“It was against my parents’ principles to talk about death,” Roz Chast writes in Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir. “Between their one-bad-thing-after-another lives and the Depression, […]
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“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” – Albert Camus
The astronomers at NASA certainly enjoy their jobs, especially when they can give distant galaxies funny names. Today NASA released this photo of “the Hamburger Galaxy.” It must have been […]
Childhood amnesia is a fairly common phenomenon that had no clear scientific explanation. Now a new study offers one: The high numbers of new brain cells forming may disrupt existing memory storage.
According to the “rice theory,” Asian societies evolved to be more cooperative, and Western societies more individualistic, because of the type of work needed to farm rice and wheat respectively. A recent study seems to lend credence to this theory.
When things don’t add up, it’s a great sign that something amazing is right around the corner. Every Thursday, we take an older post from the Starts With A Bang archives […]
Self-praise is a challenge for most of us. Women find it particularly uncomfortable and are inclined to give away more credit than is necessary — or even accurate. But if […]
The National Climate Assessment released today by the White House is a masterful piece of science and risk communication Susan Joy Hassol, Senior Science Writer, who turned massive contributions […]
From the country whose hit shows have featured slow boat rides and bird box video streams comes “Kisten” (“The Coffin”) in which famous people spend time thinking about and preparing for their future final send-off.
EasyJet will soon begin trials with the drones, which they hope will perform checks faster and with more accuracy. If successful, they could appear on the tarmac early next year.
“I’ll take American Fashion History for $500, Alex.” “The answer: This man was the first American to be admitted as a member of the Chambre syndicale du prêt-à-porter des couturiers […]
Harvard scientists have created a bioplastic using silk protein and a commonly-found organic substance that gives the shells their strength. The substance, shrilk, biodegrades in a matter of weeks, and its residue encourages plant growth.
“Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” – John Wooden
Barbara Corcoran, the star of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” on how to hire the best people.
The Curiosity rover, like a hero in a Pixar film, continues to explore Mars. Bumbling along the Red Planet’s rocky terrain, the robot has sent home some incredible images. Here’s […]
ETH Zurich University scientists borrowed from the bombadier beetle to create a defense system that would release hot nanoparticle-filled foam when the ATM is tampered with.
The only way out is to modify the laws of gravity, and new constraints rule those modifications out. “The discrepancy between what was expected and what has been observed has […]
Scientists are testing a combined smart pill and skin patch system that will track whether medication was taken, when it was taken, and how the body is responding to it.
US Geological Survey researchers say that by simply tracking the word “earthquake,” they’re able to pinpoint seismic activity much more quickly than with their own specialized equipment. However, because it’s Twitter, the method is far from perfect.
A forthcoming Nielsen report reveals that while Americans now have access to — and are paying for — an average of 189 channels, they only watch 17 of them consistently.
One of the few supposedly silver linings to be found in the dark cloud of global warming is its effect on agriculture (at least in some regions). As optimists and […]
Approximately three-quarters of cigarettes end up as butts on the ground, where they can eventually leach dangerous chemicals into soil and water. That’s just one of the problems caused by tobacco waste litter.
Doctor Stephen Schneider was genuinely surprised when he was sentenced to thirty years in prison in 2010. His wife, Linda Atterby, received thirty-three. Charged with unlawful distribution of controlled substances, […]
Students, faculty, staff and alumni helped convince the university’s board that it would be better to divert those funds to companies offering environmentally friendly energy alternatives.
The Sun has been quite dramatic lately. This image was captured only two weeks ago by NASA. It shows the Sun’s surface rippling with tumultuous activity, including the sunspots seen […]
What’s a good scientist to do when your theory predicts something absurd? “He who loves practice without theory is like the sailor who boards ship without a rudder and compass […]
A consortium of universities and companies are working on ways to get a team consisting of robots, drones, autonomous vehicles and dogs to communicate with each other in a disaster scenario.
Human beings are naturally wired to contribute. Teamwork ensures survival for the group as well as the individual: the useful and collaborative are always welcomed in the tribe. But we’re […]
Modern formula’s formula, so to speak, includes certain components of breast milk. The government plans to spend US$1.6 million to create something that’s much closer to the real thing, revitalizing its domestic industry in the process.
When it comes to overall well-being, a new survey reports that regardless of whether it’s public or private, elite or obscure, the type of institution isn’t nearly as important as certain other factors, such as engaging professors.