Eyewitness testimony can be really important when investigating crimes, but how can we make them more reliable? SciShow looks at the scientific and psychological evidence around several ways in which your memory can fail–and how we may be able to minimize these effects.
Tag Archives: Science & Nature
5 Biggest Risks of Sharing Your DNA with Consumer Genetic-Testing Companies
Nearly 50 million people have used consumer genetic-testing services to have their personal DNA analyzed to learn more about their ancestry, their risk for developing various diseases, or to find long-lost relatives. While there are many upsides, there are risks, as well. This article walks you through five of biggest risks when sending your DNA off to be tested.
How do you make a mummy? Ancient Egyptians’ surprising formulas revealed
Have you ever wondered how ancient Egyptian mummies remain so well preserved? Recently discovered jars may hold the answer.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect, or ‘why incompetent people think they’re amazing’
How good are you at basketball? What about playing an instrument? Psychological research suggests we’re not actually very good at evaluating our own abilities accurately. In fact, we frequently overestimate our own abilities thanks to something known as the Dunning-Kruger Effect.
What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it?
Feelings that one is a fraud who doesn’t deserve their success, known as imposter syndrome, is an extremely common phenomenon. Why can’t so many of us shake feelings that our ideas and skills aren’t worthy of others’ attention?
The zombie fungus from ‘The Last Of Us’ is real — but not nearly as deadly
There’s been a lot of fungus talk in the news after the popular Last of Us video game became a popular TV show. In the show, people are turned into zombies by a new form of fungus that takes over their brains. And guess what? It’s real! Well, sort of–it’s only real for insects. Should we be worried? Or do fungi do more to help humans than harm them?
Extreme ‘Rogue Wave’ in The North Pacific Confirmed as Most Extreme on Record
Scientists don’t understand exactly how rogue waves form, but they predict these types of waves will only get bigger.
Pigcasso: Pot-Bellied Pig Produces Award-Winning Art In Mokelumne Hill
Pigs are known for being highly intelligent animals, but this pig is known for her creativity, too.
Why Australia Bottles Up Its Air
Land is one thing, but is it possible to explore the very air of the past? Thanks to some forward-thinking scientists in Australia, it is!
And it is all because of the Cape Grim Air Archive, which has been capturing samples of some of the most pristine air on the planet for nearly 50 years.
Heroic Georgia dog fights off coyote pack preying on flock of sheep
Everyone knows that dog is man’s best friend, but Casper is a friend and hero to sheep as well.
Brazilian Explorers Search “Medicine Factory” to Save Lives and Rainforest
We often think of cures for cancer as chemicals developed in laboratories, but nature may be the source of new remedies. Tom Phillips explains how researchers aim to tap into the medical possibilities of the Amazon rainforest—and at the same time protect this threatened environment from human development.
I’m an engineer, not a cheerleader. Let’s abandon silly rules about gender roles.
In this article, 17-year-old science student Sara Sakowitz shares her experience being a girl who loves science.
Dogs Know When You’re Praising Them. That Doesn’t Mean They Understand Human Speech
How much of what you say to your dog is really understood?
Shark Attack Survivors Unite to Save Sharks
Imagine barely escaping a shark attack with your life and going on to become an advocate for protecting sharks. It happens more often than you’d think!
Memory contaminates perception
An interesting new study that shows how visual working memory can influence our perception of events.
New Zealand’s Sea Lions Have Returned: Crashing Soccer Games, Golf Courses, and Public Pools
Read about how these endangered sea lions are repopulating New Zealand in a big way.
15 Unexplored Corners of the Earth
Think everything on Earth has already been thoroughly explored? Think again. From uncontacted tribes to massive underground caves, this list catalogs some of the least explored places still remaining on Earth.
South East Asia’s extraordinary freedivers
For the Bajau, diving is a cornerstone of culture and a way of life. Sadly, this way of life could be threatened by ocean pollution.
How Cliff Diving Works
Sometimes it’s best to avoid something you’re afraid of, especially if it’s dangerous. Visit this site to learn about one of the world’s most dangerous sports, cliff diving. Discover some of the sport’s basics, its most famous locations, and why it’s a good idea never to attempt it.
Natural Disasters
Visit this site to see stunning photographs, watch informative videos, and read all about natural disasters, including avalanches, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and wildfires.