WEIRD SCIENCE
By Michael Irving – A new theory suggests that dark matter originated before the Big Bang. (Credit: Andreus/Depositphotos). Few things are as mysterious as dark matter, the strange substance that appears to outnumber ordinary matter by a ratio of five to one. Now, …
There could be an alien world out there with your name on it…! By Scott Snowden – As part of its 100th anniversary commemorations, the Paris-based International Astronomical Union is organizing the IAU100 NameExoWorlds, a global competition that allows any country in the …
By Ben Coxworth – The Black Squid Jacket incorporates over 2 billion laser-embedded microspheres. (Credit: Vollebak). It was just last year that we heard about Vollebak’s Black Light Jacket, which incorporates a series of black spots that reflect white in bright light. …
“Eye-tracking technology shows clear potential for detecting concealed knowledge.” By Emma Betuel – Fortunately, scientists already know how to beat the lie detectors of the future, which will rely on brain scans. But even our best attempts at deceit may be destined to …
What’s good for the body is good for the brain. By Ralph Martins – With the rise of fad diets, “superfoods,” and a growing range of dietary supplement choices, it’s sometimes hard to know what to eat. This can be particularly relevant as …
It’s what you do when faced with distress that defines your resiliency. By Sarah Sloat – This Sunday, I was thinking about what it means to be resilient. Research shows that most people consider themselves to be fairly resilient, but in reality, they …
Turning salt water into fresh water with the power of the sun. By Mike Colagrossi – New solar-powered desalination plant provides fresh water in Kenya. The plant is already able to support 25,000 people a day. As more water-scarce regions pop up worldwide, …
Estimates show most Himalayan glaciers could melt by 2100. By Yasmin Tayag – In 1978, the United States finally banned the dangerous pesticide DDT. Other nations soon followed, but after three decades of use, the damage had been done. The molecules didn’t just …
Fionn Ferreira will receive $50,000 for winning Google’s annual student competition. By Stephen Johnson – Google holds an annual science fair that’s open to students ages 13 to 18. Fionn Ferreira won for developing an effective way to remove microplastics from water. Microplastics …
By Rich Haridy – A new cell, found in adult human livers, is like a fetal stem cell, with the capacity to develop into mature liver cells and regenerate damaged cells in the organ. Credit: decade3d/Depositphotos). An exciting new study, led by …
