners' brain responses to different pitches, and improve their ability to tell apart two similar-sounding words. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Cardinal Rule: Female Birds Sing, Too Jun 25, 2018

Many people assume only male birds do the singing. But females also sing in at least 660 species and perhaps many more.

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Bird's Song Staying Power Implies Culture Jun 22, 2018

Certain motifs in swamp sparrow songs can last hundreds, even thousands of years—evidence of a cultural tradition in the birds. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Alaskan Beluga Whales Ace Hearing Exam Jun 21, 2018

Researchers tested the hearing of beluga whales in an Alaskan bay and found that they seem to have suffered little hearing loss due to ocean noise. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Fat–Carb Combo Is a Potent One–Two Punch Jun 19, 2018

Foods high in both carbs and fats tickle the brain’s reward circuits more so than snacks that showcase just one or the other. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Jupiter Crackles with Polar Lightning Jun 17, 2018

Juno spacecraft data suggest lightning on Jupiter is much more common than we thought—but it congregates near the poles, not the equator as on Earth. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Coral Reefs Keep Costly Waves at Bay Jun 15, 2018

A new analysis found the flood protection benefits of coral reefs save the global economy $4 billion dollars a year. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Hippo Dung Fouls Up Freshwater Fisheries Jun 14, 2018

Hippo poop is piling up in Tanzania’s freshwater fisheries—which is bad news for biodiversity, and deleterious for the dinner plate. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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A Litmus Test for Bad Breath Jun 13, 2018

Researchers engineered a portable device that detects even the tiniest trace of hydrogen sulfide—one of the primary offenders in bad breath. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Prez (of AMA) Issues Call to Arms-Science Jun 11, 2018

At the AMA annual meeting the organization's president petitioned for an evidence-based, science-driven analysis of gun violence and solutions.

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Powder Pulls Drinking Water from Desert Air Jun 08, 2018

A structure known as a metal organic framework traps water vapor by night, then releases it when heated the next day. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Ancient Clan War Explains Genetic Diversity Drop Jun 06, 2018

Some 5,000 to 7,000 years ago, the diversity of Y chromosomes plummeted. A new analysis suggests clan warfare may have been the cause. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Saying "This May Hurt" May Make It Worse Jun 05, 2018

Warning a child that something, like a vaccine shot, will hurt can actually increase their perception of the pain.

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Mongooses Gift Grooming for Guard Duty Jun 01, 2018

Humans and other primates often reciprocate good deeds. A new study suggests a nonprimate, the dwarf mongoose, does so, too, even after a delay. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Some Trees Beat Heat with Sweat May 31, 2018

During extreme heat waves, a species of eucalyptus copes by releasing water and taking advantage of evaporative cooling. Other trees may do the same.

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Computers Go Head-to-Head with Humans on Face Recognition May 30, 2018

The best facial-recognition algorithms are now as good as the best forensic examiners are. But the best results come by combining human and computer skills. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Pinnipeds Don't Appreciate Biped Disturbance May 29, 2018

Sea lions and fur seals in Uruguay have become a tourist attraction—but the animals have become less, not more, accepting of humans. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Computers Predict Pop Chart Success May 24, 2018

An evolutionary analysis of pop tunes revealed that over the past 30 years songs have grown sadder—but the big hits buck that trend. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Doc's YA Novel Treats Life-and-Death Issues May 23, 2018

Pediatric cardiologist Ismée Williams discusses her young adult novel, Water in May, about a teenage girl whose newborn has a life-threatening heart condition.

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Google's AI Assistant Does Your Talk Tasks May 17, 2018

The new Google AI voice assistant, called Duplex, highlights the intricacies of carrying out a mundane human-style conversation, as it keeps you off the phone.

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Great Ape Makes Good Doc May 16, 2018

Orangutans were observed to use plant extracts to treat their own pain.

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Stool-Pigeon Poop Reveals Bird-Racing Fouls May 15, 2018

Racing pigeons is big business—and doping is common. Now scientists have devised a way to detect doping in the avian athletes. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Radar Scans Detail North Korean Nukes May 14, 2018

Scientists have added radar info to seismic data, isotope measurements and optical imagery to study covert nuclear tests. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Hunting Rules Have Changed Mama Bear Care May 11, 2018

Hunting regulations in Sweden prohibit killing brown bear mothers in company of cubs—causing mama bears to care for their young longer. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Jupiter and Venus Squeeze Earth's Orbit May 10, 2018

Sediment records have confirmed that Jupiter and Venus change Earth's orbit from virtually circular to noticeably elliptical and back every 405,000 years. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Mars Lander Will Peer Inside the Red Planet May 07, 2018

The InSight Mission will look at Mars's seismic activity and latent heat to find out more about how planets get made--and how humans might live there.

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Plants Can Sense Animal Attack Coming May 06, 2018

Tomato plants detected snail slime in soil near them and mounted preemptive defenses, even though they were not directly touched.

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Archaeologist Makes a Case for Seafaring Neandertals May 04, 2018

Ancient tools on Mediterranean islands could predate the appearance of modern humans—suggesting Neandertals took to the seas. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Africa: Future Worldwide Science Hub May 02, 2018

Thierry Zomahoun, president of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, talks about the potential and needs of science on the continent.

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Healthful Eating Requires Supermarket Smarts Apr 30, 2018

Advice from an N.Y.U. food policy symposium: eating healthfully means you can't ever let down your guard when shopping.

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Culture Shapes Kids' Views of Nature Apr 29, 2018

In a study of children interacting with toy animals Native American kids and non-Native kids imagined the animals very differently.

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Bad Audio Can Hurt a Scientist's Credibility Apr 28, 2018

Listeners gave more credence to a scientist’s radio interview when the audio was good quality than they did to the same material when the audio was poor. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Bill Gates Announces a Universal Flu Vaccine Effort Apr 27, 2018

Today in Boston, Gates announced a $12-million initiative to foster the development of a vaccine effective against all flu strains.

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Drumming Beats Speech for Distant Communication Apr 25, 2018

The Bora people in the northwestern Amazon use drums to send languagelike messages across long distances. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Bees Have a Goldilocks Lawn Mow Schedule Apr 23, 2018

Lawns mowed every two weeks hosted more bees than lawns mowed every three weeks. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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If Singing's Tough, Try Whistling Apr 21, 2018

A new study claims it's easier to accurately whistle a melody than to sing it. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Traffic Deaths Increase after 4:20 P.M. on 4/20 Apr 19, 2018

A look at a database of fatal traffic accidents found a 12 percent increase on the informal marijuana holiday 4/20 after 4:20 P.M. compared with nearby dates.

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NYC Mice Are Packed with Pathogens Apr 18, 2018

Mice trapped in New York City apartment buildings harbored disease-causing bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Mine Social Media Posts to Predict Flu Apr 17, 2018

Researchers used Twitter searches for nonflu words associated with behavior to predict flu outbreaks two weeks in advance.

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Planting Milkweed for Monarchs? Make Sure It's Native Apr 16, 2018

Non-native milkweed species planted in the southern U.S. could harm monarch butterflies as temperatures rise. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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The Internet Needs a Tune-Up Apr 13, 2018

Princeton University's Jennifer Rexford talks about optimizing the internet for the uses it got drafted into performing.

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Glacier Suddenly Goes Galloping Apr 12, 2018

Researchers try to figure out why every 20 years a Pakistan glacier moves roughly 1,500 times faster.

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Some Habitable Zone Exoplanets May Get X-Rayed Out Apr 11, 2018

Red dwarfs are a popular place to hunt for small exoplanets in the habitable zone—but the stars' radiation bursts might fry chances for life as we know it. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Right Whales Seem to Think before They Speak Apr 09, 2018

Rather than always making the same call in response to the same stimuli, North Atlantic right whales are capable of changing their vocalizations.

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Old New England Underground May Be Spry after All Apr 07, 2018

The U.S. Northeast may be more geologically active than was previously thought, according to a seismic sensor network.

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Brain Scan Might Reveal Appetite for Risk Apr 06, 2018

Volunteers willing to place riskier bets tended to sport larger amygdalas—a region associated with processing fear. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Neandertal Face Shape Was All Over the Air Apr 04, 2018

The jutting midface of Neandertals seems to have evolved to help get large volumes of air into an active body that needed lots of oxygen.

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Rev Up Photosynthesis to Boost Crop Yields Apr 02, 2018

Photosynthesis actually is an inefficient process, but a biological chemist is trying to crank it up.

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13,000-Year-Old Footprints under West Coast Beach Apr 01, 2018

Several feet below a beach in British Columbia, archaeologists discovered soil trampled by human feet—the oldest footprints found so far in North America. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Math Cracks a Knuckle-Cracking Mystery Mar 29, 2018

The source of knuckle cracking sounds is much debated—but new mathematical models may reconcile two opposing views. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Rotting Flesh Offers Insight on Fossilization Mar 26, 2018

To learn more about decay and fossilization, researchers conduct unorthodox experiments—like dissecting decomposing animals in the lab. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Ravens Crow with Individual Flair Mar 23, 2018

Ravens produce different types of calls depending on their age and sex—which might help ravens size up other individuals. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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U.S. Flu Spread Counts On Southern Cold Snaps Mar 21, 2018

A multifactorial analysis finds that the ignition of a flu epidemic stems from a blast of colder weather striking an otherwise warm, humid, urban environment, and driving people indoors into close quarters.

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Louise Slaughter Was Congress's Food Safety Champion Mar 20, 2018

Upstate New York Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, who worked for decades on issues such as overuse of antibiotics in agriculture and food safety in general, died March 16 at the age of 88.

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Arctic Heat Waves Linked to Snowpocalypse-Like Storms Mar 18, 2018

An analysis of more than six decades of daily temperature and snowfall data linked warmer arctic temperatures to cold snaps at lower latitudes. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Gut Parasites Have Their Own Gut Microbiomes Mar 15, 2018

The whipworm lives in the human gut, mooching microbes from its host to build its own microbiome. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Drones Could Help Biologists Tally Birds Mar 12, 2018

Counting by drone not only saves time and effort, but yields better data on species numbers—a definite plus in terms of conservation. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Saliva Protein Might Inhibit Intestinal Anarchy Mar 10, 2018

A protein found in spit prevents bad bugs from binding to intestinal cells in the lab, pointing to a possible way to lower the chances of dysentery. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Searching the Heavens for Mountains Mar 09, 2018

Exoplanet hunters are moving beyond simply finding new planets into trying to know what they look like and whether there's surface or subsurface activity.

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Human Echolocators Use Tricks Similar to Bats Mar 06, 2018

People who use echolocating mouth clicks to compensate for low vision increase the number and intensity of clicks when objects are harder to detect. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Animal Coloration Can Serve Double Duty Mar 05, 2018

The cinnabar moth caterpillar's coloration pattern warns predators close up, but camouflages the critter from a distance.

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Some Lichen Fungi Let Genes Go Bye Mar 01, 2018

A study of 22 different types of lichens revealed 10 included fungi that had lost a gene for energy production, making them completely dependent on their algal partner.

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To See Gun Injury Drop, Hold an NRA Meeting Feb 28, 2018

When the National Rifle Association holds its national convention, gun injuries drop 20 percent—perhaps because fewer gun owners are around their guns. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Big Cities Have Fewer Tweeters Per Capita Feb 26, 2018

But those who do tweet in big cities are more prolific—tweeting more often, on average, than their small-town counterparts. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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How Baby Birds Learn to Duet Feb 23, 2018

Recordings of songbird duets reveal baby birds learn conversational turn-taking like we do: gradually, and from adults. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Mosquitoes Learn the Smell of Danger Feb 22, 2018

The bloodsuckers lose their appetite for attractive scents when they associate those aromas with a likelihood of being swatted. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Needed: Info on Biodiversity Change over Time Feb 20, 2018

Understanding an ecosystem means following changes in the abundances and identities of the species present as the clock ticks. The BioTIME database should help.

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Undersea Recordings Reveal a Whale's Tale Feb 19, 2018

By eavesdropping on the calls of blue whales, researchers hope to get a more accurate picture of the massive mammals' distribution and abundance. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Seabird Feathers Reveal Less-Resilient Ocean Feb 15, 2018

By analyzing 130 years of seabird feathers, researchers determined that food webs are losing complexity in the Pacific—meaning less-resilient ecosystems. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Beetle Liberation Due to Regurgitation Feb 13, 2018

The bombardier beetle can spray its hot brew of toxic chemicals even after bring swallowed, to force a predator into vomiting it back out.

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Old Trees Are Ecosystem Gold Feb 12, 2018

David Lindenmayer of the Australian National University College of Science in Canberra says that older trees play outsize roles in maintaining landscapes and ecosystems.

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Boat Noise Means Fish Can't Learn Their Lessons Feb 11, 2018

Damselfish had trouble learning to avoid predators, when that lesson was accompanied by a soundtrack of buzzing boat engines. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Woodpeckers Drum to Their Own Tunes Feb 07, 2018

The length and spacing of woodpecker drum rolls varies enough to tell woodpeckers apart—which could be useful to conservation biologists. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Homebodies Economize on Energy Use Feb 06, 2018

Today’s work-from-home, on-demand culture means more days at home—and translates into greater energy savings, too. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Killer Whale Culture Revealed by Mimicking Us Feb 02, 2018

Orcas can imitate calls from other whales and even human speech—suggesting they can transmit cultural practices, such as unique dialects. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Holiday Cheer Leads to Birth-Rate Spike Feb 01, 2018

During feel-good holiday periods like Christmas and Eid-al-Fitr, romance strikes—leading to a boom in births nine months later. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Ticks on Uptick Where Big Game Declines Jan 31, 2018

Areas of Kenya without large wildlife saw tick populations rise as much as 370 percent—meaning more danger to humans. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Wildfires Spike Wine with Smoky Notes Jan 30, 2018

Chemists are working on ways for wildfire-affected winemakers to avoid creating smoky wines. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Lion Conservation Challenges Giraffe Protection Jan 26, 2018

Having lions and giraffes together in protected areas means far lower survival rates for juvenile giraffes. Jason Goldman reports.

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Nobelist Crafts Light-Switchable Antibiotics Jan 25, 2018

Drugs modified by chemistry Nobel laureate Ben Feringa can be turned on and off by light, which could help keep bacteria from developing antibiotic resistance.

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Catching Flu Also Boosts Heart Risk Jan 24, 2018

Researchers found a sixfold increase in heart attacks in patients in the week following a flu. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Worldwide Effort Says Together Science Can Jan 23, 2018

Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, talked about worldwide scientific collaboration today at the World Economic Forum.

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Canada Geese Taking a Winter Staycation Jan 22, 2018

The geese are wintering farther and farther north, in urban areas like Chicago—which may help them avoid hunters. Emily Schwing reports.

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Moon's Tug Doesn't Cause Big Quakes Jan 19, 2018

An analysis of more than 200 earthquakes over the past four centuries concludes there's no connection between moon phases and big earthquakes. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Social Media Helps ID Spew Source Jan 18, 2018

Surveillance of Yelp restaurant reviews for terms like vomit led researchers to the sources of foodborne illness outbreaks. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Salmonella Could Have Caused 16th-Century Epidemic Jan 17, 2018

Using a new algorithm, geneticists uncovered the pathogen that could have caused a massive epidemic in the Aztec empire: Salmonella bacteria. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Which Came First, the Proboscis or the Flower? Jan 12, 2018

A new fossil find reveals that the sucking tongue of butterflies—or proboscis—appears to have evolved before the emergence of flowers. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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You Live in a Strange Solar System Jan 10, 2018

Astronomers found that other star systems tend to host similarly sized exoplanets—far different from ours. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Glow Sticks Help Ecologists Study Amphibians Jan 09, 2018

Ecologists needed a way to more easily keep track of populations of amphibians, and green glow sticks lit the way.

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Air Force Tracks Final Frontier Jan 03, 2018

General Jay Raymond, Commander of Air Force Space Command, talks about keeping watch over space and cyber.

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You Traveled Far Last Year Jan 02, 2018

Getting around the sun in 2017 was a memorable trip.

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Finches Can Learn to Sing Differently Than Their Genetics Dictate Dec 29, 2017

The song training that Bengalese finches received appeared to overcome tempo tendencies baked into their genes. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Baby Bats Can Learn Different Dialects Dec 28, 2017

Fruit bats raised hearing different pitches of sounds vocalized in keeping with their aural environment as they matured.

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Mongoose Societies Are Skeptical of Strangers Dec 24, 2017

It takes months for members of a mongoose breeding society to trust newcomers with important tasks like watching for predators. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Pain and Weather Fail to Connect Dec 23, 2017

A big data analysis involving more than 1.5 million patients could find no relationship between weather and complaints to doctors about joint or back pain.

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Finding Further Places for Solar Panels Dec 22, 2017

Siting solar panels over rooftops, parking lots, reservoirs and contaminated land could generate heaps of energy—with minimal effects on agriculture or the environment. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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This Fish Emits Damaging Decibels Dec 20, 2017

The Gulf corvina produces a chattering chorus that’s one of the loudest underwater animal sounds on the planet. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Repetitive Sounds Are Music to the Brain Dec 18, 2017

Repeating something can render that thing melodious—even the sound of a shovel being dragged across the pavement. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Radiation Might Help Heart Regain Its Rhythm Dec 17, 2017

A flash of radiation drastically reduced arrhythmia in a small group of patients, for at least a year after treatment. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Dark Fiber Networks Can Sense Seismicity Dec 15, 2017

Scientists are exploring the use of fiber-optic cables—like the ones that form the backbone of the internet—to monitor earthquakes. Julia Rosen reports.

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Supermarket Snacking Boosts Sales Dec 14, 2017

Noshing while shopping convinces consumers to buy the featured product more often than does simply seeing end-of-aisle displays. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Something Clicks for Dolphin Identification Dec 13, 2017

Machine-learning algorithms teased seven distinct dolphin clicking patterns from a library of more than 50 million clicks, identifying one species by sound alone. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Nutrition Guidelines Healthy for the Planet, Too Dec 12, 2017

Following dietary guidelines would mean eating less meat and dairy—and fewer calories overall—reducing greenhouse gases and other pollution. Julia Rosen reports.

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Invading Beavers Turn Tundra to Ponds Dec 11, 2017

New beaver ponds in the Arctic may contribute to the destruction of the permafrost that holds that landscape together.

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Sharks Rule the Reef's Underwater Food Chain Dec 10, 2017

When sharks prowl shallow waters, fish quit foraging and hide—sparing seaweed from being grazed in those areas. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Ancient Women Had Awesome Arms Dec 09, 2017

For thousands of years, women in agricultural societies seem to have had arms stronger than members of modern rowing teams.

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Invasive Frogs Don't Bug Hawaiian Birds Dec 08, 2017

Coquí frogs are invasive species in Hawaii. But they don’t seem to bug the islands’ native and nonnative birds. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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How Hospitals Can Dampen the Decibels Dec 07, 2017

Hospitals consistently score low on quietness surveys. An acoustician suggests a few ways hospitals could keep the peace and quiet. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Smarter Management Means More Inventions Get to Market Dec 06, 2017

Rosemarie Truman, CEO of the Center for Advancing Innovation, says a better system of governance for federally funded inventions could lead to many more good ones becoming commercialized.

