CNN correspondent Kelly Wallace discusses her use of the word “sorry, ” as well as its use in society in general.
Tag Archives: Science & Nature
Is Nature the Key to Rehabilitating Prisoners?
Read how outdoor outings can help released prisoners transition back into society.
Revenge really is sweet: study shows the mood-enhancing effect of retaliation
A recent study showed that people who chose to act aggressively toward another person after being socially rejected felt better afterward.
Tsunami: An interactive guide that could save your life
There is no way to prevent tsunamis, the powerful waves that can devastate coastal areas. But it is possible to prepare for them, and even get warnings when they are coming. Learn about the causes and effects of tsunamis, and how research can save lives when they strike.
Fear prompts teens to act impulsively
People react to threats and fear in different ways. Self-control can help avoid a dangerous confrontation. However, a new study suggests that teens’ brains are not wired to back down in the face of a threat.
Are decisions made in groups better than decisions made alone?
When you have to make an important decision, what do you do? Sometimes two heads are better than one, and sometimes they are worse. Find out how working in a group to make a decision can affect the outcome.
A New Frontier in Animal Intelligence
By studying the brain activity of a few animals, scientists see some evidence in them of the ability of “episodic memory” or “mental time travel.” This planning of future actions based on past experience is seen as a sign of intelligence. Psychologist Thomas Zentall states that a hint of this ability is apparent in non-human primates, dolphins, scrub-jays, rats, and pigeons.
Revive & Restore
Have you ever imagined what it might be like to see a wooly mammoth crossing the plains? Some scientists are working to turn back the clock and revive extinct species. This multimedia site from The Long Now Foundation details the efforts.
Optical Illusions: When Your Brain Can’t Believe Your Eyes
How do optical illusions fool us? In this article, Cari Nierenberg explores the root cause: a mismatch between what the eyes perceive and how the brain interprets the information.
Special Relativity in a Nutshell
Albert Einstein revolutionized physics with the introduction of his Special Theory of Relativity in 1905. But what do you really know about time and space? Brian Greene, noted theoretical physicist and author, explains how time and space are actually changeable, and based on what the observer sees.
Ah, Wilderness! Nature Hike Could Unlock Your Imagination
Have you ever found yourself struggling to write your English paper because you’re distracted by your smart phone or TV? Maybe a trip back to nature will help clear your head. Read this article to find out how getting away can help you regain your focus.
John F. Kennedy: The Space Program
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This site highlights major achievements in President Kennedy’s expansion of the space program. Learn more about the “space race” between the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as access historic speeches online.
Life at the Bottom: The Prolific Afterlife of Whales
After a whale dies, its sunken carcass becomes home to hundreds of species of underwater creatures. This in-depth article from Scientific American describes the phenomenon known as whale fall.
Robot Takes Recovering Child to Her Seat in Class
Meet Clo-Bot! This is a robot of sorts–an iPad attached to an extendable pole on wheels that attends class in Point Pleasant Elementary School in Glen Burnie, Maryland! Clo-Bot is controlled remotely by Cloe who is at home recovering from surgery and, it enables her to participate with her classmates in school lessons as if she were in the room.
Underwater robot vacuums up lionfish
Lionfish are among some of the creatures taking over waters across the world, killing off native wildlife. As invasive species have no natural predators they multiply rapidly. Read about how the use of technology is now vital to combat the problem of extinction of native species.
Why fish do not deserve their reputation for forgetfulness
“I have a memory like a goldfish.” This reputation for our finned friends does not hold true apparently! Studies have disproved this idea that fish have poor memories and that they are better at navigating space than us.
‘In stressed times, we can take comfort in wildlife’: why nature-writing is ‘exploding’
Journalist Alison Flood investigates the increase of nature writing and reading in times of transition.
Maybe Your Comfort Zone Isn’t What You Think It Is
Psychologist Sarah Newman makes a distinction between avoiding things you fear and avoiding things you simply don’t like.
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? by Frans de Waal – review
Professor Matthew Cobb reviews primatologist Frans de Waal’s book, in which he attempts to erase a behavioral division between humans and other animals.
The Unexpected Genius of Corvids
Corvids—members of the crow family—demonstrate a surprising range of intelligent behaviors in their interactions with humans.