Stretchy Origami
Engineers develop a rubbery substance that changes shape under the influence of heat or light.
Mosquitoes, Mating & Malaria
The mating habits of malarial mosquitoes may help spread the disease.
Traumatic Dining Reviews
Analysis of bad restaurant reviews in Yelp reveals that dining can be as much about human interactions as food.
Slosh-stopping Foam
Engineers discover what waiters and bartenders have known for centuries: foam keeps drinks from sloshing.
Language of Speed Dating
A linguist looks at the dynamics of speed dating.
Forecasting Terrorism
A computer scientist finds predictable patterns in terrorist attacks.
Bluebirds & Fire
Bluebird mothers control their sons’ ability to compete for habitat in post-fire habitat.
Marine Debris Tracker
A smartphone app allows citizen scientists to track litter that makes its way into our waterways.
Planetary Boundaries Framework
Scientists define environmental limits within which humanity can continue to thrive on earth.
Chronic Pain Imaging
Researchers are imaging the brain’s microglial cells to get a better handle on the causes of chronic pain.
Ocean Plastics
Middle income countries with underdeveloped waste-management infrastructures contribute disproportionately to plastic debris that ends up in the …
Information-Centric Networking
According to some experts, the internet would be more efficient if data was labeled by its content rather than its location on a server.
Waving to Aliens
Is it time to actively signal civilizations that might exist beyond earth?
Snail & Fungi Roundup
Batteries from snail shell proteins and medicines from carnivorous mushrooms.
Dolphin Name Game
Each bottlenose dolphin makes up its own signature whistle early in life that functions much like a name.
False Memories
The brain creates – and then reinforces – memories of events that never really happened.
Internal Brain Maps
To find their way around, animals have specialized neurons that fire in response to specific locations in the environment.
Avian Athletes
Scientists are learning from birds’ amazing metabolisms to help human athletes perform better on the ground.
Scorpion Medicine
Toxins from scorpions could lead to new drugs for neuromuscular disorders and cardiovascular disease.
Science News Roundup
A roundup of science news stories including making ethanol from nitrogen out of thin air, and an uptick in mercury levels in tuna.
Resilient Reefs
Researchers apply principles of agricultural science to conserve coral reefs.
The Thirsty Brain
Neuroscientists have identified key brain circuits responsible for thirst.
Bears & Ants
Bears’ fondness for six-legged snacks is shaping a mountain ecosystem.