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Computers Learn to Use Sound to Find Ships Dec 05, 2017

Researchers trained machine-learning algorithms to pinpoint the location of a cargo ship simply by eavesdropping on the sound of its passing. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Yeti Claims Don't Bear Up Dec 03, 2017

Analysis of alleged yeti samples found them to be from less fantastic beasts, such as bears, but also shed light on the evolution of those local bear populations.

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Republican Voters Not in Denial about Climate Dec 01, 2017

An analysis of voter opinions finds that half of Republican voters think climate change is happening, and would support regulating CO2 as a pollutant. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Tech Honcho Wants Innovation for the Bottom Billion Nov 30, 2017

At the World Conference of Science Journalists in October, Nathan Myhrvold, co-founder of Intellectual Ventures, charged innovation outfits with changing the lives of the world's most disadvantaged.

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Bumper Stickers Make Highways More Social Nov 29, 2017

A social scientist studies how car stickers turn the roads into actual information highways.

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Chimps Able to Apprehend Another Chimp's Mind-Set Nov 27, 2017

By listening to the calls of their brethren, chimps seem to be able to understand the mind-sets and perspectives of other chimps. Jason Goldman reports.

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Even without Hands Honeybees Show Handedness Nov 26, 2017

About half the honeybees in a test exhibited no sidedness, but the other half was split 50–50 between righties and lefties—perhaps to navigate obstacles more efficiently.

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Humpback Whale Flippers Do More Than Maneuver Nov 25, 2017

Researchers attached cameras to humpback whales and found that they flap their flippers to help power forward swimming.

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A New Recipe for Counting Cranberries Nov 22, 2017

Estimating cranberry harvests involves tedious hand-counting. But microwave analysis could change all that. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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How Fit Is Bitcoin? Nov 21, 2017

A new analysis treats bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies as species in an evolutionary model—and finds bitcoin has no selective advantage. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Salmon Sex Changes Entire Landscape Nov 20, 2017

Salmon excavate streambed holes in which to lay eggs, setting off a chain of events that has surprisingly large geographical effects.

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Ancient 1 Percenters Were Beast-Based Nov 17, 2017

New World societies long ago likely had less income inequality than those in the Old World, and the difference might have been an oxen gap. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Feathers Help This Bird Sound the Alarm Nov 16, 2017

The crested pigeon, found in Australia, has a modified wing feather that helps produce an alarm signal sound to warn other birds when there's trouble.

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Put Space Cat on a Pedestal Nov 15, 2017

A campaign calls for the creation of a statue to recognize Félicette, the first cat to be sent into space.

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Polluted Water Whale Invents New Feeding Strategy Nov 13, 2017

The Bryde's whale has come up with a passive but more efficient feeding strategy in the hypoxic waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

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Insect Brain System Knows What You Want Nov 10, 2017

Computer scientists borrowed insights from the fruit fly brain to create a more accurate search algorithm. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Sheep's Face-Reading Skills Stand Out from the Flock Nov 08, 2017

With some training, sheep were able to select a celebrity's face over that of a stranger they'd never seen. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Nearby Exoplanets Invigorate the Search for E.T. Nov 07, 2017

SETI pioneer Jill Tarter and Berkeley researcher Dan Werthimer talk about how the discovery of nearby exoplanets is inspiring new efforts to gain info about these galactic neighbors.

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Bison Comeback Story Has a Bronx Accent Nov 04, 2017

On National Bison Day, a look at the role the Bronx played in reestablishing herds of bison on the American plains.

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Mammoth Remains Seem Mostly Male Nov 03, 2017

In a sample of 98 woolly mammoth remains, researchers found that 70 percent were male—which suggests males were more likely to die accidentally. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Physics Phenomenon Reveals a Pyramid's Mystery Nov 02, 2017

Scientists used muons, a by-product of cosmic rays, to image the interior of the Great Pyramid—and found a previously unknown space inside. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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A Moth with a Potent Cocktail of Poison Nov 01, 2017

The wood tiger moth is the first species known in which fluids from various parts of the moth’s body each target a different type of predator. Jason Goldman reports.

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Drought News Might Help Cut Water Waste Oct 27, 2017

As news coverage of California's most recent drought intensified, water use trends went down—suggesting news might inspire consumers to conserve. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Smog Casts a Shadow on China's Solar Farms Oct 25, 2017

The wintertime smog in China's northeastern provinces is so severe it blocks more than 20 percent of sunlight from reaching the region's solar panels. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Dogs Bow to Wolves as Cooperators Oct 24, 2017

Wolves appear to have better cooperation skills than dogs—unless the pups partner up with humans. Karen Hopkin reports.

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California Gun Injuries Spike after Nevada Gun Shows Oct 23, 2017

Firearm deaths and injuries went up in California communities after gun shows in neighboring Nevada—but not after more strictly regulated California gun shows. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Mosquitoes to Other Flying Insects: Do You Even Generate Lift? Oct 20, 2017

Mosquitos stealthily float off us after filling up, by virtue of fast wingbeats that generate almost instant lift with only an imperceptible additional push from the legs.

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Keep Your Wi-Fi off KRACK Oct 19, 2017

Up-to-date software, apps, browsers and router software offer the best protection against a potential flaw in wi-fi security called a key reinstallation attack, or KRACK.

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Ships at Sea Stoke Lightning Strikes Oct 17, 2017

Exhaust fumes from oceangoing vessels lead to an almost doubling of lightning activity over shipping lanes compared to adjacent areas of the sea.

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Gamers Wanted to Attack Food Toxin Oct 16, 2017

By playing the online game Foldit, players might help design an enzyme that can stop aflatoxins from making millions sick.

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Even Jellyfish Need a Nap Oct 13, 2017

Jellyfish exhibit signs of a sleep state, which could mean that sleep predates the evolutionary development of central nervous systems.

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Squirrels Chunk Their Buried Treasure Oct 12, 2017

Under certain circumstances squirrels will bury all of the same kind of nut near one another, a mnemonic strategy known as chunking.

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Cougar Calls Get Big Bear Reactions Oct 11, 2017

Black bears and cougars share the Vancouver countryside, but not happily.

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Biometric Identifies You in a Heartbeat Oct 06, 2017

Like fingerprints and facial recognition, the shape and beat of your heart can be used to verify your identity. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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When We Fly to Mars, Microbes Will, Too Oct 05, 2017

The microbes that live in and on our bodies will colonize a human-manned spacecraft to Mars—but will the spacecraft's microbiome be safe? Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Nobel in Chemistry for Seeing Biomolecules in Action Oct 04, 2017

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson for developing cryo-electron microscopy for the high-resolution structure determination of biomolecules in solution.

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Nobel in Physics for Detecting Gravitational Waves Oct 03, 2017

The Nobel Prize in Physics goes to Rainer Weiss, Barry C. Barish and Kip S. Thorne "for decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves".

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Nobel in Physiology or Medicine for Our Inner Clocks Oct 02, 2017

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2017 was awarded to Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W. Young for discoveries of molecular mechanisms controlling circadian rhythms.

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Electric Eels Increase Shock by Leaving Water Oct 01, 2017

Submerged electric eels lose current to water, so they apparently leap into the air to minimize their contact with water and maximize their shock value.

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Australian Bird Dips Its Dinner Sep 29, 2017

A chance observation led researchers to add the Australian Magpie to the short list of birds that dunk their food in water before eating.

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Tsunami Sent Species on a Transoceanic Trip Sep 28, 2017

The 2011 east Japan tsunami swept huge amounts of wreckage out to sea—and Japanese species hitchhiked across the Pacific on the debris. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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1 Sneeze, 1 Vote among African Wild Dogs Sep 27, 2017

Individuals in packs of African wild dogs appear to sneeze to make their wishes known regarding when to get up and hunt.

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This Frog Can't Hear Its Own Calls Sep 24, 2017

The frogs' calls are too high-pitched for the frog to detect, which may be an artifact of evolution. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Building a Better Mirror for Telescopes Sep 22, 2017

More reflective telescope mirrors allow astronomers to capture more photons—and do more science. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Galaxies Far, Far Away Send Us Highest-Energy Cosmic Rays Sep 21, 2017

A new study hints that the most energetic particles ever seen come from far beyond the Milky Way.

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Springtime Now Arrives Earlier for Birds Sep 20, 2017

A trove of scientific notes from the early 1900s suggests a warming climate is driving birds to migrate earlier to New York’s Mohonk Preserve. Julia Rosen reports.

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Warming Puts Squeeze on Ancient Trees Sep 17, 2017

As temperatures rise, the tree line moves upslope. But ancient bristlecone pines are losing that upslope race to faster-colonizing neighbors. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Rising CO2 Pushes Plants to Drink Sparingly Sep 16, 2017

As carbon dioxide levels rise, plants are sipping water more efficiently—which could come in handy in a drier future. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Cannibalism Quells Contagion among Caterpillars Sep 12, 2017

Cannibalistic caterpillars prevent disease from decimating their populations by removing infected individuals. Emily Schwing reports.

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Feds Want to Know Who's Protesting Trump Sep 11, 2017

Internet hosting company DreamHost is battling the U.S. Justice Department over requests for information about people visiting a Web site for organizing protests. Larry Greenemeier reports.

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Windows Vex Bats' Echolocating Abilities Sep 07, 2017

Smooth vertical surfaces like windows reflect sound waves away from bats—meaning bats can't "see" windows and similar obstacles with echolocation. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Wetlands Could Save Cities--and Money, Too Sep 06, 2017

Using insurance industry models, researchers determined that wetlands prevented some $625 million in damages due to Hurricane Sandy. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Rabbit Relatives Reel from Climate Change Sep 02, 2017

Pikas, a hampster-size rabbit relative, have disappeared from a 64-square-mile plot in the northern Sierra Nevada—and climate change is a likely culprit. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Winking Star 6 Centuries Ago Explained Sep 01, 2017

A star that appeared and then vanished in A.D. 1437 was an explosion in a binary star system—which now reveals clues about the life cycle of certain stars. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Grazing Cattle Trim the Menu for Birds Aug 30, 2017

When cattle graze the desert's natural landscape, birds face changes in food availability—and some species are unable to adapt. Jason Goldman reports.

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Climate Change Might Shrink Fish Aug 29, 2017

Warmer water boosts fishes' demand for oxygen—and their bodies may shrink in response. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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A Fruitful Experiment in Land Conservation Aug 25, 2017

In 1998 an orange juice maker dumped 12,000 tons of orange peels on degraded pastureland in Costa Rica—transforming it into vine-rich jungle. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Recycle Your Eclipse Glasses Aug 23, 2017

Astronomers Without Borders wants to share your used eclipse glasses with kids in other parts of the world for the 2019 total solar eclipse.

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Seeing 1 Solar Eclipse May Not Be Enough Aug 19, 2017

David Baron, author of the new book American Eclipse, talks about how seeing his first total solar eclipse turned him into an eclipse chaser.

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Solar Eclipse in 1097 May Be Rock-Carving Subject Aug 18, 2017

A petroglyph spotted in Chaco Canyon may depict a total solar eclipse witnessed by the Pueblo people.

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Social Media Sites Can Profile Your Contacts Aug 17, 2017

Why you should think twice before you give an app access to your phone’s address book.

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"Textalyzer" Aims at Deadly Distracted Driving Aug 14, 2017

A new device promises to tell police when a driver has been sending messages while behind the wheel, but is it legal? Larry Greenemeier reports.

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Climate Change Fires Up Polar Bear Treadmill Aug 10, 2017

Sea ice is drifting faster in the Arctic—which means polar bears need to walk farther to stay in their native range. Emily Schwing reports.

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No Bull: Lizards Flee When They See Red Aug 09, 2017

Western fence lizards are more spooked by red and gray shirts than they are by blue ones—perhaps because the males have blue bellies themselves. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Celebrities Tweet Like Bots Aug 05, 2017

Celebrity Twitter accounts look a lot like Twitter bots: They tweet regularly, follow relatively few people, and upload a lot of content. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Cold Snap Shapes Lizard Survivors Aug 03, 2017

An epic bout of cold weather quickly altered a population of lizards—an example of natural selection in action. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Mediterranean Diet Works--for Upper Crust Aug 01, 2017

Italians who stuck closely to the heart-healthy diet had fewer heart attacks and strokes—but only if they were well-off and/or college educated. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Screams Heard Round the Animal World Jul 31, 2017

Humans appear well equipped to recognize the alarm calls of other animals—perhaps because sounds of distress tend to have higher frequencies. Karen Hopkin reports.

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This Caterpillar Whistles While It Irks Jul 28, 2017

The North American walnut sphinx caterpillar produces a whistle that sounds just like a songbird's alarm call--and the whistle seems to startle birds. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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To Buy Happiness, Spend Money on Saving Time Jul 26, 2017

Volunteers who used money to save themselves time were more content than volunteers who purchased themselves physical stuff. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Bacteria Can Be Resistant to Brand-New Antibiotics Jul 25, 2017

Exposure to existing antibiotics can imbue infectious bacteria with resistance that also kicks in against new drugs related to the originals. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Teaching Computers to Enjoy the View Jul 19, 2017

Researchers in the U.K. trained computers to rate photos of parks and cities for what humans consider to be their scenic beauty. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Flying through a Corpse's Clues Jul 17, 2017

Forensic entomologists can chemically analyze fly eggs from a corpse, which might speed up detective work. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Old Records Help Resurrect Historic Quake Jul 14, 2017

Century-old records found in Puerto Rico helped reconstruct the damage caused there by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake—and could help disaster experts plan for the next big one. Julia Rosen reports.

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This Cell Phone Needs No Battery Jul 12, 2017

An experimental cell phone works by absorbing and reflecting radio waves—meaning it's incredibly energy efficient and needs no battery. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Bacteria Might Share the Blame for Eczema Jul 07, 2017

In patients with severe eczema, Staphylococcus aureus strains dominated the skin microbe population—suggesting that certain types of bacteria could worsen eczema flares. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Franklin's Lightning Rod Served Political Ends Jul 04, 2017

Whether lightning rods should have rounded or pointy ends became a point of contention between rebellious Americans and King George III.

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Heat Will Hit America's Poorest Worst Jun 30, 2017

Economists calculate that each degree Celsius of warming will dock the U.S. economy by 1.2 percent--and increase the divide between rich and poor. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Rainbow Photons Pack More Computing Power Jun 28, 2017

Quantum bits, aka qubits, can simultaneously encode 0 and 1. But multicolored photons could enable even more states to exist at the same time, ramping up computing power. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Moths Inspire Better Smartphone Screens Jun 26, 2017

Researchers designed an antireflective coating for smartphone screens, with inspiration from the bumpy eyes of moths. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Better Memory Begets Boredom Jun 23, 2017

The better study participants scored in the memory test, the faster they got bored. Karen Hopkin reports.

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DNA Points to Multiple Migrations into the Americas Jun 22, 2017

DNA analysis of skeletons found in the Pacific Northwest backs up traditional oral histories, and suggests there could have been more than one colonization of the Americas. Emily Schwing reports.

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Keep Rolling Luggage Upright with Physics Jun 21, 2017

A team of physicists has revealed why rolling suitcases start rocking from wheel to wheel—and how to avoid that frustrating phenomenon. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Wolves Need More Room to Roam Jun 20, 2017

Ecologists say wolves should be allowed to roam beyond remote wilderness areas—and that by scaring off smaller predators like coyotes and jackals, wolves might do a good service, too. Emily Schwing reports.

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Engineers Build Bendy Batteries for Wearables Jun 19, 2017

Researchers built silver–zinc batteries that can bend and stretch—meaning they could be more elegantly integrated into future wearable devices. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Rising Temps Lower Polar Bear Mercury Intake Jun 15, 2017

As polar bears are forced onto land, they're feeding on animals with less mercury—reducing their levels of the toxic pollutant. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Some Hotel Bed Bug Sightings May Be Bogus Jun 14, 2017

Only a third of travelers could correctly identify a bed bug—suggesting that some bug sightings in online reviews could be cases of mistaken identity. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Opioids Still Needed by Some Pain Patients Jun 13, 2017

The "other victims" of the opioid epidemic are pain patients who need the drugs but cannot now get them because of fears related to their use

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Bacterially Boosted Mosquitoes Could Vex Viruses Jun 08, 2017

Mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria are unable to transmit viruses to humans—and could curb the spread of viral disease. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Alaska Accelerates Indoor Agriculture Jun 04, 2017

With 700 new greenhouses, Alaska is growing its own produce as deep into winter as the sun keeps rising.

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Chromosomes Combat Counterfeit Caviar Jun 03, 2017

Researchers found unique genetic variants that differentiate costly beluga caviar from cheaper fakes that rip off consumers. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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French Prez Invites Trumped Researchers Jun 02, 2017

New French president, Emmanual Macron, reacted to the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement by inviting disaffected U.S. researchers to make France "a second homeland."

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Trees Beat Lawns for Water-Hungry L.A. May 27, 2017

Evaporation from overwatered lawns cost the city of Los Angeles 70 billion gallons of wasted water a year. But the city's trees were much thriftier. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Former CDC Head Warns of Threats Biological and Political May 26, 2017

Tom Frieden, head of the CDC from 2009 to 2017, told graduating medical students that we face challenges from pathogens, and from politicians.

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Fitness Bands Fail on Calorie Counts May 24, 2017

Activity trackers accurately reckon heart rate—but they're way off in estimates of energy expenditure. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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New Concrete Recipes Could Cut Cracks May 19, 2017

Recipes for concrete that incorporate by-products from the coal and steel industries, like fly ash and slag, could reduce road salt–related cracking. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Bees Prefer Flowers That Proffer Nicotine May 17, 2017

Bumblebees sought out flowers with nicotine in their nectar, and the drug appeared to enhance the bees' memories. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Large Impacts May Cause Volcanic Eruptions May 16, 2017

Really big meteorite or asteroid strikes may cause melting and deep deformations that eventually lead to volcanic eruptions.

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Why the Cross Put Chickens on a New Road May 15, 2017

A religiously inspired change in the European diet about a thousand years ago led to the development of the modern domesticated chicken.

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Field Study: Worms Leave 'Til No-Till May 12, 2017

Earthworm numbers doubled in fields after farmers switched from conventional plowing to no-till agriculture. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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The Sneaky Danger of Space Dust May 11, 2017

When tiny particles of space debris slam into satellites, the collision could cause the emission of hardware-frying radiation. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Insects Donate DNA to Unrelated Bugs May 10, 2017

Bacteria swap DNA among themselves. And that process may be more common in multicellular organisms than previously believed. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Gophers versus the Volcano May 09, 2017

Pocket gophers survived the Mount Saint Helens eruption in their underground burrows and immediately went to work bringing back the ecosystem.

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Wilderness Areas Suffer from Human Sound May 07, 2017

Human-produced noise doubles the background sound levels in 63 percent of protected areas, and raises it tenfold in 21 percent of such landscapes.

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Pollution Peaks When Temperatures Top Out May 03, 2017

As temperatures rise, energy demands peak, with a corresponding increase in air pollutants. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Hot Chilies Cool Down Gut Inflammation in Mice May 02, 2017

The spicy compound in chilies kicks off a chemical cascade that reduces gut inflammation and immune activity in mice. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Bronx River's Cleanup Brings Herring Home May 01, 2017

Called an "open sewer" in the recent past, the Bronx River is now clean enough for a type of herring to once again be introduced and to make runs to the ocean.

