All Stories

Space

Fast, mysterious clouds swarm around our galaxy

Astronomers want to know the source — and importance — of these faint, fast-moving clouds that zoom beyond and toward our Milky Way’s disk.

Physics

This microphone picks up sounds by watching them

This microphone can “hear” by viewing the tiny vibrations made in everyday objects as sound waves strike them.

Brain

Big moments can help you remember little things, too

Emotional events help solidify memories. Scientists think this could someday help students study better or aid recovery of trauma survivors.

Animals

Scientists Say: Kleptotrichy

Based on the Greek words for theft and hair, kleptotrichy is a more common bird behavior than people thought.

Animals

Some gifted dogs can learn to sort their toys

Among dogs known to be gifted word learners, some can also sort toys by how they are used during play time. It’s one sign of a complex thought process.

Animals

Birds are singing longer, thanks to light pollution

In light-polluted areas, birds spend an average of 50 minutes more per day singing. It’s unclear how that extra time might hurt or help the birds.

Artificial Intelligence

5 things to remember when talking to a chatbot

When using ChatGPT or other chatbots, remember your voice matters and watch out for flattery and hallucinations. And for important advice, ask real people.

Health & Medicine

A little shape-up helps these pimple patches get a grip

These zit patches use some innovative geometry to anchor onto skin. This solves one problem that’s hindered other uses of microneedles for drug delivery.

Psychology

Listening to slightly different sounds in each ear may boost focus, teen finds

While “binaural beats” may boost attention, his research shows video game music is distracting.

Animals

Ants are better team players than people [COMIC]

For ants, teamwork makes the dream work. For humans, teamwork can be a trip-up.

Tech

A modified glue gun squirts a material to help heal broken bones

The handheld printer might someday apply bone-repair patches directly onto fractures — complete with antibiotics to prevent infection.

Earth

Scientists Say: Supermoon

This supersized lunar event occurs when a full moon or new moon coincides with the moon’s perigee — the point where it is the closest to Earth.