Surprising Science — October 12, 2014

Fabulous Colors at the Orkjärve Nature Reserve, Estonia

Sunrise at Lake Laanemaa, Estonia. Photo credit: Heino Ruiso / Wikicommons

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

“Lake Laanemaa at Orkjärve Nature Reserve, Estonia. Sunrise. Intense colors were present for just couple of minutes.”

-Heino Ruiso, photographer

Photo credit: Wikicommons

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Neuropsych

After taking LSD, he was sober for a year. Then came the recurring flashbacks.

A small percentage of people who consume psychedelics experience strange lingering effects, sometimes years after they took the drug.

Starts With A Bang

How an “underwater waterfall” came to exist on Mauritius

The natural wonders of Mauritius include the spectacular sight of an underwater waterfall. Here’s the science of how it works.

Starts With A Bang

Exclusive interview: answers to 20 questions from the James Webb Space Telescope team

Once science operations begin for James Webb, we’ll never look at the Universe the same way again. Here’s what everyone should know.

Starts With A Bang

Four scientific ways we can be certain the Moon landings were real

Even though no human has stepped foot on the Moon’s surface in 50 years, the evidence of our presence there remains unambiguous.

Starts With A Bang

The red color of Mars is only inches deep

The surface and atmosphere is colored by ferric oxides. Beneath a very thin layer, mere millimeters deep in places, it’s not red anymore.

Up Next

Come on Shamu, You Know I Don’t Speak Dolphin!

The findings of a new study reveal that killer whales have the keen ability to learn the vocalizations of other species. Researchers came to this conclusion after observing a group of orcas adopt the songs and sounds of neighboring dolphins.