Microbial aromas might save crops from drought
Jan 04, 2019 16:01 pm UTC| Insights & Views Science
In her book Silent Spring, Rachel Carson writes: The sense of smell, almost more than any other, has the power to recall memories…. You might wonder how this relates to microorganisms. In fact, they produce most...
A neuroscientist's tips for a new year tuneup for your brain
Dec 31, 2018 12:16 pm UTC| Science Health
Unlike the effervescent bubbles that stream to the top of champagne flutes on New Years Eve, what I call brain bubbles are far from celebratory. These bubbles are metaphorical rather than physical, and they distort the...
Record for decoding the longest DNA sequence is impressive – here's what to expect next
Dec 31, 2018 12:15 pm UTC| Science Health
Like other professionals, scientists like to be the best at what they do, but they also like to have fun in their job. And in 2018, my colleagues managed just that in claiming a record for decoding the worlds longest DNA...
Will wearing your coat indoors make you feel colder outside? A scientist explains
Dec 30, 2018 23:01 pm UTC| Science
If youve ever had to work in a draughty office, warehouse or classroom, youve probably been tempted to keep your coat on inside. And you were probably also advised against it because you wouldnt feel the benefit when you...
A brief history of black holes
Dec 30, 2018 23:01 pm UTC| Science
Late in 2018, the gravitational wave observatory, LIGO, announced that they had detected the most distant and massive source of ripples of spacetime ever monitored: waves triggered by pairs of black holes colliding in deep...
When you look up, how far back in time do you see?
Dec 27, 2018 23:58 pm UTC| Science
Our senses are stuck in the past. Theres a flash of lightning, and then seconds pass until we hear the rumble of distant thunder. We hear the past. We are seeing into the past too. While sound travels about a...
David vs. Goliath: What a tiny electron can tell us about the structure of the universe
Dec 21, 2018 11:08 am UTC| Insights & Views Science
What is the shape of an electron? If you recall pictures from your high school science books, the answer seems quite clear: an electron is a small ball of negative charge that is smaller than an atom. This, however, is...
Electricity from farm waste: how biogas could help Malawians with no power
What the Supreme Court is doing right in considering Trump’s immunity case
US student Gaza protests: five things that have been missed
Will Solomon Islands’ new leader stay close to China?
IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects