WEIRD SCIENCE
There’s a very good reason we spend a third of our lives passed out. By Sarah Sloat – Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it: No, they don’t fall in love, they sleep. However, exactly why all animals with …
Pesky ethics is the biggest obstacle. Devil’s Breath just looks deadly. By Corey Plante – Spider-Man has never been the most scientifically accurate superhero (we’re pretty sure getting bit by a radioactive spider won’t give you powers, but one detail in the recently …
David Szondy – The Tribots can be assigned specific roles similar to ants. (Credit: EPFL/Marc Delachaux). In a demonstration that less can be more, EPFL scientists are working on simple robots that behave and cooperate like ants. The 10-g (0.35-oz) Tribots are …
The cost is falling precipitously. But burger lovers remain skeptical. By Mike Brown – Lab-grown meat: techno-wizardry, societal savior, or an impressive imitation of the real thing? As it turns out, which of those three phrases you use to describe lab-grown meat may …
At least one species can switch from female to male within ten days. By Sarah Sloat – For the majority of organisms, sex is not something that can be changed. This is not true, however, for a fish called the bluehead wrasse. These …
By Rich Haridy – A particular strain of the common cold, when delivered into the bladder by a catheter, was seen to selectively attack and kill bladder cancer cells. (Credit: katerynakon/Depositphotos). An early-stage study has found a strain of the common cold …
By Michael Irving – Astronomers have analyzed the atmosphere of the exoplanet GJ 3470 b. (Credit: NASA, ESA and D Player (STSci)). So far we’ve spotted more than 4,000 planets orbiting stars other than our Sun, but we know very little about their …
By Nick Lavars – According to the team, the filter could potentially be scaled up to treat mine wastewater. (Credit: voldemar992/Depositphotos). When they find their way into landfill, electronic waste like phones and computers can wreak havoc on groundwater supplies, contaminating them …
By Rich Haridy – Eye of Mordor: This stunning image is the result of narrowband data on the Helix Nebula, gathered over two months from suburban Melbourne, Australia. (Credit: Andrew Campbell, Australia). Now entering its 11th year, the Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the …
It’s the stuff of pool party nightmares. By Emma Betuel – Somewhere in America this summer, a small child will have a diarrhea incident in a pool. The kid will freeze, waiting for that embarrassing blob of shame to envelop them, forever labeling …
