All Stories
- Space
Making the most of zero gravity
Astronaut and author Chris Hadfield discusses life in, and after, space.
- Life
Compounds defeat malaria at every step
Experimental drugs are first to kill all stages of the parasite’s infection cycle.
- Health & Medicine
Simple dietary supplements could help stave off AIDS
Many people newly infected with HIV stayed healthy on regimen involving multivitamins and selenium.
- Animals
To study turkey instincts, consider robot turkeys
In 2004, Australian researchers built robot turkeys to study the instincts of Australian brush turkey chicks. Robots can be a useful way of learning more about animals, but the use of robots has yet to take over in animal behavior studies.
- Neuroscience
The memory benefits of distraction
We usually think of distraction as a bad thing for memory. But under certain conditions, distraction may help rather than hurt.
- Health & Medicine
Thalidomide treats Crohn’s disease
Study of children with the inflammatory bowel disorder raises possibility of new use for tainted drug.
- Health & Medicine
Chilling body doesn’t stop bacterial infection
Lowering the body temperature of individuals with severe bacterial meningitis may not help to improve patients’ health and could do more harm than good.
- Math
Why Big Data is bad for science
Big Data is supposed to be a scientific bonanza, but it challenges the capabilities of computer science, statistical tests and perhaps calls for revamping the scientific method itself.
- Health & Medicine
Starting exercise late in life still helps with aging
Becoming and staying active as an older individual can lead to a more years without long-term health conditions.
- Animals
Odd head of seahorse cloaks its sneak attacks
Head shape creates hydrodynamic fake-out for stealth hunting.
- Materials Science
Material inspired by dragonfly wings bursts bacteria
Silicon studded with nanostructures could act as antimicrobial coating on medical devices.
- Genetics
DNA changes may show how whales adapted to water
Comparing the genetic material of whales has revealed DNA changes that may have helped the animals adapt to aquatic environments.
