Advocating an African science at the end of the century
Historians note a shift from Eurocentric conceptualizations of science during the late nineteenth century. Spurred by a burgeoning print culture and widespread dissemination of news regarding scientific discoveries, "science" as a term began to be ap.....»»
African Sahara "greening" can alter Northern Hemisphere climate, modeling study finds
Africa's Sahara Desert may be considered a vast expanse of barren sand with limited vegetation, an extreme environment for plants and animals to thrive, but life always finds a way. Indeed, vegetation growth in the desert has waxed and waned over mil.....»»
Amplifying the impact of marine research imagery with Marimba, an open-source Python framework
It's not always easy to see the big picture when deeply immersed in a project. Innovation often requires stepping back to assess how we can really amplify the impact of our science......»»
Citizen science platforms reveal more resources needed to protect birds in Germany
Member states of the European Union are obliged to designate Special Protection Areas (SPAs) as part of the Natura 2000 network. These areas are designed to guarantee the preservation and restoration of bird populations. However, due to the paucity o.....»»
Human histones show promise in fighting bacterial infections
Antibiotics have saved millions of lives from infectious diseases and are considered one of the most important discoveries of the 20th century. However, as the use (and abuse) of antibiotics has increased over the years, many bacteria have developed.....»»
Computational model calculates an organism"s ideal learning rate based on its life cycle and surroundings
Researchers at the Complexity Science Hub and Santa Fe Institute have developed a model to calculate how quickly or slowly an organism should ideally learn in its surroundings. An organism's ideal learning rate depends on the pace of environmental ch.....»»
It all started with a Big Bang: The quest to unravel the mystery behind the birth of the universe
How did everything begin? It's a question that humans have pondered for thousands of years. Over the last century or so, science has homed in on an answer: the Big Bang......»»
The Universe in 100 Colors Provides a Stunning Tour through Science
A science photo book probes the colors we can see—and even “forbidden” colors we can’t.....»»
Simple science summaries written by AI can help people understand research and trust scientists
Artificial intelligence-generated summaries of scientific papers make complex information more understandable for the public compared with human-written summaries, according to my recent paper published in PNAS Nexus. AI-generated summaries not only.....»»
Moles, birthmarks, red hair: The anatomical features used to accuse women of witchcraft in the 17th century
Throughout accounts of 17th-century witch trials in Europe and North America, physical features alone were considered undeniable proof of witchcraft. The belief was that the devil branded witches' bodies with symbolic, material marks—such as unusua.....»»
Machine-learning analysis tracks the evolution of 16th-century European astronomical thought
A team of computer scientists, astronomers and historians in Berlin has used machine-learning applications to learn more about the evolutionary history of European astronomical thought in the 15th and 16th centuries. In their study published in the j.....»»
5 great sci-fi movies to stream this Halloween
This Halloween, there are several great science fiction movies to prepare you for spooky season......»»
Novel polypeptide-based molecules could pave the way for enhanced polymer design
A research study describes a systematic high-throughput design approach for virtual screening and creation of novel polypeptide-based molecules that form regular secondary structures that can be used in biology or materials science research. The stud.....»»
Australian courts use "body language" to judge witness credibility
Nonverbal behavior in the courtroom can significantly influence how judges assess the credibility of witnesses in their rulings. But is reliance on "body language" based on sound science?.....»»
Bones from shipwreck suggest right- or left-handedness could affect how clavicle chemistry changes with age
A new study of human skeletal remains from the wreck of the 16th century English warship "Mary Rose" suggests that whether a person is right- versus left-handed may influence how their clavicle bone chemistry changes as they age. Dr. Sheona Shankland.....»»
Exploring the Science of Spookiness at the Recreational Fear Lab
Host Rachel Feltman and behavioral scientist Coltan Scrivner explore our fascination with fear and what drives our obsession with all things spooky......»»
African giant rats trained to sniff out illegal wildlife products
In the past, African giant pouched rats have learned to detect explosives and the tuberculosis-causing pathogen. Now, a team of researchers have trained these rats to pick up the scent of pangolin scales, elephant ivory, rhino horn, and African black.....»»
Advanced imaging uncovers 12 new weevil species
Jake Lewis, an entomologist in the Environmental Science and Informatics Section at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), is fascinated by weevils, a diverse group of beetles that includes many species with elephant trunk-like mouth.....»»
Record-breaking Saharan dust events hit Spain between 2020 and 2022, study confirms
A study by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), an agency dependent on the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain, concludes that the most intense Saharan dust events ever recorded in the air quality monitoring networks of.....»»
We Must Restore Trust in Science in ‘Antiscientific America’
Anti-intellectualism is a prevalent and pernicious force in American public life. Stimulating interest in science may combat its influence.....»»
A candy engineer explains the science behind the Snickers bar
How the airy nougat and chewy caramel is built. It’s Halloween. You’ve just finished trick-or-treating and it’s time to assess the haul. You likely have a favorite, whether.....»»