WEIRD SCIENCE
Famous physicists like Richard Feynman think 137 holds the answers to the Universe. By Paul Ratner – The fine structure constant has mystified scientists since the 1800s. The number 1/137 might hold the clues to the Grand Unified Theory. Relativity, electromagnetism and quantum …
The concept was likened to a porch light in our little neighborhood of the galaxy. By Brandon A. Weber – It could be the thing that makes an intelligent alien civilization stop and look at us further. It’s surprisingly not all that difficult …
Michael Irving – A new study has found that human activity is dissolving the seafloor (Credit: tomisl.z/Depositphotos). Excess carbon dioxide isn’t just building up in the atmosphere – the oceans are holding onto more of the stuff too, fizzing them up like …
Ben Coxworth – An electrode network (branched pattern) and cyanobacteria (spiral pattern) were 3D-printed onto the mushroom (Credit: American Chemical Society). Could your home one day be powered by patches of mushrooms? Probably not, but scientists have nonetheless created a “bionic mushroom” that …
It’s an asteroid, it’s a comet, it’s actually a spacecraft? By Robby Berman – Original: ESO/M. KornmesserDerivative: nagualdesign – Derivative of http://www.eso.org/public/images/eso1737a/ – ‘Oumuamua is an oddly shaped, puzzling celestial object because it doesn’t act like anything naturally occurring. The issue? The unexpected …
The barrier to solar energy has always been storage. Now, bottled sunshine has a shelf-life of 18 years. By Robby Berman – Researchers have invented a liquid isomer that can store and release solar energy. The team has solved problems other researchers have …
From time-traveling billiard balls to information-destroying black holes, the world’s got plenty of puzzles that are hard to wrap your head around. By Matthew Davis – – While it’s one of the best on Earth, the human brain has a lot of trouble …
Substance use comes with cognitive repercussions. By Sarah Sloat – While the recreational use of marijuana is an increasingly legalized activity, the exact science of what the drug does to the brain isn’t yet conclusive. In an effort to understand what happens to the …
Gen Z is bearing the brunt of the country’s mental illness. By Sarah Sloat – The distressing events of 2018 are quantifiably affecting American stress levels. Tuesday marked the release of the most recent Stress in America report, an annual nationwide survey conducted …
The study was small: 8 people from 8 different countries. But the findings have alarmed scientists. Robby Berman – All subjects selected for a pilot program had microplastics in their stools. The types of microplastics found implicate both food and non-food sources. Boutique …
