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5 Science Stories to Watch in 2013
The new year could feature discoveries of life within subglacial Antarctic lakes, the brightest comet in generations and more
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Six Innovators to Watch in 2013
All are inventive minds pushing technology in fresh directions, some to solve stubborn problems, others to make our lives a little fuller
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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
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A Twinkling Christmas Tree, Powered by…an Electric Eel?
A Utah aquarium uses the charges emitted by an electric eel to trigger the lights on a nearby tree
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Using Only a Camera, Trace the Solar Analemma and Plot the Solstice
When viewed at the same time every day for a year, the Sun traces a pattern in the sky that can help you find out when a solstice occurs
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The Best Inventions of 2012 You Haven’t Heard of Yet (Part 2)
Here’s the second half of a list of innovations that, while not as splashy as Google Glass, may actually become a bigger part of our daily lives.
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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
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Slice of Life: Artistic Cross Sections of the Human Body
Artist Lisa Nilsson creates elaborate anatomical illustrations from thin strips of paper
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Where’s Rudolph? Inside the Decline of Alaska’s Caribou
The antlered herd’s population is declining – what’s going on in the Alaskan wilderness?
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The Sustainable Meat of the Future: Mealworms?
Mealworms might seem unpalatable to many, but a new study indicates that they might be the climate-friendly protein alternative of the future
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How to Solve Human Evolution’s Greatest Hoax
The “discovery” turned out to be the biggest hoax in the history of paleoanthropology
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The Ten Best Ocean Stories of 2012
From deep-sea squid habits to vanishing coral reefs, here are the ocean stories we couldn’t stop talking about this year.
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Nimbus Clouds: Mysterious, Ephemeral and Now Indoors
Dutch artist Berndnaut Smilde has found a way to create clouds in gallery spaces. In the seconds before they dissipate, he captures beautiful photographs
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The Scientific Reason Why Reindeer Have Red Noses
Some reindeer really do have red noses, a result of densely packed blood vessels near the skin’s surface
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The Best Inventions of 2012 You Haven’t Heard of Yet (Part 1)
They haven’t received much attention yet, but here are some of the more innovative—and useful—ideas that have popped up this year.
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Tree Climbers, Wood Eaters, and More: The Top 10 Human Evolution Discoveries of 2012
This year’s hominid finds illuminate the great diversity and adaptability of our ancient relatives
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Climate Change Tipping Point: Research Shows That Emission Reductions Must Occur by 2020
A new report indicates that we have roughly 8 years to cut fossil fuel use without risking catastrophic levels of warming
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The Christmas Tree Worm, Decorating Coral Reefs Year-Round
The oceans show holiday spirit with a worm on coral reefs that resembles a fluffy fir tree adorned with colored ornaments.
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Mythical Particles, Goldilocks Planets and More: Top 5 Surprising Scientific Milestones of 2012
From the Higgs Boson to the Curiosity rover, 2012 was a major year for science
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The Most Exciting (and Frustrating) Stories From This Year in Dinosaurs
From feathers to black market fossil controversies, 2012 was a big year for dinosaurs
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