Natural Sciences
The natural sciences seek to understand the universe by studying its physical, chemical and biological processes
Cavemen Used Some of the Same Words We Do
Our modern language still has some remnants of the grunting cavemen who came before us
May 07, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
How Many Weddings Will the Cicadas Ruin This Summer?
Late spring is when the 17 year cicadas come out. It also happens to be a popular time for weddings
May 07, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Nearly 4,500 Kids Are Injured on Amusement Park Rides Each Year
Based on current trends in the amusement park market, these injury numbers probably won't go down any time soon
May 06, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
On the International Space Station, Glow-in-the-Dark Plants Let You Know When They’re Stressed
To fight climate change or to grow crops in space, we need to know how plants respond to stress
May 06, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
One Upside to Drought: the Fewest Tornadoes in the U.S. in At Least 60 Years
No water in the air means less fuel for tornadoes
May 06, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
You Think the NFL Has Brain Injury Problems? The Military Has it Way Worse
Thousands of soldiers return home from cobalt with traumatic brain injuries - many without even realizing it
May 06, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
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
Is It Ever OK To Euthanize a Baby?
In Holland, some doctors and parents say the answer is yes
May 03, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Creepy or Cool? Portraits Derived From the DNA in Hair and Gum Found in Public Places
Artist Heather Dewey-Hagborg reconstructs the faces of strangers from genetic evidence she scavenges from the streets
May 03, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
The Cicadas are Coming, And So Are the Terrifying Spores That Eat Them Alive
The cicadas have been waiting for 17 years. This deadly fungus has been waiting for them
May 03, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
It’s Fine to Eat Standing Up
Should we add eating standing up to the list of food no-no's? It's unclear, science says
May 02, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Five Innovative Technologies that Bring Energy to the Developing World
From soccer balls to cookstoves, engineers are working on a range of devices that provide cheap, clean energy
May 02, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Breast Milk Protein Could Help Fight Superbug
By delivering antibiotics alongside a protein found in breast milk, researchers could fight MRSA in mice
May 02, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Want to See How an Artist Creates a Painting? There’s an App for That
The Repentir app reveals an artist's creative process by allowing users to peel back layers of paint with the touch of their fingertips
May 02, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
Some Shoppers Actively Avoid ‘Green’ Products
While energy efficiency and green labeling is a popular marketing strategy today, this strategy can polarize some conservative customers
May 02, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
High Fructose Corn Syrup May Be Partly Responsible for Bees’ Collapsing Colonies
High fructose corn syrup, the sugary compound in soda, is also fed to bees
May 01, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
IBM Engineers Pushed Individual Atoms Around to Make This Amazing Stop-Motion Movie
IBM was the first to draw with atoms, and now they're making them dance
May 01, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Physicists to Shoot Extremely Fast-Moving Electrons at Dinosaur Skin Fossil
The actual color of dinosaur skin is still very much up for debate
May 01, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
What is Causing Iran’s Spike in MS Cases?
Vitamin D deficiency from lack of sunlight could be an unexpected long-term consequence of the Iranian revolution
May 2013 |
By Libby Copeland


