A Modern-Day Tale of Romeo and Juliet
Source: BBC
A couple arrested in Yemen have sparked a major Facebook campaign. Read this article to find out about this modern-day Romeo and Juliet.
Technology
The Quest to End the Flu
Source: The Atlantic
Every year, thousands of people die from the flu. However, the methods used to make flu vaccines are slow. Read this article to find out about the researchers who are on a quest to find new, faster ways to make vaccines.
Optimism May Be Hard-Wired into the Brain
Source: National Post
Researchers have discovered that our brains are much better at remembering positive events than negative ones. How does optimism play a role in survival? Read this article to find out more.
We Don’t Have to Choose Between Fossil Fuels and Green Energy
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
Does America’s energy future depend on fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, or alternative energy, such as solar and wind power? According to author Michael Levi, Americans should embrace both forms of energy. Read this article to find out how Americans can find common ground on this important issue.
Texting May Be Taking a Toll
Source: The New York Times
Thumb cramps, sleeplessness, distractions, falling grades. . . . Is it possible that texting teens are too busy making their voices heard? Read this article to discover what some experts suspect. It may be time to turn off that phone and get some rest.
Bioluminescent Art: Beautiful Bacteria Glow in the Dark
Source: Mother Nature Network
Changes that happen in nature can be a source of surprising art. In this article, Anna Norris discusses how microbiology and visual design merge to create a new art form.
Creativity in the Wild
Source: PLOS One
Is it time to drop that controller, switch off that television, and head outdoors? This article reports the results of a scientific study of whether exposure to natural settings improves cognition. Perhaps the American Romantics were right about the effects of nature on imagination and thought. Read to find out.
Hurricane Hunters Association
Source: Hurricane Hunters Association
Why would anyone fly a plane into one of the world’s most powerful storms? Visit this site to learn about “hurricane hunting” with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. Learn about its mission, its history, its people, its planes, and its role in saving lives. While you’re there, be sure to click on the “Cyberflight” link to experience a flight into Hurricane Dennis!
Can Architecture Help Solve the Israeli-Palestinian Dispute?
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
The city of Jerusalem has long been a sticking point in Middle East peace negotiations. Read this article to find out how architects Yehuda Greenfield-Gilat and Karen Lee Bar-Sinai are working to find a creative way to divide Jerusalem between Israel and Palestine.
How MRI Works
Source: How Stuff Works
If you’re afraid of small, confined spaces, spending time inside an MRI scanner might terrify you. Still, this incredible invention has changed the face of medicine forever. Learn how MRI scanners “see” inside patients, why doctors use them, what it took to develop them, and much more.