Why is the U.S. Navy interested in Cicadas?
It turns out the swarms of loud, creepy insects serve a human purpose beyond frying those tasty little suckers in butter. When the Brood II cicadas emerge in the northeastern […]
Category Archives: How Things Work
The lifelong self-experiment of Santorius Santorius
Throughout history, certain scientists have solved the moral dilemma of experimenting on animals by turning themselves into guinea pigs instead. While this might not be the safest or even the […]
Probably the cutest Kickstarter yet
What good is science if it doesn’t inspire the younger generations? Not much good at all, really, which is why this fourth grade class from North Carolina is positively joy-inducing. […]
A vortex of a different stripe
…or rather, a different configuration. University of Chicago researchers Dustin Kleckner and William Irvine created a vortex that’s the first of its kind to be seen in a lab: A […]
That’s so cute I could punch you
A fellow driver flipping you a choice finger or someone cutting in line at the DMV might make you feel a wee bit aggressive. But did you know a fluffy, […]
When is a kilogram not a kilogram?
The standard kilogram is not simply a number. It’s an object; a 130-year-old cylinder of platinum and iridium that weighs exactly one kilogram, has 40 replicas, and is stored in […]
How we taste with our eyes
Some people might scoff at the concept of “presentation” when it comes to food. But the fact is, looks matter. Even the color of the plate or cup can change […]
Pitcher plant kills by slipperyness
The pitcher plant Heliamphora nutans puts the Sarlacc to shame; this carnivorous plant kills more efficiently and with considerably less effort. Researchers have been studying the physical properties of the plant […]
The science of snow
Since we’re supposed to be hit with the white fluffy stuff this evening, we may as well be prepared. And I don’t mean with boots, shovels and a choice selection […]
Want more foam in your beer? There’s a gene for that
Some would argue that beer-making is an art (it certainly produces art in many instances), but brewers know there’s a definitely science at work as well. And now one more element […]
