New Research

The algorithm ranked the "The Scream" by Edvard Munch as a highly creative work of its time.

History’s Most Creative Paintings, As Picked by a Computer

Some masters got snubbed

Polar Bears are Eating Dolphins, Probably Thanks to Climate Change

A warmer winter lured a pod of white-beaked dolphins north but then ice trapped them, sealing their fate as a polar bear's meal

Dinosaurs likely weren't around to witness this lovely view from the rim of the Grand Canyon.

Dinosaurs (Probably) Never Saw the Grand Canyon

The canyon likely didn't exist in time to be a hang out for giant lizards

Saturn’s largest ring as spotted by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope in 2009

Saturn’s Rings Extend Farther Than Thought — Nearly 4 Million Miles From the Planet

The outermost ring is dark and dusty

Here’s Why Americans Waste So Much Food

Spoiler alert: desire for freshness, fear of food poisoning play a role

New research suggests hawkmoths, like the one pictured above, slow down their brain's ability to process light in order to see at night.

Hovering Hawkmoths Slow Down Their Brains to See in the Dark

The insects’ night vision appears to be finely tuned to the movement of their flower food sources

How Much Water Did Rome’s Aqueducts Really Carry?

Not as much as previously thought

Surprise, surprise. The best campfires are as tall as they are wide.

How to Build the Perfect Campfire

Science confirms that the best way to build a campfire really is the best way to build a campfire

West African Chimps Regularly Drink Alcoholic Palm Sap

Observations over 17 years show this isn’t just an experiment for the apes

Probiotics for cancer detection

The Same Probiotic That’s In Your Yogurt Could Detect Liver Cancer

Take a dose of this bacteria, genetically altered by scientists at MIT, and your urine will glow if liver cancer is present

This Computer Runs on Water

A new class of computers takes advantage of the physical properties of water

Researchers Are Training Robots Using Minecraft

The popular game helps robots learn real-world skills

An eight-week old human fetus attached to its placenta

There’s no Sound Evidence That Placenta Eating is a Good Idea

The scientific literature is skimpy and the organ’s biology indicates there might be reasons to abstain

Chimpanzees Can Learn to Cook

Given a microwave-like tool, chimpanzees become chefs

Snail shells found in Lebanon indicate humans were using modern tools before they reached Europe

Tools Weren’t Invented in Europe, They Were Carried There 50,000 Years Ago

Analysis of shells and human bones from a site in Lebanon suggests modern tools were in use

The Tallest Muir Woods Redwood Is Way Younger Than Scientists Expected

New dating studies show the tree is only 777 years old

The Grevy's zebra (left) and the plains zebra may be tough to tell apart—until you examine their dietary preferences via their poop.

Big African Animals Are Pickier Eaters Than We Imagined

To the surprise of ecologists, plant-eaters manage to coexist on the savanna by each choosing different favorite foods

Every latrine has it's own unique smell.

These Perfumers Are Analyzing the Stench of Toilets

Fair warning: Toilet chemistry is not for the faint of stomach

Scientists Have Finally Figured Out Why Swiss Cheese Has Holes

No, it's not gas from bacteria

60 NASA Scientists are Trying to Build a Better Parachute

The Supreme Council of Parachute Experts wants to construct a parachute that can help a heavier craft land on Mars

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