Natural Sciences
The natural sciences seek to understand the universe by studying its physical, chemical and biological processes
One Man’s Seven-Year March Along Ancient Migration Routes
This past Sunday, journalist Paul Salopek began his walk from Ethiopia to Patagonia
January 11, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Dyscalculia, Like Dyslexia for Numbers, Could Explain Why You Suck at Math
For some, knowing whether 5 is greater than 2 is a difficult task
January 11, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Scorchingly Hot 2012 Riddled With Extreme Weather
Drought, heatwaves, cyclones--even a tornado in Hawaii--mark last year as one filled with record-breaking severe weather
January 11, 2013 |
By Claire Martin
Mouse Moms Force Mouse Dads To Care for Their Kids
Female mice have tricks for encouraging the otherwise absentee father of their offspring to care and get involved in child-tending
January 11, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Earth Escapes Most Dangerous Asteroid (That We Know About)
Once given a 1-in-45 chance of smacking into the Earth, the odds are now effectively zero
January 11, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Preparing for a Mission to Mars Is Dangerously Boring
One of the biggest challenges to a Mars mission is just how long it takes to get there
January 11, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
A Breathalyzer Test for Bacterial Infections
A new approach to detecting lung infections could be faster and less invasive
January 11, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
The Flu That’s Laying the Country Low Waited Nine Years to Strike
It's flu season again, but this year the bug going around isn't just your average illness
January 10, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
How Dangerous Is Hitting Another Human Being With Your Head?
How much damage does head butting really do?
January 10, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Raccoons Are Getting Brain Cancer From a Previously Unknown Virus
A new cancer-causing virus is affecting U.S. raccoons
January 10, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
How Hot is That Pepper? How Scientists Measure Spiciness
How does the Scoville Scale rate the relative spiciness of a chili pepper?
January 10, 2013 |
By Twilight Greenaway
Beautiful Artwork Cut Out of Feathers
A clever artist uses a scalpel and tweezers to cut beautiful bird silhouettes out of feathers
January 10, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
Drill, Baby, Drill: Sponges Bore Into Shells Twice as Fast in Acidic Seawater
In acidic water, drilling sponges damage scallops twice as quickly, worsening the effects of ocean acidification.
January 10, 2013 |
By Hannah Waters
Gonorrhea Mutates Into Treatment-Resistant Superbug
The world may be at the brink of an epidemic of drug-resistent gonorrhea, though simply using condoms could save the day
January 09, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Now Accepting Applications for Mars Colonists
The 2023 move, by the way, is permanent
January 09, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Australia is Burning, And It’s Only Going to Get Worse as the World Warms
Across Australia wildfires are raging. And yes, there is a climate connection
January 09, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Is Climate Change Strengthening El Niño?
New research on Pacific corals that trace climate patterns back 7,000 years shows how recent El Niños compare with those of the past
January 09, 2013 |
By Claire Martin
Therapeutic Poop Goes Synthetic
The synthetic feces is less icky than the natural variety and is a "super probiotic," aptly named RePOOPulate
January 09, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
There Goes the Ecosystem: Alien Animals Invade Antarctica
Humanity is well on its way to screwing up Antarctic and the Southern Ocean in addition to the warmer corners of the world
January 09, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
You Can’t Throw a Rock in the Milky Way Without Hitting an Earth-Like Planet
A new estimate says there are 17 billion Earth-like planets in the Milky Way
January 08, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
