All Science
- First LookLightning injuries dwindle with more time spent indoors, safety education
Scientists have seen a decrease in lightning-related injuries with farming and other outdoor occupations becoming less prevalent. But perhaps the biggest reason deaths are down is because of efforts to teach people not to get hit in the first place.
- Why are there still Nazis? These eight questions can help explain.
Social dominance theory postulates that societies maintain their hierarchies by creating and promoting social beliefs that keep dominant groups on top.
- First LookNASA mobilizes citizen-scientists to capture total eclipse
NASA and the National Science Foundation have created important experiments for backyard astronomers to complete during the solar eclipse on Aug. 21.
- The ExplainerHunt for other worlds: 3,500 exoplanets and counting
Since the first planet beyond our solar system was discovered almost 30 years ago, the search for exoplanets has turned up thousands of fascinating worlds.
- Robot communication: It's more than just talk
As robots start to spill out of factories and into more human spaces, researchers try to better equip both parties to understand each other.
- Beyond flattery: Why imitation could be humanity's most distinctive feature
Forget ‘monkey see, monkey do.’ ‘Human see, human do’ might be more accurate. But what does our incredible ability to imitate do for us?
- Scientists say ravens display foresight, a trait thought unique to apes
A series of experiments with ravens finds that the birds display the ability to think ahead and deliberately prepare for future events, adding to the growing body of evidence that intelligence has evolved more than once.
- Through citizen science projects, anyone can be a scientist
Science isn’t just for scientists. Every day, citizens help further research, too.
- First LookNewly discovered particle outshines protons, neutrons with double the charm
However fleeting it may be, the discovery of a long theorized baryon is news for celebration in the physics community.
- As space junk soars, science turns to nature for ideas
Even if we stop launching rockets today, cascading collisions between orbiting objects will continue to endanger satellites. But this sticky problem might have an even stickier solution: gecko-inspired trash grabbers.
- How information overload helps spread fake news
Mathematical modeling of social networks reveals how misinformation finds its way to the top – and offers clues for how to dampen the spread of false information.
- Unbreakable: China doubles down on quantum internet
China has set a new distance record for photon entanglement, the foundation for a communications network secured by the code to end all codes.
- First LookKepler telescope discovers new batch of 'just right' planets that could foster life
NASA's planet-hunting telescope offers up even more evidence that Earth-like planets orbiting sun-like stars are 'not rare.'
- First LookNew study shows ancients cats traveled the world with their human owners
In a groundbreaking study, researchers traced genetic signatures of cats – some 9,000 years old – back to the Middle East, with feline DNA resembling some modern-day breeds.
- Understanding why loneliness exists can help ease it, say scientists
New research that examines the vicious circle of social isolation also points to the evolutionary origins of loneliness, and a way for people to escape it.
- Just how Earth-shattering are those 300,000-year-old Homo sapiens fossils?
It may seem like an astonishing revision of our species' history to add 100,000 years, but to paleoanthropologists trying to piece together a messy evolutionary picture, that's a good day on the job.
- Can female mentors patch the leaky STEM pipeline?
A two-year study found that 100 percent of women engineering students with female mentors stuck with the program, a surprising win in a field with a traditionally high attrition rate.
- Can the world come together in defense of oceans?
Leaders from 193 nations convene in New York this week for the first-ever UN Ocean Conference to share ideas, make voluntary commitments, and issue a 'call for action' in defense of the world's seas.
- First LookIndia surges in space race as its most powerful rocket launches satellite into orbit
The successful launch of the GSAT-19 satellite, the heaviest India has attempted to put in orbit yet, is being heralded as the nation's next step toward broader launch capabilities.
- Where are all the space hotels? Why smart people make terrible forecasts.
Virgin Galactic is in good company when it comes to aerospace organizations over-promising on their ability to deliver new technology, suggesting that accurate project management may actually be harder than rocket science.