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Benjamin Franklin’s Phonetic Alphabet
One of the founding father's more quixotic quests was to create a new alphabet. No Q included
May 10, 2013 |
By Jimmy Stamp
Intriguing Science Art From the University of Wisconsin
From a fish's dyed nerves to vapor strewn across the planet, images submitted to a contest at the university offer new perspectives of the natural world
April 19, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
What’s in Century-Old ‘Snake Oil’ Medicines? Mercury and Lead
A chemical analysis of early 1900s medicines, billed as cure-alls, revealed vitamins and calcium along with toxic compounds
April 08, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
B.F. Skinner: The Man Who Taught Pigeons to Play Ping-Pong and Rats to Pull Levers
One of behavioral psychology's most famous scientists was also one of the quirkiest
March 20, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
Jane Goodall Reveals Her Lifelong Fascination With…Plants?
After studying chimpanzees for decades, the celebrated scientist turns her penetrating gaze on another life-form
March 2013 |
By Jane Goodall
Interview: Jane Goodall on the Future of Plants and Chimps
The renowned chimp expert discusses her new book, her efforts to protect the rainforest and why she misses living with chimps
February 21, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Unmanned Drones Have Been Around Since World War I
They have recently been the subject of a lot of scrutiny, but the American military first began developing similar aerial vehicles during World War I
February 12, 2013 |
By Jimmy Stamp
The House Where Darwin Lived
Home to the naturalist for 40 years, the estate near London was always evolving
February 2013 |
By Rebecca Stott
Origami: A Blend of Sculpture and Mathematics
Artist and MIT professor Erik Demaine makes flat geometric diagrams spring into elegant, three-dimensional origami sculptures
January 23, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
Men Commit Scientific Fraud Much More Frequently Than Women
According to a new study, they're also much more likely to lie about their findings as they climb the academic ladder
January 23, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
What’s Inside a 2,000-Year-Old, Shipwreck-Preserved Roman Pill?
Ancient Roman pills, preserved in sealed tin containers on the seafloor, may have been used as eye medicine
January 07, 2013 |
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
Space Exploration and the End of an Era: Notable Deaths in 2012
Neil Armstrong, Sally Ride, Roger Boisjoly and the shuttle program form this year's late greats of space exploration
December 28, 2012 |
By Mohi Kumar
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
What Prehistoric Reptile Do These Three-foot Claws Belong To?
Claws once thought to belong to a giant turtle turned out to be from one of the weirdest dinosaurs ever found
December 06, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
What is Genyodectes?
A set of partial jaws hold an important place in the history of South American paleontology, but what sort of dinosaur do they represent?
November 27, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
Stegosaurus Plate Debate
Stegosaurus is immediately recognizable for its prominent plates, but why did these structures actually evolve?
November 23, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
The Science of Cooking a Turkey, and Other Thanksgiving Dishes
In a new book, the editors of Cook's Illustrated share some secrets to preparing the perfect holiday feast
November 20, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
Finding Duriavenator
Jaws once thought to be from Megalosaurus belong instead to this little-known species
November 06, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