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Ancient Human DNA Found in Cave Dirt Apr 28, 2017

Scientists uncovered genetic traces of Neandertals and Denisovans by screening cave dirt for DNA. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Gut Microbes Help Keep Starved Flies Fecund Apr 26, 2017

Microbes living in the guts of fruit flies appear to influence the flies' food choice—and promote egg production, even under a nutrient-poor diet. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Selective Breeding Molds Foxes into Pets Apr 25, 2017

Evolutionary biologist Lee Dugatkin talks about the six-decade Siberian experiment with foxes that has revealed details about domestication in general.

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Why One Researcher Marched for Science Apr 22, 2017

Lisa Klein, from the materials science and engineering department at Rutgers University, commented on the March for Science at an April 21 talk to the chemistry department at Lehman College in the Bronx.

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Healthy Behavior Can Spread Like Illness Apr 20, 2017

If people run more in New York City, that can push their socially connected counterparts in San Diego to run more as well. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Climate 420 Million Years Ago Poised for Comeback Apr 19, 2017

Starting in the next century, atmospheric carbon levels could begin to approach those of hundreds of millions of years ago, and have their warming effect augmented by a brighter sun.

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Traces of Genetic Trauma Can Be Tweaked Apr 15, 2017

Trauma can be passed down to offspring due to epigenetic changes in DNA. But positive experiences seem able to correct that. Erika Beras reports.

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Species Split When Mountains Rise Apr 13, 2017

Plant species in China's Hengduan Mountains exploded in diversity eight million years ago—right when the mountains were built. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Shoelace Study Untangles a Knotty Problem Apr 12, 2017

Researchers have trotted out data that show a combination of whipping and stomping forces is what causes laces to unravel without warning. Karen Hopkin reports.

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World Parkinson's Day Puts Spotlight on Condition Apr 11, 2017

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research CEO Todd Sherer, a neuroscientist, talks about the state of Parkinson's disease and research.

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Cave Dwellers Battled Bed Bug Bites, Too Apr 06, 2017

Researchers have found the earliest evidence of bugs in the Cimex genus co-habitating with humans, in Oregon's Paisley Caves. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Extreme Storms Are Extreme Eroders Apr 05, 2017

The storm that swept across the Rockies in September 2013 unleashed huge amounts of sediment downstream, doing the work of a century of erosion. Julia Rosen reports.

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Spiders Gobble Gargantuan Numbers of Tiny Prey Apr 03, 2017

The low-end estimate for how much the world's spiders eat is some 400 million tons of mostly insects and springtails.

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Your Cat Thinks You're Cool Mar 29, 2017

A study of house cats and shelter cats found that the felines actually tended to choose human company over treats or toys.

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Exoplanets Make Life Conversation Livelier Mar 25, 2017

Astronomer Caleb Scharf weighs what ever more exoplanets mean in the search for extraterrestrial life.

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Bring Bronx Zoo to Your Living Room Mar 24, 2017

Animal Planet's series The Zoo shows viewers the biological, veterinary and conservation science at a modern zoo.

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UV Rays Strip Small Galaxies of Star Stuff Mar 22, 2017

Researchers measured the intensity of the universe's ultraviolet background radiation, and say it may be strong enough to strip small galaxies of star-forming gas. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Aggressed-Upon Monkeys Take Revenge on Aggressor's Cronies Mar 21, 2017

Japanese macaques at the receiving end of aggression tend to then take it out on a close associate or family member of the original aggressor.

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Chaotic Orbits Could Cause Catastrophic Collision Mar 20, 2017

Researchers used ancient climate cycles to confirm the solar system’s chaotic planetary orbits. An Earth–Mars collision is one distant outcome. Julia Rosen reports.

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Pulling the String on Yo-Yo Weight Gain Mar 18, 2017

Mice that lost weight and then gained back more than they lost maintained an obesity-type microbiome that affected biochemicals involved in either burning or adding fat--suggesting interventions.

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Poverty Shaves Years off Life Mar 17, 2017

A meta-analysis found that being of low socioeconomic status was associated with almost as many years of lost life as was a sedentary lifestyle.

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Pollinators Shape Plants to Their Preference Mar 16, 2017

In fewer than a dozen generations bumblebee-pollinated plants were coaxed to develop traits that made them even more pleasing to the bees. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Low Biodiversity Brings Earlier Bloom Mar 15, 2017

For every two species lost in a grassland, the remaining flowers there bloomed a day earlier—on par with changes due to rising global temperatures. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Early-Life Microbes Ward Off Asthma Mar 14, 2017

Exposure to specific microbes when an infant is less than a year old seems to have a protective effect against the child's eventual acquisition of asthma.

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(Probably Not a) Giant Alien Antenna Mar 12, 2017

Astrophysicists propose that mysterious "fast radio bursts" could, in very speculative theory, be produced by an antenna twice the size of Earth. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Jupiter Moon to Be Searched for Life Mar 10, 2017

If anything's alive on the ice-covered ocean world of Europa, a future NASA mission hopes to find it.

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Teeth Hint at a Friendlier Neandertal Mar 08, 2017

By sequencing DNA in Neandertal dental plaque, scientists were able to find out about their diets—and their good relations with modern humans. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Forensic Science: Trials with Errors Mar 07, 2017

What appears to be accepted science in the courtroom may not be accepted science among scientists.

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How to Find Loooong Gravitational Waves Mar 06, 2017

The gravitational waves found last year were short compared with the monster waves that could be turned up by what's called Pulsar Timing Arrays.

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Biggest Rivers Are Overhead Mar 03, 2017

Atmospheric rivers can carry the same amount of water vapor as 15 to 20 Mississippi Rivers—and deliver punishing winds, too. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Last Woollies Had Mammoth Mutations Mar 02, 2017

The final holdout woolly mammoths had large numbers of harmful mutations—which would have given them satiny coats and a weakened sense of smell. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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African Penguins Pulled into an Ecological Trap Mar 01, 2017

Climate change and overfishing have made the penguins’ feeding grounds a mirage—which has led to a drop in penguin population. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Neandertals Live On in Our Genomes Feb 28, 2017

Researchers found that Neandertal gene variants still affect the way genes are turned off and on in modern humans. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Medical Marijuana Faces Fed's Catch-22 Feb 27, 2017

Doing large studies of marijuana's potential as medicine means getting it removed from an official federal list of substances with no official medical use—which requires more proof of its potential as medicine.

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Blood Cells Remember Your Mountain Vacation Feb 23, 2017

Red blood cells retain a memory of high-altitude exposure, allowing for faster acclimation next time. But that memory fades within four months. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Fermented Foods Find Fervent Advocate Feb 22, 2017

Properly fermented foods deliver probiotics that could help cut disease risk, said a researcher at the annual meeting of the AAAS.

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Vision Needed to Curb Nearsightedness Epidemic Feb 21, 2017

In urban Asian areas myopia among teenagers is topping 90 percent—but foresight may be able to bring those numbers way down.

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Guppy Groups Provide Friendly Protection against Foes Feb 20, 2017

Guppies exposed to predators tend to aggregate into smaller, more tightly knit groups, which may allow them to coordinate their predator avoidance strategies. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Spaceflight Squishes Spacefarers' Brains Feb 18, 2017

Astronauts’ gray matter is compressed by time in space—except in an area that controls feeling and movement in the legs. Karen Hopkin reports.

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2 Words Trigger CDC to Stay Quiet Feb 17, 2017

Researchers and administrators at the CDC dare not utter the words guns or firearms for fear of budget cuts from Congress, according to health policy researcher David Hemenway.

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The True "Bottom" of the Food Chain Is Plenty Polluted Feb 16, 2017

Critters living more than six miles below the ocean surface contain high levels of harmful compounds like PCBs and flame retardants. Julia Rosen reports.

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Heat Sensor Has Snaky Sensitivity Feb 15, 2017

Researchers have developed a heat sensor that can detect temperature changes of just ten thousandths of a degree Celsius—comparable with the sensitivity of pit vipers. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Housing Boom Busts Birds' Valentine's Day Feb 14, 2017

A Pacific Northwest housing boom is encroaching on songbird habitat, forcing the birds to flee their homes—and their mates.

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Cool Coating Chills in Sunlight Feb 13, 2017

A thin film coating can chill a vat of water to 15 degress Fahrenheit cooler than its surroundings, by absorbing—and then emitting—the sun's infrared rays. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Partnered-Up Men More Attractive to Women Feb 09, 2017

Women rate a man they see with an attractive woman as more desirable than an unattached man. Erika Beras reports.

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Gulf Dead Zone Makes for Shrimpier Shrimp Feb 08, 2017

The low-oxygen waters of the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico result in smaller shrimp, and a spike in large shrimp prices. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Frog Spit Behaves Like Bug-Catching Ketchup Feb 06, 2017

The amphibians' saliva is what's known as a "shear-thinning fluid," like ketchup—sometimes thick, sometimes thin and flowing. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Super Bowl Snacks Need These Exercise Equivalents Feb 04, 2017

Charles Platkin, director of the New York City Food Policy Center at Hunter College, published tips on what it would take to burn off the calories we typically consume during the Super Bowl

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The Arctic's Anti-Snowball Snowball Effect Feb 02, 2017

Arctic heat waves melt sea ice, which promotes more warming and even more ice loss. In other words, it’s a snowball effect—or in this case, an anti-snowball effect. Julia Rosen reports.

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Widening the Suez Canal Ushers In Underwater Invaders Jan 31, 2017

Nomadic jellyfish and poisonous puffer fish are the poster children of an invasion of non-native species into the Mediterranean, with environmental and economic costs. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Hawaiian Crows Ready for the Call of the Wild Jan 30, 2017

The critically endangered birds have done well in captive breeding, meaning they may be ready once more for wild living, and the repertoire of calls associated with it. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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A Humble Fish with a Colorful Edge Jan 28, 2017

The cichlid, a small fish, has one of the most incredible visual systems known—which allows it to adapt to differently colored environments. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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LSD's Long, Strange Trip Explained Jan 26, 2017

When LSD binds to serotonin receptors, it pulls a "lid" closed behind it, locking it in place for hours, and explaining its long-lasting effects. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Umbrellas Plus Sunscreen Best Bet to Beat Burns Jan 25, 2017

Sunscreen or beach umbrellas alone were unable to completely prevent sunburns—so researchers suggest combining the methods instead. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Ants Use Celestial Cues to Travel in Reverse Jan 24, 2017

The six-legged savants appear to use celestial cues and three forms of memory, as they blaze a trail back to the nest. Karen Hopkin reports.

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High-Sugar Diet Makes Flies Drop Like...Flies Jan 23, 2017

A study examines the effects of a high-sugar diet on the life spans of fruit flies. Another studies how the flies’ appetite-suppressing pathways may be similar to ours. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Pesticide Additive Could Be One Culprit in Bee Deaths Jan 21, 2017

A common pesticide additive, known as an "inert" ingredient, could be one of the causes of the die-offs beekeepers have observed in their hives. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Knot Not Easy to Knot Jan 18, 2017

Chemists have synthesized the most complex molecular knot ever, using a strand just 192 atoms long. The advance could lead to new tougher materials. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Bat Chatter Is More Than a Cry in the Dark Jan 14, 2017

Using algorithms developed for human speech recognition, researchers decoded which bats in an experimental colony were arguing with each other, and what they were arguing about. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Bird Feeders Attract Bird Eaters, Too Jan 13, 2017

Some predators are attracted to the food in bird feeders, and end up targeting nestlings, too. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Adult Daughter Orcas May Trigger Moms' Menopause Jan 12, 2017

Competition between older female orcas and their adult daughters when they can breed simultaneously may cause the matriarch to enter menopause.

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Climate Cycles Could Have Carved Canyons on Mars Jan 11, 2017

Researchers think Mars may have experienced a series of climate cycles, which etched the planet’s surface with river valleys and lake basins. Julia Rosen reports.

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Hair Cells Could Heal Skin Sans Scars Jan 06, 2017

Hair follicles appear to be key in reprogramming other cells in the wound, restoring the original skin architecture, instead of simply scarring. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Concrete Defects Could Become Strengths Jan 05, 2017

By optimizing the imperfections in concrete, manufacturers could make the material tougher and stronger—allowing builders to use less of it. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Zika Linked to a Variety of Birth Defects Jan 03, 2017

Zika virus infection during pregnancy appears to cause a range of birth defects, such as joint, eye and ear abnormalities, in addition to microcephaly.

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When Dining for Trillions, Eat Wisely Dec 29, 2016

What you ate in the past can shape the diversity of your gut flora, and affect how well your gut microbes respond to new foods. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Weakest Piglets May Sneak Help from Strongest Siblings Dec 28, 2016

If a weak piglet positions itself next to a strong sibling while feeding, it may get some extra nutrition from inadvertently stimulated mammary glands.

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Isolated Low Temps May Reassure Climate Skeptics Dec 26, 2016

Areas of the country that have experienced record low temperatures since 2005 happen to be home to many global warming deniers. And researchers theorize there may be a connection. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Bats Learn to Take White-Nose Punch Dec 23, 2016

In areas where the white-nose syndrome fungus has been around for awhile, little brown bats seem to have found a way to limit the disease damage.

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"Necrobiome" Reveals a Corpse's Time of Death Dec 22, 2016

The microbial ecosystems inhabiting corpses could help forensic scientists determine a person’s time of death, even after almost two months. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Pregnancy Primes the Brain for Motherhood Dec 19, 2016

Areas of the brain related to social cognition shrink in first-time mothers—a structural change that could boost maternal attachment. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Small Fraction of Pilots Suffer Suicidal Thoughts Dec 16, 2016

In an anonymous online survey, about 4 percent of surveyed pilots admitted to having suicidal thoughts within the last few weeks. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Migrating Birds Prefer Lakefront Property Dec 14, 2016

Night-flying migratory birds over water turn back to lakeshores at daybreak—meaning crowded shores along the water. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Breast-Feeding Benefits Babies with Genetic Asthma Risk Dec 13, 2016

Infants carrying genes that put them at increased risk for asthma had a 27 percent decrease in developing respiratory symptoms while being breast-fed. Erika Beras reports.

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Self-Driving Cars Probably Won't Boost Commuter Productivity Dec 12, 2016

Sixty-two percent of survey respondents said self-driving cars would not make them more productive. Another 36 percent said they’d be too concerned to do anything but watch the road. Erika Beras reports.

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New Insecticide Makes Mosquitoes Pop Dec 08, 2016

The substance prevents mosquitoes taking a blood meal from producing waste—causing them to swell up, and sometimes even explode. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Commuting Patterns Help Forecast Flu Outbreaks Dec 06, 2016

Flu forecasts within large metro areas like New York City might be improved by adding in data about the flow of commuters. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Stopping Splashes with Smarter Surfaces Dec 05, 2016

Understanding the physics of how a liquid splashes when it hits a surface is allowing researchers to design new surfaces that limit splashing

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Dogs Teach Bomb-Sniffing Machines New Tricks Dec 02, 2016

A dog’s sniff pulls a plume of fresh scents toward them, which fluid dynamicists say is a technique that could make for better bomb detectors. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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"Power Poses" Don't Stand Up Dec 01, 2016

A 2010 study claimed that striking certain poses could alter hormone levels and risk-taking behavior. But subsequent studies can’t replicate that finding. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Toll-Free Number Stems Human–Wildlife Conflicts Nov 30, 2016

India's Project Wild Seve allows people who have suffered crop or livestock loss from wild animals to streamline the compensation process, thus helping both farmers and wildlife.

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We Now Live in the Unnatural World Nov 28, 2016

David Biello's new book is The Unnatural World: The Race to Remake Civilization in Earth’s Newest Age.

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High-Fiber Diet Keeps Intestinal Walls Intact Nov 23, 2016

A low-fiber diet causes fiber-eating microbes to dwindle, opening up real estate for mucus munchers that make the intestine more vulnerable to infection. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Forest Die-Offs Alter Global Climate "Like El Nino" Nov 22, 2016

The loss of forests worldwide appears to interact synergistically to produce unpredictable effects on the global climate. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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DNA Samples Find a Lot of Fish in the Sea Nov 18, 2016

The DNA in seawater can reveal the diversity and abundance of fish species living in ocean waters. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Police Body Cameras Appear to Moderate Interactions with Civilians Nov 17, 2016

A study of seven jurisdictions found that when cops wear body cameras, complaints against them by civilians fall precipitously.

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NIH Director Looks at Presidential Transition Nov 16, 2016

National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins talks about the future of the NIH in light of the election.

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Ebola Virus Grew More Infectious in the Latest Epidemic Nov 14, 2016

A strain that emerged during the latest epidemic is able to enter human cells more easily—which means it’s more infectious, too. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Orangutan Picks Cocktail by Seeing Ingredients Nov 09, 2016

An orangutan matched researchers' predictions about which mixed beverage he would choose based on his relative fondness for the separate ingredients.

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Small-Brained Birds More Likely to Get Shot Nov 07, 2016

Using taxidermy data, biologists determined that gun-killed birds have smaller brains than birds that died in other ways. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Online Sociality Linked to Lower Death Risk Nov 05, 2016

Facebook users in California had slightly better health outcomes than nonusers, even after controlling for other factors. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Bookish Mobsters Made Better Bookies Oct 29, 2016

Just as with honest jobs, mobsters with a more advanced education made more money than their less educated counterparts. Erika Beras reports.

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For River Otters, Social Life Is Shaped by the Latrine Oct 27, 2016

Alaskan river otters can gain valuable information about one another by sniffing around their latrines. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Falcons Patrol Fruit Fields for Pesky Invasive Birds Oct 26, 2016

Birds of prey work where other traditional methods of bird abatement—like scarecrows, pyrotechnics and netting—fail. Emily Schwing reports.

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Clark Kent's Glasses Aided His Anonymity Oct 24, 2016

Slightly altering one’s appearance—even with glasses—can indeed hinder facial recognition by others. Erika Beras reports.

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Poor Sleepers Worse at Recognizing Unfamiliar Faces Oct 19, 2016

Subjects suffering insomnia got more wrong answers in a face-matching task—but they were paradoxically more confident of their responses. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Yawns Help the Brain Keep Its Cool Oct 18, 2016

Theory has it yawning helps cool the brain—and it turns out animals with bigger brains do indeed tend to yawn longer. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Polar Bears Can't Just Switch to Terrestrial Food Oct 14, 2016

With a shorter season of sea ice, polar bears have less access to marine mammals. But switching to a terrestrial diet deprives them of the fatty seal meals they need to thrive.

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Flowers Deceive Flies with Chemical Cocktail Oct 13, 2016

The parachute flower smells like alarm pheromones of a honeybee, to attract tiny flies that feed on bees under attack.

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Feed Microbes Oxygen to Help Clear Spilled Oil Oct 12, 2016

A technique called “biosparging” relies on pumping oxygen underground to help naturally occurring microorganisms multiply and consume oil spills.

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Elephant Footprints Become Tiny Critter Havens Oct 11, 2016

When rain fills the massive footprints left by elephants, communities of aquatic invertebrates quickly move in

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Future Wet Suits Otter Be Warmer Oct 10, 2016

Future wet suits with surface textures like the thick fur of otters that trap insulating air layers could keep tomorrow's divers warmer in icy waters.

