Maybe you’ve played a game for so long that it wasn’t even fun anymore, but you just couldn’t put it down. A psychological study looks at why adult brains and teen brains respond differently to disappearing rewards.
Tag Archives: Science & Nature
Rainsticks and Folklore
Tibetans attempt to summon supernatural powers to combat the extreme drought.
The New Arecibo Message
In 1974, our greatest minds gathered to craft a message broadcast to aliens. Look at a breakdown of what this message contained.
Taking on Turtle Egg Poaching With Hollywood Decoys
Poaching poses a significant danger to turtle eggs. Watch the video to learn how one group is trying to put an end to this practice.
‘Rainbow Lightning’: One of Mother Nature’s Rare Shows
Photographers wait hours at a time to capture this phenomenon. This article explains the science behind it.
Puppy-Dog Eyes May Have Evolved in Stages
Researchers have found that the eye contact dogs make and that human connect to has been an evolutionary process.
The Best Places to See the Arizona Deserts in Bloom
In her essay “Called Out,” Barbara Kingsolver describes the Arizona desert in bloom with colorful wildflowers. Where are the best places to see this natural spectacle?
Sense of sight is the most important for humans, right? Your hierarchy of senses is not objective
A recent study by scientists at the University of York found that different cultures place different amounts of importance on the five senses. Click this link to learn more.
How frigid polar vortex blasts are connected to global warming
The weather extremes associated with our rapidly changing climate sometimes seem paradoxical. Here’s the explanation for how global warming can put some locations into a deep freeze.
Dolphins often seem to want to befriend us — do they know something we don’t?
Even when it doesn’t seem to benefit them, dolphins will often go to great lengths to help and interact with humans. Read about some well-known examples and possible reasons for this behavior.
Bucket lists are a good way to ruin the experience of nature
Writer and researcher Tom Winterbottom argues that the key to enjoying nature is to slow down.
The Perks of a Play-in-the-Mud Educational Philosophy
Is the natural world a better place for young children to learn than the classroom? Read to learn about the benefits some researchers see in providing preschoolers with an outdoor education.
How does the way food looks or its smell influence taste?
This article explores the connections between vision and the other senses when it comes to our experience of eating and drinking.
Is Your Dog Manipulating You?
There’s a very good reason why people refer to a persuasive facial expression as “puppy dog eyes.” Read about one dog owner’s experiences with canine communication.
Gitanjali Rao: Finding solutions to real problems
Seventh-grader Gitanjali Rao created a lead-in-water detection tool in response to the Flint water crisis. Watch the videos to learn more about her invention.
How Much Would It Cost To Live On Mars?
Look at the infographic for a quick breakdown of the cost to live on Mars.
Could AI help to create a meat-free world?
Reducing or eliminating meat consumption reduces our toll on Earth’s resources. Read about how people are searching for meat-free and sustainable food options.
Bees May Understand Zero, a Concept That Took Humans Millennia to Grasp
A recent study suggests that bees may grasp the concept of zero. Read the article to learn more about what this discovery means.
What Can Bees Teach Us About Gang Warfare?
In Los Angeles, an anthropologist is using equations to teach police about how street gangs operate.
You Can Love at First Sight: Scientists Discover Brain Region Responsible for Instant Attraction
Romeo and Juliet fall madly in love at first sight. But does this happen in real life? Read this article to find out what researchers have discovered about your brain and love.