Could Diet Soda Cause Clinical Depression?
A new study suggests a link, but it's important to remember the difference between causation and correlation
January 08, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Are Babies Born Good?
New research offers surprising answers to the age-old question of where morality comes from
January 2013 |
By Abigail Tucker
Does Deep Space Travel Cause Alzheimer’s?
A new study indicates that the levels of radiation astronauts would experience over the course of a deep space mission could lead to dementia
December 31, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Remember These Titans of Science Who Died in 2012
From the inventor of the barcode to the discoverer of how cancer spreads, we take a look at the brilliant minds who shaped our culture and modern way of life
December 29, 2012 |
By Mohi Kumar
Why Do We Blink So Frequently?
New research indicates that the brain enters a momentary state of wakeful rest when we blink, perhaps allowing us to focus better afterward
December 24, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Marijuana Isn’t a Pain Killer—It’s a Pain Distracter
A new study finds that under the influence of marijuana, the same levels of pain are simply less bothersome
December 20, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Quirky Holiday Gift Ideas for Science Nerds
A roundup of unique (if impractical) science gifts, from glass anatomical models to retro adding machines
December 07, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
How Weather Models and Google Could Help Forecast Flu Season
Principles from the weather models that predicted Sandy a week ahead of time might be used to warn about the flu before it arrives
November 27, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
New Device Digitally Projects Braille Directly onto Blind Patient’s Retina
The system uses surgically implanted electrodes so that a blind person can "see" the letters
November 22, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Why You’ll Still Have Room for Pie After Turkey and Stuffing
Scientists say the hormone ghrelin can drive us to eat high-calorie foods like desserts, even on a full stomach
November 20, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Images on Cigarette Packs Are Scarier to Smokers Than Text Warnings
A new study shows that nothing scares a smoker away from taking another puff more than a picture of how a body will look like after a lifetime of doing so
November 14, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
In Study, iPads and Readers Help Those With Vision Loss Read Faster
Researchers say that the larger fonts and backlights available on tablets help improve reading speeds
November 12, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
In Experiments, Caffeine Accelerates the Brain’s Verbal Processing
A new study shows that the equivalent of a few cups of coffee can help us process words more quickly and accurately
November 07, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Aldous Huxley’s Predictions for 2000 A.D.
The famous author envisioned a brave new world where swelling populations would put tremendous strain on the Earth's resources
November 01, 2012 |
By Matt Novak
How Does the Brain Process Art?
New imaging techniques are mapping the locations of our aesthetic response
November 2012 |
By Abigail Tucker
Even in Healthy Adults, High-Fat Fast Foods Affect Arteries Almost Immediately
In a new study, people who ate a pair of fatty sausage and egg sandwiches for breakfast showed reduced blood vessel health by the afternoon
October 31, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Scientists Use Cadaver Hands to Study the Dangers of Pumpkin Carving
A rigorous experiment compared pumpkin-carving tools to determine the safest way to carve a pumpkin
October 26, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
The Carbon Dioxide in a Crowded Room Can Make You Dumber
A new experiment shows that the collective carbon dioxide exhaled by people around you might cause you to think more slowly
October 22, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Sex and Space Travel: Predictions from the 1950s
The cure for lonely space missions? One astronomer proposed hiring astronaut concubines
October 18, 2012 |
By Matt Novak
What Is the Most Annoying Sound in the World?
A new study examines the neurological basis for unpleasant noises—and finds exactly which sounds are the most irritating
October 16, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
