Behavior
Emotions, perception and the biological processes of living organisms
Discovered: The Molecule Responsible for Itchiness
A neurotransmitter called Nppb, we now know, plays a vital role in the sensation of an itch—and removing it can prevent itchiness entirely
May 23, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Doctors Use a Dissolvable 3D-Printed Tracheal Splint to Save a Baby’s Life
An infant's collapsing airway now has a device holding it open; as his tissue strengthens, the splint will be absorbed into his body
May 22, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Heinrich Rohrer, Father of Nanotechnology, Dies at 79
Heinrich Rohrer, winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physics, passed away last week at the age of 79
May 22, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
So Long, Kepler: NASA’s Crack Exoplanet-Hunter Falls to Mechanical Failure
Kepler has changed our place in the universe, but now the four-year old satellite is down with a broken wheel
May 16, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
E. Coli Can Survive the Freezing Cold Winter Hidden in Manure
Even the harsh Canadian winter can't kill these hardy bacteria
May 15, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Solving an Alligator Mystery May Help Humans Regrow Lost Teeth
A gator can replace all of its teeth up to 50 times--learning what triggers these new teeth to grow may someday keep us from needing dentures
May 13, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
How Often Does the Oldest Person in the World Die?
Every so often you hear about the oldest person in the world dying, but how often does this actually happen?
May 13, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
How the Human Brain Tracks a 100-mph Fastball
Research shows that our brains have a specialized system to anticipate the location of moving objects, located in the visual cortex
May 08, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
What Happens When a Keyboard Goes From Tactile to Touchscreen?
There's a word for that odd quirk of Apple iPads that hold on to design components of old keyboards
May 08, 2013 |
By Jimmy Stamp
Ray Harryhausen, the Godfather of Stop Motion Animation, Dies
Producer and animator Ray Harryhausen, who invented a kind of stop motion model animation called 'dynamation,' died today
May 07, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Are Modern Football Helmets Any Safer than Old-School Leather Ones?
Recent testing shows that, contrary to prior findings, new plastic helmets reduce the risk of concussions by 45 to 96 percent
May 07, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Heavy Metals, Insects and Other Weird Things Found in Lipstick Through Time
From seaweed and beetles to lead and synthetic chemicals, lipstick has seen its share of strange—and dangerous—components
May 03, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
Why Asparagus Makes Your Urine Smell
Our bodies convert asparagusic acid into sulfur-containing chemicals that stink—but some of us are spared from the pungent odor
May 03, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Mary Thom, Feminist, Historian and Editor, Dies in Motorcycle Crash at 68
Mary Thom, feminist editor, writer and behind-the-scenes activist, died earlier this week in a motorcycle accident in Yonkers
April 30, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
In 2010, Malaria Killed 660,000 People, And Now It’s Resistant to the Drugs We Use to Fight It
Scientists have discovered a drug-resistant strain of malaria, and it's spreading
April 29, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Cops Could Soon Use Breathalyzers to Test for Illegal Drugs
Swedish researchers are developing a system that tests for 12 different drugs on your breath, including cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines
April 26, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Why Women Like Deep Voices and Men Prefer High Ones
We find different pitches attractive because of the body size they signal—and a touch of breathiness is crucial to take the edge off deep voices in men
April 24, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
For Some Species, You Really Are What You Eat
Flamingos, shrimp and many other animals use chemical compounds found in their diets to color their exteriors
April 24, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
Heart Attacks May Be Linked to Air Pollution
Research conducted in six U.S. cities shows a connection between prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter in the air and a faster hardening of the arteries
April 23, 2013 |
By Claire Martin
