All Stories
-
Health & MedicineHow bugs in your gut might hijack your emotions
Tiny molecules in the brain may help bugs in the gut hijack people’s emotions. That’s the conclusion of some new research.
-
BrainScientists Say: Glia
Scientists used to think glial cells did nothing more than glue the brain together. Now we know they do much, much more.
-
ChemistryBlue light flexes its chem-building muscle
Scientists found a new way to build a strong but bendable blend of polymers. The trick? Expose the ingredients to a beam of blue light.
By Sid Perkins -
ChemistryExplainer: What are polymers?
Polymers, whether natural or artificial, are big molecules made by linking up smaller repeating chemical units. The most common “backbones” for polymers are chains of carbon or silicon, each of which can bond to four other atoms.
By Sid Perkins -
Health & MedicineSocial media: What’s not to like?
Social media can help teens connect with friends and family. Sometimes, however, it may leave them feeling depressed or isolated.
-
Science & SocietySocial networks can learn about you through your friends
Social networks can gather information from users that let them create “shadow profiles” of others — even people not on the network.
-
PlantsCool Job: Rethinking how plants hunt for water
Studies probing the very beginnings of root development may have important implications for growing food in a world where the climate is changing.
By Susan Milius -
BrainCould Zika become a cancer treatment?
The same virus that provoked fear over causing birth defects, last year, may have a beneficial alter ego. Scientists find it may kill cells destined to form deadly brain tumors.
-
ComputingScientists Say: Radar
This is a system used to detect objects large and small. It works by sending out radio waves and waiting for them to bounce back.
-
ChemistrySpecially coated fabric could turn a shirt into a shield
Specially treated fabrics offer a new kind of defense against chemical attacks. It could protect troops — and people living in war-torn nations where chemical weapons may be used.
-
Health & MedicineGood germs lurk in gross places
What do poop, dog drool and snot have in common? Though disgusting, they all carry microbes that can help keep people healthy.
-
Sage advice from scientists to students
Every scientist was a kid once. Here, they offer their advice to students on making their scientific careers a success.