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.
Tag Archives: Science & Nature
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.
This Is Your Brain on Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s writing style can be challenging to read. Not only did he write four centuries ago, but he also played with language, coining new words, rearranging syntax, and using words as different parts of speech. Now, researchers have discovered that this last feature—using a noun like child as a verb instead, for example—excites the human brain because it is so unexpected.
Overexposed? Camera Phones Could Be Washing Out Our Memories
If you really want to remember something, you take a picture of it. But a new study reveals that using that strategy may actually work against you: people remember more details about something if they don’t take a picture of it. NPR digs into the details and the implications.
Elephants Give a Helping Trunk
Elephants travel in herds and are very social. When a fellow elephant is upset, they have a unique way of consoling it.
6 Myths About What You Should Do When Disaster Strikes
Do you think you know what to do during an earthquake, a tornado, or a hurricane? Many people still think these six common myths are true. Learn why they’re untrue and what you should actually do instead during these disasters.
Factoring Fear: What Scares Us and Why
Fear is a basic human response, but scientists still don’t completely understand it. Read about their efforts, using scans of blood flow in the brain, to further comprehend this complex reaction.
Migraines
Migraine headaches can be frightening as well as painful. While there is no cure for them, scientists are finding new ways to manage them.
What Does it Mean To Be Human?
From cave paintings to the first written words, human beings have been making themselves “heard” for a very long time. This section of the Museum of Natural History’s website provides a quick tour of how our use of language and symbols has grown over many, many centuries.
Mass Extinctions
Five mass extinctions—the die-off of a majority of species—have occurred in earth’s history. What causes these periodic extinctions? A sudden change in climate or atmosphere that living things can’t adapt quickly enough to survive. Find out what we know about these changes and what species were able to flourish in their wake.
How can we save our dying coral reefs?
Though we often hear a lot about human activity destroying coral reefs, humans are also taking strides in saving and restoring them. Learn more in this article by science reporter Gaia Vince.
Eating on Mars? Be Sure to Pack the Tortillas
Life on Mars is a work in progress. Six NASA volunteers took part in the HI-SEAS (Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation) experiment to explore how astronauts might one day live on Mars. Investigate the importance of food preparation on such a mission.
What is a Green Roof?
Planting gardens on rooftops is an idea that is catching on. You can find green roofs in urban environments, where space is limited and it is difficult to make room for plants. Learn all about the costs and benefits of green roofs here.
Scientists create scarily strong drones inspired by wasps
Researchers study wasps to figure out how to create a drone that can move and lift other objects.
Nature’s calling — for more human diversity
Studies suggest that the majority of visitors to national parks and other public natural spaces in our country are white. This article examines that trend and looks at ways to encourage people of more diverse ethnic backgrounds to enjoy the great outdoors.