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NASA bounces laser beams off of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

After a decade of failed attempts, scientists successfully bounced photons off of a reflector aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, some 240,000 miles from Earth.

New guidelines redefine 'obesity' to curb fat shaming

Is focusing solely on body mass index the best way for doctor to frame obesity?

Why ‘Christian nationalists’ are less likely to wear masks and social distance

In a recent study, researchers examined how Christian nationalism is affecting the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dinosaurs suffered from cancer, study confirms

A recent analysis of a 76-million-year-old Centrosaurus apertus fibula confirmed that dinosaurs suffered from cancer, too.

Chernobyl fungus could shield astronauts from cosmic radiation

A recent study tested how well the fungi species Cladosporium sphaerospermum blocked cosmic radiation aboard the International Space Station.

How face masks are fooling facial recognition software

A new study explores how wearing a face mask affects the error rates of popular facial recognition algorithms.

U.S. to disclose UFO findings from Pentagon task force

A new report from The New York Times describes a Pentagon task force's long-standing project to collect data on unidentified aerial phenomena and a Pentagon consultant who says the U.S. has collected crashed "off-world vehicles."

Scientists create 'non-cuttable' material 85% less dense than steel

Proteus could someday be used to create extremely strong and lightweight armor and locks.

Opioid deaths surge as pandemic spreads across U.S.

How exactly is COVID-19 affecting the opioid crisis?

3 highlights from Penn Jillette's Big Think interview on 2020, cancel culture, and friendship

The renowned magician recently joined Big Think CEO and cofounder Victoria Brown for a wide-ranging discussion.

This is your brain on smells

A new study explores how the brain encodes different scents — a topic which scientists know relatively little about, compared to our other senses.

COVID-19 brain study to explore long-term effects of the virus

A growing body of research suggests COVID-19 can cause serious neurological problems.

Bubonic plague case reported in China

Health officials in China reported that a man was infected with bubonic plague, the infectious disease that caused the Black Death.

How #Unity2020 plans to end the two-party system, bring back Andrew Yang

The proposal calls for the American public to draft two candidates to lead the executive branch: one from the center-left, the other from the center-right.

NASA astronaut drops mirror during spacewalk outside ISS

Watch as the small mirror joins millions of other pieces of space junk currently orbiting the planet.

Can the U.S. fix unemployment with 'Universal Basic Jobs'?

What would happen if the U.S. guaranteed every citizen a job with a living wage and benefits?

Man unable to 'see' numbers after suffering rare brain disease

He can't identify the numbers 2 through 9. But strangely, he can still see ones and zeros.

Europe to ban American travel as U.S. struggles to contain pandemic

The European Union is debating over two lists of nations from which it will accept travelers starting July 1.

NASA videos show what sunsets look like elsewhere in the galaxy

On other planets, blue skies and red sunsets aren't the norm.

This wearable robot arm can hold fruit and punch through walls

Researchers are making progress in the effort to develop safe and practical supernumerary robotic limbs.

COVID-19 shutdown prevented 60 million infections in U.S., study says

The study also estimated that international lockdown efforts prevented more than 500 million infections worldwide.

This spreadsheet lists 1,000+ cases of alleged police brutality amid George Floyd protests

The videos raise serious legal and moral questions about police crowd-control tactics.

Facebook finally adds option to delete old posts in batches

Got any embarrassing old posts collecting dust on your profile? Facebook wants to help you delete them.

England rolls out 'Test and Trace' program to combat COVID-19

The program aims to notify people after they've come in close contact with someone who tested positive.

Dr. Fauci: 'Good chance' we have COVID-19 vaccine by end of 2020

Currently, more than 100 COVID-19 vaccines are being developed worldwide.

DMT drug study investigates the ‘entities’ people meet while tripping

Why do so many people encounter beings after smoking large doses of DMT?

Why nature vs. nurture is ‘zombie idea’ we need to kill

Why do some people still believe that behavior is caused solely by genes or environment? A new paper offers some answers.

These 7 countries and companies are going to Mars in the 2020s

Here's what the world's space agencies hope to learn about the Red planet.

Tom Cruise is going to space to film an action movie

The 57-year-old is teaming up with NASA and SpaceX for the film project, which is to be set aboard the International Space Station.

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shooting. Here's what happened.

On May 4, 1970, the National Guard shot and killed four students during an anti-war protest. The massacre went on to change American culture forever.

Scientists create COVID-19 treatment using llama antibodies

An antibody produced by llamas seems particularly effective at neutralizing a key protein of the novel coronavirus.

Ancient 'crazy beast' mammal classified as new species

It's likely the most complete skeleton that's ever been discovered of the strange Gondwanatheria mammal group, which roamed the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana alongside dinosaurs.

Coursera offers 3,800 free online classes for unemployed workers

The coronavirus pandemic offers online education companies a chance to prove themselves.

Harvard group: Here's how the U.S. economy can reopen by August

A bipartisan group of economists, technology and public health experts, and ethicists developed a three-part plan to swiftly and safely reopen the American economy. Could it work?

This AI tool measures social distancing. But is more surveillance worth the risk?

The system can even be designed to send alerts to employees when they've come too close to a coworker.

Early marijuana use 'primes' the brain to enjoy cocaine, study suggests

A new study on rats suggests that using marijuana as an adolescent "reprograms the initial behavioral, molecular, and epigenetic response to cocaine."

New AI improves itself through Darwinian-style evolution

AutoML-Zero is a proof-of-concept project that suggests the future of machine learning may be machine-created algorithms.

Researchers stop COVID-19 drug trial after 11 patients die

A recent clinical trial in Brazil highlights the dangers of two potential COVID-19 treatments: chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.