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Gender Influences Recommendations for Science Jobs Oct 06, 2016

Female applicants to postdoctoral positions in geosciences were nearly half as likely to receive excellent letters of recommendation, compared with their male counterparts. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Nobel in Chemistry for Molecular Machines Oct 05, 2016

Jean-Pierre Sauvage, James Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L. Feringa share the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the design and synthesis of molecular machines.

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Nobel in Physics for Secrets of Exotic Matter Oct 04, 2016

David J. Thouless, F. Duncan Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz split the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics for theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter.

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Nobel in Physiology or Medicine to Yoshinori Ohsumi for Autophagy Discoveries Oct 03, 2016

Japan's Yoshinori Ohsumi wins the 2016 prize for discoveries related to autophagy, the process in cells whereby they degrade some of their internal structures and send the parts out for recycling.

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Great Migration Left Genetic Legacy Oct 02, 2016

Reseachers have started to examine the genetic traces of the movement of some six million African-Americans from the south to the north and west between 1910 and 1970.

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Arctic Pollinator Faces Uncertain Future Oct 01, 2016

A housefly relative appears to be key to the reproductive success of a hardy tundra shrub. But the insect is threatened by the warming climate. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Water Bears' Super Survival Skills Give Up Secrets Sep 28, 2016

A protein from microscopic creatures called tardigrades keeps their DNA protected—and could someday shield humans from radiation.

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Big Earthquakes May Be More Likely During New and Full Moons Sep 27, 2016

When the sun, moon and Earth are aligned, high tidal stress may increase the chances that an earthquake will grow bigger than it otherwise might have been.

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Clever Ants Have Backup Navigation Systems Sep 22, 2016

An ant walking in the desert can gauge distance by footsteps and the sun's position, but an ant being carried can estimate distance by visual information perceived as it passed by.

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Ancient Biblical Scroll Gets Read While Wrapped Sep 21, 2016

Researchers used high-tech visualization techniques to peer inside an ancient scroll too fragile to unwrap.

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Birch Trees Droop at Night with No Rays in Sight Sep 20, 2016

The branches of birch trees in Europe sagged by as much as four inches at night compared with daytime.

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Some Malaria Mosquitoes May Prefer Cows to Us Sep 19, 2016

A chromosomal rearrangement may cause one mosquito species to be lured to cows instead of humans for a blood meal. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Drunk People Feel Soberer around Heavy Drinkers Sep 15, 2016

Drinkers surrounded by even more inebriated people feel less drunk than a breathalyzer test indicates they actually are. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Oldest Known Indigo Dye Found in Peru Sep 14, 2016

Fabric dyed with indigo just found in Peru is some 1,600 years older than indigo-dyed fabrics that have been found in the Middle East.

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Road Noise Makes Birds' Lives Tougher Sep 13, 2016

By playing road noise where there was no road, researchers were able to gauge the effect of the noise on bird behavior without having to deal with the effect of the road itself.

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World Wilderness Down 10 Percent in 20 Years Sep 12, 2016

South America and central Africa lost the most wilderness in a decline since the 1990s that saw the planet's wild areas down by a tenth

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Photonic Chip Could Strengthen Smartphone Encryption Sep 08, 2016

The chip uses pulses of laser light to generate truly random numbers, the basis of encryption. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Protein Test Could Complement Crime Scene DNA Analysis Sep 07, 2016

Researchers determined that the variation of a couple hundred proteins in a person's hair could be enough to single her out from one million individuals. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Shark Fins Contain Toxic "One–Two Punch" Sep 02, 2016

Sharks can accumulate both methylmercury and a toxin called BMAA, which can have synergistic effects on human consumers. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Actually Promotes It Aug 31, 2016

Teenage girls who cared for infant dolls, an intervention meant to prevent pregnancy, actually had a higher risk of getting pregnant by age 20. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Color-Changing Skin Aids Climate Control and Communication Aug 29, 2016

Bearded dragons modify their colors for camouflage or to maintain body temperature, or to communicate with other dragons. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Waste Amphetamines Alter Underwater Ecosystems Aug 25, 2016

Using an artificial stream system, researchers found that amphetamine residues altered insect and microbial life in aquatic ecosystems. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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A Green Solution to Improve Indoor Air Quality Aug 24, 2016

In 12 hours Dracaena plants removed nearly all the acetone from an airtight chamber, suggesting they might be put to use as air filters in nail salons. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Humans Are Superpredators in the Landscape of Fear Aug 23, 2016

Badgers were far more frightened by the sounds of humans than by their traditional predators, such as bears or wolves.

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Voters Are Seldom Swayed by Local Campaign Stops Aug 19, 2016

A survey during the 2012 election found that bus tours and visits to greasy spoons didn't do much to change voter opinions. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Ancient Mexican Metropolis Engaged in Hare-Raising Activity Aug 18, 2016

Upending the belief that residents of ancient Central America did not practice animal husbandry, new evidence shows that people in Teotihuacán raised and bred rabbits and hares.

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Model Black Hole Re-Creates Stephen Hawking Prediction Aug 17, 2016

A black hole analogue, which traps sound instead of light, generates "Hawking radiation," a key prediction by the theoretical physicist. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Pigeon Pb Proxies Could Cut Kids' Blood Tests Aug 15, 2016

In neighborhoods where kids have an increased chance of exposure to toxic lead, pigeons also have higher blood lead levels—making the birds potential proxies for risk assessment.

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Remote Door Controls Are Car Security Flaw Aug 12, 2016

Researchers found that a bad actor could cheaply and easily clone a remote keyless entry system to gain entry. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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This Shark Is the Vertebrate Methuselah Aug 11, 2016

Individual Greenland sharks appear to live perhaps a century longer than any other vertebrate, and might have life spans approaching 500 years.

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Humans and Birds Cooperate to Share Beehive Bounty Aug 08, 2016

The Yao people of Mozambique vocally signal honeyguide birds to show them the location of hives, which the people harvest and share with the birds.

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Pesticides Act as Honeybee Contraceptives Aug 04, 2016

Environmental concentrations of certain insecticides slashed honeybee drones' living sperm counts. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Cut Road Deaths with Mountain Lions Aug 01, 2016

Reintroducing mountain lions to the eastern U.S. could save human lives and reduce injuries by lowering deer populations and preventing car–deer collisions.

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Silk Road Transported Goods--and Disease Jul 29, 2016

A 2,000-year-old latrine in China provides the first hard evidence that people carried diseases long distances along the ancient trading route.

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Inbred Songbirds Croon out of Tune Jul 28, 2016

Inbred canaries sang songs with less pure tones, and at slightly different pitches, than their outbred cousins—and female canaries seemed to be able to tell the difference.

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Great Red Spot Helps Explain Jupiter's Warm Upper Atmosphere Jul 27, 2016

A thermal spike linked to the solar system’s largest storm explains weather on gas-giant planets

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Beaver Dams Strengthened by Humans Help Fish Rebound Jul 25, 2016

Fish flourished in creeks in which human engineers helped shore up beaver dams made weak by poor timber availability.

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Frigate Bird Flights Last Months Jul 23, 2016

Great frigate birds may stay aloft for up to two months, eating and sleeping on the wing.

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For Lichens, 3's Not a Crowd Jul 21, 2016

Biologists have identified a third species—a yeast—in some lichens, shaking up what's always been known as a two-party system. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Chicken Scent Deters Malaria Mosquitoes Jul 20, 2016

The smell of a chicken wards off one species of malaria-spreading mosquito—meaning the scent compounds, or the birds themselves, might help deter disease. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Vaccinate Prairie Dogs to Save Ferrets Jul 19, 2016

As was widely reported on social media, the U.S. is indeed going to use aerial drones to spread vaccine-laced pellets among prairie dogs to save endangered ferrets, although, contrary to some reports, no M&Ms will be involved.

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Fuel-Efficient Engines Have a Sooty Flaw Jul 16, 2016

A newer type of fuel injection offers better fuel economy, but paradoxically increases black carbon emissions—meaning a pollution trade-off. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Mucus Lets Dolphins Emit Their Clicks Jul 14, 2016

A model of the dolphin vocal apparatus shows that they need a coating of mucus to produce their distinctive sounds.

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Bees Rank Pollen by Taste Jul 13, 2016

The discerning insects returned to flowers with sweetened pollen, but avoided revisiting flowers with bitter pollen. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Menu Featured Mammoth but Diners Were Mocked Jul 12, 2016

A genetic analysis of leftovers from an exotic dinner in 1951 reveals that the diners got less than they were promised.

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Evolution Ed Defenders Make Rapids Progress in Grand Canyon Jul 11, 2016

The National Center for Science Education's annual Colorado River trip through the Grand Canyon highlights the differences between the scientific and creationist outlooks.

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Wildlife Can Bear with Hunters and Hikers Jul 08, 2016

A new study suggests the best predictor of wildlife abundance in public lands is not human activity, but factors like forest connectivity and nearby housing density. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Cats' Cunning Extends beyond the Hunt Jul 07, 2016

New research suggests that our feline companions understand the principle of cause and effect. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Farmed Trout Bred to Fatten Up Fast Jul 06, 2016

An aquaculturist used selective breeding to create strains of farmed fish that fatten up fast on cheap, plentiful feeds such as soybeans and corn. Emily Schwing reports.

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This Algorithm Can Predict Relationship Trouble Jul 05, 2016

By analyzing the vocal patterns of couples in therapy, an algorithm was able to predict whether a relationship would get worse or improve. Erika Beras reports.

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Is Mars Missing a Moon? Jul 04, 2016

A new theory suggests the Red Planet once had a spectacular lunar system. Lee Billings reports.

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Human Ears Can Hear Better-Than-CD Quality (Just Barely) Jul 01, 2016

Listeners can tell the difference between CD-quality music and better-than-CD quality—but only if they train their ears first. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Highway Sounds Might Mask Life-Saving Birdcalls Jun 30, 2016

The call of the tufted titmouse conveys important information about the presence of potential predators. But only if other birds can hear it. Karen Hopkin reports.

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City Lights Trick Trees into an Earlier Spring Jun 29, 2016

Urban light pollution in the U.K. is pushing tree springtime behavior a full week earlier than usual. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Made Ya Look, Monkey Jun 28, 2016

Over their lifetimes, macaques follow the same trajectory as humans in the amount of interest they have in observing what another individual is looking at.

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Drowsy Driving Kills 6,400 Americans Annually Jun 27, 2016

Charles Czeisler, director of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, talked about the dangers of drowsy driving at a recent Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health Forum called Asleep at the Wheel.

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Social Spider Groups Need Bold and Shy Members Jun 24, 2016

Social spiders in artificially assembled groups of all bold or all shy members fared less well against predators than a group with some shy and some bold members.

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Chocolate Makers Cut Fat with Electricity Jun 23, 2016

Reducing fat from chocolate can gum up manufacturing equipment, making low-fat chocolate hard to produce—but an electric field can help. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Viruses Hijack the Body's Response to Mosquito Bites Jun 22, 2016

When immune cells rush to the site of a mosquito bite, viruses hijack the cells and turn them into viral factories—in mice, at least. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Mongooses Pile on Warthogs--to Groom Them Jun 21, 2016

In the first known example of a mutualistic relationship between two mammal species in which neither is a primate, mongooses feast on ticks and other parasites infesting warthogs.

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Lizard Stripes May Mess Up Predators' Timing Jun 20, 2016

A lizard's stripes may make them look like they’re moving slower than they really are, confusing predators that tend to aim at the head but may wind up with the tail.

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Air Pollution Gives Storm Clouds a Stronger, Longer Life Jun 19, 2016

More particulate matter in the air can build stronger, longer-lasting thunderstorms over the tropics, leading to more extreme storms. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Microbes May Contribute to Wine's "Character" Jun 16, 2016

The microbes found in crushed grapes were linked to certain chemical fingerprints in the finished wine. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Fat Gets Gut Bacteria Working against the Waistline Jun 15, 2016

In mice, intestinal microbes respond to a high-fat diet by producing acetate, which triggers the release of a hormone that makes mammals feel hungry, causing them to eat even more.

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Arctic Researcher Bears Up for Science Jun 13, 2016

Wildlife researcher Joel Berger dons a polar bear outfit to study the reactions of musk oxen to the threat of bears increasingly driven onto the land for food.

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Submerged Lost City Really Bacterially Built Jun 11, 2016

What looked like human-made structures underwater off Greece turned out to be millions-of-years-old concretions deposited by bacteria.

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Go to the (White) Light Jun 10, 2016

An energy-efficient alternative to LEDs has greater focusing power, for microscopes and spotlights. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Bleached Coral Busts Fish Learning Jun 09, 2016

Damselfish had trouble sniffing out survival clues by their fellows in damaged coral. Jason Goldman reports.

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Bigger Glasses Rack Up More Wine Sales Jun 08, 2016

Serving wine in larger glasses boosted sales 10 percent in an English bar, possibly because customers think they're imbibing less per glass. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Shy Fish Prefer to Follow Other Shy Fish Jun 03, 2016

Shy sticklebacks were more likely to emerge from under cover when an equally wary fellow was already out there, rather than when a bold individual was present.

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From Wolf to Woof Twice Jun 02, 2016

Dogs may have been domesticated from wolves twice, first in Europe, and again in Asia. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Extreme Life-Forms Could Complicate Carbon Sequestration May 31, 2016

Researchers say carbon storage sites should be tested for microbial life, which could potentially convert CO2 to methane—a more potent greenhouse gas. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Knee Sounds Give Docs a Leg Up May 25, 2016

A wearable device records the sounds of knees cracking, which could reveal clues about the condition of the joint. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Candidates Tend to Not Dodge Questions May 24, 2016

In an analysis of 14 presidential debate transcripts, two thirds of accusations of question-dodging had no merit. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Oldest Chinese Beer Brewery Found May 23, 2016

Remnants of a beer-making operation some 5,000 years old have been found in northern China.

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Giant Tsunami Remnants Spotted on Mars May 20, 2016

Evidence indicates that waves as tall as skyscrapers and thousands of kilometers wide once washed over the Red Planet.

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Red Birds Carry On Colorful Chemistry May 19, 2016

Many red-colored birds have to convert yellow pigments in their food into the red pigments that make their feathers and beaks so brilliant.

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Alliance of Bacterial Strains Disables Antibiotics May 18, 2016

Two different antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains have a protective relationship in which each disables a different antibiotic, allowing both to thrive. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Wanted: Gravitational Constant's True Value May 17, 2016

Scientists from numerous disciplines will brainstorm new strategies for measuring "Big G" in July.

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Saharan Dust Brings Bacterial Blooms to the Caribbean May 16, 2016

Dust clouds from the Sahara reach the Caribbean—and fertilize waters there when they arrive. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Microbe Breaks the Powerhouse Rules May 12, 2016

A single-celled organism discovered in chinchilla droppings is the only known eukaryotic organism that lacks mitochondria-like organelles. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Everything There Is May 11, 2016

Caltech theoretical physicist Sean M. Carroll talks about the necessary connections among the various ways we have of describing the universe.

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Farm Fields Release Carbon Mist during Rainstorms May 10, 2016

Raindrops eject carbon-based blobs of soil material from wet fields, creating a mist of organic compounds above the soil. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Flying Boats Soar over the Hudson May 08, 2016

Hydrofoiling boats competing in the America's Cup World Series came to New York City to show off the cutting edge of sailing technology.

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Feed Additive Squelches Ruminants' Methane Belches May 05, 2016

A chemical compound can cut a cow's methane emissions by 30 percent—and help the animal get more energy from its food. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Male Lemurs Are Masters of Musk May 04, 2016

Lemurs sometimes mix their smelly secretions to produce a bouquet of stank—which may boost the perfume’s staying power. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Married Couples Pack On More Pounds May 03, 2016

A study links single living to a thinner waistline and lower BMI, compared with co-habitating couples. Erika Beras reports.

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Photos Tagged as Art Linked to Rising Property Prices May 02, 2016

Researchers found that neighborhoods with a higher proportion of Flickr photos tagged "art" saw a higher spike in property prices. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Miley Cyrus and Macaroni Combo Enables Brain-Based ID Apr 28, 2016

An individual's unique brain response to images of a celebrity and a food could be used to create an ID procedure at high-security sites.

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Traces of Pharmaceuticals Dwell in Wastewater-Grown Veggies Apr 27, 2016

Volunteers who ate veggies grown in wastewater had higher (but still safe) levels of an epilepsy drug in their urine, compared with subjects who ate freshwater-grown veggies. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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This Plant Bleeds Nectar to Attract Help Apr 26, 2016

When a species of nightshade is injured by hungry beetles, it produces sugary nectar at the wound site. The nectar attracts ants that then keep the beetles at bay.

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Climbing Bears Help Plants Keep Cool Apr 25, 2016

Mountain-climbing bears transport cherry tree seeds, internally at first, to cooler, higher altitudes where the trees can survive as temperatures rise.

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Lower Your Voice Pitch to Persuade Apr 22, 2016

Study volunteers whose voices deepened during a group debate tended to be more influential and convincing. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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This Primate's Calls Obey a Linguistic Law Apr 21, 2016

The vocalizations of the gelada, a baboon relative, appear to follow a linguistic rule called Menzerath's law. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Woodpecker Head Bangs Communicate Info Apr 20, 2016

Woodpeckers that listen to others of their kind drum into trees alter their behavior based on what they hear.

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Gambling Gave Science Some Lucky Breaks Apr 19, 2016

The development of statistics, probability theory, game theory and chaos theory owes a lot to people trying to figure out various games of chance.

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Microbots Get the Lead Out--of Wastewater Apr 18, 2016

Millions of tiny graphene robots can propel themselves through wastewater and scavenge heavy metals. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Heat ID'd as Subtle Cause of Rockfalls Apr 15, 2016

Rockfalls without an obvious cause (like an earthquake or expanding ice) may be due to hot daily air temperatures expanding small cracks in cliff faces.

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Bearcats Naturally Pass the Popcorn Apr 14, 2016

Researchers have uncovered the chemistry that makes the urine of bearcats smell like freshly cooked popcorn.

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Transforming Stem Cells into Diabetes Beaters Apr 13, 2016

Pancreatic type beta cells produced from stem cells can sense glucose, release insulin and treat a mouse model of diabetes. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Find Shows Widespread Literacy 2,600 Years Ago in Judah Apr 12, 2016

Mundane notes about daily life on 16 ceramic shards written about 600 B.C. at an ancient military fortress in the Negev Desert reveal that literacy had to be common.

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Frogs Signal Visually in Noisy Environments Apr 11, 2016

The Brazilian torrent frog has the most sophisticated visual communications system yet documented for a frog species.

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Choir Practice Could Lower Stress in Cancer Patients Apr 07, 2016

A cancer center in the U.K. found that patients had significantly lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol after harmonizing for an hour. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Crater Bottoms Could Be Cradles of Martian Life Apr 06, 2016

Four billion years ago asteroids and comets could have melted the Martian cryosphere, and started up hydrothermal springs—a potential hotspot for ancient microbial life. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Wolves Have Local Howl Accents Apr 05, 2016

Understanding the regional vocal patterns of various canid species sheds light on animal communication and could help ranchers broadcast "keep away" messages to protect livestock.

