Producing clean energy from rain could soon be possible
After many attempts, scientists may have finally figured out how to generate electricity using rain. What they have created is a generator that uses what is called a field-effect transistor-style structure that produces a surprisingly high voltage from water drops—a single drop can create Read More...
Check out the most-detailed images ever made of the sun's surface
Is it melted caramel, or maybe some popcorn kernels? Actually it's neither-- the picture above shows the molten layer that covers the sun’s surface. This impressive new picture taken by the new Daniel K. Inouye telescope in Hawaii shows us the highest resolution images ever taken of the sun’s Read More...
Yale scientists discover potential off-switch for type-2 diabetes
At Yale University, scientists have been studying how fasting can drive the onset of type-2 diabetes. From this research, the scientists have unearthed a novel way of intervening and switching off the process that leads to type-2 diabetes. The research is described in a pair of studies published by Read More...
Google just published the largest ever high-res map of brain connectivity
For all the incredible discoveries that humans have made about our world, we still know relatively little about the way brains work. But thanks to new digital technologies, we’re getting closer to understanding how the brain really functions. In that light, Google made a big announcement this Read More...
Footage of chimpanzees dancing suggests the urge to dance might be prehuman
If there is one thing that unites humans around the world, it’s that dance is a part of every human culture ever encountered. But while dance has a rich and ancient history in humans, it is considered all but absent in non-human primates. New footage from researchers in Kyoto, however, is telling Read More...
Everything you need to know about Saturday’s winter solstice
Saturday is the 21st of December, aka the winter solstice, aka the shortest day of 2019 for everyone living in the Northern Hemisphere. If pagan rituals are your thing, this is probably a big moment for you. If not, the official first day of winter is neat for other reasons, too. For instance, Read More...
Studies suggest humor is effective for engaging the public about climate change
Although the climate crisis is certainly a dark issue to communicate to people, three studies this year have come to the conclusion that using humor may be the most effective way to engage the public about the crisis. In March 2017, the American Psychological Association published a Read More...
Science tells us laughter can help us lead a healthier life
In 1976, Norman Cousins, the revered editor of the Saturday Review, wrote a piece that signaled the arrival of laughter in the precincts of science. The piece, which was called “Anatomy of an Illness (as Perceived by the Patient)”, follows Cousins as he checks himself out of a hospital and Read More...
Desperately seeking security? How learning about attachment styles can improve your relationships
Sensations of comfort and calmness from a close relationship are developed from a young age. Children are taught they should derive love and security from their relationships. Children who experience close and rewarding personal relationships with family and friends are taught to seek our Read More...
New research suggests you can ‘reprogram’ your tastebuds to like vegetables
Even if you’ve tried a certain food a few times and didn’t find it tasty, that doesn’t mean you’ll never learn to enjoy that food. In fact, according to new research, repeated exposure to bitter foods can change the proteins in your saliva, essentially calming the initial distaste for Read More...