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 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
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
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
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
Why Humidity Makes Your Hair Curl
Humid air causes hydrogen bonds to form between water molecules and the proteins in your hair, triggering curls and frizz
April 12, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Revealed: The Part of Our Brains That Makes Us Like New Music
Imaging technology shows that a reward center known as the nucleus accumbens lights up when we hear melodies we love
April 11, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Researchers Turn Brains Transparent By Sucking Out the Fat
By turning brains clear and applying colored dyes, connections between neuron networks can now be examined in 3D at unprecedented levels of detail
April 10, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Video: Researchers Produce Human Tissue-Like Material Using 3D Printing
Using droplets coated in oil as "ink," a 3D printer can construct a network of synthetic cells that mimics brain and fat tissue
April 04, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
Scientists Figure Out What You See While You’re Dreaming
A learning algorithm, coupled with brain scans, was able to predict the images seen by dreamers with a 60 percent accuracy
April 04, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
A Survey of the 161 Bacterial Families That Live on Your Fruits and Veggies
The first-ever sequencing of the "produce microbiome" reveals that grapes, peaches and sprouts host the largest diversity of harmless bacteria
March 27, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