'Super Pink Moon': Biggest full moon of 2020 rises tonight

Need a distraction during these stay-at-home times? Look up tonight to see the first supermoon of spring.

Less pollution during COVID-19 is not a 'silver lining', says UN environment chief

The environmental benefits of the coronavirus pandemic are only temporary, warns the head of the UN Environment Programme.

'Gender Pay Scorecard' grades 50 major U.S. companies

What factors explain the gender pay gap?

Edward Snowden warns 'bio-surveillance' may outlast coronavirus

Amid the panic of the COVID-19 pandemic, are we building the surveillance states of tomorrow?

Who should get coronavirus treatments first? Doctors face ethical dilemmas

Facing a shortage of medical resources, doctors in the U.S. may have to make difficult moral decisions over how to allocate care.

This epidemiologist predicted the coronavirus pandemic 14 years ago

Lawrence "Larry" Brilliant, an American epidemiologist who helped eradicate smallpox, warned about the inevitability of a global pandemic in a now-famous 2006 TED Talk.

Video shows how you may be washing your hands wrong

Washing your hands with soap and water can help protect against the coronavirus. But only if you do it correctly.

New nuclear fusion reactor design may be a breakthrough

Using permanent magnets may help to make nuclear fusion reactors simpler and more affordable.

By 2050, the U.S. Alzheimer's population will double. We're not prepared.

The Alzheimer's Association says its new analysis and surveys "should sound an alarm regarding the future of dementia care in America."

Smallest known dinosaur found in 99-million-year-old amber

With lizard-like eyes and sharp teeth, this strange creature was likely smaller than your thumb.

Scientists calculate incubation period of coronavirus

About 97.5 percent of people who develop symptoms will do so within 11.5 days, according to the new study.

Who's profiting most from the coronavirus outbreak?

Stock markets may be plummeting, but that doesn't mean the spread of COVID-19 is hurting everyone's bottom line.

Are we psychologically prepared for the coronavirus outbreak?

From travel restrictions to forced isolation, the new coronavirus brings psychological threats, too.

How coronavirus spreads from person to person

Here's what scientists know about how the virus spreads, and how to avoid contracting it.

Scientists discover animal that doesn't need oxygen to live

It's the first time scientists have discovered an animal that doesn't perform aerobic respiration.

These are the 7 most partisan issues in America right now

From gun control to immigration, Americans remain split on a handful of contentious issues.

4 highlights from Stanford's Human Behavioral Biology course, available online for free

From understanding human aggression to epigenetics, Stanford University offers all 25 lessons of this fascinating course for free on YouTube.

Tiny area of brain may be 'engine of consciousness', scientists suggest

A recent study on monkeys found that stimulating a certain part of the forebrain wakes monkeys from anesthesia.

Flu kills 12,000 in 4 months. Is coronavirus panic overblown?

The CDC estimates that more than 210,000 people in the U.S. have been hospitalized by the flu this season.

Why Trump might soon make (some) scientists very happy

The White House is reportedly considering an executive order that would open up public access to scientific research.

Black News Channel to air 24-7 content 'by' and 'for' African Americans

It's the first American news channel to focus on African-American experiences.

Study: Can you tell a meaningful quote from ‘pseudo-profound bullsh*t’?

Your answer might depend on whom the quote is attributed to, according to the results of a recent study.

Fake martial arts: The psychology behind 'no-touch' knockouts

What leads people to believe in "chi" attacks and "no-touch" knockouts?

Feeling drowsy? Switch to a melodic alarm clock, study suggests

A new study suggests that the type of alarm clock you use might affect the severity of sleep inertia you experience.

NASA to add 'space hotel' to ISS, in privatization push

Got $55 million lying around? If so, you might be able to score a spot aboard the International Space Station starting 2024.

Coronavirus: Track the virus' spread with this world map tool

The Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) created an online dashboard map that provides up-to-date data on reported cases and deaths worldwide.

The platypus is headed for extinction, warn Australian scientists

Australia's beloved and bizarre egg-laying mammal could start vanishing in coming years if current trends continue.

Listen: Scientists re-create voice of 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy

Scientists used CT scanning and 3D-printing technology to re-create the voice of Nesyamun, an ancient Egyptian priest.

Europe's new space mission to uncover 'Truths' on climate change

The TRUTHS mission aims to collect extremely precise data on how much radiation Earth absorbs and reflects.

Study: U.S. alcohol deaths have doubled since 1997

A separate study shows that binge drinkers are also ordering more rounds.

Michio Kaku: 5 fascinating moments from this 1991 interview

From talking about Schrödinger's cat to nuking the South Pole, this decades-old interview shows why Kaku was born to be a science educator.

3 ways video games will evolve in the 2020s

From ultra-realistic graphics to more intelligent A.I. characters, the 2020s will bring some mind-bending video games.

Biologists extend worm lifespan by 500% in surprising discovery on aging

A new study shows that altering the ISS and TOR pathways in roundworms can extend lifespan by 500 percent.

​The '85% Rule': Why a dose of failure optimizes learning

If you're always succeeding, you're probably not learning much.

Second-guessing yourself leads to worse decisions, study finds

When facing a tough decision, it pays to trust your gut.

Women dress modestly to avoid aggression from other women, study suggests

Attractive women are especially likely to dress modestly, but only in certain scenarios.

How does fire behave in microgravity? NASA study aims to find out

An ongoing experiment aboard the International Space Station aims to find out more about the fundamentals of combustion.

Cops make ‘quilt’ out of homeless signs. Is panhandling free speech?

A photo showing two Alabama police officers bragging about a "homeless quilt" made from confiscated panhandling signs raises questions about the constitutionality of panhandling.

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