Natural Sciences
The natural sciences seek to understand the universe by studying its physical, chemical and biological processes
What Can Bees Teach Us About Gang Warfare?
In Los Angeles, an anthropologist is using equations to teach police about how street gangs operate
April 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Scientists Are Trying to Create a Temperature Below Absolute Zero
If you can’t break the laws of physics, work around them
April 2013 |
By Tom Siegfried
When an Iceberg Melts, Who Owns the Riches Beneath the Ocean?
The promise of oil has heated up a global argument over the Arctic’s true borders
April 2013 |
By Amy Crawford
The Unintended (and Deadly) Consequences of Living in the Industrialized World
Scientists believe dirt could explain why some of the wealthiest countries suffer from afflictions rarely seen in less-developed nations
April 2013 |
By Andrew Curry
Michael Pollan, World War II and More Recent Books Out This Month
Read about the transformation of food and what happens to it once its in the digestive system
April 2013 |
By Chloë Schama
How Much Water Is in a Cloud and More Questions From Our Readers
Imaginary numbers, Roy Lichtenstein and much much more
April 2013 |
By Smithsonian magazine
The Greening of the Arctic is Underway
As the climate changes, trees and shrubs are poised to take over tundra and alter the Arctic's ecosystems
March 31, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Marshmallows: The Perfect Media for Demonstrating Principles of Physics
The gooey confections turn out to be a must-have for at-home science experiments
March 29, 2013 |
By Mohi Kumar
This Microbe Isn’t Either Male or Female, It Has Seven Options to Choose Between
This little protozoa has seven different "mating types"
March 29, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
What Major World Cities Look Like at Night, Minus the Light Pollution
Photographer Thierry Cohen tries to reconnect city dwellers with nature through his mind-blowing composite images—now at New York City's Danziger Gallery
March 29, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
Microbes Buried Deep in Ocean Crust May Form World’s Largest Ecosystem
Far below the ocean floor, scientists have discovered a microbial community away from undersea vents, beyond the reach of the sun
March 29, 2013 |
By Hannah Waters
Greenland’s Glaciers Are Hemorrhaging Ice, Best Seen By Photos from Space
Satellites snap pictures of Greenland's glaciers, which a new study shows are vanishing at an accelerated pace, helping to spike global sea levels
March 29, 2013 |
By Claire Martin
Baby-Making Efforts May Produce Best Results in Winter And Early Spring
Men produce more and healthier sperm during this time of year
March 28, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Astronomers Discover Baby Supernovae
This new type of mini-supernova doesn't destroy the star
March 28, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Dinosaurs Have Feathers, Sure, But We May Have Got the Colors All Wrong
Dinosaurs had colorful plumage, but the palette may have been all wrong
March 28, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Rare Crane Gets a Prosthetic Leg, Joins Hoard of Amazing Animal Prosthesis Users
Animal prosthetics are far behind our human blades, but they're making strides
March 28, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Methane on the Breath Is an Indication of Obesity
Manipulating the gut microbes that cause obesity's smell may help researchers figure out ways to help patients lose weight
March 28, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Fast-Melting Arctic Ice Caused Massive Spring Snowstorms
Record lows of Arctic sea ice also accounts for last year's unusually warm spring
March 28, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Nobody Chews Like You Chew
There are a few things that are distinct to every person—her fingerprints, voice, particular way of walking, and, it turns out, the way she chews
March 27, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Landslide “Quakes” Give Clues to the Location and Size of Debris Flows
Scientists can now quickly assess characteristics of a landslide soon after slopes fail, based on its seismic signature
March 27, 2013 |
By Mohi Kumar