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Bird Combines Calls in Specific Order Apr 04, 2016

The Japanese great tit combines two calls in a specific order and does not respond to a recording of the calls combined in reverse order, apparently demonstrating compositional syntax.

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Cellular Circuit Computes with DNA Apr 01, 2016

Researchers have created what they call the first "programming language" for cells, which compiles code into a genetic circuit. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Lasers Could Hide Earth from Prying Aliens Mar 31, 2016

We could use laser light to mask our transits across the sun and thus hide Earth from any intelligent aliens looking for planets to invade

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Twin Birth Proposed for Colliding Black Holes That Produced Gravitational Waves Mar 30, 2016

A flash of light shortly after the detection of gravitational waves could mean that that historic event has an added wrinkle—the black holes that collided may have been born in the same collapsing massive star.

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City Birds Outwit Country Counterparts Mar 29, 2016

Birds that live in urban environments are brasher than rural birds, solve problems better and even have more robust immune systems. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Quasar Winds Clock In at a Fifth of Light Speed Mar 28, 2016

Quasars can shape the evolution of their galaxies, by blasting 135-million-mph winds. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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The Fastball Gets Its Scientific Due in a New Documentary Mar 25, 2016

The new movie Fastball dissects the pitch from the perspective of pitchers, hitters, umpires—and scientists, who talk about everything from the physics governing the trajectory of the ball to the neuroscience of the batter’s perception and reaction—including how the ball can appear to vanish.

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Garbage Pickings Get Storks to Stop Migrating Mar 23, 2016

Some white storks have stopped migrating from Europe to sub-Saharan Africa in the winter, because of the availability of food in landfills.

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Smart Glass Goes from Clear to Cloudy in a Jolt Mar 22, 2016

Researchers say their prototype is cheaper and easier to make than other smart glass, and since it's flexible and foldable, could be used for camouflage. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Cuba–U.S. Thaw Should Ease Scientific Collaborations Mar 21, 2016

Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology researcher Eduardo Inigo-Elias, a veteran of efforts to work with Cuban researchers, talks about what improved relations between the U.S. and Cuba could mean for science and conservation.

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African Park Comeback Offers Ecological Optimism Mar 18, 2016

A decade of modest financial investment has revitalized Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park, explains biologist Sean B. Carroll in his new book The Serengeti Rules: The Quest to Discovery How Life Works and Why It Matters.

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Bring a Musician to Untangle Cocktail Party Din Mar 17, 2016

Musicians are better at separating out one meaningful audio stream from a combination, a skill that could help decipher a single conversation in a crowd. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Our Noise Bothers Overlooked Seafloor Critters Mar 15, 2016

Creatures that live on the seafloor play vital roles in marine ecosystems, but human-made noise can alter their behaviors.

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Eavesdrop on Echolocation to Count Bats Mar 14, 2016

Researchers created a model that can accurately predict a cave's bat populations using audio alone. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Underground Eruptions Could Cause Quakes Months Later Mar 11, 2016

When the Nyiragongo volcano erupted in January 2002, it set the geologic stage for earthquakes nine months later. Julia Rosen reports.

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Raw Stone Age Meals Got Tenderizing Treatment Mar 10, 2016

Pounding and slicing meat and vegetables would have saved our ancestors millions of tough chews a year—potentially explaining the evolution of smaller jaws and teeth. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Fear of Spiders Makes Them Look Bigger Mar 09, 2016

Arachnophobic study subjects estimated the size of spiders as bigger than did people who do not fear the eight-legged beasties. Jason Goldman reports.

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Pro Baseball Player Tech Avatars Could Be a Hit Mar 08, 2016

Smart Bat sensor captures swing data and reenacts the motion on a smartphone app. Larry Greenemeier reports.

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This Dragonfly Outmigrates Monarchs Mar 07, 2016

The dragonfly Pantala flavescens can travel 9,000 to 11,000 miles, and may interbreed across the globe. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Gators Guard Birds That Nest Nearby Mar 04, 2016

Wading birds in the Everglades prefer to nest near resident gators for protection. And the arrangement appears to be mutually beneficial. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Space "Treasure Map" Guides E.T. Search Mar 03, 2016

A pair of astrophysicists advise searchers of intelligent life to look in the narrow band of galactic sky from which any alien observers would see Earth transit the sun—a method we use to detect exoplanets. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Milgram's Conformity Experiment Revisited in Lab and on Stage Mar 02, 2016

A conversation following a play about the famous Milgram experiments about conformity and authority included mention of a just-published new version of the test.

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Bats Beat Ebola with Hypervigilant Immunity Feb 29, 2016

The immune systems in bats are in a continuous state of activation, which may explain why they can carry viruses like Ebola without harm. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Cutting Carbon Pollution Could Save Health Care $ Feb 25, 2016

Some 300,000 premature deaths could be avoided by 2030 if the U.S. abides by the ambitious Paris Climate Agreement, according to a new analysis. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Billion Sun–Bright Events Leave Radio Wave Clues Feb 24, 2016

“Fast radio bursts” detected here on Earth last only a thousandth of a second, but are the result of a faraway source briefly shining a billion or more times brighter than our sun.

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Cyber Thieves Hold Hospital's Data for Ransom Feb 23, 2016

Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in California paid $17,000 to regain access to their patient digital information and other data held hostage.

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Ball Really Looks Bigger to Better Hitters Feb 22, 2016

Jessica Witt of Colorado State University explains that how well you're performing affects your visual perception of the world around you, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

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HPV Vaccine Needs to Reach Boys, Too Feb 19, 2016

Gypsyamber D’Souza of Johns Hopkins University discussed the rise in HPV-related oral cancer, its connection to oral sex and the risk for men at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

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Mantis Shrimp Shells May Inspire Next-Generation Computer Chips Feb 18, 2016

Mantis shrimp shells contain ultrathin polarizing materials, which could find use in optical computer chips. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Opioid Epidemic Gets Treatment Prescription Feb 17, 2016

Wilson Compton, deputy director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addressed ways to deal with the U.S. opioid epidemic at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

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Elephant Ivory DNA Reveals Poaching Hotspots Feb 16, 2016

Almost all the ivory in large stockpiles seized by law enforcement originates in just two locations in Africa, informing authorities about where to focus their resources.

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Gut Microbes Lessen Mice Malarial Malaise Feb 12, 2016

Mice with the right mix of microbes were spared the worst of a malaria infection, possibly via some sort of "booster effect" on the immune system. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Greenland's Meltwater May Fertilize Fjords with Phosphorus Feb 11, 2016

Greenland's glacial rivers may flush some 400,000 tons of phosphorus into ocean waters—on par with the Mississippi or the Amazon. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Lizard Picks Best Color--to Stand against Feb 10, 2016

Aegean wall lizards are the first wild animals to be observed explicitly choosing the best background for their particular coloration to disappear into.

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Giant Bird Driven Extinct by Egg-Eating Humans Feb 09, 2016

About 47,000 years ago, newcomer humans to Australia helped to wipe out an enormous flightless bird by collecting and cooking its eggs.

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Climate Change Most Affects Nations That Didn't Produce It Feb 08, 2016

Developed nations that drive climate change incur relatively few of the costs whereas countries that produce few greenhouse gas emissions will be hard-hit, like nonsmokers exposed to second-hand smoke.

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Super Bowl Sunday's Food Needs Work Feb 06, 2016

A public health advocate determined how much exercise is required to burn off various typical big game foods.

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Bear Gut Microbes Help Prep Hibernation Feb 04, 2016

Bears’ gut summer bacteria are more diverse and include species that tend to promote energy storage than are the bacteria that live in them during their hibernation.

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Seed-Scattering Birds May Help Trees Cope with Climate Change Feb 03, 2016

A new review paper emphasizes the crucial role birds play in helping trees colonize new habitats—especially in the face of a changing climate. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Plastic Pollution Perturbs Oyster Offspring Feb 02, 2016

Laboratory tests suggest that when the shellfish suck in tiny plastic particles, their reproductive success suffers. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Antioxidant Use Still Small Mixed Bag Feb 01, 2016

At a Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health forum on diet and health, Walter Willett, chair of the school's nutrition department, talked about benefits and risks associated with antioxidant supplements.

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Sweet Song Gives Away New Bird Species Jan 29, 2016

The newly discovered Himalayan forest thrush looks a great deal like the alpine thrush, but its far silkier song stylings gave it away as a potential new species.

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Suicide Differences by Region Related to Gun Availability Jan 28, 2016

The presence of a gun increases the likelihood that someone in the home will die a violent death, particularly by suicide.

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Musical Pitch Perception May Have Long Evolutionary History Jan 27, 2016

A tiny primate, the marmoset, appears to process pitch perception the same way we do, implying that the ability evolved in a common ancestor at least 40 million years ago.

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Quick Test Could Tell If a Patient Needs Antibiotics Jan 26, 2016

Antibiotics work against bacterial infections but are often prescribed to people with viral infections, which don't respond to the drugs. But a new gene test could show if a patient's infection is viral or bacterial.

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Pluto Killer Thinks He Has New Ninth Planet Jan 25, 2016

Caltech astronomer Mike Brown, the driving force for demoting Pluto, now claims evidence for a massive, distant replacement ninth planet in our solar system.

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Sharks Head Straight Home by Smell Jan 21, 2016

Sharks that could smell headed straight back home when taken a few miles away whereas some that had their senses of smell blocked took slower, more erratic paths to their old haunts.

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Volcano Role in Dino Death Gets Mercury Boost Jan 20, 2016

Researchers found a spike in mercury, which is produced by volcanoes, in ancient ocean sediments from southern France that span the time of the dinosaurs' mass extinction, lending support to the idea that massive eruptions played a role, in addition to the asteroid impact.

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Healthful Diet Switch Helps Even Late in Life Jan 19, 2016

At a Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health forum on diet and health, Walter Willett, chair of the school's nutrition department, said that adoption of more healthful eating habits even late in life still has benefits.

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Better Gut Microbiome Census through Computing Jan 18, 2016

Sophisticated computational techniques make it possible to analyze gene samples from all the bacteria in the gut at once to take a census of the species present.

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Sociable Chimps Get Richer Gut Microbiomes Jan 15, 2016

When food is plentiful and chimps are more chummy, they harbor an increased number of different bacterial species in their bellies.

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Mammoth Find Moves Humans in Arctic Back 10,000 Years Jan 14, 2016

The remains of a clearly butchered woolly mammoth in Siberia date to 45,000 years ago, 10 millennia earlier than when humans were thought to have crossed north of the Arctic circle.

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City Swans May Tolerate Humans Due to Gene Variant Jan 13, 2016

More members of an urban swan population that lets humans get near have a particular genetic variant than do a rural swan group that tends to take off when humans approach.

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Hippo Meat-Munching May Explain Their Anthrax Outbreaks Jan 12, 2016

Hippos eat meat more than had been thought, a practice that could explain their susceptibility to anthrax die-offs when they consume infected animals.

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Powerball Lottery Winning Made Inevitable (If Not Easy) Jan 11, 2016

Some set of numbers will definitely be drawn in the $1.3-billion Powerball Lottery, so all you have to do is make sure you hold every possible combination of numbers.

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Iceman Ötzi Died with a Bellyache Jan 08, 2016

Researchers were able to determine the genome of stomach bacteria that infected the famous Iceman at the time of his death, in the process giving us clues about ancient human migrations.

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Allergies May Have Been Bequeathed by Neandertals Jan 07, 2016

Many non-African humans today have genes—which apparently made it into us via Neandertals—that ramp up resistance to pathogens, but bring on allergies, too. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Needle Exchange Programs Now Get Fed Support Jan 06, 2016

More than a quarter century after the federal funding ban on needle exchange programs went into effect, it has quietly been almost completely lifted.

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Obama Notes Blocks of Gun Violence Research Jan 05, 2016

In his announcement today that he was taking executive action to require more gun sellers to be licensed and to do background checks on gun buyers, Pres. Barack Obama also touched on the problems facing public health researchers who try to study gun violence and deaths.

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Big Cats and People Live in Close Quarters in India Jan 04, 2016

The numbers of large carnivores, especially leopards, are increasing in private lands and lands outside the protected-area systems in India, bringing new challenges for coexistence.

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Asphalt Roads Could De-Ice Themselves Dec 31, 2015

Researchers engineered bitumen—the sticky black stuff in asphalt—to release its own salt, to battle the formation of ice. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Race-Based Brand Preferences Found for Underage Drinkers Dec 30, 2015

Twelve alcohol brands among the top 25 preferred brands for teen black drinkers don’t appear at all on the top 25 for young white drinkers

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Baby Whales Pecked to Death by Gulls Dec 29, 2015

Almost all southern right whale calves off the coast of Argentina’s Peninsula Valdez are being fed upon, some fatally, by kelp gulls, which was a rare occurrence four decades ago

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Polar Bears Must Work Harder on Faster Sea Ice Treadmill Dec 28, 2015

Thinner sea ice is getting pushed farther by Arctic winds, which makes polar bears walk more to stay in the same place, increasing their need for food.

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Southwest's Conifers Face Trial by Climate Change Dec 24, 2015

Using climate models and tree physiological data, researchers forecast a near-complete annihilation of evergreens in the southwest by the year 2100. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Superfast Computer Chip Transmits Data with Light Dec 23, 2015

Researchers designed a chip that transfers data not with electrons but with photons—resulting in a potential 10-fold boost in speed. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Text Reminders Cut Binge Drinking in At-Risk Recipients Dec 22, 2015

Heavy drinkers age 18 to 25 who got texts before and after each weekend about their weekend drinking plans cut their alcohol intake compared with those who got no texts or more perfunctory texts

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Drugged Gut Microbiome Cuts Heart Risk in Mice Dec 21, 2015

A compound found in extra virgin olive oil and red wine reduced mice’s risk of clogged arteries. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Antievolution Legislation Shows Descent with Modification Dec 18, 2015

Nicholas Matzke, an American evolutionary biologist currently at the Australian National University in Canberra, performed a phylogenetic-style analysis of dozens of antievolution education bills in various state legislatures to track their relatedness

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Small Fish Takes Fast-Evolution Track Dec 17, 2015

Stickleback fish in Alaska evolved from living in seawater to freshwater in just 50 years, with the help of freshwater traits in their genome. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Marion Nestle Talks "Soda Politics" Dec 16, 2015

Marion Nestle, author of Soda Politics: Taking on Big Soda (and Winning), talked December 14 in New York City about Coca-Cola's attempt to fund research designed to find sugared soft drinks innocent in contributing to obesity

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Teachers' Racial Biases Have Different Effects for High Versus Low Performers Dec 15, 2015

In a study of first graders, teachers rated low-performing minority students more positively than low-performing white students, but they ranked high-performing minority students lower than white students at the same level

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Energy Secretary Talks Climate Challenge Dec 14, 2015

A brief portion of the December 9 conversation during the climate talks in France between Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz and Scientific American’s David Biello

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Cockroach Caca Contains Chemical Messages Made by Microbes Dec 11, 2015

Roaches get the signal to gather together from pheromones produced by their gut microbes and released in the insects’ excrement. Christopher Intagliata reports

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90-Nation Coalition Aims for Ambitious Climate Change Deal Dec 10, 2015

Among its goals, the coalition of countries, including the U.S., wants an agreement that the world must aim as soon as possible to hold global warming to 1.5-degree Celsius and work toward a long-term low-carbon future

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New African Highways Have a High Environmental Price Dec 09, 2015

An analysis determines that many road-building projects in Africa would bring only modest benefits to people, while devastating the environment. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Protect the Right Places for Biodiversity Dec 08, 2015

Scientists can provide the info to make sure that the correct areas are chosen for protection to help ensure the continued robustness of a region's biodiversity

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Individuals' Blood Glucose Levels after Meals May Be Predictable Dec 07, 2015

Closely tracking 800 people's blood glucose levels in response to meals allowed researchers to develop a predictive algorithm for individuals

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Obese Dad's Sperm May Influence Offspring's Weight Dec 04, 2015

Overweight men’s sperm undergo epigenetic changes that may alter a child’s brain development and appetite control. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Pollination Isn't Just for the Bees Dec 03, 2015

Flies, beetles, butterflies and moths may account for some 40 percent of the world’s pollination. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Race Colors New Residents' Views of Local Businesses Dec 02, 2015

Gentrifying residents in two Brooklyn neighborhoods view their new surroundings differently, depending on the race of those who traditionally live there. Erika Beras reports

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Espresso Machines Brew a Microbiome of Their Own Dec 01, 2015

Researchers sampled 10 espresso machines and found that most of them harbored coffee residues rich in bacteria—including some potentially pathogenic strains. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Massive Survey Creates Amazon Tree Census Nov 30, 2015

A tree survey in the Amazon by more than 150 researchers led to an estimate that up to 57 percent of Amazon trees could qualify for threatened species status by 2050

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People Pick Familiar Foods Over Favorites Nov 27, 2015

A study found that the stronger a subject's memory of a particular food, the more likely they were to choose it again, even over foods they professed to enjoy more

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Women Candidates Face Implicit Bias Hurdle Nov 25, 2015

Volunteers taking an "implicit bias" test who were unlikely to associate images of women with leadership titles like executive or president were far less likely to vote for a woman in a race against a man of equal qualification

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Gut Bacteria Signal Your Brain When They're Full Nov 24, 2015

Twenty minutes into a meal, E. coli pump out appetite-suppressing proteins, which could influence our feeling of hunger. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Vocal Cords Bioengineered from Starter Cells Nov 23, 2015

Researchers took cells from donated vocal cord tissue and successfully grew them on a three-dimensional scaffold to produce new vocal cords that can produce sound

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Sahara Reveals Remains of Ancient River Nov 20, 2015

Using a satellite-born sensor system that can penetrate through several feet of dry surface sediments, researchers found the dry remains of an ancient river system winding for hundreds of miles below the Saharan sands

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Your Brain Can Taste without Your Tongue Nov 19, 2015

Stimulating the "taste cortex" was enough to trick mice into thinking they'd tasted sweet or bitter substances, when in fact their tongues tasted nothing at all. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Urban Food Foraging Looks Fruitful Nov 18, 2015

Fruits growing wild in urban areas were found to be healthful and to contain lower levels of lead than what's considered safe in drinking water

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Female Vocalists Are in the (Mouse) House Nov 17, 2015

Careful recordings of mouse interactions find that females vocalize, overturning the long-held view that only males sing during courtship

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Eat Slowly and Breathe Smoothly to Enhance Taste Nov 16, 2015

Slow, steady breathing lofts minute food particles into the nasal cavity, where they contribute to your perception of flavor. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Little Galaxy Keeps Churning Out Stars Nov 15, 2015

The recently discovered small galaxy Leo P contains only about a hundred-thousandth as many stars as the Milky Way, but it's bucking the small galaxy trend by continuing to make new ones

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Howler Monkeys Trade Testicles for Decibels Nov 13, 2015

Among howler monkey species, loud calls come at the expense of testicle size and sperm production—or to put it another way, monkeys with the largest testes don't make as much noise

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Stone Age Pottery Reveals Signs of Beekeeping Nov 12, 2015

Beeswax residues found on shards of stone age pottery in the Mediterranean region indicate that humans were keeping honeybees as early as 9,000 years ago

