We save coral reefs and then sea stars eat them
A study that may sound a new alarm for endangered corals shows that small marine protected areas may be especially vulnerable to attack by crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster species), which can devastate reefs.
The findings,...
Here’s the science behind 5 classic love songs
In honor of Valentine’s Day, here are five love songs that pose serious scientific questions. Experts from the University of Melbourne offer insights about the evolution of love, how it changes our bodies, and...
Extinction threatens 60% of world’s primates
Urgent action is needed to protect the world’s dwindling primate populations, experts warn.
Sixty percent of the more than 500 primate species worldwide are threatened with extinction, while more than 75 percent have declining populations.
“The...
Global sea level could rise 8 feet by 2100
Sea level in the Northeast and in some other US regions could rise significantly faster than the global average.
Moreover, in a worst-case scenario, global sea level could rise by about 8 feet by 2100,...
Brain readjusts your eyeballs with each blink
Every few seconds, our eyelids automatically shutter and our eyeballs roll back in their sockets. Why don’t we perceive intermittent darkness and light? Because the brain works extra hard to stabilize our vision despite our...
Should thoughts of murder influence time in prison?
Criminal offenders who exhibit homicidal ideation—thoughts of committing deadly violence, regardless of action—were more likely to commit a variety of serious crimes, research found.
Matt DeLisi, professor of sociology and criminal justice at Iowa State...
This cancer-spotting algorithm rivals dermatologists
The option of receiving a skin-cancer diagnosis by smartphone could save lives, say researchers.
It’s scary enough making a doctor’s appointment to see if a strange mole could be cancerous. Imagine, for example, that you were in...
Unconventional Water Shortage Solutions to Save the World
One of the biggest problems plaguing the world today is the freshwater crisis. The world is in dire need of sustainable solutions to deal with water shortages affecting regions with dry and arid climates....
Australia’s most dangerous venom isn’t what you’d think
The first national study of the bites and stings inflicted by Australia’s venomous creatures shatters stereotypes about which most threaten human health.
The 13 years of data reveal that bees and other insects—not snakes, spiders, or...
Sand absorbs high-speed projectiles better than steel
If someone is firing projectiles in your direction, you might be safer hiding behind a sand block rather than a steel wall, new research shows.
While sand has long been used in military fortification, limited...
