False Memories
People may not be able to pick out what memories are real and which are imagined, but the brain knows.
Flying Bacteria
Scientists show for the first time that bacteria in the air are active
Hominid Diet
Old bone tools reveal that ancient ape-men may have dined on tasty termites.
DNA Heritage
Can DNA testing reveal your ethnic heritage? (yes and no-- it can reveal heritage if special markers are present-- and they're not always present, …
Neurotic Immunity
How neurosis can lead to a depressed immune system and more sickness
Exhaust Steam
Why do our cars spit out white steam before they're warmed up? (because when the car is relatively, the steam produced is quickly cooled and condenses …
Listening to Lightning
Using radio waves from lightning to learn about the atmosphere
Nervous Stomach
Why does your stomach get upset when you're nervous? (tension in stomach muscle, just like you can get a tension headache-- a muscle spasm)
Dog Belly Button
Do dogs have a belly button? (yes, look for the hair whorl on his tummy)
Jupiter Sings
The Cassini spacecraft recorded radio waves broadcast by Jupiter.
Cold Skin
Why does the hair on our body stand up in extreme cold? (Vestigial response from when humans had more hair.)
Sponge Drug
A compound from a sea sponge that kills cancer cells has been synthesized in the lab for the first time.
Sneezing and Sleeping
Why can you wake up coughing but not sneezing? (The histamine system shuts down.)
Picture Passwords
Picture-style passwords offer greater security than traditional passwords and PINs.
Musical Tastes
People with frontotemporal dementia can show unusual switches in musical taste.
Menthol
What medicinal value does menthol have? (Stimulates cold receptors to distract us from pain.)