Life

Life

Scientists Say: Mycelium

These fibrous networks are the reason plants think fungi are such "fun guys.”

Tech

Nanobots can now enter brain cells to spy on what they’re doing

Fleets of advanced versions may one day be able to detect disease and then go about surgically treating it — without ever opening the skull.

Materials Science

Made from fungi, this vegan leather can self-heal holes or rips

If made under gentle conditions, leather formed from the “roots” of mushrooms can retain the ability to regrow and repair minor damage.

Math

Bees and wasps devised the same clever math trick to build nests

During nest building, these insects add five- and seven-sided cells in pairs. This helps their colony fit together hexagonal cells of different sizes.

Psychology

Scientists Say: Neurodivergent

This often-misunderstood word describes someone whose brain works a little differently from most.

Animals

How artificial intelligence could help us talk to animals

AI translates human languages with ease. Researchers are now using this tech to analyze the sounds of whales, rodents and many other animals.

Tech

What is my pet saying? Scientists are working to find out

Researchers are using artificial intelligence for pet-translation apps. One day, it might put into words what our furry friends are vocalizing.

Animals

This bird nest becomes a ‘fortress’ using antibird spikes

The spikes were meant to keep birds away. But five nests found in Europe may use the bird deterrents for structure and to scare off predators.

Tech

A ‘mini cyclone’ helps detect coronavirus in the air

A new device can detect from seven to 35 coronavirus particles per liter of air in minutes. That’s close to a PCR test’s sensitivity — but much quicker.

Tech

Horses are inspiring this roboticist to build trustworthy robots

Computer scientist Eakta Jain is looking at human-horse interactions for ideas about how to design robots that work well with people.

Oceans

How would a mermaid sound underwater?

Human ears don’t work well in the water. A mermaid would need marine creature features to talk to and understand her aquatic friends.

Fossils

This bizarre ancient predator snagged soft prey

Scientists are rethinking how this extinct creature used the spiky limbs sticking out of its face to hunt.