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What Makes Sand Dunes Sing Nov 11, 2015

Engineers at Caltech discovered that for sand dunes to produce sound they need a dry layer on top that amplifies internal frequencies during sand movement. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Brain Rhythms Sync to Musical Beat Nov 10, 2015

The human brain's neurons fire in sync to music, and trained musicians are better at it than are amateurs

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Brain Responds to Driving Routes Repeatedly Nov 06, 2015

Learning detailed navigation information causes the hippocampus to interact with other regions of the brain involved in location

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Arctic Marine Mammals Swim Up to the Microphone Nov 05, 2015

As Arctic sea ice melts, an underwater recording project reveals that the submerged ecology is undergoing change, with humpbacks and killer whales staying north later in the year. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Decoy Mating Call Battles Citrus Pest Nov 03, 2015

Researchers developed a call that effectively mimics the citrus psyllid's mating song, which could be a weapon against a devastating crop scourge. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Methane Plumes Bubbling along U.S. Northwest Coast Nov 02, 2015

Researchers report a spike in the number of methane plumes along the Northwest coast emanating from depths of about 500 meters, a possible indication that submerged frozen methane is becoming available

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Cultural Goofs Gear Up Gray Matter Oct 29, 2015

People exposed to incongruent situations, such as Halloween-themed plates at a Labor Day picnic, performed better on cognitive-reasoning tests and were less likely to make impulse purchases or overeat

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Whale Poop Drives Global Nutrient Cycling Oct 28, 2015

Whales fertilize ocean surface waters with key nutrients like phosphorus, which move through the food chain, and eventually, onto land. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Road Runoff a No-No for Coho Oct 26, 2015

Researchers have found the first direct evidence that coho salmon near U.S. Northwest cities are being killed by chemical runoff from roads and parking lots that reach streams

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Political and Industry Leaders Make a Case for Basic Research Oct 24, 2015

At the “Innovation: An American Imperative” symposium October 20 on Capitol Hill, industry leaders and members of Congress talked about shoring up federal support for basic research and development

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TV Crime Shows Influence Sex Consent Views Oct 22, 2015

College students who watched episodes of the various Law & Order episodes had a better understanding of sexual consent issues than those who watched two other crime procedural franchises

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Beet Juice Could Help Body Beat Altitude Oct 21, 2015

Beet juice contains nitrates, which the body can convert to nitric oxide, a chemical that relaxes blood vessels and makes it easier to function in conditions of low oxygen. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Fall Foliage Timing Comes into Clearer Focus Oct 20, 2015

Researchers picked apart satellite imagery from two New England forest ecosystems to get a better handle on exactly what factors influence the timing of the color changes of the autumn leaves

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Apple Thins iPhone Cloud Connections Oct 19, 2015

The company’s moves to have iPhones be less dependent on the cloud and to be more encrypted could mean more user privacy

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Dino's Tail Might Have Whipped It Good Oct 16, 2015

Researchers built a physical model of the tail of the late Jurassic dinosaur Apatosaurus and found that its tail tip could have moved at supersonic speed to produce a whip-crack sound

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Babies Move Tongue to Learn New Tongues Oct 15, 2015

Infants seemed to be able to differentiate between two different "D" sounds in Hindi—but only when their tongue movements weren't blocked by a teething device. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Pluto Mission Targets Next Kuiper Belt Object Oct 14, 2015

Alan Stern, principal investigator of NASA’s New Horizons Mission, explains that with Pluto in the rearview mirror, the spacecraft will continue on to a smaller Kuiper Belt body

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Magnetic Field May Be a Map for Migratory Birds Oct 13, 2015

It's well known birds can use Earth's magnetic field as their compass, but they may also use magnetism as their map. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Wildlife Tourism Could Be "Domesticating" Wild Animals Oct 09, 2015

Human tourism—no matter how well-intentioned—might desensitize wild animals to poachers and predators, affecting their odds of survival. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Babies Just Want to Be Smiled at Oct 08, 2015

By studying the interactions of babies and their mothers, researchers determined that babies smile in hopes others will smile at them. Erika Beras reports

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2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Oct 07, 2015

The 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to Tomas Lindahl, Paul Modrich, Aziz Sancar for mechanistic studies of DNA repair

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2015 Nobel Prize in Physics Oct 06, 2015

The 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics goes to Takaaki Kajita and Arthur B. McDonald for the discovery that one kind of neutrino can change into another, which shows that neutrinos have mass

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2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Oct 05, 2015

The 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine goes jointly to William C. Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura for their studies leading to novel therapies against infections caused by roundworm parasites and to Youyou Tu for her work developing a novel therapy against malaria

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Cheap Goods from China Have a High Carbon Cost Oct 02, 2015

Because China relies on coal for much of its power, goods produced there can have a dirtier carbon footprint than those produced elsewhere. Christopher Intagliata reports

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MacArthur Genius Grant Winner Probes the Pruning Brain Oct 01, 2015

Harvard neuroscientist Beth Stevens wins a MacArthur Fellowship for studies of how microglia cells prune away excess neuronal synapses during brain development and how that necessary function might go awry in neurodegenerative diseases

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MacArthur Genius Grant Winner Makes Waste a Resource Sep 29, 2015

Environmental engineer Kartik Chandran of Columbia University won a MacArthur Fellowship for his work on extracting nutrients and energy from wastewater and sewage

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Ancient Human Ancestors Heard Differently Sep 25, 2015

Early human species may have had sharper hearing in certain frequencies than we enjoy, to facilitate short-range communication in an open environment. Cynthia Graber reports

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Sitting Not the New Smoking for Fidgeters Sep 24, 2015

Sitting for more than seven hours a day is linked to a 30 percent higher risk of death, but that association disappears among the in-place movers and shakers. Christopher Intagliata reports

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We Emit Clouds of Microbes Wherever We Go Sep 23, 2015

Humans shed a million particles an hour, and those microbe-laced clouds are sometimes unique enough to identify the person producing them. Christopher Intagliata reports

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House Dust Organisms Reveal Location and Residents Sep 22, 2015

The particular fungi found in house dust can tell investigators where you live, and the bacteria in the dust can give away who and what you live with

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Biosciences Get Defense Secretary's Attention Sep 21, 2015

At the recent DARPA Wait What? conference, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said lifesaving technologies are a priority for his department

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Teenage Clockmaker Upholds Long Scientific Tradition Sep 18, 2015

As Daniel Boorstin, former director of the Smithsonian National Museum of History, once put it, clockmakers were the "pioneer scientific instrument makers"

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Nonpolitical Tweets May Reveal Political Bias Sep 17, 2015

Word selection among Twitter users who could be identified as likely members of one or the other political party showed specific usage patterns. Christopher Intagliata reports

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California Mountain Snowpack Is Flaking Out Sep 15, 2015

With the Sierra Nevada snowpack at historic lows, should policy makers focus on capturing future rain instead of relying on the snow bank? Christopher Intagliata reports

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Domesticated Pigs Kept Oinking with Wild (and Crazy) Boars Sep 14, 2015

Domesticated pigs had many dalliances with wild boars that added new genes to the pig population well after they had settled down on the farm

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Snake Bites in Costa Rica Peak with El Niño Cycling Sep 11, 2015

Researchers found that snakebites were two to three times as prevalent in the hottest and coldest years of the El Niño climate cycle. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Sperm Whales Congregate in Click-Based Cliques Sep 10, 2015

The whales appear to prefer the company of "like-minded" individuals, based on common vocal clicking behavior—an example of culture, researchers say. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Humans' Predation Unsustainably Takes Healthy Adult Prey Sep 09, 2015

Whereas most predators kill the young or infirm, humans claim a disproportionate number of mature healthy adults of reproductive age

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Better Road Signs Could Save Bicycle Riders Sep 04, 2015

Signs that say "Share the Road" with bicycles may have far less influence over motor vehicle driver behavior than would signs saying "Bicycles May Use Full Lane."

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Self-Healing Spaceship Shielding Could Keep Astronauts Safer Sep 03, 2015

A new lightweight material that heals itself when punctured could help spacecraft survive run-ins with debris. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Road Noise Takes a Toll on Migrating Birds Sep 01, 2015

Researchers built a "phantom road" through wilderness using tree-mounted speakers to play traffic sounds, and witnessed a decline in bird fitness and diversity. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Terse Titles Cited Aug 31, 2015

Scientific papers with shorter titles receive more citations than those with long-winded headings

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Sick Ants Seek Out Medicinal Food Aug 27, 2015

Healthy ants wanted nothing to do with free-radical-rich foodstuff, but ants exposed to a pathogenic fungus sought it out, which upped their odds of survival. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Seaweed Bodyguards Coral against Bullying Sea Stars Aug 26, 2015

Crown-of-thorns sea stars are an "underwater swarm of locusts" that devour coral—unless the coral is protected by a layer of seaweed. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Cosmetic Ads' Science Claims Lack Foundation Aug 25, 2015

An analysis of some 300 cosmetics ads in magazines found the vast majority of their science claims to be either false or too vague to judge

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Deep Voice Gives Politicians Electoral Boost Aug 24, 2015

Two new studies find that a deeper voice gives a politican an edge over a higher-pitched opponent

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Vomit Machine Models Cruise-Ship Virus Spread Aug 22, 2015

Using a simulated vomiting device, scientists determined that projectile vomiting can aerosolize noroviruslike particles, allowing the infection to spread short distances through the air. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Sunlight Activates Smog-Causing Chemicals in City Grime Aug 20, 2015

The grime on city buildings and may actively contribute to urban air pollution. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Methane-Eating Microbes May Mitigate Arctic Emissions Aug 19, 2015

A newly discovered strain of bacteria found in Arctic permafrost harvests methane from the air—meaning it could help mitigate the effects of warming. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Chinese Cave Graffiti Agrees with Site's Drought Evidence Aug 18, 2015

Researchers linked dated graffiti about droughts in a cave in China to physical evidence in the cave of the water shortages, such as changes in ratios of stable isotopes in specific layers of stalagmites

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Whistled Language Forces Brain to Modify Usual Processing Aug 17, 2015

Both hemispheres are involved in the brains of people interpreting a whistled variant of Turkish, compared with a left hemisphere dominance when listeners hear the spoken language

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Invertebrates Are Forgotten Victims of "Sixth Extinction" Aug 14, 2015

Some 95 percent of catalogued species in one family of Hawaiian land snails could already be extinct, and similar rates of invertebrate extinction could be happening around the world. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Nicotine-Chomping Bacteria Could Help Smokers Quit Aug 13, 2015

Researchers isolated a bacterial enzyme that could break down nicotine before smokers get the buzz that keeps them coming back for more. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Women Left out in Cold by Office A-C Standards Aug 12, 2015

Indoor climate control systems are based on 1960s standards that envisioned the typical office worker to be a 40-year-old, 68-kilogram man

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Bite Me: The Mutation That Made Corn Kernels Consumable Aug 11, 2015

A single-point mutation in corn's ancestor teosinte got rid of the hard shell that used to encase every kernel

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Fish Slime Inspires New Eco-Sunscreen Ingredient Aug 07, 2015

Researchers have developed a new ecofriendly sunscreen molecule that protects against both UV-A and UV-B rays, and could also be used to create more durable paints and plastics. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Microbes Deep under Seafloor Reflect Ancient Land Origins Aug 06, 2015

Microbes 2,500 meters below the seafloor in Japan are most closely related to bacterial groups that thrive in forest soils on land, suggesting that they might be descendants of ones that survived when their terrestrial habitat was flooded 20 million years ago

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Spicy Food Linked to Lower Risk of Death Aug 05, 2015

In a study of nearly half a million volunteers in China, those who ate chilies just a couple times a week had a 10 percent lower risk of death. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Bonobo Peeps May Be Necessary Language Precursors Aug 04, 2015

Animal communication studies have shown only fixed vocalizations, such as alarm cries. But Bonobo chimps appear to have a call that has different meanings in different contexts

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Diminutive Peoples Took Different Paths to Petite Aug 03, 2015

Adults of the west African Baka people and east African Efé and Sua peoples average less than five feet tall. But while the Efé and Sua are born small, the Baka have slow growth rates in infancy

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Forests Suck Up Less Carbon after Drought Jul 31, 2015

Tree growth lags below normal for several years following droughts, a detail about carbon sequestration that climate models currently overlook. Christopher Intagliata reports

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"Imperfect" Vaccines May Aid Survival of Ultrahot Viruses Jul 30, 2015

Certain vaccines prevent sickness and death, but don't block transmission—meaning they may actually give some viral strains an extra shot at survival. Christopher Intagliata reports

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What All the Screaming Is about Jul 29, 2015

An analysis of the acoustical characteristics of screams found that the sounds are unusually rough, that is, they rapidly change in frequency, which has an alarming effect on the listener's brain

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Baseball Great Thanks Tommy John Surgery, Decries Its Frequency Jul 27, 2015

In his induction speech at the Baseball Hall of Fame, pitcher John Smoltz hoped that the number of such procedures could be lessened in the future

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Appetizers Can Psychologically Spoil Your Appetite Jul 22, 2015

Mediocre main dishes taste even worse when they follow delectable appetizers—an example of the so-called "hedonic effect." Erika Beras reports

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Many Overweight and Obese Teens Underestimate Their Weight Jul 21, 2015

A survey of nearly 5,000 13- to 15-year-olds in the U.K. found that 40 percent of overweight and obese teens did not self-identify as “too heavy.” Cynthia Graber reports

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Alien Intelligence Search Gets Major New Push Jul 20, 2015

Entrepreneur and former physicist Yuri Milner talks about the just-announced $100-million Breakthrough Listen Project to search for extraterrestrial technological civilizations

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Plankton Blooms Fuel Cloud Droplet Formation Jul 17, 2015

The Southern Ocean is the cloudiest place on Earth, a condition caused in part by phytoplankton particles kicked up by sea spray. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Male Black Widows Strive for Mate's Monogamy Jul 16, 2015

During courtship, male black widow spiders snip and bundle up the female's web in their own silk, which discourages other suitors from stopping by. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Active Duty Army Suicide Attempts Analyzed Jul 15, 2015

Researchers gathered data from various Army databases to analyze nearly 10,000 attempted suicides of active duty personnel. Cynthia Graber reports

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Rain and Irrigation Can Make Crops Temporary Bacteria Farms Jul 14, 2015

Researchers suggest farmers should consider harvesting when fields are dry, to prevent dangerous bacteria blooms from contaminating food. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Hitchhiking Worms Survive Slug Guts Transport Jul 13, 2015

Nematode worms hitch rides inside the guts of slugs and other invertebrates, and emerge alive and well after exiting with the rest of the digestive track's products. Karen Hopkin reports

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Roman Builders May Have Copied Volcanic "Concrete" Jul 09, 2015

The rock of the Campi Flegrei Caldera, west of Naples, Italy, has an intricate network of mineral fibers—just like the famed Roman concrete. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Dark Matter Dominates Just-Discovered Galaxies Jul 08, 2015

Astronomers have discovered more than 800 so-called "ultradiffuse galaxies" that are virtually invisible because they have relatively few stars and are mostly dark matter. Clara Moskowitz reports

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Best Male Nightingale Vocalists Make Best Fathers Jul 06, 2015

Male nightingales use singing virtuosity to signal prospective mates that they will be the most doting dads. Sabrina Imbler reports

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Improved Solar Storm Tracking Lengthens Prep Time for Tech Disruption Jul 02, 2015

We currently have a maximum of about 60 minutes to prepare for tech disruptions on Earth due to coronal mass ejections from the sun, but an improved forecasting system could lengthen that lead time by hours. Maria Temming reports

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Marijuana Muddies Memory and Mixes with Alcohol to Make Trouble Jul 01, 2015

People who smoke pot and drink are twice as likely to do both at the same time than to do just one, with the combo associated with bad decision-making; and chronic pot smokers who had not indulged in a month were still more likely to have faulty memories than were nonsmokers. Erika Beras reports

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Bird Literally Weighs Its Food Options Jun 30, 2015

Mexican Jays compare peanuts to determine which one has the most meat inside before choosing one for a meal. Karen Hopkin reports

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Noses Agree When Genes See Eye to Eye Jun 29, 2015

We all perceive smells differently—and two people’s preferences may give clues to their degree of genetic similarity. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Smartphone Battery Drains a Lot Even with Dark Screen Jun 25, 2015

Background app updates, cell tower pings and other hidden activity accounts for almost half the battery drain on Android phones. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Alaska Surface Glacier Melting Means More Glug Glug Glug Jun 24, 2015

The vast majority of ice loss in Alaska glaciers comes from those that sit completely on land—which contributes meltwater to sea level rise. Julia Rosen reports

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Programmed Bacteria Can Detect Tumors Jun 23, 2015

Sangeeta Bhatia of M.I.T. talks about efforts to get bacteria to home in on tumors and let us know they're there. Cynthia Graber reports

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Extreme Exercise Can Poison the Blood Jun 22, 2015

Even four hours of intense activity may be enough to let bacteria escape from the gut into the blood, setting off a chain of inflammation. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Einstein–Bohr Friendship Recounted by Bohr's Grandson Jun 19, 2015

On June 3, 2015, Vilhelm Bohr talked about his famous grandfather's life, including the relationship with Einstein, at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics

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Comet Dust Kicks Up Clouds over the Moon Jun 17, 2015

The same particles that streak through Earth's atmosphere as "shooting stars" kick up lunar dust when they strike the surface of the atmosphere-less moon. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Rare Multitasking Plus: Brain-Teasers Enhance Workout Jun 16, 2015

Test subjects rode stationary bikes 25 percent faster when they simultaneously tackled some relatively easy cognitive challegnes. Karen Hopkin reports

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Ant Smells Like Blue Cheese for a Reason Jun 15, 2015

The "odorous house ant" smells like blue cheese or rotten coconut because it produces chemical compounds similar to those found in its nose-sakes. Cynthia Graber reports

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Mars Surface Glass Could Hold Ancient Fossils Jun 12, 2015

Scientists have found ancient "impact glass" on the surface of Mars, which formed when asteroids struck, a billion or more years ago. If anything was alive at the time, biological materials could be trapped inside. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Is Lying a Good Strategy? Jun 11, 2015

A new documentary film presents the science behind when and why people lie. Daisy Yuhas reports

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Wild Chimps Seen Drinking Alcoholic Beverage Jun 09, 2015

In west Africa researchers observed wild chimps seek out and drink fermented tree sap left outside by humans. Karen Hopkin reports

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Color You Remember Seeing Isn't What You Saw Jun 09, 2015

People tend to remember a color they saw, for example green-blue teal, as being closer to a more stereotypical variant, such as straight blue or green. Karen Hopkin reports

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Ancient Human Migration Route Marked by Snail Shell "Bread Crumbs" Jun 06, 2015

Fragments of edible marine snail shells found in Lebanon support the idea that ancient humans went from Africa to Europe through the Levant. Cynthia Graber reports

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"Brainprints" Could Be Future Security ID Jun 05, 2015

We all emit slightly different brain waves in response to stimuli, and researchers say that an individual’s specific "brainprints" could be used to validate our identities. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Frenzy-Feeding Black Hole Makes Galaxy Most Luminous Jun 04, 2015

A galaxy 12.5 billion light-years away gives off the light of 300 trillion suns, because its feeding black hole produces enough heat to set the whole galaxy's dust glowing. Lee Billings reports

