All Stories

Brain

Nodding off may turn your creativity on

In an experiment, people who fell into a shallow sleep were more likely than non-sleepers or deep sleepers to discover a sly math trick.

Health & Medicine

Explainer: How loud is too loud?

Loud sounds, be it music or noise, might seem like no big deal at the time. But permanent damage can occur without noticeable warning signs.

Climate

The ‘Doomsday’ glacier may soon trigger a dramatic sea-level rise

The ice shelf that had kept it in place could fail within five years. That would speed the glacier’s slip into the ocean, boosting a rise in sea levels.

Physics

Scientists Say: Voltage

Voltage is a measure of how much electricity is available to power devices.

Animals

World’s biggest colony of nesting fish lives beneath Antarctic ice

Totally unexpected, it’s far, far larger than any other known community of nesting fish — fully one-third larger than the area of Washington, D.C.

Psychology

We all imagine being friends with celebrities. Is that a bad thing?

One-sided relationships with celebrities and fictional characters are normal. They also can boost self-esteem and empathy.

Ecosystems

Recycling a climate-warming gas could make ‘greener’ farmed fish

Instead of warming the climate, methane gas can be collected to help farmers. Along the way, it may also save some fish.

Materials Science

Let’s learn about glass

Unlike the atoms in other solids, the atoms in glass don’t exist in an orderly crystal structure. They’re more jumbled up, like the atoms inside liquids.

Tech

This crumb-sized camera uses artificial intelligence to get big results

Researchers have developed a camera the size of a coarse grain of salt that takes amazingly clear photos.

Life

Scientists Say: Bacteria

Bacteria get a bad rap for making people sick, but only a tiny portion of these single-celled creatures cause disease.

Life

In blazing heat, some plants open leaf pores — and risk death

When heat waves and droughts collide, water is precious. Some thirsty plants try to cool off by opening tiny pores — only to lose water even faster.