Theories and Discovery
The Culture of Being Rude
A new biological theory states that cultural behavior is not just a regional quirk, but a defense against the spread of disease
Catching a Wave, Powering an Electrical Grid?
Electrical engineer Annette von Jouanne is pioneering an ingenious way to generate clean, renewable electricity from the sea
Who Discovered the North Pole?
A century ago, explorer Robert Peary earned fame for discovering the North Pole, but did Frederick Cook get there first?
A Fish Tale
A curator discovers that whalefishes, bignose fishes and tapetails are all really the same kind of fish at different life stages
Evolution in Black and White
The alternative color forms of some animals are providing new insights into how animals adapt and evolve
What Darwin Didn't Know
Today's scientists marvel that the 19th-century naturalist's grand vision of evolution is still the key to life
New Light on Stonehenge
The first dig in 44 years inside the stone circle changed our view of why—and even when—the monument was built
The Coldest Place in the Universe
Physicists in Massachusetts come to grips with the lowest possible temperature: absolute zero
Abandoned Ship: The Mary Celeste
What really happened aboard the <i>Mary Celeste</i>? More than a century after her crew went missing, a scenario is emerging
Down to Earth
Anthropologist Amber VanDerwarker is unraveling the mysteries of the ancient Olmec by figuring out what they ate
Shell Fame
Paleobiologist Aaron O'Dea has made his name by sweating the small stuff
Rock of Ages
Where did the world's highest mountains come from? Geologist Elizabeth Catlos takes a new view
Dinosaur Shocker
Probing a 68-million-year-old T. rex, Mary Schweitzer stumbled upon astonishing signs of life that may radically change our view of the ancient beasts
35 Who Made a Difference: James Watson
After DNA, what could he possibly do for an encore?
Medicine from the Sea
From slime to sponges, scientists are plumbing the ocean's depths for new medications to treat cancer, pain and other ailments
Signal Discovery?
A Los Angeles scientist says living cells may make distinct sounds, which might someday help doctors "hear" diseases
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