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Vaccine Aims at Fly Host of Disease Parasite Jun 03, 2015

An experimental leishmaniasis vaccine relies on eliciting an immune response to a protein from the saliva of the sand fly that carries the leishmania parasite, rather than on anything from the parasite itself. Cynthia Graber reports

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Chimps Would "Cook" Food If They Could Jun 02, 2015

A new study suggests that chimps have the cognitive skills necessary for cooking—such as patience—even if they don't control fire. Christopher Intagliata reports

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High Heels Heighten Health Hazard Jun 01, 2015

Emergency room visits due to high heel shoe–related injuries doubled between 2002 and 2012. Erika Beras reports

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Parrotfish Build Islands with Their Poop May 31, 2015

Parrotfish munching on algae ingest coral and then eliminate the rocky substrate, creating island-building grade sediment in places like the Maldives. Julia Rosen reports

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Blood Pressure Vaccine Lengthens Rat Lives May 29, 2015

A DNA-based vaccine gave rats six months of protection against high blood pressure as well as healthier hearts. Christopher Intagliata reports

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CSI: Middle Pleistocene May 28, 2015

Skull fragments dating back 430,000 years appear to be those of the world's first known murder victim, based on the damage observed. Dina Maron reports

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Mummy Mavens Unwrap Preservation Methods May 27, 2015

In 1994 researchers made a mummy. Now scientists have reverse engineered the process to figure out how it's done, with the mummy makers still around to tell them how they did. Cynthia Graber reports

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Smart Cane Could Help Blind ID Faces May 26, 2015

High-tech sticks could help visually impaired people spot obstacles and even identify acquaintances as they approach. Larry Greenemeier reports

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Dolphin Deaths Linked to 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill May 21, 2015

Unusual adrenal and lung conditions seen in dead dolphins in the months after the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill point to the oil as the cause. Steve Mirsky reports

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Octopus Skin Senses Light, No Eyes or Brain Needed May 20, 2015

The skin of a California octopus species has a molecular light-sensing mechanism that allows it to change color to match its surroundings with no input from the creature's eyes or brain. Dina Fine Maron reports

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First Woman MLBer Will Probably Pitch May 19, 2015

Contemporary women's baseball chronicler Jennifer Ring says the fastest women pitchers currently hit speeds in the 80s (mph) and it keeps going up. Steve Mirsky reports

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Seashell Shapes Show Strength for Safety May 15, 2015

Analysis of clamshell and screw-shaped shells reveals the structures withstand much greater forces than would a simple sphere or cylinder. Cynthia Graber reports

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In the Future Robopets Won't Be Far-Fetched May 14, 2015

An animal behaviorist ponders a future where some Spots are robots. Larry Greenemeier reports

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Crop Rotation Works in the Sea, Too May 13, 2015

Models show that leaving sea cucumbers unharvested in some underwater zones for two years at a time stabilizes the overall population and actually increases yield for fishers. Cynthia Graber reports

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Food for Sale Everywhere Fuels Obesity Epidemic May 12, 2015

A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research blames 40 percent of the rise in obesity on the ubiquity of supercenters, warehouse clubs and restaurants. Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports

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Netflix CEO Peers at Crystal Ball to See TV's Future May 11, 2015

Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, gave his view of the next couple of decades in the evolution of TV-watching at the re:publica 15 digital culture conference in Berlin on May 5

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May 9 Is Big Day for the Birds May 08, 2015

Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Chris Wood explains the May 9 Global Big Day event, in which birders worldwide are invited to spot birds and upload their findings to the eBird database. Steve Mirsky reports

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Mars Travelers Could Suffer Radiation Brain Damage May 07, 2015

Mice exposed to radiation akin to what astronauts to Mars would receive experienced cognitive impairment. Lee Billings reports

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Wheat Genes Could Bring Back Chestnut May 06, 2015

Scientists have introduced genes into the American chestnut from wheat that help disarm the fungus that killed almost all three billion of the trees in the eastern U.S. David Biello reports

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Pop Music Gets Its Fossil Record Analyzed May 05, 2015

An investigation of more than 17,000 hit tunes suggests popular music undergoes periods of shifting diversity, and that new styles evolve in bursts. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Space Supervoid Sucks Energy from Light May 04, 2015

A vast region of space colder than expected is also largely devoid of galaxies, and the two observations are no coincidence. Clara Moskowitz reports

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Latex Lining Could Quiet Plane Rides May 01, 2015

Engineers devised a latex-laced honeycomb material that could make an airplane cabin sound more like a quiet living room. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Parkinson's Pen Vibrates to Improve Legibility Apr 30, 2015

Device stimulates hand muscles to counteract writing issues experienced by some people with Parkinson’s. Larry Greenemeier reports

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Infants Already Glued to Multiple Screens Apr 29, 2015

A new survey suggests that most kids by age two are using tablets and smartphones, sometimes while watching TV. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Old Cats Can Get Seizures from Sound Apr 28, 2015

Feline audiogenic reflex seizures, or FARS, was discovered after a few cat owners reported the issue to an advocacy group

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Musical Performance Activates Specific Genes Apr 27, 2015

Blood tests on 10 professional musicians before and after playing showed that specific genes got turned on by performance, some of which are also active in songbirds. Karen Hopkin reports

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Shipwreck Champagne Reveals Old Wine Secrets Apr 24, 2015

Analysis of 168 bottles of bubbly that sat at the sea bottom for 170 years shows how the old-timers tweaked their champagne taste. Cynthia Graber reports

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Small Screen Looks at an Electrified America Apr 22, 2015

Scientific American's David Biello hosts a new episode of the TV series Beyond the Light Switch, focusing on the means to and effects of a more electricity-powered country. Steve Mirsky reports

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Taste Salty with Less Salt Apr 20, 2015

Making salamis and cheeses with more pores might make them taste just as salty but with less added sodium finding its way into the body. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Granular Materials Could Thwart Missiles Apr 16, 2015

The harder a projectile hits a granular substance like sand, the more that material acts like a solid, effectively repelling the intruder. Christopher Intagliata reports

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A Few Hundred Smartphones Could Catch Earthquakes Early Apr 15, 2015

Thanks to their GPS systems, smartphones in an array could pick up movements indicating the onset of an earthquake and provide extra seconds of early warning. Cynthia Graber reports

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Martian Glaciers Equal Meter-Thick Planetary Ice Shell Apr 13, 2015

Radar measurements and models of Earthly glacial ice flows led researchers to conclude that the glaciers spotted on Mars from orbiters contain nearly 150 billion cubic meters of water. Lee Billings reports

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Nobelist Talks about Exercise and Chromosome Integrity Apr 09, 2015

In a Google Hangout Nobel laureate Elizabeth Blackburn and Scientific American Editor in Chief Mariette DiChristina discuss the relationship between exercise and telomere length, which is related to diseases of aging

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Typing Style Reveals Fatigue or Disease Apr 08, 2015

How a person types can reveal the state of their brain, according to a study that tracked keystrokes when the typist was alert or groggy. Cynthia Graber reports

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App Provides Pocket Time Capsule Apr 07, 2015

New app called Pivot will let gadget users see old and new images of sites as they walk past. Larry Greenemeier reports

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Online Breast Milk Buyers May Get Cowed Apr 06, 2015

An analysis of human breast milk bought online reveals that some 10 percent of the samples contained cow’s milk. Dina Fine Maron reports

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B.O. Gives Up Its Stinky Secrets Apr 03, 2015

Staphylococcus hominis is a key perpetrator of body odor—and researchers say selectively interfering with it could make for more effective deodorants. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Outdoor Exercise Worth Some Air Pollution Risk Apr 02, 2015

A Danish study of more than 50,000 adults suggests that exercise lowers risk of death—even if you work out amidst urban air pollution. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Diabetics Benefit by Biggest Meal Early Apr 01, 2015

A small study finds that diabetics who ate a big breakfast and small dinner had better glucose control than those who ate the opposite. Steve Mirsky reports

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Donate Your Health Data to Medical Science Mar 30, 2015

You can now share your genome, health and microbiome info, and viral infection data to crowdsourced medical research projects. Cynthia Graber reports

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African-American Longevity Suffered after Great Migration Mar 26, 2015

The six million black people who left the South between 1910 and 1970 had better economic opportunity but a lower chance or reaching their 70s. Erika Beras reports

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Enceladus Might Be a Methane Hotspot Mar 25, 2015

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft spotted a surprising amount of methane erupting from Saturn’s moon Enceladus, suggesting it harbors more methane than we thought. Clara Moskowitz reports

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Malaria Parasite Attracts Mosquitoes with Perfume Mar 24, 2015

The Plasmodium parasite uses an altered type of plant chloroplast to manufacture pine-and-lemon-scented chemicals, which lure in the bloodsuckers. Christopher Intagliata reports

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See Movement Better by Bicarb Mar 23, 2015

Bicarbonate, the chemical that transports CO2 through the blood, increases the "refresh rate" of rod cells in lab tests--which could mean better motion detection. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Teotihuacán's Social Tensions Contributed to Its Fall Mar 20, 2015

The decline and abandonment of the Mexican metropolis may have been hastened by infighting among different cultural and socioeconomic groups. Cynthia Graber reports

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Music’s Physiological Effects Transcend Culture Mar 19, 2015

People in the Congo rainforests or in Montreal tended to react to the same piece of music in strikingly similar ways. Andrea Alfano reports

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That's What Ya Call a 4-Star Planet Mar 19, 2015

Astronomers report the discovery of only the second quadruple-star system known to host at least one planet. But they suspect there are a lot more such systems out there. Lee Billings reports

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Smoke Makes Twisters More Likely to Strike Mar 18, 2015

Smoke wafting north from the Gulf of Mexico worsened the already stormy weather brewing across the southeastern U.S. on April 27, 2011. Julia Rosen reports

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La Niña Conditions Spin Up More Springtime Twisters Mar 18, 2015

Severe weather forecasters could incorporate El Niño and La Niña cycling to make springtime tornado and hail forecasts. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Human Remains Double Known Rainforest Occupation Time Mar 17, 2015

Physical remains in Sri Lanka show that people lived in rainforests 20,000 years ago, at least 10,000 years earlier than previous evidence showed. Cynthia Graber reports

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Crowd-Sourced Medical Research Gets Apple Assist Mar 16, 2015

What’s called ResearchKit enables scientists to more easily write mobile apps that take advantage of iPhone sensors to study asthma, Parkinson’s and other diseases. Larry Greenemeier reports

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Big Bang Sitcom Stars Scientific American Tonight Mar 12, 2015

On the March 12 episode of The Big Bang Theory, a mock copy of Scientific American becomes a key part of the plot. The sitcom's science advisor, U.C.L.A. physicist David Saltzberg, talks about the show's reach to the lay public. Steve Mirsky reports

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Background Music Jams Memory in Older Adults Mar 11, 2015

People of all ages find background sound distracting, but noise appears to impede memory formation in older people. Erika Beras reports

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Some European Languages Came by Steppe Mar 10, 2015

A new genetic analysis reveals a massive migration from the central Asian grasslands into Europe 4,500 years ago—implying that some languages followed. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Animals Can Be Given False Memories Mar 09, 2015

Two studies, one with bees and one with mice, show that the brain can be manipulated into having a memory of an occurrence that did not in reality happen. Karen Hopkin reports

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Whale Grandmas' Longevity Linked to Knowledge Mar 05, 2015

Whale females, like humans, live well past menopause, a trait possibly selected for because their knowledge base can help their entire clan survive. Dina Fine Maron reports

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Salty Skin Boosts Mouse Wound Healing Mar 04, 2015

Mice fed a diet high in sodium had increased immune cell activity in their skin that helped ward off infection. Karen Hopkin reports

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Titan Could Host Life "Not As We Know It" Mar 03, 2015

Saturn's moon Titan is too cold for cell membranes to form as they do on Earth. But researchers have come up with a cell membrane that could exist on Titan. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Climate Skeptic Senator Burned after Snowball Stunt Mar 02, 2015

Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe carried a snowball onto the Senate floor to insinuate that climate change was not real, after which Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse torched Inhofe's argument. Steve Mirsky reports

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Air Force Space Command General on Keeping Space Collision-Free Feb 27, 2015

Gen. John Hyten, Commander, U.S. Air Force Space Command, talks about the task of tracking all the materials in orbit and keeping them from crashing into one another. Steve Mirsky and Larry Greenemeier report

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Britain Imported Wheat 2,000 Years before Growing It Feb 26, 2015

Sediments at a Britsh archaeological site include wheat remains dating back 8,000 years, meaning that Britons were bringing in European wheat two millennia before they grew it. Cynthia Graber reports

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Fishes' Lateral Lines Sense Pressure and Predators Feb 25, 2015

Flow sensors on the bodies of many fishes act like a hydrodynamic antenna, picking up signals about the flow of water around them. Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports

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Science Wins at the Oscars Feb 23, 2015

Science was in the spotlight at the 87th annual Academy Awards ceremony Sunday night, from actors playing scientists to winners thanking them. Steve Mirsky reports

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Beaver Teeth Have Iron Advantage Feb 23, 2015

Beaver enamel is rich in iron—which is even more effective than fluoride at staving off cavities. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Nectar Helps Bees’ Medicine Go Down Feb 20, 2015

In addition to fuel, nectar from various plant species contains chemical compounds that reduce the numbers of a common gut parasite in bumblebees. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Pot Munchies Explained By Re-Tasked Neurons Feb 19, 2015

Marijuana boosts users' appetities by changing the signals brain cells produce from sated to still hungry. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Hot Chili Peppers Motivate Mice to Burn Fat Feb 17, 2015

Rodents fed capsaicin voluntarily exercised more than their furry friends on a lower-heat diet. Karen Hopkin reports

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Humans off the Hook for Alaskan Mastodon Extinction Feb 16, 2015

A reexamination of museum mastodon specimens provides evidence that that last ones were gone from what's called the Beringia region well before any humans showed up. Emily Schwing reports

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Triskaidekaphobia Plays Role in Paraskevidekatriaphobia Feb 13, 2015

Some random historical facts about the number 13 may be behind some people's irrational aversion to Friday the 13th. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Contraception Could Prevent 15 Million Unwanted Pregnancies Annually Feb 12, 2015

Fifteen million unwanted pregnancies in 35 low- and middle-income countries could be avoided if women had access to and freedom to use contraception. Cynthia Graber reports

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Preindustrial Pollution Pestered Peru Feb 11, 2015

Ice cores show a sudden rise in heavy metal air pollution in South America 240 years before the industrial revolution, probably due to metallurgy and mining. Karen Hopkin reports

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Subway DNA Survey Finds Microbes, Mozzarella and Mystery Feb 10, 2015

Scientists sequenced genetic material found in all 468 New York City subway stations, and nearly half matched no known organism. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Newton Figured Out How Tree Sap Rises Feb 09, 2015

Buried in one of Isaac Newton's college notebooks is a page on which he fairly accurately theorizes on the process of transpiration in plants, two centuries before the concept was elucidated. Karen Hopkin reports

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Cities Could Win Economically by Losing Olympics Feb 06, 2015

According to sports economist Andrew Zimbalist, most cities that win the right to host the Olympics will spend far more to prepare for the games than they estimate in their winning bid. Steve Mirsky reports

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Drones Spy On Birds in Flight Feb 03, 2015

Quadcopters appear to be a relatively benign tool to study the behavior and numbers of wetland birds. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Save Libyan Archaeology Plea Issued Feb 02, 2015

Savino di Lernia, director of the Archaeological Mission in the Sahara at the Sapienza University of Rome, says violence and unrest threaten World Heritage sites and researchers. Cynthia Graber reports

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Super Bowl Team Cities See More Flu Deaths Jan 30, 2015

Regions that send a team to the Super Bowl saw on average an 18 percent increase in flu deaths among those over 65, probably because of increased transmission due to gatherings of people at parties during the height of the flu season. Karen Hopkin reports

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Climate Influences Language Evolution Jan 28, 2015

The ease with which certain sounds are produced in different climes plays a role in the development of spoken languages. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Gates CEO: Let's Shrink Maternal Mortality Jan 27, 2015

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Susan Desmond-Hellmann talks about some of what needs to be done to make a reality of the foundation's aspiration to cut maternal mortality by two thirds by 2030

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Snail's Venom Puts Fish in Insulin Coma Jan 26, 2015

The cone snail's venom contains not only neurotoxins, but insulin, too—which stuns the fish it preys on. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Tech Consequences Voiced by Carnegie Mellon Prez Jan 23, 2015

At the World Economic Forum, Carnegie Mellon president Subra Suresh talks about dealing with the unintended consequences of ever more sophisticated intelligent devices

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Diaper Material Expands Wee Microscope Views Jan 22, 2015

The absorbent material in disposable diapers can expand tissue samples, making more structure visible under light microscopes. Karen Hopkin reports

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Obama Talks Ebola and Climate in His SOTU Jan 21, 2015

In his State of the Union address, the president talked about the need for frameworks to be in place to stop future pandemics and rising worldwide temperatures

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Computer Snoopers Read Electromagnetic Emissions Jan 20, 2015

Researchers were able to track the keystrokes of a nearby computer via fluctuations in its electromagnetic radiation output. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Ex-President Wins Campaign against Ghastly Guinea Worm Jan 15, 2015

Jimmy Carter's efforts against the horribly painful guinea worm parasitic disease have helped lower the number of cases from 3.5 million in 1986 to just 126 last year. Steve Mirsky reports

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Antibiotics in Blood Can Make Malaria Mosquitoes Mightier Jan 13, 2015

The drugs disrupt mosquitoes' gut bacteria, which appears to make the insects more effective malaria vectors. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Health and Conservation Reminders Cut Consumer Energy Use Jan 12, 2015

Households that got weekly messages about the lower pollution they generated via efficiency cut energy use much more than did residents who were told how much money they were saving. Cynthia Graber reports

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Active Sun at Birth Cut Historical Life Spans Jan 09, 2015

High UV radiation during solar maxima may have degraded expectant mothers' stores of folate, a vitamin essential to development. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Making Evolution Make Microbes Make Products Jan 08, 2015

By selecting for bacteria that can survive only if they make a particular product of interest over multiple iterations, researchers vastly improved yields and decreased production times. Cynthia Graber reports

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Human Eye Sometimes Sees the Unseeable Jan 06, 2015

Under certain conditions people can catch a glimpse of usually invisible infrared light. Karen Hopkin reports

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E.T. May Reveal Itself with Vibration Jan 05, 2015

Looking for movement could complement chemical searches for extraterrestrial life. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Large Carnivores Getting Comfy in Europe Jan 02, 2015

Populations of big carnivores such as brown bears, Eurasian lynx, grey wolves and wolverines are stable or increasing in a substantial part of Europe. Cynthia Graber reports

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Lyme Helps Spread Other Tick Infections Dec 31, 2014

Mice infected with Lyme and the Babesia parasite are more likely to pass on babesiosis than mice infected with babesiosis alone. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Lightning May Sink Mountain Summits Dec 30, 2014

Magnetic anomalies in rocks indicate that lightning may be a major player in weathering mountains. Julia Rosen reports

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Budget Bill Stealthily Affects Environment and Energy Dec 23, 2014

