Science & Society
- Environment
Burning to learn
Fires cause billions of dollars of destruction to homes and forests every year. But not all fires are bad, especially for forests. With a better understanding of fire, scientists can both help people prevent dangerous fires — and identify which ones it would be better to let burn.
- Science & Society
Eric Chen wins 2014 Intel Science Talent Search
The Intel Science Talent Search gala on March 11 honored 40 brilliant high school seniors and their research projects. Eric Chen won first place for his computer screening technique that identified new influenza drugs.
- Genetics
Where Native Americans come from
All tribes seem to derive from the same Asian roots, DNA indicates.
- Animals
A weekend for the birds
February 14 to 17 is this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count. It offers an opportunity to not only learn about the birds in your neighborhood but also contribute to science.
- Computing
Cool Jobs: Paid to dream
Some visionaries use science and engineering to see what our world could — and should — become
- Science & Society
Human ancestors threw spears
Who threw first? Scientists had long believed that ancient people who lived 80,000 years ago were the first to throw spears with stone tips. But the discovery of 279,000-year-old stone spear tips in Ethiopia pushes that date back, and suggests prehuman species hunted with spears too.
- Science & Society
Bigger groups make better tools
As the size of a population grows, so too does its ability to quickly create clever new tools. Lab experiments suggest that connections between people give rise to the new creations.
- Science & Society
Many teens try alternatives to cigarettes
Teen use of cigarettes has dropped a bit in recent years. But many kids have been turning to other tobacco and tobacco-like products. And which they choose can differ sharply by gender and ethnic group.
- Science & Society
Explainer: Inspirations — from Tom Swift to tomatoes
Childhood interests may lead to a career imagining how the future could play out
- Science & Society
Explainer: Some schools already teach future studies
Good preparation for working in this field may require more than a firm grounding in science or engineering.
- Brain
‘Study drugs’ can be dangerous
The misuse of these ADHD medicines not only constitutes cheating, but they can become addictive and can mess with your head.
- Earth
Hacking the planet
The big backup plan: Scientists reluctantly consider altering Earth’s climate to head off the catastrophic effects of global warming.
