Science & Society
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Planetary Science
NASA bets on asteroid mission as best path to Mars
NASA wants to bag an asteroid using robotic arms or an enormous sack and place the rock in the moon’s orbit for study. This may keep astronauts working but not, as NASA claims, get them Mars-ready.
- Animals
Here’s your chance to see the last passenger pigeon
On display for the 100th anniversary of her species’ extinction, the final passenger pigeon specimen looks pretty good.
- Science & Society
Quantum connection could revitalize superstrings
Status of superstrings could be elevated by their ability to explain the mysterious rules of quantum mechanics.
- Science & Society
Spiny media battle highlights importance of scientific credit
Media coverage of research on invasive lionfish tolerating brackish water brought up issues of attribution and recognition in science.
- Science & Society
Book delves into Scientific Revolution way beyond Galileo
‘Voyaging in Strange Seas’ shows that modern science was built not just by giants but by hundreds who explored all realms of science.
- Science & Society
An app to track firefly flashings
This summer, you can contribute to citizen science by tracking lightning bugs in your backyard.
- Science & Society
Feedback
Readers discuss mammograms, crops in a warming climate and the impacts of a recession on developing personalities.
- Science & Society
Logarithms celebrate their 400th birthday
Four centuries ago, John Napier provided human calculators the time-saving gift of logarithms.
- Tech
1960s research paid off in automotive safety
Scientists in 1964 were studying shatterproof glass, which was mandated just a couple of years later.
- Health & Medicine
Mold behind 2013 yogurt recall may cause disease
Genome sequencing links a new, virulent strain of mold to the 2013 Chobani yogurt recall.
- Science & Society
Main result of Facebook emotion study: less trust in Facebook
Facebook’s controversial manipulation of emotional posts raises key questions about how to study online behavior.
- Genetics
Finally, some solid science on Bigfoot
DNA analysis finds no Bigfoot, no yeti, two weird bears and one scientist on a quest for the truth.
