All Stories
- Climate
Earth breaks heat record for third year straight
Climate change and heat from a strong El Niño played roles in making 2016 the hottest year on record.
- Archaeology
Cool Jobs: Hunting surprises in thinning glaciers
Meet three scientists who are tracking the meltdown of Earth’s glaciers. They share their adventures, predictions and unexpected discoveries.
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These science trips for girls are so cool, they’re glacial
These expeditions are definitely cool. Teen girls are invited to apply to these free trips to explore and study glaciers.
- Physics
Explainer: How batteries and capacitors differ
Both batteries and capacitors can power electronic devices. Each, however, has different properties which may provide benefits — or limitations.
- Genetics
Scientists find genes that make some kids’ hair uncombable
Scientists have pinpointed three genes that cause ‘uncombable hair syndrome’ in some kids.
- Animals
How birds know what not to tweet
How do birds perfect their pitches? The chemical dopamine spikes when they sing right, and dips when they drop a note, new data show.
- Brain
Explainer: What is dopamine?
Dopamine is a chemical messenger that carries signals between brain cells. It also gets blamed for addiction. And a shortage of it gets blamed for symptoms of diseases such as Parkinson’s.
- Brain
Explainer: What is neurotransmission?
When brain cells need to pass messages to one another, they use chemicals called neurotransmitters. This sharing of chemical secrets is known as neurotransmission.
- Space
Rivers of stars flow between ‘clouds’ orbiting the Milky Way
Two streams of stars flow between dwarf galaxies known as the Magellanic Clouds. This new finding could give clues to the structure of our Milky Way galaxy.
- Health & Medicine
Scientists Say: Bruxism
Some people clench their jaw when their stressed. People who do it a lot may have bruxism.
- Computing
Build the drone of your dreams
Drone fans can now use new computer software to design and ‘test’ their own customized flying machines before putting time and money into building them.
- Health & Medicine
Extreme survival: Managing the deadly cold
Extreme cold can cause frostbite, hypothermia — even death. Knowing the risks can help keep you safe even when it’s freezing cold.
