Science & Society
- Animals
Explainer: How brief can hibernation be?
Many animals frequently slow body functions and drop their temperatures — sometimes for just a day. Is that hibernation, or just torpor? Are the two even related? Scientists disagree.
- Archaeology
Space archaeologists need your help to protect ancient treasures
Explorers who search for ancient ruins in satellite images are asking for help from the public. Volunteers can visit a new website to sign up.
- Science & Society
What happens when you look at crime by the numbers
Statistics can find crime hot spots or flag which police officers are more likely to shoot at crime scenes. Unfortunately, some data risk misleading the police.
- Science & Society
Shrimp on treadmills? Some science only sounds silly
Research that may seem silly, at first glance, often has a rewarding aim. Here are some examples.
- Health & Medicine
Sexist attitudes about smarts may emerge by first grade
People often think women can be smart, but that men are more likely to be brilliant. This stereotype may form as young as age six, new data show.
- Science & Society
Heartbeat can affect racial perception of threat
Links between nerves in the heart and the brain shed light on why some police may be more likely to shoot an unarmed person who’s black than one who is white.
- Earth
Meet our trashy ‘technosphere’
People are creating a layer of debris and disturbance called the technosphere. A new study estimates just how truly massive it is.
- Health & Medicine
Violence spreads like a virus
New research shows that the friends of violent teens are much more likely to become violent themselves.
- Science & Society
Don’t let math stress you out
New research points to strategies for improving math performance in people who get stressed out by the numbers world.
- Computing
Computer hackers take to the cloud
People use cloud computing for storing files online. A new study shows the dark side of the cloud: These services can harbor malware.
- Health & Medicine
High school vapers often become heavy smokers
New studies show e-cig ads promote vaping by teen — and their conversion to smoking tobacco.
- Science & Society
Racism hurts
Hate crimes and harassment since the 2016 election affirm that racism still exists in America. Here’s what racism is, how it hurts and how people who witness it can respond.
