Science

How did CBS’ Big Bang Theory send Howard Wolowitz to space?

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As seen on the popular CBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” (now in syndication), the fictional Wolowitz (Helberg) was shown floating on board the International Space Station (ISS), serving as a member of the station’s Expedition 31 crew, during the first four episodes of the show’s sixth season. Of course, Wolowitz was not really on … Read more

Electrons: Mass, discovery & history

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Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles found in the outermost regions of atoms. They are considered to be both partially particle-like and partially wave-like, depending on the scenario, according to West Texas A&M University. Electrons are essentially the reason atoms can interact with other atoms.  The nucleus of an atom consists of protons and neutrons. … Read more

Your Kid Is Probably Not an ‘Orchid’ or a ‘Dandelion’–But Could Be Both

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We are all products of our genes and environment, of nature and nurture. Thanks to research on parenting and child development, people are more aware than ever before of how varied environmental circumstances—including social and emotional experience—may help or hurt young people. But when scientists, policy makers, and ordinary citizens discuss developmental research, they often … Read more

Bird Navigation, Dark Matter, Biblical Archaeology, and More

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While we sleep this spring, billions of birds will be flying through the night from their wintering grounds to their breeding territories. Bird migration is a mind-bendingly astonishing phenomenon: these tiny creatures fly thousands of kilometers with enough precision to return to the same nesting site year after year. They use three types of compass, … Read more

Newly Discovered Saber-Tooth Predator Shows How Hypercarnivores Evolved

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San Diego looked very different back in the Eocene epoch, from about 56 million to 34 million years ago. The area’s now arid climate was warmer and more humid, its lush subtropical forests teeming with primates and marsupials. Now a recently examined fossil adds another creature to the list: a new species of saber-toothed predator. … Read more

This Saber-Tooth Predator Was Likely One of The First True Carnivores

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If you’ve ever lived with a cat, you’ve probably received a painful chomp from your beloved furball’s pointy canines at least once. But 42 million years ago, your kitty’s teeth would have looked very different: Evolution was only just honing the teeth of cat-like animals to a deadly sharp tip for piercing and shredding flesh. … Read more

Ukrainians Face Lasting Psychological Wounds from Russian Invasion

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The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research. “Polina came to our bedroom awakened by the sound of explosions. I didn’t know and still don’t know what to tell her. Her eyes today are full of fear and terror; eyes of all of us.” Alina, a … Read more

To Keep Students in STEM fields, Let’s Weed Out the Weed-out Math Classes

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All routes to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) degrees run through calculus classes. Each year, hundreds of thousands of college students take introductory calculus. But only a fraction ultimately complete a STEM degree, and research about why students abandon such degrees suggests that traditional calculus courses are one of the reasons. With scientific understanding and innovation … Read more