Congress took advantage of the pressure to pass a budget bill by adding riders that change rules concerning the environment and energy. Josh Fischman reports

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Plankton Pee May Alter Ocean's Chemistry Dec 22, 2014

The urine of a vast army of tiny fish, jellies and shrimpy things may play an important role in the ocean's nitrogen cycle. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Penicillins Reveal Additional Antibacterial Power Dec 19, 2014

Penicillin and its relatives have been in wide use since the 1940s, but researchers have only now discovered another way that it thwarts bacteria. Karen Hopkin reports

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Short-Term Fasting Made Mice Healthier Dec 17, 2014

Mice that ate their entire food for the day in an eight-to-12-hour window had better markers for health than did mice free to eat whenever they wanted. Steve Mirsky reports

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Laser Zap Determines Fruit Ripeness Dec 15, 2014

The way fruit reflects and absorbs laser light may be a good measure of its progression toward peak ripeness. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Birds Roost on New Evolutionary Tree Dec 11, 2014

In a massive first-of-its-kind whole-genome analysis involving 48 bird species, researchers have created a new avian evolutionary tree. Steve Mirsky reports

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Canary out, Smartphone in for Gas Detection Dec 11, 2014

By using tiny carbon nanotubes tuned electronically to particular gases, researchers turned smartphones into toxin sensors. Cynthia Graber reports

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Quarter-Million Tons of Plastic Plague Oceans Dec 10, 2014

Based on trawling samples and visual observations of plastic debris, computer models calculate that some 5.25 trillion particles of plastic—about 269,000 tons—may litter the world's oceans. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Dumpster Diving Provides Drinking Data Dec 09, 2014

Researchers estimated alcohol consumption at a senior center by putting out recycling bins and counting the bottle contents. Karen Hopkin reports

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Summer Teen Jobs Cut Violence Dec 08, 2014

A study following teens who had summer jobs found violent crime in that population almost cut in half, during and following the employment. Cynthia Graber reports

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Poorer Kids May Be Too Respectful at School Dec 03, 2014

Working-class kids ask for help from teachers less often and less aggressively than do their middle-class counterparts

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Big Apple's Insects Eat Streets Clean Dec 02, 2014

Researchers working in New York City found that hungry urban arthropods help dispose of tons of edible trash. Allie Wilkinson reports

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Scientific American's 1930 Football Study Found Little Actual Action Nov 26, 2014

The Wall Street Journal found in 2010 that an NFL game has just 11 minutes of actual action. Eight decades earlier, Scientific American found just about the same thing

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Looking Back on 40 Years of Lucy Nov 25, 2014

Paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson's first glimpse of Lucy came on November 24, 1974

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Better Barley Let People Settle Tibetan Plateau Nov 21, 2014

Importation of a frost-resistant barley from the Fertile Crescent to Tibet some 3,600 years ago is associated with the advent of settlements at 3,000 meters and more above sea level. Cynthia Graber reports

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Worse Than the Bite Nov 20, 2014

A new study suggests bed bugs can transmit Chagas disease to mice—but the same thing is unlikely to happen in humans. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Semen Protects HIV from Microbicide Attack Nov 14, 2014

Microbicides that kill HIV in the lab often fail in clinical trials. A study finds that semen may be the culprit. Cynthia Graber reports

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Select Few Can Truly Drink to Their Health Nov 14, 2014

Alcohol's supposed benefit to the heart may only be available to people with the right genes. Christopher Intagliata reports

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"We Are on the Comet!" Nov 12, 2014

Some sounds from the Rosetta Mission team today after they succeeded in landing on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Steve Mirsky reports

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Microbiome Studies Contaminated by Sequencing Supplies Nov 11, 2014

Nonsterile lab reagents and DNA extraction kits add their own assortment of DNA to microbiome samples. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Young Earth May Have Been All Wet Nov 10, 2014

Because the chemical signature of water on Earth matches the signature of water in an ancient group of asteroids called eucrites, it means that Earth might have had water much earlier than previously thought. Julia Rosen reports

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Chimps Hit Sack with Breakfast Plans Nov 07, 2014

Chimps choose an overnight camp site based on the likelihood of finding calorically rich food nearby. Karen Hopkin reports

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Bats Jam Rivals’ Sonar to Steal a Meal Nov 06, 2014

Mexican free-tailed bats make calls that interfere with fellow bats’ echolocation, causing them to miss their insect targets. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Half-Century Anniversary of a Mars Mishap Nov 05, 2014

November 5th marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of Mariner 3, America’s first mission to Mars, which was lost in space. Steve Mirsky reports

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Button Battery Coating Lessens Risk If Swallowed Nov 03, 2014

Thousands of small children swallow tiny batteries each year. A new battery coating could protect kids from internal burns and still allow the batteries to work. Cynthia Graber reports

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Bacteria Lowers Mosquito Transmission of Malaria, Dengue Oct 31, 2014

Mosquitoes that harbor a soil microbe called Chromobacterium Csp_P have a harder time catching dengue virus and the malarial parasite. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Mammals Might Have Slept Through Dino Destroyer Oct 30, 2014

The ability to engage in extended hibernation might be what saved ancestral mammals from extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period. Karen Hopkin reports

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Online Personalization Means Prices Are Tailored to You, Too Oct 28, 2014

Christo Wilson, a computer scientist at Northeastern University, says prices online are "super subjective" and vary according to your past clicks and purchases or whether you are shopping on a mobile phone. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Fecal Transplanters Fish Out Key Ingredient Oct 22, 2014

The bacterium Clostridium scindens, a member of the gut’s microbiome, appears to ward off the hospital-acquired infection C. difficile. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Coyote Size Forces Smartness Oct 21, 2014

Topping out at about 20 kilograms, a coyote has to be able to hunt both smaller and bigger prey, and avoid being prey itself, a combination that selects for intelligence. Steve Mirsky reports

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Plant Thorns Increase When Defense Needed Oct 17, 2014

In areas with few herbivores acacia plants don't bother to churn out many of the off-putting thorns. Cynthia Graber reports

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Lemur Latrine Trees Serve as Community Bulletin Boards Oct 16, 2014

Primatologists spent almost 1,100 hours watching lemurs do their business on their designated tree and concluded that urine and glandular secretions serve as posted messages. Steve Mirsky reports

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Carnivorous Plant Inspires Anticlotting Medical Devices Oct 15, 2014

By copying aspects of the slick surfaces of insect-catching pitcher plants, researchers created tubes that can carry blood without promoting the formation of blood clots or bacterial attachment. Cynthia Graber reports

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Less Well-Off Donate Bigger Income Percentage Oct 13, 2014

Wealthier people on average gave a lower percentage to charity in 2012 than they did in 2006, while the less affluent increased their giving. Cynthia Graber reports

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To Walk, You Have to Fall in Step Oct 09, 2014

Motion-capture technology reveals that the body falls forward and sideways as we walk, and the feet come down to restore balance. Karen Hopkin reports

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2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Oct 08, 2014

Eric Betzig, Stefan W. Hell and William E. Moerner share the 2014 chemistry Nobel for the development of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy, which has enabled the study of single molecules in ongoing chemical reactions in living cells. Steve Mirsky reports

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2014 Nobel Prize in Physics Oct 07, 2014

Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura share the physics Nobel for the invention of efficient blue light–emitting diodes, which has enabled bright and energy-saving white light sources. Steve Mirsky reports

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2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Oct 06, 2014

John O'Keefe, May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser share the prize for their discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain. Steve Mirsky reports

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Reindeer Spit Smacks Down Plant Toxins Oct 03, 2014

Compounds in reindeer and moose saliva interfere with the production of toxins in plants that ordinarily stop animals from dining on the vegetation. Karen Hopkin reports

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Good Palm Oil Yields Could Be Bad News Oct 02, 2014

Increased palm oil yields could unintentionally have the effect of creating a bigger demand for land for even more palm oil planting. Cynthia Graber reports

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Central Park Features Worldwide Soil Microbes Oct 01, 2014

The soil in Manhattan's Central Park contains microbial life that also exists in deserts, frozen tundra, forests, rainforests and prairies. Steve Mirsky reports

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Sea Garbage Shows Ocean Boundaries Sep 30, 2014

Floating refuse reveals ocean currents that in turn show where the world's oceans mix and where they stay relatively discrete. Karen Hopkin reports

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Yeast Coaxed to Make Morphine Sep 29, 2014

Genetically manipulated yeast can produce morphine that could help get around the problems with poppy crops, which include climate, disease and war. Karen Hopkin reports

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Crustal Chemistry May Aid in Earthquake Prediction Sep 25, 2014

Researchers say chemical changes in groundwater may someday be used to predict quakes four to six months in advance. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Fire Cooked Up Early Human Culture Sep 24, 2014

An anthropologist studying current hunter–gatherers finds that nighttime around the fire is when conversation turns from business to bonding. Cynthia Graber reports

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I Got Rhythm, I Got Reading Sep 23, 2014

Kids who could keep a beat had superior skills related to reading and language than did those whose rhythm strayed. Cynthia Graber reports

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Dino Devastator Also Ravaged Veggies Sep 19, 2014

After the Chicxulub meteorite, more than half the plant species in temperate North America perished along with the dinosaurs, and the composition of post-impact vegetation changed markedly. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Genius Grant Goes to Science Historian Sep 17, 2014

New MacArthur Fellow Pamela Long studies the scientific revolution as a result of the interactions of academics and hands-on infrastructure engineers in the 15th and 16th centuries. Steve Mirsky reports

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Leopards Wolf Down Fido in India Ag Area Sep 16, 2014

A study of leopard droppings in agricultural western India reveals that the cats primarily eat domestic animals, mostly dogs, but only a small amount of livestock. Steve Mirsky reports

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Bio-Spleen Sucks Pathogens and Toxins from Blood Sep 15, 2014

The new device rids the blood of bacteria, fungi, viruses and toxins using nanoscale-size magnetic beads. Cynthia Graber reports

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Synthetic Fabrics Host More Stench-Producing Bacteria Sep 05, 2014

Micrococcus bacteria thrive on the open-air lattice of synthetic fibers—where they sit chomping on the fatty acids in our sweat, turning them into shorter, stinkier molecules. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Turtles Not Among the "Silent Majority" of Reptiles Sep 04, 2014

Biologists have identified at least 11 different sounds in the turtle repertoire—but they still have no idea what they mean. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Chimp Chatter Now up for Eavesdropping Sep 03, 2014

Researchers from the Netherlands have made available online a digitized catalogue of more than 10 hours’ worth of chimpanzee calls. Karen Hopkin reports

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Most Tibetans Genetically Adapted to the High Life Sep 02, 2014

Ninety percent of Tibetans share a genetic mutation that prevents their blood from becoming dangerously clogged with red blood cells at high altitudes—a response that can be deadly for non-native mountaineers. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Narcissists Self-Involved Enough to Recognize Their Narcissism Sep 01, 2014

The simple question “To what extent do you agree with this statement: I am a narcissist” is about as good at identifying narcissists as a 40-question clinical assessment. Erika Beras reports

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How Asteroid 1950 DA Keeps It Together Aug 29, 2014

The kilometer-size rubble pile appears to be held together by van der Waals forces. Karen Hopkin reports

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Pump Up the Bass—and Maybe Your Confidence Aug 28, 2014

Study volunteers who had listened to bass-heavy music were more likely to act dominant or aggressive in games and debates. Erika Beras reports

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Stressed Women Burn Fewer Comfort Food Calories Aug 27, 2014

Women who reported feeling stressed or depressed burned fewer calories after a calorie-packed meal than mellow women. Erika Beras reports.

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Habitat Loss a Real Buzzkill for Invertebrates Aug 26, 2014

The number of invertebrates has fallen by nearly half over the past 35 years—the same period of time in which the human population has doubled. Karen Hopkin reports

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Soccer Goalies Ignore Basic Rule of Probability Aug 25, 2014

When penalty shots repeatedly head in one direction, world-class goalkeepers are more likely to lunge the other way. Karen Hopkin reports

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Finally, an Algorithm to Sort Your Beatles Albums Aug 22, 2014

By analyzing the evolving structure of the Beatles’ music, the computer program was able to correctly place the Fab Four’s albums in chronological order. Karen Hopkin reports

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Sack Sulfates to Preserve Sewers Aug 21, 2014

Sulfates used in water treatment become sulfuric acid in our sewers, eating away at the concrete infrastructure. Cynthia Graber reports.

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Bio-Battery Produces Power from Your Perspiration Aug 20, 2014

Exercising in the future could make dirty clothes and some clean energy. Karen Hopkin reports

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Lose Your Job? Good for the Rest of Us Aug 19, 2014

Recession lowers mortality in the population overall—even as the out-of-work individual’s risk of death rises. Karen Hopkin reports

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Nose Knows What the Mind Tells It Aug 18, 2014

When people with asthma think they’re smelling something noxious, their airways become inflamed—even when the odor is harmless. Karen Hopkin reports

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Tiny Toe Tools Ensure Gecko Traction Aug 15, 2014

To activate or loosen their grip on a surface, geckos extend and angle or retract tiny toe hairs that create contact points. Clara Moskowitz reports

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Guys Prefer Electric Shocks to Boredom Aug 13, 2014

Guys would rather zap themselves with electricity than be left alone with their thoughts for 15 minutes. Karen Hopkin reports

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Google Searches Linked to Stock Market Moves Aug 12, 2014

When Web searches related to business and politics go up, the market tends to take a dive—although that connection may already be fading. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Andromeda Snickers at Milky Way Mass Aug 06, 2014

A new estimate finds that the Milky Way, once thought to be twice as massive as Andromeda, may actually only have half our neighbor galaxy's mass. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Spider's Scat Disguise May Be Its Salvation Aug 05, 2014

Masquerading as a bird turd appears to protect certain arachnids from getting eaten by wasps. Karen Hopkin reports

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System Converts Solar Efficiently to Steam Aug 04, 2014

A graphite disk resting on carbon foam collects sunlight to heat water directly to steam with 85 percent efficiency. Cynthia Graber reports

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Environment Has Beef with Beef Aug 01, 2014

Raising beef uses 28 times more land, 11 times more water and six times more fertilizer than the average expenditures for other livestock. Cynthia Graber reports

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Pack Rats Expand Diet with New Gut Bacteria Jul 31, 2014

Pack rats given the right gut bacteria via a fecal transplant from other pack rats can then digest foods that they formerly could not, but the donors could. Karen Hopkin reports

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Colorful Birds Can Also Belt Tunes Jul 30, 2014

A survey of the tanagers reveals that birds do not have to choose between colorful plumage and a melodious song. Karen Hopkin reports

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Roach Reactions to Venom Point to Targeted Pesticides Jul 29, 2014

Small changes in the protein sequence of sodium channels of American compared with German cockroaches leave the latter susceptible to a venom that has little effect on the former. Cynthia Graber reports

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Ocean Plastic Particles Could Get in Gills Jul 28, 2014

Sea creatures eat plastic dumped in the ocean, but they also might be accumulating plastic by sucking up tiny particles with their siphons and gills. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Salmonella's Favorite Food Could Be Its Achilles' Heel Jul 23, 2014

Salmonella's primary fuel source is the molecule fructose-asparagine. Starving it of that fuel in an infected person could kill it without harming beneficial gut bacteria. Karen Hopkin reports

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Education Level Linked to Nearsightedness Jul 21, 2014

In a German study, half of those with a university degree were myopic compared with less than a quarter of folks who quit after high school or secondary school. Karen Hopkin reports

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Give Us This Day the Bread Wheat Genome Jul 17, 2014

A preliminary map of the bread wheat genome includes the locations of more than 75,000 genes. Cynthia Graber reports

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Supercooled Organs Could Stretch Time to Transplant Jul 09, 2014

Liver transplant time from human donor to patient is limited to 12 hours, but rats that got livers specially stored for three days were going strong three months later. Cynthia Graber reports

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Space-Based Data Collection Better Predicts Floods Jul 08, 2014

Satellite data can help geologists predict major floods up to 11 months in advance in areas where snow melt or groundwater is a significant contributor. Cynthia Graber reports

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Mobile Phones Carry Owners' Microbiomes Jul 02, 2014

The bacteria found on someone's mobile phone is a good match for the most common kinds of bacteria that live on their hands. Christopher Intagliata reports

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Malarial Mice Smell Better to Mosquitoes Jul 01, 2014

Mice infected with the parasites that cause their type of malaria produce odorous compounds that attract mosquitoes, increasing the odds that the parasites will be spread to the next victims

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Neandertal Diners Had Side of Veggies Jun 27, 2014

By analyzing what came out of Neandertals, researchers have verified that at least some of them mixed vegetation into their meaty diet. Cynthia Graber reports

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21-Second Rule Governs Mammal Micturition Jun 25, 2014

All mammals that weigh more than about six-and-a-half pounds take about the same time to urinate, thanks to the structure of the urethra. Karen Hopkin reports

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Dwarf Galaxies Really Cooking with Gas Jun 25, 2014

The smallest galaxies in the universe gave rise to an unexpectedly large proportion of stars. Karen Hopkin reports

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Cool Kids Get Schooled with Age Jun 23, 2014

Kids deemed cool in early adolescence have a poor chance to keep that status by their early 20s, because their behavior gets old. Erika Beras reports

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White Bread May Actually Build Strong Bodies 1 Way Jun 20, 2014

The guts of white bread eaters appear to contain more lactobacillus, a type of bacteria that wards off digestive disorders. Karen Hopkin reports

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Plant Spores Hitch Long-Distance Feather Rides Jun 18, 2014

Tiny spores from mosses, algae and lichens can stick in bird feathers, travel from the Arctic to the bottom of South America and grow into whole new specimens. Erika Beras reports

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Jellyfish Galaxies Get Guts Ripped Out Jun 17, 2014

Recently discovered galaxies shaped like jellyfish leave a long trail of hot gas and dust, victims of even hotter gas from their surrounding cluster of galaxies

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2-Face Moon Tells How It Got That Way Jun 13, 2014

A new analysis says that the asymmetry between the two faces of the moon is due to crust thickness differences that resulted from variable cooling rates after the molten formation of our companion. Karen Hopkin reports

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Classroom Decorations Can Distract Young Students Jun 11, 2014

Five-year-olds in highly decorated classrooms were less able to hold their focus, spent more time off-task and had smaller learning gains than kids in bare rooms. Erika Beras reports

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Kid Scientist Finds Sweet Pest Control Jun 10, 2014

Eleven-year-old Simon Kaschock-Marenda's science fair project led to a publication about the insecticidal effects of the sweetener Truvia. Karen Hopkin reports

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Light Colors Become Fashion Rage for Northern Europe's Insects Jun 09, 2014

As northern Europe warms, the light-colored butterflies and dragonflies typically found in the Mediterranean are moving north, and outcompeting their darker-colored rivals. Erika Beras reports

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London Fish Chip Away at Historical Unknowns Jun 06, 2014

Isotope composition within fish tails found in London archaeological digs shows that the city began importing cod from northern Scandinavia some 800 years ago. Cynthia Graber reports

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Meteor Storm Went from Sizzle to Fizzle Jun 04, 2014

The May Camelopardalids meteor outburst turned out to be a dud, because meteor storm prediction is not a sure thing, unlike, for example, calculating the next eclipse

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