Theories and Discovery
Revolutionary ideas and breakthroughs in science that have advanced our knowledge of the universe- Explore more »
How New Fonts Are Helping Dyslexics Read and Making Roads Safer
The right font can be appealing, but please don't take this as an excuse to use Comic Sans
June 18, 2013 |
By Jimmy Stamp
Do Geography and Altitude Shape the Sounds of a Language?
Languages that evolve at high elevations are more likely to include a sound that's easier to make when the air is thinner, new research shows
June 12, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
How Do Death Valley’s “Sailing Stones” Move Themselves Across the Desert?
These mysterious rocks have puzzled scientists for decades—until one geologist found the answer on his kitchen table
June 10, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Gestures of Human and Ape Infants Are More Similar Than You Might Expect
Comparing the body language of baby chimps, bonobos and humans suggests that gesticulation came first in the evolution of speaking
June 06, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
Scientists Discover the Genetic Reason Why Birds Don’t Have Penises
Developing bird embryos do have penis precursors, it turns out, but a genetic signal causes the penis cells to die off during gestation
June 06, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
When Large Birds Disappear, Rainforests Suffer
A century after toucans and toucanets disappeared from patches of Brazilian jungle, trees have evolved to have smaller, weaker seeds
May 30, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
The Robot Revolution Is for the Birds
Look up for robotic ravens and cyborg pigeons
May 24, 2013 |
By Jimmy Stamp
Scientists Finally Pinpoint the Pathogen That Caused the Irish Potato Famine
DNA analysis of 166-year-old potato plant leaves has revealed the disease strain that caused the starvation of millions
May 21, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
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
Baby Weddell Seals Have the Most Adult-Like Brains in the Animal Kingdom
The newborn seal pups possess the most well-developed brains compared to other mammals, but that advantage comes with a cost
May 09, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Baby Sand Tiger Sharks Devour Their Siblings While Still in the Womb
This seemingly horrific reproduction strategy may be a way for females to better control which males sire her offspring
April 30, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
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
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
DNA Sequencing Reveals that Coelacanths Weren’t the Missing Link Between Sea and Land
The rare fish's genome is slowly evolving—and contrary to prior speculation, it probably isn't the common ancestor of all land animals
April 17, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
What Makes Rain Smell So Good?
A mixture of plant oils, bacterial spores and ozone is responsible for the powerful scent of fresh rain
April 02, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Why Geckos Don’t Slip Off Wet Jungle Leaves or Hotel Ceilings
A surface's ability to attract and repel water heavily influences the degree to which a gecko can cling overhead, new research shows
April 01, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Brown Polar Bears, Beluga-Narwhals and Other Hybrids Brought to You by Climate Change
Animals with shrinking habitats are interbreeding, temporarily boosting populations but ultimately hurting species' survival
March 22, 2013 |
By Claire Martin
Video: This Lizard-Inspired Robot Can Scamper Across Sand
It's a product of the emerging field of terradynamics, which studies the movement of vehicles across shifting surfaces
March 21, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Untangling the Mysterious Genetic Tentacles of the Giant Squid
Contrary to prior speculation about the elusive creatures, all giant squid belong to a single species and they all share very similar genetics
March 20, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Prehistoric Human Skull Shows Signs of Inbreeding
A 100,000-year-old skull has a hole that reflects genetic mutations from inbreeding—likely a common behavior for our ancestors
March 19, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
