Theories and Discovery
Revolutionary ideas and breakthroughs in science that have advanced our knowledge of the universe- Explore more »
Do We Really Pick Our Friends Based On Genetic Similarities?
A new study debunks the idea that friendships are influenced by shared genes
October 09, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Can You Give the Flu To Your Dog or Cat?
New research indicates that the influenza virus can jump from humans to pet animals, raising the possibility of dangerous mutations
October 05, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Leatherhead to Radio-head: The Evolution of the Football Helmet
From hand-cobbled beginnings, the football helmet has evolved to become one of the most highly designed pieces of equipment in all of sports
October 01, 2012 |
By Jimmy Stamp
VIDEO: Watch This Carnivorous Plant Fling an Insect Into Its Mouth
A small plant native to Australia features two sets of touch-sensitive tentacles to catapult insects towards its digestive concavity and then draw them in deeper
September 26, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
How Does the Tiny Waterbear Survive in Outer Space?
A special adaptation allows the tiny animal known as the tardigrade to curl up into a dry, lifeless ball and survive for decades
September 11, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
King Penguins Stressed Out By Scientists And Tourists
The king penguins appear to be habituated to the presence of humans, but a new study finds that even limited human contact may be negatively affecting them
July 11, 2012 |
By Sarah Zielinski
Nerd Love and Why It's Better For Everyone
In a new study, evolutionary biologist Sergey Gavrilets makes a fascinating claim for how monogamy took root several million years ago
July 06, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
Can Evolution Make the Next Generation of Computer Chips?
In a recent experiment, genetic mutation and artificial selection were harnessed to make semiconductors
June 28, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
When Did the Human Mind Evolve to What It is Today?
Archaeologists are finding signs of surprisingly sophisticated behavior in the ancient fossil record
June 26, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
How Do Mosquitoes Fly in the Rain?
High-speed cameras revealed that the insects' minuscule mass—and a zen-like approach of non-resistance—allows them to survive impacts with raindrops 50 times their size
June 08, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Design for a Water-Scarce Future
Design strategies for arid regions go back centuries, but in the face of climate change, drylands design is a whole new ballgame
April 19, 2012 |
By Sarah C. Rich
How Titanoboa, the 40-Foot-Long Snake, Was Found
In Colombia, the fossil of a gargantuan snake has stunned scientists, forcing them to rethink the nature of prehistoric life
April 2012 |
By Guy Gugliotta
What Does E.O. Wilson Mean By a "Social Conquest of the Earth"
Carl Zimmer asks the evolutionary biologist about the theories in his high-profile new book
March 22, 2012 |
By Carl Zimmer
The Art and Science of Embarrassing Art
Neuroscientist and Nobel Prize winner Eric Kandel explores the flourishing of culture in Vienna
March 22, 2012 |
By Margaret S. Livingstone
When Casanova Met Mozart
The world's most notorious lover lived in Prague at the same time as the composer, but the mystery remains: did they collaborate on a famous opera?
March 22, 2012 |
By Tony Perrottet
Bizarre Bee-havior in the Battle Against the Giant Hornet
To protect their hive from an invading hornet, Asian honeybees gang up and surround it, forming a "hot defensive bee ball"
March 19, 2012 |
By Cassandra Willyard
Drones: The Citrus Industry’s New Beauty Secret
In the future, farmers will use unmanned drones to improve the appearance of their crops
March 09, 2012 |
By Sarah C. Rich
In Little Hippos, Males Beget Females
A new study in pygmy hippos shows that males can influence the sex ratio of their offspring
February 28, 2012 |
By Virginia Hughes
Design Specs for a Genetically Ideal Snack
How plant geneticists are growing convenience food on trees
February 27, 2012 |
By Sarah C. Rich
Alan Turing’s 60-Year-Old Prediction About Patterns in Nature Proven True
Sixty years ago, with nothing but numbers, logic and some basic know-how, the inventor of the Turing Test explained how to make a stripe
February 21, 2012 |
By Virginia Hughes
