Surprising Science — March 7, 2014

Don’t Have Scissors? Use a Piranha

This holiday season, when it comes to wrapping gifts, make sure you have your piranha scissors handy. Of course, they require feeding and a clean tank.

This incredible demonstration of a live piranha being used like a pair of high-powered scissors will make you glad that you’re watching it from home.

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Image credit: cliff1066/Flickr

Strange Maps

This shell is not just a symbol, but also a map

Scallop shells have accompanied pilgrims to and from Santiago de Compostela for centuries, for more than one reason

The Well

Why consciousness is one of the most divisive issues in science today

Is science destined to crack the code of consciousness—and how would we even go about it?

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8 min

—

with

Max Tegmark

Health

Gene therapy partially restores function to color receptors in color blind children

The researchers and patients are excited to see if color vision will develop over time.

The Present

Why do we so consistently underestimate progress?

Three reasons why a radically better future is more likely than we think.

Thinking

“But you did it first!”: A defense of the whataboutism

We could even benefit from more whataboutisms — if they’re used properly.

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Starts With A Bang

Ask Ethan #27: Will the Earth and Moon survive?

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