Star Distance
Astronomers calculate the distance to the furthest stars by comparing them to stars they know.
Microgrippers
Tiny, untethered microgrippers could track down and retrieve hard-to-reach tissue samples.
Pricey WIne
The price of a wine arbitrarily influences how pleasurable it is to drink.
Deafness & Brain Structure
The brain architecture for processing sound is the same in deaf people as in hearing people.
Gifted & Overlooked
New research shows that gifted and talented programs overlook qualified black and Hispanic kids.
Musician’s Dystonia
Neuroscientists are looking for the roots of musician’s dystonia, a condition similar to writer’s cramp.
Older Minds
The poorly focused mind may hold advantages in some kinds of problem-solving.
Robotic Motivation
A human-powered robotic exoskeleton could help stroke patients stay motivated during rehab.
Hurricanes & Heart Attacks
Did Hurricane Katrina increase heart attacks in New Orleans?
The Ticklish Brain
Researchers find that tickled rats display complex emotional responses similar to those of children.
Genome Analysis
Scientists strive to mine meaningful information out of an avalanche of genetic data.
Transdermal Drug Delivery
Cold plasma may open up the skin to no-needle drug delivery.
Ivory Forensics
Chemical analysis of poached ivory reveals that elephant slaughter is massive and recent.
Oil Boom Earthquakes
Did early 20th century oil wells in southern California trigger major earthquakes?
Smoking Gene Mutations
Researchers discover that the DNA mutations by which smoking causes cancer are more complicated than previously thought.
Airborne Swifts
Small birds called common swifts remain airborne for months at a time.
Referee Vision
A referee’s success depends on knowing what to focus on, and what to ignore.
Scary Monsters
A listener wonders why we fear irrational things when there are plenty of real threats out there.
Chimpanzees & Bonobos
Even though the Congo River keeps them apart today, chimpanzees and bonobos managed to interbreed several times in the past.
Seeking Out Fear
The science of human fear is much more complex than is commonly thought.
Restoring Touch
Scientists are learning the complex nerve signals that allow us to experience the sensation of touch.