On Thursday, John Brennan, President Obama’s nominee to be the new director of the CIA, went before the Senate Intelligence Committee to answer questions. I watched all three and-a-half hours […]
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A special molecule has been found by scientists that activates the body’s own tumor killing system, causing the death of cancerous tissue in mice while preserving the integrity of healthy cells.
Researchers at NYU have begun the largest PTSD study of its kind, looking for biological indications of the disease hidden away in the brain, nervous system, and even the voice.
Scientists in the UK have tweaked an inkjet printer to facilitate the printing of three-dimensional cellular blobs which may be used to regenerate entire human organs for transplant.
There is something more at stake than achieving a personal best in our footraces. Something deeply human is behind our strong insistence at running through the pain and fatigue we cause ourselves.
In a study of twins from Malawi, scientists have concluded that a poor diet is not the only explanation for becoming malnourished. An imbalance of bacteria in the gut may be to blame.
Two projects welcome online submission of snow depth and other atmospheric conditions from average citizens.
We are going to create synthetic neocortexes in order to extend our own neocortexes.
One of Japan’s leading dailies teamed up with an advertising agency to create an app that translates articles into a more child-friendly format.
If you run into violinist Joshua Bell at a cocktail party, don’t tell him you find classical music ‘relaxing.’ “Beethoven’s symphonies are not relaxing,” says Bell, who at 45 is […]
When it comes to online security and personal data, that is: A report released this week by security firm McAfee provides some interesting information about what it means to overshare.
Old school public education reformers put citizenship, and habits of social interaction, front and center. Now we see children only as pre-collegiate, proto-capitalist participants in the global economy.
Once again, the Wall Street Journal has published its annual ranking of economic forecasters. Using methods developed with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the newspaper calculated which forecasters made […]
A study published this week that compared paper with tablets and e-readers showed negligible differences in reading comprehension. For older subjects, tablets beat out the other two media in terms of providing a faster and easier reading experience.
Henry Molaison, known for most of his life as H.M., was a medical oddity. Surgery to cure severe epilepsy in the 1950s led to the removal of his hippocampus, which […]
A new report predicts that humans will be outnumbered by smartphones, tablets, and other Internet-capable devices in 2013, putting increasing strain on existing networks.
Social science can be controversial, but it has established some facts beyond a reasonable doubt, which are now part of “what everybody knows.” Like the 20th century’s “great moderation” in […]
The Black Hornet — four inches long, weighing 16 grams — is designed for use by a single soldier for remote photo and video capture.
It’s strange to think how young the Internet is, considering its enormity and complexity, and yet how powerful it has become as a means to connect people from around the […]
Our robotic emissaries are probing space, not humans. Nonetheless, Neil deGrasse Tyson says he is content with living vicariously through the robots for now.
The student center at Brooklyn College will be abuzz Thursday evening at 6:30 when two speakers propose boycotting, divesting and applying sanctions on Israel for its treatment of the Palestinians. […]
Experiencing the “overview effect” appears to be transformational. Studies show that feelings of awe make subjects more patient, less materialistic, and more willing to volunteer to help others.
Last week, I had the honor of speaking at the second Computation + Journalism Symposium hosted by my alma mater, the Georgia Institute of Technology. The basic question asked by […]
A San Francisco robotics company has created a kit containing four devices, including a flying drone, that teachers can use in middle school and high school math classes.
Psychologist Madeline Levine offers savvy advice for courageous parenting at different stages of a child’s education.
Originally created just for fun, the RoboHand could open the door towards bringing affordable prostheses to more people. One of the first beneficiaries: A five-year-old boy.
Evidence has emerged that a bizarre and potentially inhumane treatment which originated in the US is now being used on children in the UK. The therapy involves a caregiver holding […]
The US military has awarded an unspecified sum to a California company to improve on binoculars that capture 3D images of faces and send them to an identification database.
With the help of Dutch government funding, a Danish company is developing exterior airbags that will protect the cyclist in the event of a collision.
When painter and showman Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre burst onto the scene in 1839 with his Daguerreotype—one of the earliest forms of photography—“Daguerreotypemania” quickly ensued. The art world quickly took notice of […]