Humans

Psychology

How not to choke when performing under pressure

World Cup players can benefit from the emerging field of penalty kick psychology. It offers lessons for us all on how to perform best under pressure.

Brain

Brain scans offer clues to why math is harder for some kids

Kids with math learning disabilities process number symbols differently than numbers shown as dots.

Health & Medicine

Scientists get smart about farts with new underwear sensor

It snaps into regular undies to measure releases of hydrogen gas. Rates vary widely, but 32 farts a day seems about average, early data suggest.

Plants

Light pollution could be supercharging your pollen allergies

Light pollution in North American cities seems to be tricking plants into releasing pollen for longer periods each year.

Humans

Let’s learn about adrenaline

In short bursts, this hormone can help you face your fears. But in the long run, too much of it can be unhealthy.

Health & Medicine

Meet CLA, a naturally ‘healthy’ fat in burgers, ice cream and more

Solid at room temp, the natural trans fat conjugated linoleic acid resembles saturated fats — except that it appears good for the body in many ways.

Health & Medicine

Here’s what nutrition experts say about dietary fat

New U.S. dietary guidelines promote eating full-fat dairy and meats. But health experts say nuts and seed oils are better sources of the two crucial fats we need.

Health & Medicine

Explainer: What are ultraprocessed foods?

Packed with chemical additives, these foods have become a major part of our diets. Scientists have begun to worry about how ultraprocessed foods may impact health.

Tech

Scientists Say: Technofossil

Experts predict that the durability of modern, human-made materials will give rise to a radical new form of fossil.

Archaeology

Ancient pottery shows the earliest evidence of humans doing math

The numbers of petals painted on 8,000-year-old pottery showed a distinct numerical pattern.

Archaeology

60,000-year-old poison arrowheads show early humans’ hunting tactics

Traces of poison on the South African arrowheads hint that people used poisoned weapons 50,000 years earlier than previously thought.

Health & Medicine

Got brain rot?

Excessive scrolling through social media or viral videos can mess with your mental health — and possibly alter your brain’s development, studies show.