Behavior
Emotions, perception and the biological processes of living organisms
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
Math Prodigy Shakuntala Devi, ‘The Human Computer,’ Dies at 83
In 1977, Devi faced off against a computer in a speed calculation race. She won twice.
April 23, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Which Primate Is the Most Likely Source of the Next Pandemic?
To help anticipate the next outbreak of an emerging infectious disease, scientists scrutinize our closest relatives in the animal kingdom
April 22, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Fathers Recognize Their Babies’ Cries Just as Well as Mothers
A new study shows that fathers and mothers are equally capable at knowing their infant's unique cry—if both contribute to parenting equally
April 16, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Five Surprising Facts About the Common Cold
How far do germs travel after a sneeze? Can you really catch a cold if it's chilly outside? And does vitamin C actually help battle cold symptoms?
April 15, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
Merely a Taste of Beer Can Trigger a Rush of Chemical Pleasure in the Brain
New research shows just a sip can cause the potent neurotransmitter dopamine to flood the brain
April 15, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
