While some schoolchildren daydream about crushes during class, delicately inscribing their names in paper margins, others instead yearn to one day discover and name their own species for the cute boy at the corner desk.
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Feed SubscriptionWhen Viruses Invade the Brain
Neurodegenerative diseases were once considered disorders of the mind, rooted in psychology. Now viruses rank among the environmental factors thought to trigger brain-ravaging diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer’s disease.
Read More »In the Year 9595
Watson is the IBM computer built by David Ferrucci and his team of 25 research scientists tasked with designing an artificial-intelligence (AI) system that can rival human champions at the game of Jeopardy . After beating the greatest Jeopardy champions, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, in February 2011, the computer is now being employed in more practical tasks such as answering diagnostic medical questions.
Read More »In the Year 9595
Watson is the IBM computer built by David Ferrucci and his team of 25 research scientists tasked with designing an artificial-intelligence (AI) system that can rival human champions at the game of Jeopardy . After beating the greatest Jeopardy champions, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, in February 2011, the computer is now being employed in more practical tasks such as answering diagnostic medical questions. [More]
Read More »Book Review: Our Magnetic Earth, by Ronald Merrill
A magnetic sense is now well documented in dozens of animal species. It turns out that tracking the geomagnetic field that same invisible thing that points compasses is handy for life, in lots of situations. Using their internal compasses, naked mole rats in Africa navigate their pitch-black underground mazes.
Read More »5 Most Common Networking Mistakes
Still trying to tap your network for favors before you've offered anything yourself? Big mistake.
Read More »The Art of the Science Tattoo
It all started with a summer pool party and a Harvard neuroscientist who prefers to be called Bob. Bob--aka Sandeep Robert Datta--was splashing around the pool with his kids when science writer Carl Zimmer noticed an image of DNA inked to his shoulder. It was not a surprising choice for a tattoo, since Bob studies the DNA of fruit flies
Read More »Cocaine and the sexual habits of quail, or, why does NIH fund what it does?
A week or so ago (hard to tell with holiday time as it is) Senator Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) released his 2011 “Wastebook”, a list of govt. funded projects that he and his staff consider to be a waste of money.
Read More »The wonderful quail…and what Sen.Coburn should learn about it.
Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) released his “ Wastebook ” a week ago – a list of 100 government-funded projects that are supposedly a waste of money. Every campaign season, quite predictably, someone from the GOP makes a document like this, listing examples of spending that, in their view, represents the most egregious excesses of governmental spending. Counting on their voters not to know or understand anything about these projects (especially the way these are carefully framed) and aware that nobody in the mainstream media will be pointing and laughing at them, they push these memes onto the unsuspecting public
Read More »The wonderful quail…and what Sen.Coburn should learn about it.
Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) released his “ Wastebook ” a week ago – a list of 100 government-funded projects that are supposedly a waste of money. Every campaign season, quite predictably, someone from the GOP makes a document like this, listing examples of spending that, in their view, represents the most egregious excesses of governmental spending. Counting on their voters not to know or understand anything about these projects (especially the way these are carefully framed) and aware that nobody in the mainstream media will be pointing and laughing at them, they push these memes onto the unsuspecting public
Read More »Deep Frog Voice Signals His Chromosome Number
The eastern grey tree frog [sound] looks exactly like the closely related Cope’s grey tree frog [sound]. The big difference between the two species is beneath the surface--the eastern has twice the number of chromosomes as does the Cope’s. [More]
Read More »Fat May Put Hypothalamus On Fritz
More than a third of adults in the U.S. are obese. And many of those already overweight continue to put on even more pounds.
Read More »Earth Usually Has Second Tiny Temporary Moon
The moon has been with us for billions of years, almost since the formation of Earth.
Read More »Case Closed? Columbus Introduced Syphilis to Europe
In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, but when he returned from 'cross the seas, did he bring with him a new disease? [More]
Read More »The Hidden Logic of Deception
We lie to ourselves all the time. We tell ourselves that we are better than average -- that we are more moral, more capable, less likely to become sick or suffer an accident.
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