Hurricane Patricia, the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the western hemisphere, did remarkably little damage to the Mexican coast where it made landfall. Find out what natural forces caused it to form and to dissipate so rapidly.
Tag Archives: Science & Nature
Ten Years Without a Hurricane Hit, Is Florida’s Lucky Streak About to End?
Newcomers to Florida might not be prepared to face a hurricane. This news report provides information about important preparations that people should make to deal with this natural disaster.
Beyond Denali: Restoring Native American names
Read about the movement to change the names of national natural sites back to their Native American names.
Technobiophilia: Can we get all the nature we need in digital form?
Digital expert Sue Thomas explains that humans have a genetic attraction to the natural world, but argues that digital representations of nature may satisfy our needs.
Where the Buffalo No Longer Roamed
While the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad connected the East coast and the West coast, it also led to the further decrease of the Native American population, as well as that of buffalo herds.
Revenge and the people who seek it
Psychologists study what leads people to seek revenge and how they feel after undertaking vengeful acts.
Fake memory implanted in mice with a beam of light
If you can’t trust your own memory, what can you trust? Researchers have discovered a way to change how mice view a location by creating a false memory of it in targeted neurons.
Decision-Making is Still a Work in Progress for Teenagers
Have parents or teachers ever told you that you’re not old enough to decide? There are differences between adolescent brains and adult brains, so it might be true. Read about the study at the McLean Hospital Brain Imaging Center in Boston, Massachusetts, that used functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare the activity of teenage brains to that of adults.
Floods, Fires, Storms are Fodder for Centuries of Poems
Poet and editor Jeffrey Yang reminds us how disasters can stimulate creativity. In this video he discusses a collection of poems about how we heal after disasters and how the beauty and power of nature can help.
Are Cats Smarter Than Dogs?
Dogs’ brain structures are larger than cats’. Read why some scientists state that brain size is not the determining factor for animal intelligence.
Acrophobia
Why are people often naturally afraid of heights? Why are some more fearful than others? This article explains what acrophobia is and how sensible fear of heights is.
How Do Fireflies Glow? Mystery Solved After 60 Years
Scientists at Connecticut College discover the final twist in the tail of the magical lightning bug. Being able to recreate the chemical reaction in a lab might lead to advances in medicine in the future.
Deep-Sea Sub Crushed Under Pressure
Nereus, a highly advanced and costly deep-sea robotic submarine, was about 6.2 miles deep in the ocean when it was crushed under the pressure of the deep waters.
How your eyes trick your mind
An interactive guide on visual and optical illusions down through history. Scientists explore some theories behind how our brains react to what our eyes take in.
How Walking in Nature Changes the Brain
In a recent study, researchers found that walking in a natural setting improved participants’ moods and states of mind.
Reforestation
One response to a drastic change is to make things the way they were before. Reforestation attempts to restore forests to their previous state following wildfires or logging.
RACE: Are We So Different?
Despite apparent differences among people whose ancestors came from different part of the world, all humans can be traced back to a shared beginning. This interactive site explores our assumptions about the idea of race.
The Possibilian
Why does time seem to slow down when we fear for our lives?
Secret of Photo 51
James Watson and Francis Crick were awarded the Nobel Prize for their discovery of the structure of DNA. One key to this discovery was a photograph taken using a revolutionary technique by the English scientist Rosalind Franklin. Explore this site to learn how Franklin made this stunning photograph and why she didn’t receive the credit she was due during her lifetime.
Why Are People So Afraid of Sharks?
Many people are terrified of sharks even though an actual encounter with one is extremely unlikely. Read about the risks of meeting one of these fearful predators.