Tag Archives: Science & Nature

Slow boat to Timbuktu

A travel writer explores the contradictions of Africa’s Niger River as it flows through Mali to the ancient city of Timbuktu.

Silent Darien: The gap in the world’s longest road

Ambitious travelers hoping to traverse the Americas from Alaska to Argentina can travel the Pan-American Highway, with one notable exception—the impassable Darien Gap in Panama.

Brain scans gauge horror flick fear factor

Film producer Peter Katz experiments with the use of brain scans to find out just how scary his movies are. Do you think that using medical science in this way interferes with the art of making horror movies?

Food: How Altered?

Learn more about genetically-engineered food in this article of frequently asked questions.

Newborns Can Bond to a “Mother” from a Different Species

Birds of a feather may flock together, but it doesn’t have to be so. Studies show that a newborn animal will bond with whoever is around to take care of it—even if they aren’t the same species.

Meet the Incredible Woman Who Seeks to Be the First Female to Row from Japan to San Francisco

Learn about Sonya Baumstein’s proposed expedition to row 6,000 nautical miles alone from Choshi, Japan to San Francisco.

Brilliant Time-Lapse of Alaska’s Northern Lights

Watch this amazing video showing time-lapse photography of the Aurora Borealis in Alaska

Beauty Is in the Brain of the Beholder

Studies show that beauty exists as an abstract concept in the brain which implies it is a perception rather than a reality.

In 5 to 10 years, robots will deal with disasters, not humans

Could robots take over from humans in disaster recovery? Scientists at Virginia Tech think so. Learn about their work with robotic disaster response here.

Why Do People Take Risks?

According to psychologist Andreas Wilke, people most often take risks within their “domain of daring.”

Stephen Hawking: Biography

The subject of the award-winning film The Theory of Everything, physicist Stephen Hawking has changed our understanding of the universe while undergoing substantial changes in his own life.

The Grand Canyon: How It Formed

Believe it or not, the power of water was strong enough to help carve the 4000-foot-deep and nearly 300-mile-long Grand Canyon. Find out how in this PBS video.

How social media is helping Nepal rebuild after two big earthquakes

As the effects of the recent earthquake in Nepal became clear, many people have turned to social media to help them locate loved ones and help those affected.

Is your dog a genius? Putting Fido to the test

You can now find out if your dog is a super smart canine Einstein. Read on for more.

Fear Factor Gene Discovered

Did you know that scientists discovered a gene that influences the brain’s response to fear and danger? Read about it here.

Horror Movies: Why People Love Them

Why do we enjoy horror? Read about the various theories put forward for the popularity of horror movies.

California’s worst drought in 1,200 years in pictures

This series of images shows the devastating effect of the drought in California which has led to sweeping state-wide water restrictions for the first time in history .